Read Online What a Girl Needs by Kristin Billerbeck - Free Book Online Page A

seems like more than friends.”
    “We’re friends.” She opens the refrigerator and disappears behind the door.
    Kay, because she’s so straitforward, is a terrible liar.
    “Close friends,” she mumbles. Kay peers at me from over the fridge door. “You were here dyeing your hair in my bathroom. People make themselves at home here. Can I help that?” She continues to unpack the grocery bags. Unlike me, Kay isn’t big on sharing. Curse her private nature!
    “You don’t have your Fourth of July decorations up. Of all the things I hadn’t expected to change around here, it was you, Kay. What is the world coming to if you’re suddenly, haphazard?”
    “I’d hardly call getting my Independence Day decorations out late, haphazard . You need to get a job, Ashley. You’re watching too much ID Network. Not everything warrants a police investigation.”
    “I’m just curious why you didn’t mention him to me?”
    “You tend to be excitable. I didn’t want to excite you. You and your Cinderella dreams. You think everything is a step toward happily ever after.”
    “Regular? You’re saying that I’m like a housewife, instead of a Real Housewife .” It’s worse than I thought. Much worse. My lack of motivation is showing up in my daywear. What happened to Ashley Stockingdale?
    Kay stares at me. “I have no idea what that means. I assume the housewife reference has something to do with your shallow entertainment choices, which I may remind you would have saved you from that horrific hair color.”
    “Never mind.” I’m not in the mood to explain Bravo. “Seriously, do I look that different from when I left?” Maybe my appearance holds the key to what’s wrong with me. “Maybe I left my style ability here in California and I’ve turned into a beige chick from Philly. Am I beige?”
    “Are you what? Ashley, you still make no sense.” Kay’s eyes drift to the remnants Matt left on the back porch, which includes a tool chest, and she rolls her eyes.
    “Thank goodness! His mess bothers you!” I accuse. “I worried that you didn’t even see it.”
    “I wouldn’t say it bothers me, so much as I notice it.”
    “Well, if I seem less me, you seem less you, Kay. Why aren’t the Fourth of July decorations up yet?”
    “Enough with the decorations. Work’s been busy. The house is always a mess when I get home from work after Matt’s been here. I guess I just didn’t feel like rummaging through the garage for the right season.”
    “Rummaging? Please. You don’t have to rummage. It’s all labeled and in calendar order. Give me a break already.” I cross my arms ever tighter, trying to look menacing, but Kay just swishes by me with some pasta and opens the pantry cabinet. “You would have never let me get away with that.” I point to Matt’s mound.
    She looks over her shoulder and into the cozy living room where the building remnants lay. “Matt’s a slob like you, Ashley. You should understand that and I can’t imagine why it would bother you. What’s got you so upset about Matt?”
    “I come here to find my single, chaste friend—who likes everything just so—with a half-naked man in her house wielding power tools. It’s disconcerting. Have you forgotten what he did to you?”
    “Apparently, you haven’t.” Kay looks genuinely hurt. Once again, I’ve said too much, but I’m only trying to help. “Ashley, everyone makes mistakes. How many mistakes did Seth make and you welcomed him back with open arms time and time again? Until he finally broke your heart once and for all.”
    Kay’s right and I know it. But this is not about me. “Stop changing the subject. Matt Callaway, that’s the subject.”
    “I thought it was you being beige.”
    “I’m not beige!” I stamp my foot childishly. “So, if you’re comparing him to Seth, how many times are you going to allow Matt to break your heart before it’s once and for all? I mean, seriously, do you want to take your romantic lessons