Blurred Lines (Behind Closed Doors Book 2) (14 page)

“A security blanket?” I repeat as my best creation yet is revealed. I love this dress. I try not to hold my breath. What will she say?

“‘Course.” She touches the dress I'd lost myself in all afternoon. “There's a part of you in your designs. It was sort of comforting when I didn't have you around. Sean was great but he never handled the girlie conversations well.” She rolls her eyes. “You know, guys, shopping, period pains.”

“So you talked to my portfolio?”

She gasps. Her head snaps up, her gaze locks with mine. “I never said that.” Her eyes turn back to the sketch. Her fingers trace the pencil marks. “Talking implies a two way conversation.”

I snicker, but I'm deeply touched by her confession. It's not very often Ashleigh reveals what's deep inside. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze. “I missed you too.”

“I want to wear this,” she tells me. “In August.”

“What?” I know I'm impersonating a goldfish but... what did she just say?

“This is the most beautiful gown I've ever seen.”

My heart swells with pride and something else indescribable to me because this is my best friend and she's willing to stake her career and reputation as a style icon, not on something I picked from a talented someone else but on something I've designed. I don't know what to say. For a few moments, I look into the future and see my dreams blooming into beautiful bouquets of velvety pink roses, my own couture line. Wayne will be so...

The flowers wither and die beneath the dread burning in my tummy. Our relationship is not in the kind of place where I can ask him for this and if I try, his temper will blow up in my face. It'll be because it's a work thing. He'll only see it as something she wants and never something I've wanted for my entire life. My dreams are insignificant from the only angle he'll look at this from. And, reaching for them is not worth the heartache that follows one of his outbursts.

“Ashleigh.” I shake my head, knowing this is the safest option all around. “I...I can't. You're one of the most talked about actresses in America at the moment. If I screw this up you'll be talk of the gossip columns for all the wrong reasons.”

She frowns. “You couldn't screw this up.”

“This is the biggest night of your career so far. You're not established or eccentric enough to wear an unknown designer.”

“Do you think I care?” She actually laughs as she shakes her head. “Do you honestly think I give a damn what they write about me in the press?” Of course she does. Why else does she have a secret second life? “Can you see this dress on the red carpet, Jules?” She has a dreamy look in her eyes and I feel transported from the study to the imaginary red carpet in my mind. I can. I see all of my gowns. “People are recognizing your name, Julia. It's the perfect platform for you to launch the label you've always wanted. I want to show the world how talented you really are.”

“I can't.” I shake my head. “I don't have time.”

“I'm sure your boss will give you all the time you need.” She winks at me. “Liv will help you out.” Ashleigh glances at my sketches again then looks back up, her eyes on fire and I wonder what's made her so furious so suddenly. “You're making excuses,” she challenges me. I feel like I have a spotlight burning down on me. “If you're worried about the money then I’ve told you that I'll invest everything you need.” She couldn't have made her intention clearer; she wants me to tell her the problem is Wayne. So she can air her unhelpful opinions of him. I don't know why I let myself get backed into these corners, by both of them. It's so tiring being the one stuck in between them when neither of them will back down. Can't they just give it a rest? Please.

“It's not that simple, Ashleigh.”

“Sure it is.”

“Now you see that thing about me reminding you about being single?” I force a light hearted tone in my voice as I say what she wants to hear. “I'm doing it again. What will my husband say?”

Ashleigh scowls. “I know what he should say.”

“Please, Ash, don't start this again. He's my husband and I love him. Can you please just leave whatever problems you have with him at home?” But she has that look in her eyes that says 'not in this lifetime.' “When you find the one, you'll learn that you can't be selfish anymore.”

“Hey, I’m not selfish.”

“Actually, Ash, if you look selfish up in the dictionary, there’s an image of Krystal.”

“Hey!” Her jaw drops open.

“Hey nothing, you are because you can be. But I can’t and I wouldn't dream of doing something as huge as this without consulting him first. Honestly, I don't know how your future husband will cope once you're married.” She looks stunned for a moment. In fact, I'm stunned. Her scowl challenges me to dare explain myself. “It can't always be all about you.” Oh okay, I guess I dare. “And things can't be your way all the time. You'll have to consult him once in a while.” I roll my eyes and add, “The only person you've ever been willing to make allowances for is Sean and even he's dead to you now.”

Her reaction is like a reflex and snaps at me. “As if Wayne ever consults you.”

“Ashleigh!” I cry out in desperation. “Sometimes, I wish you'd remember you're not really Krystal Valentina because I like the Ashleigh who's not influenced by the super bitch so much more. She's my friend and she cares about my feelings. You obviously don't care about anyone else anymore because you have been impossible since Christmas.”

She looked back at the dress but I don't think she's actually seeing it. A wet splash hits the back of her hand and protects my sketches. “The Ashleigh you like keeps screwing up. Everyone is mad at me right now.”

“What are you talking about? Everyone loves you right now.”

“Yay.” She rolls her eyes. “To everyone who doesn’t know me, think I’m awesome. To everyone who matter, I’m a selfish bitch, not worth making the effort for.”

“Ash? Of course I think you’re worth the effort. Who’s—”

“Mimi.” And my jaw drops open again. “She’s pissed because she made an effort to see past what I did to her and came to LA for Christmas. Mom’s pissed because I didn’t. Dad’s more than pissed because he’s still trying to sort out the mess I made when I ran off set without warning.” Her eyes go to the picture of Sean and Stephi on my desk. “And Sean—”

Suddenly, my head engages with our previous conversation about her New Year's Eve celebrations and I gasp. “You slept with my brother, didn’t you?” She shakes her head and this time I don’t believe her. She’d have denied it if that was the truth. “You did. At Christmas. And now he represents the very thing you fear the most, and writes about you in the news.”

She dries her cheeks with the palms of her hand. Apart from her puffy red eyes, it's as though she hasn't just confessed she still loves my brother and would do anything to make him happy. “To hell with him.” More tears water in her eyes and she furiously swipes at them. “I'm never covering his ungrateful ass ever again. I'll—” She stops. Bites her lower lip and squeezes her eyes shut. “I'll never survive it.”

“Oh, babe,” I say, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. “If Sean's 'the one—‘”

“He’s not.” She shakes her head against my shoulder. “He can’t be. Not ever.”

“You think it’s that easy because you have everything your own way, huh?” I ask with a little humor to lift my voice. “I’m sorry, babe, but only time can heal a broken heart.”

“Gawd, Julia!” She cringes and pulls away. “That was so cheesy.” She half sniffles and half snickers as she wipes her cheeks again. “Anyway, where’s the champagne? We have stuff to celebrate.”

Chapter Fourteen

“It's just one dress for one night,” I reiterated for the thousandth time as I hear the front door close. Wayne's boots scrape along the hardwood floor outside the study. How had she roped me into making the dress for her? My gaze finds the half empty bottle of sparkling white wine on the desk. There's another one outside, completely empty and forgotten about as we brought our celebrations inside. I have my answer. We'd started celebrating her award nomination. So now I really must get it through to Ashleigh that this is a one off. I’ll never do it again.

“Are we going somewhere?” Wayne asks, and when I frown he repeats my comment that he overheard.

“No. Not us, babe,” I say, crossing over to the doorway and greeting my husband with a kiss. “Ashleigh's been nominated for Best Actress.”

“Really?” He lifts his brows and then his gaze snaps across to the desk where the bottle of wine and two half empty glasses reside. “Wow, congratulations, Ash.” He raises a brow in my direction as he says, “So I guess the early celebrations were in order.”

“Thanks, babe,” she sings sickly sweet at him and I want to cringe. “And yes they were. I'd ask you to join us.” She picks up her glass and drains it. “Because not even you can spoil my mood for me today.” She stands up and digs out her car keys as she gathers up her bag. “But I have to go and tell Mom.”

“You're not driving anywhere.” Wayne snatches the keys from her hand. “You're wasted.” She shrugs and looks at me. Wayne tracks her gaze until he's looking at me. “You both are.” I think he's amused. “Maybe I should drive you home and Julia can bring you back to your car tomorrow night.”

“Fine,” she sings, stepping forward. “Julia can drive my car because I love her.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “Love you.” Wow, she is wasted if I – in my merry state – can tell she's had too much. She plants her lips against my cheek. “See you later, babe.”

She saunters out the door and Wayne hands over Ashleigh's car keys to me. I look at him. “You're really going to drive her home and then give her an excuse to come back?”

“I'm being the bigger person,” he says, letting me know he's not at all happy about taking her home, about our drinking in the middle of the day, about everything he's just stumbled upon when he arrived home from work. “I guess you forgot about the games tonight?” he asks as he kisses my cheek.

“What games?”

“The guys from the precinct and their families are gathering on the beach. I told you about it last week.” He had? When? I don't remember that. And I would have put it in my calendar so I didn't forget. “Try to sober up before we go. With that stupid non-disclosure agreement she had us sign, I can't very well explain that you're drunk because you were celebrating with Krystal Valentina all afternoon, can I?”

#

Wayne slams the front door so hard the windows rattle. “Is it true?” he demands.

Is what true? I clatter down the stairs showered, dressed in a simple floral maxi dress ready for an evening at the beach, and follow him into the study. He reaches for my sketch pad and I know what's happened. Shit! Please tell me she hasn't told him.

“Is it true when she wins that award she'll be wearing this?” He shows me the sketches as he says, “An exclusive from the Julia Swift couture line?”

Before I have chance to explain he says, “This is out of this world.” He cocks his head to one side. “Why are you wasting your talents on some half assed television actress who really doesn't give a shit if her career soars or sinks? You throw everything into this so called job you do for her, and your entire career rests on Ashleigh's success and you can't see she doesn't give a damn about you. If she did she wouldn't be gloating when she knows how pissed I'll be about it.”

Honestly, right now I have no idea why I'm working for Ashleigh. I know she's told him on purpose. It's like I never asked her to drop it at all. And in this moment I hate her. I really hate her because she knows how much this will wind up Wayne. Didn't we just have a conversation about how difficult she's been recently? And it's all forgotten through her selfishness. And hadn't I told her how much it will annoy Wayne if I do make the gown without talking to him first? And what does she do? She goes right ahead and says I've agreed anyway. I want to hit her.

“She promised she wouldn't say anything until I'd spoken to you,” I hiss in a way that brings another glare my way and quickly mumble an explanation, “I said I'd only do it if you were okay about it.”

“In that case,” Wayne shakes his head, “you're not doing it.” He tosses the sketch pad on the floor and walks away.

“What?” I'm torn between picking up the scattered designs and fighting for what I want, because if I stay here long enough to pick them up then the matter will be closed.

Wayne suddenly appears in the doorway. Something tells me he expected me to follow. He wants to fight. He's made my decision easy for me. I drop to my knees and begin collecting my sketches into a neat organized pile, exactly the way they were before he tossed them like trash. How could he?

“Do you think she'll let it rest with this one dress?” He glares at me. “Honestly, Julia,” he reprimands me with a shake of his head. “You know her better than that.” I want to protest that Ashleigh is happy with our agreement. But he's right. Once she gets one, she'll just keep asking for more. “There's talk of that stupid ice queen performance getting nominated for best guest appearance when they announce the primetime nominations next month and what about that movie? The critics are going wild for it. I can name five occasions where she'll want a Julia Swift exclusive in the next eight months alone. And you know you can't say no to her.” Again I went to protest but he scuffs at the drawings with his feet, crumpling and marking my pride and joy with his boots. It's like a jab straight into my heart. “And why are there a million different designs already? Is this all for one dress?” Again I open my mouth to explain but he cuts me straight off. “Don't tell me lies, Julia. I see what's going on here. She's got into your head and you're keeping the truth from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm talking about these.” He stomps his foot into the middle of my sketches and I want to cry. “What are they, Julia? Where did they come from?”

“They're ... They're for my portfolio.” My lower lip trembles because he's just destroyed them all. I don't understand why was he's so angry. “I've been working on them for years. It's just a hobby now. Something to pass the time when you're not here.”