As a child, she’d never dreamed of being anaccountant. But after tightly managing the household finances, lesther aunt blow their limited income on manicures and highlights,she’d discovered she had knack for it. Years of working in coffeeshops, the bank, then the vigorous internship at the investmentfirm in Seattle, led to today’s overjoyed response.
Prying the certificate from Sophie’s eagerhands, Pippa admired the page and squealed, throwing her armsaround her friend. “Congratulations. I’m so excited. I’ll text youJane’s info; she’ll be anxious to hear from you.”
As soon as Jane had heard that Sophie wasplanning a career in accounting, she’d been begging for her to comejoin her at Foothills Accounting.Beggingmaybe was toostrong of a word, but she’d been askingmeaningfully. Fromthe moment she’d laid eyes on Foothills, Sophie had wanted to makethe move.
Foothills was aptly named, charmingly settledon the talus of the Cascade Mountain Range, just before theelevation rapidly inclined. It was a charming town with delightfulpeople, of which the Sutherlands were a household name. And it wastucked neatly away from the hustle and bustle of the bigger citiesthat surrounded Puget Sound.
Seattle had beena great change of pace from Los Angeles, but still too much forSophie. Foothills was just right, with the population just overeight thousand. Large enough to be able to hide in the crowd, butsmall enough to not get lost, either.
Tossing her long hair behind her shoulders,she attempted to tame the mass of locks. Neither blond nor brown,but an odd mix of both. Although they were natural highlights, thevariety looked like she couldn’t decide what color highlights toadd and tried a sampling of every shade of blond and light brown atthe salon. With a flourish, she finished the happy dance with a bowand plopped down onto the foot of Pippa’s bed.
Grin as wide as Sophie’s, Pippa dropped ontothe wooden chair across from her friend and teased, “I don’t thinkI’ve ever seen you quite so bouncy before. How much coffee have youhad today?”
“Just two or three cups so far,” she buggedher eyes out in dramatic punctuation.
Pippa’s legs did their own goofy wigglearound her backwards desk chair. “The teacher and the accountant,ready to take on Foothills by storm. We’re quite the sensationalpair.”
Rolling her eyes, Sophie chuckled over theirony. Although Pippa could honestly say she’d always epitomizedthe prim and proper, albeit fun, schoolteacher, Sophie couldn’texactly say the same. But it sure felt good to now have a fancycertificate that announced to the world she was Ms. Stability.
“Shouldn’t Lincoln be here soon? I’m sick ofliving out of boxes. The fridge is completely empty aside from lastnight’s pizza. Which, I already had for breakfast.” Sophie grabbedher gurgling stomach and groaned, a pitiful scowl drooping over herface.
Pippa handed her back her certificate andrested her chin on the back of the chair. Studying her watch, shescrunched her face in careful calculation. “Twenty minutes. Theygave him the runaround at the rental truck office. He actually readevery last line of the agreement, proving himself the tenaciousattorney already.”
“I can’t stop fretting: your parents don’tmind me crashing at their place for a few weeks? Even while you’reaway on your honeymoon?” Although she’d asked the same questiondozens of times over the last few weeks, she still didn’t want tobe a burden. Never wanted to be an inconvenience. Not that she hada complex or anything. Okay, she totally did, but she was reallyworking on that.
Pippa kicked her across the narrow aislebetween the bed and her spot on the backwards chair. “Stop asking.Trust me, they love having you around. I think they’ve put in foran adult adoption. Your picture is on the dang mantle. Mom bragsabout you on Facebook as much as she does Asher and me.”
Trying to not bite her fingernails, a nastyhabit she officially quit five years ago, Sophie settled forletting her knee vibrate at a critically high frequency. “But Asherjust got back what, a month ago? They must have their hands fullhelping him get settled now that he’s back from the navy.”
Rolling her eyes lovingly, Pippa reached herfoot over to still Sophie’s frantic knee jiggle. “It will be a fullhouse, but that’s the way they like it. I worry more about youhaving to live in the same house as my reprobate brother.”
“He can’t possibly be the lecher you’ve madehim out to be. Besides, you know I have too good of self-restraintthese days when it comes to men. If it helps you relax a bit, Ipromise to not have sex with him.” Sophie crossed her heart andraised her hand in a heartfelt salute.
Despite her many trips to Pippa’s parent’shouse, she’d never met Asher. According to Pippa, he maintained analmost laughable affinity for women–particularly Pippa’sfriends.
A picture of him in his uniform resided nextto hers on the mantle. She could certainly understand the fuss.Maybe, just maybe, on lonely nights, she let her imagination wanderand allow a fantasy or two about the sexy SEAL. Not that she’d evertell Pippa, and she told her best friend everything. Hell, theirperiods were synced to the day.
“Before he joined the navy, every friend Ibrought home just ended up straight in his bed. I’d like to be ableto make and keep a friend that is just mine. You can be friendswith him, just please don’t fall for his charms.” She feigned ateasing smile, but Sophie knew it was no joke. Pippa and herbrother had butted heads enough over the years, and the loss of afew friendships due to Asher’s dating habits had been a huge strainon their relationship.
Rising from the bare mattress, Sophie grabbedher certificate and reassured her friend. “I would love to takeoffense that you think I would choose one night with your brotherover a lifetime of friendship with you, but I know you have a bitof a complex about the whole thing–”
Mouth open to defend herself, Pippa couldn’tget her thought out. Sophie talked right over her friend, holdingher finger up to silence her.
“Which I really do understand. And I’llpretend you didn’t just imply that I’m a faithless friend and aslut,” Sophie rolled her eyes and nudged her friend. Yeah, he wasabsurdly handsome, with a body that made her imaginary love lifethat much more interesting, and deliciously creative, but shedidn’t let her libido rule her life.
“I don’t think you’re a slut or a faithlessfriend.” Pippa raised an eyebrow and nodded plottingly, “Actually,I suspect you may just be the one to put Asher in his place. Allgorgeous with those long lashes and long legs. A heartbreaker thatwill finally leave the desperate single men of Seattle in peace, sothey may spend their nights pining away for some other supermodeldisguised as an accountant. When you refuse his come-ons, can youfilm it? I can’t wait to see the look on his face when a womandoesn’t fall at his feet.”
Billy Idol’sWhite Weddingblastedfrom Pippa’s phone. With a squeal of delight, she hopped out of thechair and answered, “Hey, my sexy fiancé. Come on up. Our musclesare primed for heavy lifting.” Ending the brief call, Pippa gazedabout the room. “Let’s get out of this dump.”
It wasn’t exactly a dump, but the apartmentwas in the untrendy section of the university district, far fromthe ritzy shopping centers. Although their apartment may be mustyand tiny, she’d miss it. End of an era.
She blinked back the threatening tears. Thebest friend she’d ever had was getting married in three weeks to agreat guy. Yes, precisely three weeks; Pippa had shared her digitalcalendar which included a daily countdown alert. Sophie was reallyhappy for her. Not even that awkwardly jealous, smiling-and-noddinghappy. She was genuinely thrilled for her friend.
Pippa had planned their futures as sheplanned everything else, meticulously and boisterously. Sophiedidn’t mind; uncertainty was far scarier than a well-mapped plan.Being included in Pippa’s life and family over the last few yearshad been huge for her. Gave her the sense of belonging she’d beendesperate for. Plus, she was excited about her fresh start in anadorable hometown with a great job already lined up.
Sophie needn’t have bothered fighting thetears. After greeting her fiancé briefly, not quite overdoing thePDA, but close, Pippa turned and looked around the apartment. Tearsstreaming down her face, Pippa ran across the apartment to Sophie.“I don’t want to go. I’m going to have to be a grownup now and gohome to a smelly boy every night.”
“Right here,” Lincoln waved from the kitchen.“Don’t worry about me. I’m not offended. I do stink sometimes.” Thewomen ignored him. In a loving way. He was good-natured and a goodfit for Pippa’s wound-too-tightness.
