Ripped at the Seams (7 page)

“Oh, very mature,” Rain teased. She looked out into the hallway, where Bruce was making his way to the apartment. “You must be Bruce,” she greeted him.

Bruce smiled as he approached the door. “That's me,” he replied. “And you must be Rain.”

“The one and only. Come on in. Sami's almost ready.”

Bruce walked into the apartment and looked around. “I used to live in a place like this when I first moved to the city.”

“Really?” Rain said. “But you don't anymore?”

Bruce smiled. “I've moved on. Now I'm in an elevator building on Eighty-second and Riverside, just off the park. Good thing, too, since I'm on the fourteenth floor.”

Rain nodded with recognition but didn't say anything. She knew the neighborhood Bruce had mentioned—small, overpriced apartments in prewar buildings. People paid for the address, not the accommodations. “I'd offer you a snack, but the refrigerator's kind of empty,” Rain told him. “I've been teaching Sami the fine art of take-out.”

“That's okay,” Bruce replied. “I grabbed something on my way here.”

“So where are you guys going?” Rain asked, flopping down on the couch and folding her legs into a long pretzel.

“I thought we'd hit Promise for a while.
Sami's never been to a club in the city, and I figured that's a good place to start.”

“It's certainly one of the big names in New York nightlife,” Rain replied. “Me, I like the smaller places. You know, neighborhood bars, local clubs.”

“Well, to each his own,” Bruce replied, a bit dismissively for Rain's taste. He looked at his watch. “I wonder what's taking her so long?”

“I just had a few more finishing touches,” Sami told him as she made her entrance from the bedroom.

Bruce jumped up from the couch. “Whoa, look at you!” he exclaimed.

Sami looked down at her black dress. “Do you like it?” she asked shyly.

“Oh, yeah,” Bruce assured her. “Is it one of your own designs?”

Sami nodded. Actually, it was one of the bridesmaids' dresses from Celia and Al's wedding. Sami had spent the morning turning it into something appropriate for a New York dance club by trimming the skirt so it had an asymmetrical hem. She'd had to sew the whole hem by hand since her sewing machine was still back in Elk
Lake, but from the look on Bruce's face, it had obviously been worth it.

“Well, come on, we need to show New York what a Sami Granger original looks like!” Bruce urged, taking Sami by the elbow.

Sami smiled.

“Don't wait up,” Bruce told Rain. “I plan to have this magnificent creature out dancing all night.”

“Oh, I'll be up,” Rain assured him. “I'm just like a vampire. You know, asleep all day and awake all night.”

Promise was crowded by the time Bruce and Sami arrived at the club. People were lined up three rows deep by the bar, and the dance floor was filled with sweaty couples moving to the beat of the music. Sami recognized a few of the songs—one by Shakira, another by Justin Timberlake, and one she was pretty sure was by Madonna. They were similar to songs she'd heard on Top 40 radio, except they'd been remixed to include a dance beat.

“You want a drink?” Bruce asked her.

Sami shook her head. “I'm underage.”

“No one here cares about that,” Bruce told her confidently. “Come on, have something. It'll loosen you up.”

“I really just want a Coke,” Sami insisted. The truth was, she didn't want to loosen up too much. This was her first time in a real New York club. She wanted to be totally alert and take it all in.

“Coming right up,” Bruce said. “Wait right here. And don't go dancing with anyone else while I'm up at the bar. Tonight you're all mine.”

Sami watched him as he headed off for their drinks. He really was remarkably handsome, and he seemed so confident and comfortable in this environment. While Sami found the lights and the music disconcerting, Bruce seemed as relaxed here as he did in the office. Despite the crowd of people around the bar, Bruce somehow managed to maneuver his way right up to the front of the line. Within a few seconds he was joking with one of the bartenders while their drinks were being poured. Sami expected someone to argue that Bruce had butted in front of them, but no one complained. It was as though everyone around
him just assumed Bruce was someone deserving of special treatment.

Which was saying a lot. Bruce wasn't the only good-looking guy in the club. Everyone there seemed to be beautiful and stylish. It was as if the bouncer outside the club would only let attractive people inside. Sami looked at herself in the mirror. Sami had never thought of herself as particularly beautiful, or particularly unattractive. She was just Sami. But tonight, among all these gorgeous New Yorkers, she felt suddenly awkward, as though this were some sort of club that she never could have gotten into on her own without someone like Bruce as her sponsor. It wasn't a very good feeling. She hoped that one day she'd feel as though she really fit in, the way Rain and Bruce so obviously did.

“Here you go, one Coke,” Bruce said as he returned to Sami and handed her the drink. He held out his martini glass. “To us,” he toasted.

Sami clinked her glass against his. “To us,” she agreed.

“Let's dance,” Bruce suggested.

Ordinarily, Sami would have begged
off. She wasn't big on dancing in public. That had always been Celia's thing. At their school dances, Celia had boogied the night away while Sami had stood off to the side, chatting with friends and making mental notes on how she might change the design of the dresses other people were wearing. But tonight, Sami wanted to dance. She didn't know if it was the excitement of being out with Bruce, or just the overall vibe in the club, but Sami was happy to place what was left of her Coke on a nearby table and follow Bruce onto the dance floor.

Bruce was an excellent dancer. He rocked smoothly to the beat, his arms and legs moving just enough to be cool without being too affected. As they danced together, Bruce moved close to Sami until she could feel his warm breath on her neck. Feeling him so close made Sami want to shiver. She had to fight the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and pull his body against hers.

“Whew, I'm getting hot,” Bruce said after he and Sami had been dancing for quite a while. “You want to take a break, get some air?”

Sami shrugged. “Sure, if you do.”

“What, you're not tired?”

“Nope. This is all too exciting.”

Bruce wrapped a strong arm around Sami's waist. She tensed slightly and then relaxed against his elbow. “We've been here for over two hours,” he told her.

Sami looked surprised. “Really? It didn't seem that long at all.”

“Time flies when you're having fun,” Bruce murmured lazily in her ear. Sami had to fight to keep her knees from buckling as she followed Bruce from the club.

“I'd better take you home,” Bruce said as they reached the street. He put out his arm and waited for a taxi to come to a stop in front of them. Then he opened the car door and let Sami hop in.

“First Avenue and St. Marks,” Bruce told the driver in his sure, confident tone. Then he leaned back on the seat and wrapped his arm around Sami's shoulders. “Did you have fun?” he asked her.

“The best time in my whole life,” she replied honestly. “I've never been anywhere like that before.”

“I've never been out with anyone like
you before,” Bruce replied. Then he leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

At first Sami thought to remind Bruce that the taxi driver could see them through his rearview mirror. But the power of Bruce's kiss knocked any rational thoughts from her brain. She found herself slipping quickly under Bruce's spell, and she kissed him back with a passion that matched his own. Her back was pressed against the car door, but she could barely feel the handle jabbing into her back. Her mind was elsewhere; all she could think about was the warmth of Bruce's body leaning against her own, and the soft wetness of his lips as his tongue struggled to meet hers.

“Um, ‘scuse me, pal,” the cab driver said as the car came to a sudden stop. “But do you want the near or far corner of St. Marks?”

The sound of the driver's voice shocked both Sami and Bruce back to reality.

“This is fine,” Bruce mumbled as he sat up abruptly.

Sami opened the door of the cab and stumbled out. Her legs felt all weak and jellylike as she stood on the pavement.
Bruce paid the driver and got out onto the sidewalk beside her. “Oh, you don't have to—” Sami began.

“Door-to-door service,” Bruce assured her. “Besides, I'm not ready to say goodbye to you just yet.”

Sami smiled at him as she fumbled around in her handbag for her keys. Then she opened the door and she and Bruce began the long climb up the stairs to the apartment.

Sami could hear music coming from her apartment before she reached her door. There were also the sounds of people laughing, and a strange smell she didn't recognize leaking out into the hall.

“Sounds like your roommate's got a party going on,” Bruce remarked.

“Well, it's Saturday night. I wonder who's here?” Sami replied as she unlocked the door and walked inside.

There certainly was a party atmosphere in the apartment. Rain was sitting on the floor surrounded on either side by tall, thin, blond boys. One had long straight hair; the other, a crew cut and a soul patch growing on his chin. All three of them
were laughing and sipping on beers. Across the room, Vin was busy by the stereo, looking through the CDs with the help of a tall, willowy brunette who was obviously flirting with him. Vin, however, didn't seem to be noticing.

“Hey, look who's home—it's the design darlings!” Rain shouted across the room. She stood up and waved her arms. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the toast of the New York fashion world, Sami Granger and Bruce … Bruce … what did you say your last name was?”

“I didn't,” Bruce replied. He turned to Sami. “I think your roommate is drunk,” he noted, rolling his eyes slightly.

“Shows what you know,” Rain told him. “I'm not drunk. I'm not high. I'm just in a great mood. We're celebrating.”

“What are we celebrating?” Sami asked.

“I got a gig!”

“A what?” Sami asked.

“A gig. A
job,
” Rain explained. “I'm going to be on the runway when Mollie Mack displays her new line in the fall!”

“Oh, Rain! That's awesome!” Sami raced over to hug her roommate.

“Mollie Mack, eh?” Bruce mused. “Is that old hag still designing?”

“Of course she is,” Sami replied, not noticing the disparaging tone in Bruce's voice. “Mollie Mack is huge!”

“She's been around forever,” Bruce commented.

“And she's still really hot!” Rain informed him.

“I guess,” Bruce agreed. “I just meant that she's sort of yesterday's news.”

“Oh, and you're today's news?” Rain asked.

“Well, Ted Fromme is, anyway,” Bruce said. “And I design for him.”

Sami began to sense the tension growing between her roommate and Bruce. “I think this is great, Rain,” she congratulated her. “And maybe one day you can be in one of our shows too.”

“You never know,” Rain agreed, lifting a bottle of Diet Coke to her lips.

“So, did you have fun?” Vin asked as he made his way across the room and gave Sami a friendly peck on the cheek.

Immediately, Bruce moved closer to Sami and put his arm around her waist.
“We've been dancing the night away,” he told Vin. Then he stuck out his free hand. “Bruce Jamison,” he introduced himself. “And you are …”

“Vin DeSanto. I live across the hall from these two wild women.”

“Vin's an unbelievable carpenter,” Sami told Bruce. “A real artist.”

“Is that so?” Bruce murmured. He seemed utterly uninterested.

The two men eyed each other, but neither said a word. Instead, Rain stood up and raised her soda bottle high. “To New York's fashion world!” she shouted. “Long may we reign!”

“Speaking of which,” Bruce said, turning his attention back to Sami, “could you bring that portfolio of yours to work on Monday? If the designs in there are anything like this dress you're wearing tonight, I think Ted would be very interested in seeing them.”

Sami threw her arms around Bruce's neck. “Oh, Bruce! I could just kiss you!” she exclaimed.

That was all the encouragement Bruce needed. He placed his lips on hers and kissed
her long and hard, running his hand through her hair for extra effect. For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence in the room.

“Marking his territory,” Sami heard Vin whisper to Rain.

“Like any other dog,” Rain whispered back.

Sami was sitting in the living room sketching when Vin knocked on the door on Sunday morning. “Hey, wake up, you sleepyheads!” his deep voice called through the door.

Sami walked over and opened the door. “You're too late, Mr. Alarm Clock,” she teased. “We've been up for hours.”

Vin walked into the living room. He stopped for a moment, listening to the CD playing on the stereo. “Mmm … a Bach concerto,” he remarked. “I gather Rains not here.”

Sami shook her head. “She went out for a run about an hour ago. Then she said
something about a manicure and pedicure. She's got a big meeting over at Mollie Mack tomorrow. Sorry.”

“Don't be sorry,” Vin replied. “Who said I was here to see her? Besides, I love Bach.”

“You do?” Sami sounded surprised.

“I was raised on classical music. Of course, in my house it was mostly Italian opera, but I'm a huge fan. It's nice to have company around here. Your roommate is more the headbanger type.”

“I know. But that's kind of neat too. It's new to me. And there are actually some good melodies hiding in there from time to time.”