It was the sales guy from the front counter, and it sounded like he was right outside. Julie and Carson tore apart, exchanging wide-eyed, guilty looks.
“Yep,” Carson called out, helping Julie adjust the gown and straightening his jacket and vest. Julie turned her back to him and gestured for him to unzip her. She slipped through the curtain into the other dressing room and quickly threw on her clothes, carefully hanging the gown back on its hanger, using the delicate white ribbons stitched inside.
The sales guy was glaring at them, hand on one hip when they emerged. “You’re not supposed to share a dressing room, you know.”
“Sorry!” Julie chirped.
“We were trying to save the environment,” Carson said, which didn’t even make any sense. Julie covered her mouth, sure she was going to erupt into laughter.
They dashed for the door and doubled over as soon as they crossed the threshold. Julie’s sides hurt, she was laughing so hard. Carson grabbed her by the hand and gave it a squeeze. “You, Julie Redding, are a red carpet knockout. Not to mention really fun in a dressing room.”
Julie felt her cheeks redden. “Right back at ya.”
“Coffee?”
“Café Mud is right around the corner. It’s my favorite.”
“Lead the way.”
They walked hand in hand and found a table on the patio under an outdoor heater. Julie ordered her usual skim latte, while Carson asked for a cappuccino with extra whip. A young couple with a chubby puppy on a leash sat at the table just next to them. Other couples and groups of friends filled the rest of the tables, and there were sounds of chatter and laughter in the air. Julie felt an unfamiliar sensation in her chest. After a moment, she realized what it was: happiness. For the first time, she truly understood what her friends had said at Ava’s house the other day: They were free. They could live their lives. They needed to make the most of that.
Carson reached for her hand across the table. But then a sudden, sharp peal of nasty laughter rang out from across the street. Julie’s head spun around toward its source. Clustered together in front of an ATM were three girls from school. They were looking right at her, and they were talking in quiet voices and cracking one another up.
Julie clenched her hands into fists. She peered around for Ashley, certain she was lurking there, but she was nowhere in sight. Cringing, Julie slumped down in her aluminum chair. Maybe if she disappeared for long enough they would leave.
“Hey. It’s okay,” Carson said, leaning forward. He reached for her hand, but Julie kept both of hers in her lap.
“Ha,” she said, letting out a grim laugh.
“No one is even talking about it at school, you know.”
Julie couldn’t believe how naive that was. “Please. We both know that the moment I come back to school, people are going to be all over me.” She stared at the lattice pattern in the table. “I’ve already been through this, remember?”
“I know. In California. But did you have me back then?”
Julie’s lips twitched into a smile. “Well, no.”
“Those girls over there?” Carson gestured to them. “They have secrets, too. I guarantee it. They’re not perfect.”
Julie snorted. “That’s where you’re wrong. We’re in Beacon Heights. Everyone is actually perfect here.”
Carson shook his head. “Their lives are just as screwed up as yours, mine. Everyone’s. Trust me.”
“How is your life screwed up?” Julie wanted to change the subject.
Carson reached for her hand again, and this time she let him take it. “That’s the thing. It’s not anymore . . . because of you.”
Julie looked away, a lump in her throat. “You don’t have to do this,” she blurted. “You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for me. You’re new in town—and cute, and nice. You deserve a chance at being friends with everyone. Not just the freak.”
Now Carson looked angry. “Stop saying stuff like that! I’ve made my choice, Julie. I’ve never cared about what people think. Now, what will it take for you to come back to school?”
Julie’s lip wobbled. “I’m not coming back.”
“Do you really think things are that bad?”
Julie turned away. “How can you ask that? I’m the laughingstock of the school.”
“Have your friends dropped you? Has anyone sent you disparaging texts?”
Julie rolled her tongue over her teeth. She’d received a few emails from Nyssa and Natalie, but she’d deleted them without opening them, fearing the worst from even two of her closest friends.
“What if I walk you to and from every class? And I’ll kick anyone’s ass who even looks at you funny. How’s that?”
Julie laughed uncertainly, but she started to wonder. Maybe the sight of tall, buff, alarmingly hot Carson by her side would stave off the rest of the kids at school. She didn’t hate the idea of having such a handsome bodyguard.
“Will you come back, for me?” Carson begged.
Julie took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll try it for a day.”
Carson smiled sweetly. “Good.”