Skinny Love

2. BLOWING OFF STEAM

CHAPTER TWO
BLOWING OFF STEAM
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"Mommy!" She whined into the speaker, stomping her tall heels against the dingy city pavement, slightly annoyed. "You do this every time I go out, I'll be fine. It's gonna be me, Lizzie, and some others from the company. I'll be too bombarded with attention tonight to get into any sort of real trouble."

Her mom let out a defeated sigh. "You know I'm not trying to be overbearing mama, it's hard having a beautiful daughter, you'll understand one day." She joked away in her smooth southern accent weakly. "Just be safe, okay?"

"Yes mommy." Julie whispered softly. "Always."

"And you know I'm proud of you, right? I know it was hard growing up, being different from everyone, looking different, but like a tree to the wind, you never blended, never changed. You've always been my talented, strong baby girl."

"I'm an adult..."

"Look at you now!" Her mom ignored her little quips and continued. "My baby's a three time best seller, soon to be editor, your cooking is even getting better. You're all grown up! I remember when you couldn't even spell your name without asking for help. If only your papa in heaven could see our baby now, he'd be so proud of his little girl.." Julie could practically hear her mom tearing up through the phone.

Julie assured and reassured her mother until Lizzie ended up having to step in. "Everything okay? Can't continue the party without the star of the show."

Hearing it through the phone, Mama Jones took that as her cue to leave her daughter to her fun.

"Okay, enough with little old me, have fun, okay baby? You deserve it. And congratulations. Let Lizzie I say hi, that Irish brat hasn't called to check on me in a month! I could be dead. Tell her I miss her, would'ya?"

Julie smiled at the ground and itched the back of her neck shyly. "Thanks mommy. I couldn't have done it without you. Your support, thank you for it. And I will the Irish brat now."

They hung up and Lizzie already hunched over her lighter, stealing drags from her cigarette.

"I thought you quit."

"I thought you'd stop calling your mom 'mommy' in public."

The pair stared at each other motionless before busting into a fit of laughter. "Habits." They chuckled simultaneously through snorts and gasps.

"Come on, everyone's waiting and fighting over who gets to buy Ms. Julianna Jones a drink."

Julie scoffed playfully, "who can handle all of this? As if."

Lizzie shrugged before interlocking their arms. "Who knows. Who can handle this shy little minx?"

When they walked inside, the music seemed 10 times louder. Luckily, it wasn't anything too intense. The room filled with a serene neo jazzy rhythmic tune, the pair shimmied and danced their way across the crowded bar. After spotting some familiar faces, she gracefully glided her way over to her peers. They cheered when she came into view.

"Julie!" A loud voice exclaimed. "Purr! Get your butt over here girl. You need a whole bunch of kisses after writing that masterpiece."

"Gavin!" Julie giggled back, excited by everyone's enthusiasm. Gavin's short frame waddled playfully over to his friend and jump excitedly when their hands met. They'd been at the bar for about 30 mins, safe to say, she had some catching up to do in the drinking department, everyone seemed to be drunk besides her.

It felt nice, being the center of attention, receiving bundles of congrats, yet again. This was the third time in only two years that she'd found herself on the best sellers list. Writing initially was a hobby, she used to want to be a policy writer and be an advocate in that way, but after one semester she wrote her first best seller, she got lucky and realized that it was her true passion. Since then, she'd been steadily making her name known in the writing community. Julianna Jones, writer of love, longing, and advocacy, all beautifully wrapped in a 1000 paged book.