Page 32 of Any Cowboy of Mine
Sophie’s jaw dropped as her watery eyes obscured her vision. This was the last thing she expected, and yet… she didn’t revolt against the idea like she might have before she’d run into Brad.
Still, it was crazy. Irresponsible.
“You two have got to be kidding,” Brad added, yanking his arm back from the bar when Sam put a hand on it, asked him to take it easy or he’d have to leave. “You’reengaged?” Brad’s voice calmed, but the fire spread from his cheeks to his clenched hands and steely, hard-set jaw.
“More or less.”
“There’s no such thing. That’s like being more or less pregnant. You either are or you aren’t.” Brad paced beside Sophie. With a growing sense of disappointment, she knew whatever had happened between them earlier was long gone. There wasn’t even the possibility of a hookup at this point.
“Well, then, I guess we are. What do you say, hun?” Steve asked Jackie.
“I’d have to agree. I did accept your expensive jewelry.” Jackie leaned her chin up towards Steve, and he met her with a soft kiss, his muscled hand looking delicate under her jawline as he stroked it tenderly. At the same time, she held out her hand, showing off a string tied where an engagement ring would be.
They were serious.
Nothing positive was going to come from her calling out all the reasons this was a horrible idea—and it was. But, with a few drinks in her and in a public place, Sophie couldn’t be as honest or as logical as Jackie needed her to be. Failing that, she would just be happy for her friend.
Truthfully—and she would never tell Jackie, Steve, or especially Brad this—the whole thing was incredibly romantic.
“Congratulations are in order, then,” she stated matter-of-factly. Jackie let go of Steve for only the second time that evening as far as Sophie knew, and wrapped Sophie in the kind of hug she usually reserved for when someone pointed out a sale at her favorite store.
“Thank you, Soph,” Jackie whispered in her ear. She pulled away and added, louder this time, “I know it’s crazy, that no one will believe that we really did fall in love with each other not quite at first sight, but close enough. But I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“Then I’m happy for you both,” Sophie said. She meant it, too, she just wished she wasn’t so nervous for Jackie. No matter how long she and Steve talked, or what feelings sprouted and blossomed, there was still so much they didn’t know about each other. What happened if something big and scary came along in their world? How would they tackle it? As a united front, or as the strong individuals they’d been before tonight? There were too many unknowns for this to sit right with Sophie. Then again, she’d known and dated Drew for five years, and that had ultimately led to uncertainty and failure, so who was she to judge?
Brad stopped pacing and wheeled towards Sophie. “You can’t possibly be serious?”
“Why not, Brad? Look at them.”
Sophie didn’t miss the icy glare Brad shot Steve as he slid in beside his new bride-to-be and sighed. She pulled at his arm.
“Come over here,” she commanded. “Now,” she hissed when Brad didn’t budge. Reluctantly, he followed, his shoulders hunched like she was hauling him to the principal’s office. “Excuse us for a sec, guys.”
When they were out of earshot of Jackie and Steve, Sophie wheeled around to face Brad.
“Well?” he asked, sounding very much like a petulant child. He resembled one too, looking frustratingly adorable with his pouty bottom lip and trembling chin.
“Hey. Don’t you dare take out your bad mood on me. This isn’t my fault.” His face softened, and she continued. “It’s also not our place to tell our grown-up friends what a colossal mistake this is.” She made sure to emphasize thegrown-uppart.
“Isn’t it, though? Isn’t that ouronlyjob here, Sophie? I mean, they just met four hours ago, and you didn’t just help Steve through a divorce that all but killed him and his business. I’m not sure he’ll make it through another heartache like that, so I damn well think itismy job to stop this train before it rides full-force into a concrete barrier and takes no survivors.”
“I know that, and don’t think I haven’t thought about how damn ridiculous this all is, dangerous even. But, here, tonight, is neither the time nor the place to talk them out of it. We can work on it separately from home starting next week and keep each other apprised of what’s going on. It takes months, more than that sometimes, to plan a wedding. We’ll have plenty of time to make them come to their senses. Fair?”
She watched as Brad’s thoughts flashed across his face. First, anger glinted in his eyes, then that faded and his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Finally, he licked his lips and nodded, his face otherwise passive.
“Fine. I’ll give them tonight. But I’m not waiting till next week. I’m starting Operation Break-Up-My-Idiot-Friend first thing tomorrow.”
“If you insist. But can I ask you another favor?” Brad looked skeptical of agreeing to anything else tonight.
“Let me crash on your couch since I’m guessing these two are headed to one of our rooms together?”
Brad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes squeezed shut as if the problem would dissipate if he couldn’t see it. “Yeah, I guess that’s fine. I’m raiding the minibar though.”
“Fair enough. I might join you there. And thank you. For everything.”
Brad grumbled something resembling a response.
Sophie was bummed that the night had gone the way it had, mostly between her and Brad. She liked him and assumed that was reciprocated, but hearing it was “just kissing” to him made her almost regret coming to the wedding at all.
