Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista Read Online Free

track of what you spend?” Sasha asks accusingly.
    I drop my hands from my face, completely humiliated. “I don’t know,” I say softly, feeling like an idiot.
    Because I should have known I couldn’t afford those sunglasses.
    And my parents were so proud of me the other day when I told them how well I was managing my new, urban lifestyle. Taking the train, paying bills promptly, having cash reserves in my account, unlike college when I had to call them for money on a regular basis.
    Shit. Shit . I can’t ask them for money now, not after telling them what a grown-up I’ve become since moving to the city.
    But I don’t feel like the grown-up I’m supposed to be. I’m nothing more than a cash-poor girl who has more money on her Starbucks card than in her checking account.
    “Think,” I say out loud, jumping off the stool and pacing back and forth. “I have no money. I’m out of groceries and my check won’t hit my bank account until next Thursday night . . .” I draw a deep breath of air, hoping Sasha would say something encouraging. Like my best friend Bree would.
    Bree and I have been best friends since first grade. She went to the University of Arizona, but Bree’s moving to Chicago in a week. I can hardly wait. She’s coming back to the Midwest, with her boyfriend Alex, and she’s going to live in Lincoln Park, too. We’ll finally be together again, and I’m so excited to have my best friend back for good.
    But Bree isn’t here yet.
    Sasha gets a thinking expression on her face. “Well,” she says slowly, “I suppose I could loan you some money until you get paid.”
    I exhale deeply, not even realizing I’d been holding my breath. “Oh, Sasha, I really, really would appreciate it. Thank you so much. I swear I’ll pay you back in full on Friday, I promise.”
    “With interest?” Sasha asks.
    I bite my lip. Sasha really is all business when it comes to money. But that’s probably why she’s sitting on a fortune and I only have a $330 pair of sunglasses to show for my first month of working in the real world.
    “Of course,” I say, ashamed. “With interest.”
    “We’ll go with the current fed rate,” Sasha says, swiping an icon on her phone. “Okay. I’ll do an electronic transfer tonight.” Then she glances at her watch. “I’m going to change, but then we should go eat. We can get some guys to pay for our dinner tonight.”
    I frown as she walks away. I don’t like using guys for free drinks or meals. I only want a guy I really like to buy me a martini. Someone I’m interested in, someone I want to talk to and get to know better.
    Someone like Sullivan.
    So if I had to, I could use my MasterCard for dinner. It was a better option than having some random guy I have zero interest in buy me dinner. It’s just not honest.
    Then an idea of brilliance hits me. I have $35 dollars left on my Starbucks card. So I could get juice and a sandwich there and it won’t be anything out of my pocket.
    Suddenly I’m impressed with my own resilience. I’m going to make it through my financial crisis just fine.
    Because that’s exactly what the nation will expect of Avery Andrews, career woman extraordinaire.
    And that’s exactly who I’m going to be.

Chapter 3
    I take in a nervous breath of air as I check out my appearance one final time. Deke Ryan will be here any minute now to interview me for Arrivals & Departures.
    And I want to make sure I’m camera ready the second he comes through the door.
    I’ve gone a little heavier on the makeup than usual, so I don’t appear washed out on camera. I have sexy, smoky eyes, and I’ve put this fabulous Chanel pink lipstick on.
    Suddenly the intercom buzzes, notifying me that someone is downstairs.
    “He’s here?” Sasha cries, running out of her bedroom and into mine. “I’m not even ready yet!”
    I turn and study Sasha, who is in a white terry cloth robe. Her long hair is messily piled up on the top of her head, and only one eye is made