Page 74 of Frosted Fakes

She swept out without another word. The bell chimed. The door closed.

Julia let out a shaky breath. "I can't believe I just did that."

"Neither can I." Elliott's voice came out rough. "Julia…"

"She had no right to talk to you like that. No right to make you feel small just because you didn't have the same opportunities she did." Julia was trembling slightly, adrenaline and defiance mixing in equal measure. "You're brilliant, Elliott. Your cookbook is going to be amazing. And you don't need her approval or anyone else's to prove that."

Elliott crossed the kitchen in three steps and pulled Julia into her arms.

Julia melted against her, and Elliott held on like Julia was the only solid thing in a spinning world. She could feel Julia's heart racing, could smell the flour in her hair and the remnants of the cake batter on her skin.

"Thank you," Elliott whispered.

"For what?"

"For standing up for me. No one's ever…" She swallowed hard. "No one's ever done that before."

Julia pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Then everyone you've ever known is an idiot."

Elliott laughed, but it came out watery. "I'm scared, Julia. I'm terrified that I'll never be taken seriously. That I'll always be the self-taught baker with no credentials. That my book will just… disappear. Because I don't know the right people."

"Then we'll figure it out." Julia cupped Elliott's face in her flour-dusted hands. "Together. I don't know how yet, but we will. You're not alone in this anymore."

Elliott closed her eyes. Shay's words echoed in her head: Don't push her away just because being happy feels dangerous.

"I'm not good at this," Elliott admitted. "Letting people in. I’ve been doing things alone for a long time."

"I know." Julia's thumb traced her cheekbone.

The kitchen door banged open.

"Oh, for crying out loud." Tara stood in the doorway, looking horrified. "Again? Do you two ever not snog in this kitchen? Some of us have to work here. I’m pretty sure this is a health code violation."

Elliott didn't let go of Julia. "Then learn to knock."

"I did knock. You were too busy being disgusting to hear me." Tara made exaggerated gagging noises as she crossed to the storage cupboard.

Julia laughed, finally pulling back from Elliott's embrace. "You're in a good mood."

"I'm in a traumatized mood." But Tara was smiling as she said it.

Elliott studied her for a moment. Something was different. The baggy jeans, loose and comfortable. The oversized skating t-shirt with a band logo. The way Tara held herself, somehow more settled in her own skin.

Julia noticed too. "New clothes?"

Tara glanced down at herself, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "Yeah. Just felt like a change."

"They look good on you," Julia said warmly. "The shirt's cool. Very vintage skater."

Tara's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thanks." She grabbed whatever she'd come for from the cupboard. "Anyway, I'm closing up the front. The last customer just left, and I need to get home."

"Of course," Julia said. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow." Tara paused at the door, looking back at them with an expression Elliott couldn't quite read. "And maybe next time you want to have a moment, lock the door? Or go to your own flat. Just a thought."

She disappeared before either of them could respond.

Julia turned back to Elliott. "Was it just me, or did something seem different about her?"