Uptown Girl by Olivia Goldsmith Read Free Book Online

completely irrelevant but Bina was like that. Before she selected anything from a menu she had to know what you were having. Kate shrugged, picked up her selection and tossed it over to Bina. ‘Just for my toes, I think.’
    â€˜God, Kate,’ Bina said as she looked down at the bottle of nail polish that had landed in her lap. ‘That looks like black. You aren’t going Goth, are you?’
    Kate shook her head. ‘It is not black, it’s a very deep aubergine.’
    â€˜Is that what it’s called?’ asked Bina.
    â€˜No,’ said Kate. ‘Actually, it’s called Chanel’s Despair.’
    â€˜Well, no wonder,’ replied Bina. ‘If my toes were that color I’d despair, too.’
    â€˜There’s no excuse for you,’ Kate admitted aloud.
    â€˜That is so funny I forgot to laugh,’ Bina responded. ‘But not as funny as your face.’
    â€˜Okay, Bina,’ Kate began. ‘You’re …’
    â€˜I’m rubber. You’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you,’ Bina taunted.
    Kate took a sip of her champagne. ‘Why do I feel like I am back in a session with a very troubled eight-year-old?’ she asked.
    Bina didn’t say a thing. Kate looked at her and realized her face had changed. It looked … hurt or self-protective.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ Kate apologized. ‘It’s just I am around kids all day and … well, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.’
    â€˜Oh, no. I’m not hurt,’ Bina assured her. ‘I’m just a little scared. And I can’t think of any more old insults,’ she admitted. ‘Wasn’t there something about a screen door on a submarine?’
    â€˜Same old Bina,’ Kate said, smiling at her irrepressible friend.
    â€˜Same old Katie,’ Bina slurred. The champagne was clearly starting to get to Bina, and, looking at her friend, ready to take such a big yet inevitable step, Kate shivered, though the salon air conditioning was just pleasantly cool rather than cold. Jack had never been her cup of tea – and he certainly was no glass of champagne – but he seemed loving to Bina, her family liked him and … well, looking across at Bina, sweet pedestrian Bina, Kate had to admit that Jack was probably a good match. Kate was torn between bursting into tears and laughing out loud. Bina smiled at her, slightly cross-eyed. ‘I love you, Katie,’ she said.
    â€˜I love you, too, Bina,’ Kate assured her, and it was true. ‘But no more drinks for you. You’ve got a big night ahead of you.’
    Bina took a last sip of champagne. Then she leaned over, close to her friend. ‘Kate,’ she whispered. ‘There’s something I’m dying to ask you.’
    Kate steeled herself. ‘Yes?’
    â€˜What’s a toe waxing?’ Bina inquired.
    Bina’s tone made it sound obscene. Kate laughed. ‘You know how sometimes there is a little bit of hair on the knuckle of your big toe?’ she asked.
    Bina pulled her foot out of the Jacuzzi andstudied it. ‘Wow,’ she said. ‘Look at it. Eeuuyew.’ One of the Asian women turned to look at the other and both started to giggle. Bina’s face turned a bright pink. ‘It’s kind of icky,’ she admitted. ‘Like Big Foot. God, Katie, you’re making me feel like a freak. But I never noticed it before.’
    â€˜Well,’ Kate continued, ‘after it’s waxed off, Jack won’t either. You can let him kiss all your little piggies with pride.’
    For a while they chatted about Bina’s plans for the wedding, places to go on the honeymoon and a little bit about Michael. Then, after cuticle cutting, more foot massage, filing and the mysterious toe waxing, they were painted and prepared for their manicures. ‘Get your ring finger ready,’ Kate told Bina. ‘So, what color have you