Southern Charm Read Online Free PDF Page A

warning . . . it knocked the wind out of me.
    The waiters removed our plates.
    â€œShe hasn’t officially been out since the divorce, you know,” Emily continued, leaning over me so Julie could hear. “We’ll set up another shot with Tabitha just for you in a few minutes, now that the rest of the photographers have left.”
    Julie nodded. “Fine.”
    I couldn’t help but wonder if all editors were this grumpy. I pursed my lips, dying to tell Emily about my history with Tripp.
    â€œAnyway,” Emily continued, “you know Tabitha. I bet she’ll talk your ear off.”
    It’s a good thing Emily was speaking under her breath, because Tabitha had somehow made her way over to our table and was now standing behind Emily, holding a glass of champagne and waiting for Emily to notice.
    I gasped a little, suddenly feeling like I needed a much better outfit, a nose job, and a professional blowout.
    â€œEmily, darling,” she said. “Where is Bazaar ?”
    I glanced over at Julie, who seemed even more annoyed than usual, then back at Tabitha, who was searching the room with an exasperated look on her face.
    Caught in the middle, Emily attempted to appease both parties.
    â€œTabitha, you remember Julie Greene, don’t you?”
    She shot Tabitha a pointed look.
    â€œJulie! Julie, darling, of course,” Tabitha said. She waltzed over to Julie and took her hands. Julie pursed her lips and huffed. “How are you?” Tabitha continued, oblivious. “How is Glenda ? The three of us must do lunch. It’s been way too long. It’s a crime!”
    Julie’s expression was just short of a sneer.
    I glanced at Tripp and I think he smiled at me. But it was more like his eyes squinted first, and then his teeth showed a little, and then he turned red and looked away. I wanted to smile back, but then I noticed that Tabitha had a What are you looking at? expression on her face, and decided I should probably refrain from saying hi to Tripp. For now, at least.
    Then Richard Fitzsimmons appeared out of nowhere.
    â€œGirls. Girls,” he said. He pointed at Tabitha, Emily, Julie, and then, much to my surprise, me. “The four of you. Let’s do a picture.”
    Emily immediately refused, citing that she was under strict rules not to be photographed at her own events. “Okay, fine,” Richard said. He looked at Julie, who was also opting out, minus an explanation. Which left Richard with Tabitha and me. I gulped and glanced at Tabitha, half-expecting her to laugh in my face.
    â€œDarling,” Tabitha said. She gestured toward me. “Come over here.”
    I shuffled over to her side feeling like a deer in headlights. I could see Tripp out of the corner of my eye, taking it all in.
    â€œLook at her, Richard,” Tabitha cooed, turning her body to the left so it formed one long, lean line for the camera. She placed a bejeweled hand on her jutting hip. “You’re new.”
    â€œShe’s my latest discovery,” Richard said.
    I smiled meekly and looked at Emily, who was standing to the side of the spectacle with a curious look on her face. She twisted a strandof hair around her finger and tilted her head to the side. She squinted and released the tiniest of smiles.
    I was taught how to pose for a photo the moment I could stand straight on my own, but when Richard lifted his camera, I don’t know what happened—I froze. My arms hung at my sides, hands slack and motionless. The flash went off several times. With each pop, with each blast of light, Tabitha turned slightly or lifted her chin or smiled in a different way. I just stood there, terrified.
    When Richard was finished, he kissed Tabitha on both cheeks and pointed toward me. “I’ve got your name, kid,” he said.
    All at once, everyone in the room knew that it was time to leave.
    In the midst of waiters sweeping the tables of any remnants of food, I attempted