pointed out. “You didn’t have much money, and you knew you weren’t going to get paid well at that job.”
“Yeah, but I thought in New York City, I’d be making a lot more than $20 an hour.”
“Girl, $20 an hour is awesome!”
“Not if rent is $3,000 a month.”
“Touché.” She laughed. “So I think I’m going to be able to get off a week and come and see you.”
“Oh, that would be amazing. When do you think you’ll be able to come?”
“In the summer.”
I pouted. “Oh, that’s ages away.”
“I know, but you know I’m saving so that I can buy a house.”
“I know. You’re lucky, and how’s Charlie?”
“He’s great.” I could hear the smile in her voice. “I’m so happy.”
“I know,” I said wistfully trying to hide my jealousy. Charlie and Henrietta had been boyfriend and girlfriend since high school. They dated in uni, and he proposed to her when we graduated, and now they were finally about to get married. To top it off, Charlie was absolutely gorgeous—and sweet and rich. Henrietta had gotten really, really lucky, much luckier than me when it came to love.
But that wasn’t something I was going to think about right now. I had too many things other things going wrong in my life.
“So did Victoria say when she’s going to…” Henrietta paused, “Actually, maybe I won’t finish that sentence.”
“Finish the sentence. What were you going to say?”
“Well, didn’t you say that she said she could get you guys into a better apartment?”
“Girl, she said a lot of things. I don’t really know what’s going on. I told you, she’s trying to make it as a model—”
“She’s gorgeous, right?” Henrietta cut me off. “Like, I’ve seen photos. She could definitely make it as a model. I know you don’t like her, but stay close because if she makes it, then you make it.”
“If she makes it, I do not make it. Trust me. If she gets keys to a penthouse apartment, she won’t be bringing me.”
“You guys are like BFFs.”
“No, we’re not.” I laughed. “You know that is not true.”
“Yeah, I know.” She giggled. “Do you think I’d be laughing if I really thought you guys would be BFFs? I can’t have you replacing me. You know that, right?”
“No one will ever replace you from my life, Henrietta Chang, you know that, right?”
“I know that, Molly Waldron. I love you.”
“I love you too. But I better go. I’ve got some work to do for tomorrow before I get to the office.”
“Why do you take work home when you make so little money?”
“Because if I didn’t take work home, I’d get fired because I’d never be able to finish anything. I never thought working for a fashion designer would be this much work. Like when I watch Project Runway, they never seem to be doing much in the evening.”
“Girl, that’s because the people in the show are the top designers in the country. They’re not showing the administrative assistants and photographers like you who were doing all the grunt work.” She laughed. “Oh, what am I going to do with you, Molly?”
“I don’t know. But I really hope that I make it past the second round of auditions for this off-Broadway show. It’s a mystery.”
“Ooh! Tell me more.”
“I don’t really know more.”
“What’s your monologue going to be?”
“Shakespeare, of course. It’s always Shakespeare.”
“Hmm … maybe you should change it up,” she suggested.
“Why? I got the lead in every high school play with Shakespeare.”
“Yeah, but there wasn’t much competition at James Alleyne Girls School. In New York City, you’re competing with every Midwestern girl who was the star of her high school drama club.”
“Yeah, I know. And they’re all so much better looking than me.”
“Molly Waldron. You are gorgeous, and you know that. Do not even …” Henrietta paused.
“I know. I know. I know. I’m beautiful, la de da di da.”
“You know you’re beautiful.”
“I’m okay. But everyone’s beautiful in New York, and I’m not skinny, which is a major deterrent.”
“Girl, you’re not fat.”
“I know, but I’m not skin and bones like all the girls here.”
“That’s why you stand out, girl.”
“I don’t know about that.” I heard the door closing. “Ugh, I think Victoria is back home. Let me call you back later, okay? I need to speak to her about the rent and some of the bills because the landlord stopped by today.”
“Oh, boy. Good luck.”
“Thanks, Henrietta. I’ll speak to you soon, bye.”
“Bye.”
Chapter 3
Ethan
The club was packed to the hilt. At thirty years old, I didn’t really enjoy