A Face in the Crowd by Christina Kirby Read Free Book Online Page A

when everything had fallen apart, Simone hadn’t said one ‘I told you so,’ she just handed Lexie tissues as needed and bought the ice cream. And, of course, offered to help Lexie hide the body the way a best friend should.
    She shook her head, trying to put Mike back in the past where he belonged. He was one person who was not welcome to take up space in her life anymore. Even as a memory. She glanced down at her watch. It was almost time to go, but she still had lots of paperwork to do. She tucked herself behind the desk and worked until the night shift nurses were on duty. Rubbing her eyes, she leaned back in her chair, the mere thought of driving home agony in her overtired state. She just wanted to lie down and sleep.
    It occurred to her after she stopped at her locker and grabbed her stuff she hadn’t gotten a chance to stop by Bailey’s room again. She debated whether or not she should skip, but since she had the following two days off, decided to stick her head in for a quick goodbye. After all, she said she would and she hadn’t seen Oliver either.
    As she neared his room, she heard laughter and more than one voice floating through the open door. She lingered outside for another minute and then turned to go. He was obviously busy.
    “Hey, Lexie, is that you?” She froze like she’d been shot with a Taser. Oliver had seen her.
    “Hey.” Nerves firing on all cylinders, she was surprised her voice only shook a little. His bandmates were sitting around Bailey’s bed alongside him. Leather boots and Converse propped around at different points in the room. It hadn’t occurred to her they would still be there. “I was heading out and wanted to see if you needed anything.”
    “It’s late, I figured you were already gone. Guys, this is Lexie, the best nurse around. Lexie, this is Leo, and that toolbox is David, they’re—”
    “I know who they are. Hey guys.” They nodded and smiled by way of greeting. They really were a nice looking group. Not a bad one in the bunch. Simone would die when Lexie told her she’d been within arm’s reach of the entire band.
    “You never told me you were a fan of ours.”
    She turned her attention to Oliver. “You never asked.”
    “This is Georgia. I figured you were more of a country music fan.”
    She pursed her lips. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”
    The other guys were smirking as they listened intently to Lexie and Oliver’s little exchange. Her cheeks grew warm. Being around Oliver alone was one thing, but seeing them all together reminded her who she was talking to. She, Lexie, a mere mortal, alone in a room with Survival of the Fittest. She would’ve fainted if she was the fainting type, but she wasn’t. She was more of a stand around awkwardly kind of girl, which was evident when she realized she was shifting her weight from one foot to the other like she was dancing to some song only she could hear. She forced herself to stop.
    “Okay, well, I better head home. I’ll see you in a couple of days, Bailey. Nice meeting you guys.”
    “Wait, your shift’s over. Why don’t you stay and hang out for a bit?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Her gaze cut to the door. “I’m pretty beat.”
    “Wow, you don’t even have to work tomorrow and you’re wussing out. I thought you were made of tougher stuff, Sexy Lexie.”
    “Watch it.” She pointed a finger at Bailey. “I’m not on the clock anymore. I have no problem giving you a reason to visit the ER again.”
    The other guys snickered at her reply before Leo jumped up and offered her his seat. Though a little unsure, she took it, but leaned as far as possible to one side when Leo propped himself on the arm of the chair he’d just given her. Personal space was clearly not an L.A. thing. She was pretty sure she was having an out of body experience.
    The room remained quiet and the guy’s eyes were trained on her as if they were waiting for her to say something. Panic threatening to take