Page 87 of The Unraveling of Julia

“No, I’m defending myself!”

“You could’vekilledme!”

“Whatareyou doing here?”

“I came to bring you home!”

“Why didn’t you call first?”

“I knew you’d tell me not to come!” Courtney brushed down her T-shirt, which she had on with jeans and red cowboy boots, and Julia sighed, calming.

“Since when do you have cowboy boots?”

“You said you were in the country. I got them in Jackson Hole.”

“It’s Tuscany, not Wyoming.”

“But they’re cute, right?”

“Totally,” Julia had to admit.

“Anyway, you could’ve killed me. I know you’re mad at me, but this is ridiculous.”

“I’m not mad at you.”

“Youaremad at me. And I’m mad at you.” Courtney puckered her lower lip. “We’re in a fight. Our first one ever.”

“It’s not a fight, it’s a disagreement.”

“Whatever, it sucks.”

“It does. It really, really does.” Julia hadn’t realized how much it hurt. “It was so nice of you to come.”

“I was worried about you.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.” Courtney walked toward Julia, and Julia walked toward Courtney. They put their arms around each other, and Julia buried her face in her friend’s shoulder, warm, familiar and smelling of Chanel’s Chance, a perfume she’d worn forever. Courtney hugged her back. “I was too judgy, Jules. You know how I get.”

“No, it’s me, I know it is, It’s just that there’s so much going on… and it’s crazy and… I knowIsound crazy.” Julia felt her tears begin to flow, without knowing why. Maybe there were so many reasons they all came together, like streams into a river.

“Everything’s going to be okay.” Courtney rubbed her back. “We’re going home.”

“No, I can’t, Gianluca might die!” Julia blurted out, crying harder, and Courtney gathered her up, moved her to a kitchen chair, and got her a glass of water and napkins to blow her nose. In time they started talking, and Julia told her about Gianluca, including how she heard him in her mind, then she watched her best friend for a reaction.

“Go ahead, laugh,” Julia said, starting to smile. “You know you want to.”

Courtney burst into laughter. “Mental telepathynow?”

“I’m telling you, I heard him!” Julia pushed her playfully, then started laughing, and they both laughed until tears came to their eyes.

Finally Bianco lumbered in, his tongue out.

Courtney looked over at him. “He’s not a good watchdog.”

“He’s on drugs,” Julia told her. “So am I.”

“What?” Courtney asked, her smile fading.