“I need to talk to you,” Shea said as soon as Brooklyn entered the apartment. Brooklyn stopped in the doorway and looked at her roommate. “Why do I feel like I’m in the middle of deja vu?” she asked. “What?” Shea asked with a confused look on her face. Shaking her head, Brooklyn said, “Nevermind. I’m just talking to myself. Let me get my shoes off, and I’ll be right over.” Shea nodded and waited for Brooklyn to sit next to her before saying, “I think I made a date with the DJ from Steel Gaze!” Brooklyn looked at her and asked, “You mean that cute British guy?” Shea nodded and said, “I ran into him in the park. He was drawing me. Here, take a look.” Shea reached over to hand the picture to Brooklyn, who took it. “Dang! He’s good!” she said. “Of course, he had a good model.” Brooklyn grinned at Shea as she handed the drawing back to her. Shea smiled at her and asked, “I don’t know what to do. I’m kind of seeing Troy, but I really felt a connection with Bradford.
The day of the party dawned warm and bright, much to the roommates’ relief. “I still can’t believe you were flirting with Bradford while we were inviting him and Cort to the party,” Addy told Shea. “I wasn’t flirting!” Shea protested. “I’m just naturally friendly!” “Right,” Addy said, rolling her eyes. “That’s what you consider being naturally friendly?” Adopting a higher tone, she said, “Bradford, I would be over the moon if you could make it this weekend.” Sticking out her lower lip, Shea said, “I didn’t say it like that!” “But you don’t deny you said it!” Addy said, grinning and pointing at her friend. Shea shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Can I help it if I find him attractive?” she asked. Addy shook her head. Then, she grinned at Shea and said, “He seemed to like you too.” Shea brightened as she asked, “You really think so?” “He sure couldn’t keep his eyes from lighting up at the mention of the party, that’s for sure,” Addy said. “And somehow, I d
Shea and Troy moved over to the wall on the other side of the roof. “What did you want to talk about?” he asked as they leaned against the wall. Shea looked out over the city with her hands clasped in front of her. “Where do you think we’re going, Troy?” she asked, staring out at the cityscape skyline. Sighing, he leaned against the top of the wall with his hands clasped in front of him. “You feel it, too, don’t you?” he asked. “Or rather, you don’t feel it.” Shea stood up and looked at him. Reaching out, she put her hand on his arm and said, “You know that I think you’re a great guy, Troy, but I just don’t think there’s that big a spark between us.” He shifted so that he was leaning against the wall on one elbow. “I agree,” he told her. “You’re a great girl, and I enjoy being with you, but it’s just not there.” She put her hand on his arm and smiled at him. He patted her arm, then looked toward the party. “Let’s head back before anyone asks too many questi
Addy turned around to see Shea standing behind her with her hands on her hips, glaring down at her. “Hey, Shea!” Addy said. “I was just talking to Bradford, and we came up with a plan to collaborate on designs for the band.” Shea looked from Addy to Bradford. Her expression softened as she relaxed her hands to fall to her sides. She slid into the seat next to Addy and looked at her. “Tell me more about this venture,” she said, smiling at them. Grinning, Addy said, “With Bradford’s art and my designs, I see a lot of potential for merchandise for Steel Gaze. This could be big for the both of us!” Shea smiled at her friend and said, “You deserve it after everything that’s happened.” Bradford looked at Addy with concern on his face. “What happened?” he asked, then held up his hands. “Of course, if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.” Addy shook her head and said, “Let’s just say I lost a good job in the fashion industry not too long ago, and I’m still l
“Can you believe that girl?” Shea asked, shaking her head as she watched Brooklyn leave the roof. “I swear, she’s got a thing for Cort.” “What?” Addy asked, standing straight from loading the cooler and looking at her roommate. “No way!” “Way!” Shea said, giggling. “Did you miss the flustered way she was acting around him? I’d say our roommate has a crush.” Addy looked toward Kendall with her eyebrows raised. Kendall nodded and said, “I could see it, clear as day.” Throwing her arms in the air, Addy shook her head and asked, “How have I been so blind?” Shea dropped the lid to the picnic basket and came over to hug her friend. “You’ve had other things on your mind,” she said, patting Addy’s back. Addy smiled as Kendall put down the cooler to walk over. She threw her arms around them, joining in the hug. A loud peal of thunder cracked overhead, causing them to jump apart and look toward the darkening sky. “Let’s get the rest of this stuff inside before it starts p
“What do you mean, you think Cort has a stalker?” Addy asked. “What happened?” Brooklyn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she said, “As you know, I went to see Cort to make sure we were good.” Shea and Addy nodded. “We’re cool, by the way,” she said with a slight smile. “Good to hear,” Shea said. “Tell us about the stalker,” Addy said, waving her hand to speed up the story. “Oh, yeah,” Brooklyn said, shaking her head. “When we had finished talking, he went back inside his apartment, and I turned toward the doorway to the stairs. I heard someone calling out to me and turned around. This woman was hurrying toward me with this weird look on her face.” Addy gasped and asked, “What did you do?” “I took a step back, but she got right into my face,” Brooklyn said, her eyes wide. “What?” Shea asked, her mouth dropping open. “Did she say anything?” Addy asked. “She asked me how I knew Cort,” Brooklyn said. “What did you tell her?” Shea aske
“Did you see the look on Shea’s face when Kendall told us that Lewis wanted us all in his next movie?” Addy asked Brooklyn at breakfast. Brooklyn nodded, chewing her bite of cereal. Chasing it down with a gulp of milk, she said, “She didn’t look too happy that he wanted everyone in it.” Addy shook her head, biting into her toast. After swallowing, she said, “I wonder if Shea had the idea that she would be the star of the movie and now feels like we’re butting in on her big break.” “I hope not,” Brooklyn said, frowning. “I don’t want her to think we’re trying to take over her role or anything.” “We can only wait and see,” Addy said. Glancing up at the clock, she gasped and asked, “Is that really the time? I’ve got to get some work in on our outfits before Troy comes to get me for coffee.” She shoved the last bite of bagel into her mouth, washing it down with the last of her coffee before setting her dirty dishes in the sink. “I’ll do them when I get back,” she calle
Friday night came, and Shea rushed around the apartment, getting ready for her date with Bradford. “Girl, slow down!” Brooklyn told her from the couch, glancing up from the book she was reading. “You’re getting me exhausted just looking at you.” Shea stopped in the middle of the room and threw her hands up. “I can’t find my brown purse,” Shea said. “Have you seen it around?” Brooklyn tapped her lips as she thought, then asked, “Didn’t Addy borrow it the other day? She said it went with the boots she was wearing that day.” Shea snapped her fingers and said, “That’s right!” Rushing toward Addy’s door, she pounded on it, yelling, “Open up, Addy! It’s an emergency!” A few seconds went by before Addy yanked her door open. “What’s going on?” she asked, taking the pins out of her mouth. “My brown purse,” Shea said, her eyes wide. “Do you still have it?” Confused, Addy nodded and pointed over her shoulder, saying, “It’s on my dresser. Let me get it.” Shea waited, shifting from