But despite my doubts, I found myself typing back.
Vivienne:Monday works. What time?
Julian:Seven? I'll text you the address. And Vivienne? You're going to bring this piece to life!
I set my phone down and returned to my essays, but concentration was even more elusive than before. Every few minutes, I'd catch myself wondering what he would design for me, how it would feel to wear something made by his hands.
Get it together,I scolded myself.It's just an outfit.
But even as I thought it, I knew it wasn't true. Nothing about Julian Thorne was ‘just’ anything.
The afternoon passed in a haze of half-graded papers and wandering thoughts. I was contemplating ordering takeout for dinner when my phone rang. Melissa's name flashed on the screen.
"Viv!" Melissa's voice was bright and breathless. "Oh my god, I have so much to tell you. I met the most incredible man last night—"
"Wait." My grip tightened on the phone. "That's it? That's how you're starting this conversation?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you completely abandoned me last night, Melissa. I waited at that club for over an hour. I texted you, called you. Nothing."
There was a pause. "Oh. Right. Sorry about that, but you're not going to believe what happened. I was at my hotel’s bar, and this gorgeous guy—"
"Are you serious right now?" My voice rose with frustration. "You left me stranded at an exclusive club where I knew nobody, wearing clothes you made me buy, and you want to jump straight into talking about some guy you picked up?"
"Vivienne, calm down. It's not like you were in danger or anything."
"That's not the point!" The words came out sharper than I'd intended. "The point is that you made plans with me, convinced me to dress up and go somewhere completely out of my comfort zone, and then you just… vanished. Without a word. Do you have any idea how that felt?"
Silence stretched between us. When Melissa spoke again, her voice was smaller. "I...I'm sorry. Really. I got caught up in the moment and I should have texted you. That was really shitty of me."
The apology took some of the wind out of my anger, but hurt still lingered. "It was shitty, Mel. I felt like an idiot standing there waiting for you."
"I know. I'm sorry. Look, I'm still in town until next Sunday. Can I make it up to you? Lunch tomorrow? My treat, and I promise to grovel appropriately."
Despite everything, I found myself softening. Melissa had always been flighty, even in college. It was part of her charm and part of her frustration. "Fine. But somewhere good. And you're buying me dessert too."
"Deal. I'll pick you up at noon?"
"I'll meet you there. Text me the address."
After we hung up, I felt oddly deflated. The conversation had reminded me why Melissa and I had drifted apart over the years—her tendency to get swept up in her own drama and forget about everyone else. But she was also the friend who'd driven twelve hours to help me move out of my ex-boyfriend's apartment junior year, who'd held my hair while I threw up after too much cheap wine, who'd celebrated with me when I got my first teaching job.
People were complicated. Friendships were complicated.
Kind of like whatever was happening with Julian.
Monday morning arrived gray and drizzly, matching my mood as I prepared for another week of teaching teenagers who would rather be anywhere else. But even the prospect of discussing World War I with distracted seventeen-year-olds couldn't completely dampen the anticipation humming beneath my skin.
Tonight, I would see Julian again.
The morning dragged by in a blur of lesson plans and pop quizzes. During lunch, I drove to meet Melissa at a trendy café downtown, a new place that served eighteen-dollar salads and called them ‘artisanal.’
Melissa was already seated when I arrived, looking effortlessly polished in a way that made me suddenly conscious of my worn cardigan and sensible flats.
"Viv!" Melissa stood to hug me, all air kisses and expensive perfume. "You look good. Teaching really suits you."
"Thanks." I settled into my seat, noting that Melissa looked exactly the same as she had in college—perfectly highlighted hair, expertly applied makeup, clothes that had designer labels.
