There were only two doors on Eden’s floor, one on either side of the hall. Unsurprisingly, Eden’s door was on the backside of the building. She would have ocean views, and Anna couldn’t wait to see them.
David knocked, and the door opened almost immediately. Stella beckoned them inside, looking very springy in a pink-and-orangefloral-printed dress that beautifully complemented the bronze tones of her skin. “Come in. We’re so glad you could make it.”
“Thanks for the invite,” Anna told her. “And I love your dress, by the way. Those colors look great on you.”
“Thank you,” Stella said with a pleased smile. “We thought we’d have lunch on the balcony today since the weather’s so nice.”
“I love that idea,” Anna said. In fact, she was itching to take her bike out for a spin later that afternoon, eager to soak up all the fresh air she could. She paused in the living room to take it in. The space was as fancy and modern as she’d expected, with lots of glass and silver accents. A gray sofa and love seat were the centerpieces of the room. The walls were white and adorned with a tasteful amount of art.
The space had a polished look, as if it had been decorated by an interior designer. Gorgeous but almost too gorgeous? Anna scanned the room and found nothing that saidEden. There weren’t any personal knickknacks that Anna could see. Then she spotted a Grammy on a shelf by the window and walked over to it before she could stop herself.
“That was her first,” Stella said.
“I’m glad she keeps it here where she can see it every day.” Anna gazed greedily at the gleaming gold gramophone. She’d never seen one up close before. Her eyes were drawn to the inscription on the base, showing that Eden had won it for herIn the Cloudsalbum.
Anna remembered watching Eden win this award as a little girl at home on her sofa, dreaming about winning her own Grammy someday. That little girl never could have anticipated this moment. And she still wanted a Grammy of her own so badly.
“She’s waiting for you on the balcony,” Stella said.
Anna took that as a hint not to snoop. She dutifully stepped away from the Grammy and turned toward an open door she presumed led to the balcony. Sheer white curtains billowed in the breeze, and when Anna pulled one of them back, she saw Eden standing against the railing, her dark hair blowing behind her. She had on a loose knit dressin a pattern of blues and grays. Those seemed to be her favorite colors: blue, gray, and black.
“Hi,” Anna said, so as not to startle Eden.
Eden turned her head with a warm smile. “Hi yourself.”
Anna walked out to stand beside her at the railing, staring down at the waves lapping against the sand fifteen stories below. “That’s quite a view.”
“Not gonna lie. I bought this condo for the view.”
“I don’t blame you.” Anna rested her arms on the railing. She could hear Stella and David talking in the living room and was glad for this moment alone with Eden. “You must be down there all the time. I know I would be.”
“On the beach?” Eden asked, and damn, her eyes were really blue right now.
“Yes.”
“Hardly ever, actually,” Eden said. “It’s not so relaxing with a million cell phones in my face. I love to watch the waves from up here, though.”
Anna frowned. “That sounds awful.” It seemed like the worst kind of tease to have that gorgeous beach right there and not be able to use it.
“Just you wait.” Eden’s lips curved in a small smile. “Your time is coming.”
“I guess, yeah ... or at least, I hope so.”
Eden’s smile widened. “This tour might help with that.”
“It might. Thanks for that, by the way. I probably don’t have to tell you how over-the-top honored and excited I am about going on tour with you.”
“Why, Anna Moss, do you mean to tell me you’re a fan?” Laughter sparkled in Eden’s eyes.
“Don’t make me show you a picture of the poster that hung over my bed when I was a girl,” Anna teased, internally chastising herself for slipping back into fangirl mode.
Eden groaned. “You’re making me feel ancient.”
Anna shook her head. “You’re not that much older than I am. You’ve just been famous a lot longer.”
“I’m not?” Eden asked, brows raised.
“You’re what, thirty-six?”