Page 48 of Any Cowboy of Mine
“Ha-ha. I know I’ve changed a little,” Jackie began, but Sophie shot her a look. “Okay, a lot. I’ve changed a lot,” she corrected herself.
“If you mean you’re unrecognizable to the cynical one-night stand queen I was living with, then yes, I agree. Continue, please.” Sophie went to her jewelry stand and selected a pair of blue-green peacock feather earrings to compliment the shoes Jackie had given her.
“Now who’s the cynic? But seriously, Sophie. Last week taught me that I had no reason to be so closed off. I hope it didn’t do the opposite with you, that you still believe in love, because I want that for you as much as I do for myself.”
“God, you really have changed.”
“I have, but I hope you haven’t,” Jackie said, her voice and smile serious now.
“I haven’t,” Sophie conceded, gathering her purse, phone, and a small faux-leather jacket from the small closet closest to the door. It wouldn’t do much to guard her against the cold, but it was better than nothing. “Yeah, I’m a little jaded between Drew and Brad, but ugh, yes, I still believe I’ll find someone. I’m hopeless through and through when it comes to sappy-love crap.”
Both girls smiled, and Jackie embraced her friend, squeezing Sophie so tight she could barely take in a breath—another first in the PDA department for Jackie.
“Good. Let’s go have fun then and see whether we can find you that Mr. Right.”
“I’d settle for Mr. Right-for-right-now,” Sophie said, and made for the door. She got the distinct feeling this conversation meant something more, something deeper, but she couldn’t wrap her head around what just yet. She didn’t have the mental stability to dissect it tonight, however. Leave that for the new year. Before she could make it two steps, however, Jackie grabbed her by the arm, as firmly as she’d just hugged her. Sophie spun around, confused and momentarily concerned.
“What gives? You told me to go out tonight, to have fun. Can’t we just do that without any major speeches or anything? I mean, you’ve barely been by to see or talk to me. Why now?”
“Soph, I know I’ve been a shitty friend lately, but promise me you’ll try,” Jackie said. She was even more cryptic than ever.
“Fine. Whatever. Can we please just go have a good time now?” She didn’t mean to sound so bratty, but she would have been perfectly happy indulging in another round of Ben, Jerry, and whatever Hollywood hunk she could find to pair well with them. It was Jackie who’d insisted she get her party shoes on, literally.
“We can.” Jackie’s carefree, devil-may-care grin returned, immediately putting Sophie back at ease. She marveled at her friend’s ability to shape-shift like that—be super serious one minute, and her normal, suspiciously-up-to-something self the next.
They took Jackie’s Prius to the party, Jackie reasoning that if Sophie needed to, she could take it home, but if she found a guy to do the job for her, Jackie’s car could stay at Steve’s like it had the whole week. Sophie had only agreed if she could drive. It had been a week of solitude, and she wanted the feeling of being in charge again, even if it just meant she was in charge behind the wheel.
Sophie talked the whole way to Steve’s, surprising both her and Jackie with a steady stream of jabber that was so unlike her. She filled Jackie in on her new job, how exciting it was to have an offer, albeit one that wasn’t a perfect fit, so soon after leaving Drew’s. She also expressed her not-so-secret fear that even the pro bono part wouldn’t be as amazing as it looked on paper. It felt good to talk to an actual human again, not to the TV, or to the ineffective cyborgs at the office.
“It looks like everything is finally coming together, even if it’s not perfect yet,” Jackie said. Sophie could tell Jackie wanted to say more, but couldn’t, or wouldn’t. While she normally would have badgered it out of her, she could barely concentrate. Her teeth chattered the whole time she was talking, and her legs shook in solidarity as well.
“I think it’s about time you got a new car, Jackie. This POS won’t heat up until summer,” Sophie complained. She could see her breath for crying out loud.
“Steve’s going to fix it on the second. One of the perks to being engaged to a mechanic,” Jackie said, a smirk playing on her lips. Sophie knew that look, and also knew it meant something was brewing behind it. “Also, I can’t afford a new car. We’re saving for the wedding, remember?”
“Yeah, but you’ve got plenty of time to do both. When are you thinking of setting the date, speaking of?” Sophie tucked one of her knees up under her, not caring about how awkward she must look in her miniscule sheath, or that it made driving awkward.
“Well, I’m happy you brought that up. We sort of already did.”
Sophie whipped her head around to look at Jackie, her mouth open wide enough to fit one of Joe’s subs without too much difficulty before she shook the stupefied look off her face and turned her attention back to the road.
“Talk about burying the lead!” She hated that Jackie had the excuse of Sophie driving to get out of looking at her. She wanted to be able to read between the lines with Jackie on this one, and that meant seeing the way her eyes betrayed the whole truth.
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I had to wait until we were out of the apartment or you would have wanted to hear the details, sit me down, talk me out of it, you know… I wanted you to be the focus tonight.”
“Well,yeahI want to hear all the details,” Sophie screeched, incredulous at the fact that Jackie seemed to think she could get off so easily. “But I’ve never once after that first night tried to talk you or Steve out of it. I think it’s romantic. Plus, at some point, I’m going to be helping you plan, right?”
“You’d freaking better.”
“So, when is it?”
“Valentine’s Day.” Jackie’s eyes remained pinned to the road in front of them as if she was the one driving.
“Of next year?” Sophie asked. She had a hunch she wouldn’t like the answer that was coming.
“Nope. Valentine’s Day two months from now.”
“Lessthan two months! That’s six weeks, Jackie!” Sophie sounded shrill and unforgiving, but she could barely contain herself. The car swerved. No wonder Jackie’d let her drive with no complaints.
