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Julie gave up on the drawer and turned back to her closet, totally unfazed by Allie’s outburst. “Wouldn’t you be happy to support him if your roles were reversed and he wanted to start a new business?”
“Well, yeah, I guess so. But that’s different.”
“Now who’s being sexist?” She pulled out a black top that looked as if someone had slashed it into ribbons, and paired it with a red skirt still on the hanger. “And how are you and Jonas so different? It sounded as if you got along great.”
“He grew up in Old Westbury, and I grew up in Kensington.”
Julie looked up with an incredulous stare. “Uh, Allie? You need to figure out what the real issue is, because that is just plain stupid.”
Allie dropped her eyes, calming her temper before she responded. Maybe it was stupid to Julie, and maybe it was true that Jonas wouldn’t care, but Allie did. And her caring this much, right or wrong, meant it was a real issue. “Our lives have been so different, it’s like we can’t connect. We’re fine flirting, fine chatting, but when it comes to real sharing...”
“Okay.” The black pants were off and flung onto an already-loaded chair. Julie stepped into the red skirt. “So how did he react when you told him how you grew up?”
“I didn’t tell him.”
“What? Why not?” She zipped up the skirt. “I forgot about this skirt. I like it.”
Allie peered over the side of the bed. “Didn’t you wear that on your date with Kendall the night he—”
“Stop!” Julie held up a hand, turning side to side in front of the mirror. “Not another word about that creep. This skirt is the only one I’ve tried on today that might work, and if I think about him I won’t want to wear it. So why didn’t you tell Jonas?”
“Because it wasn’t the right time. We were having a great, fun fantasy time together.” Allie sighed. Julie would never understand. “Why bring my ugly reality into it?”
“You know, the only person who really can’t handle your childhood circumstances is you. I bet Jonas would be fine.” She’d struggled out of the black shirt, having gotten herself hopelessly tangled in the slashed ribbons. “Damn it. Now I remember why I never wear this thing. Can you help?”
“Sure.” Allie took the top and started following the fabric strips from the side and shoulder seams, trying to figure out what belonged where, and where Julie’s head and arms fit. “I do see your point. But I think I made the right decision.”
“I think you’re using something that hasn’t been a factor in your life for over ten years to keep people from getting close to you.”
“I do not mind getting close to people.” Her temper rose again. “Hold your arms still.”
“To keep men away, then. And don’t bring up that Raymond story. He was a jerk.”
“He was, but case in point.” Allie had been crazy about Raymond at the time—of course hindsight was twenty-twenty—and things had been going well between them for nearly a year. Then he’d come to her mom’s apartment to meet the family. Her brothers had gotten into a huge argument, her mom drank a whole bottle of wine after three cocktails and insulted Raymond’s taste in food and music, and a cockroach had run across the kitchen floor while they were washing up. Things went from special to splitsville within two weeks.
“I love your family.”
“When you come over, my brothers can’t talk because they’re drooling too much.” She moved the last strip of fabric to the right place and pulled the shirt back over Julie’s head. “Ooh, we have a winner!”
Julie turned to the mirror and smiled. “I’d rather have what you’d designed, but yeah, okay, this will do.”
“You look fabulous. Have a great time tonight.”
“Do me a favor.” Julie caught her arm as she passed her. “No, two favors.”
Allie rolled her eyes. “Uh-oh.”
“One, stop trash-talking your family. The only person who comes out looking trashy is you. Two. Think seriously about taking this job you’re not really excited about. Life is too short to piss it away on things that don’t really matter to you.”
Allie clenched her teeth. Easy for Trust Fund Julie to say. “I get that, but—”
“Think about it.” She gave Allie’s arm a shake. “Just think seriously about it.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll think seriously.” She met Julie’s eyes and softened her voice. Her friend was worried about her and trying to help. “I promise.”
