Page 49 of Barron's Second Chance
Grateful for the change of subject, she smiled around a mouthful of toast.
"August 20. It's fashion week in September. New York first, and then I fly out to Milan for their fashion week practically straight after. I have fittings and rehearsals leading up to it," she explained.
"That's so cool! You have the best job," she sighed wistfully. "Do you get a lot of free stuff?"
"Sometimes," she replied. "But remember what I said at our talk? It's hard work, and you have to make a lot of sacrifices sometimes."
Bailey nodded in remembrance, but she could tell that the girl's thoughts were consumed with all the beautiful clothes she got to wear, the places she traveled to, and the free merchandise she was sometimes gifted.
Barron was silent across from them. His face was stony, and his jaw was tightly clenched. She was unsure what part of their conversation had caused that reaction,
Thankfully, their conversation moved on to lighter topics, such as Bailey's schoolwork and the tricky dynamics of her friendship group. She enjoyed listening to her animated chatter as she recounted how she had bested a frenemy of hers.
As they unhurriedly demolished their food, she relaxed into her chat with Bailey, even extracting the name of her crush and swearing herself to secrecy through a very serious pinky swear.
Barron stayed quiet opposite them, slowly eating his burger and fries while his mind seemed elsewhere.
After they finished and Barron had paid the bill, ignoring her protests, they stepped out into the hot sunshine.
Eden was ready to make tracks and hole herself back at her Mom's place. As much as she loved seeing and chatting with Bailey, having to slug through their high school days had given her mixed emotions of happy nostalgia and sadness.
"Can we get that manicure you promised me now?" Bailey turned to Barron to ask.
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "You guys are getting mani's ?"
"Baileyis," Barron clarified as his cousin giggled beside him.
"That's what we came for, but then Barron saw you through the window and asked me to do lunch first instead."
Her eyes shot up to Barron, noting the guilt on his face.
"Oh, really?" She queried, lifting a brow at him.
"Uh, Bails, why don't you run ahead to the nail salon? Here's my card. I'll catch up with you, I just want to say bye to Eden."
'Okay!" With a tight hug to Eden, the girl took Barron's card and ambled down further to the salon.
Barron turned to her, grimacing at the annoyed glare on her face.
"Eden, I'm sorry -"
"Using Bailey to ambush me is pretty low, Barron," she firmly told him. "I don't know why you keep hounding me. We said all we needed to say that night in your office."
"We still have a lot more to say. You know it, I know it. I can't let you go, Eden."
Her heart kicked up at that passionate comment, but outwardly she remained impassive. "So, what's your plan? You want me back; you want to be friends?" She shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand what your end game here is."
"I just... I just want to be in your life again. Any way I can."
"I don't know if that's whatIwant. And you're not giving me the time or space to work through it."
He held up his hands. "That's okay. Eden, the ball's in your court. I just want to know that you're open to talking more with me. We need to clear the air about our past; then we can move forward."
She huffed her breath out in annoyance. "Move forward to what? I can't promise you anything. I have a lot on my plate right now -"
"Yeah, leaving in September and jetting off to Italy," he grumbled, his voice sounding childishly annoyed.
She took a step back. "Excuse me? What does that mean? This is what I do for a living."
