Love Me Again, Cowboy

“Thank me when we find her.”

“Still, thank you for being here when I need you.”

“Of course.” I hang up and rush around my house, gathering anything I might need. I already have my purse and keys, so I grab the suitcase I haven’t bothered to unpack and rush out the door. On my way to the airport, I call JulieAnn.

“Darling, are you ready to kill that interview?” she asks.

“Change of plans,” I say and turn onto the freeway. “I’m heading back to Bisbee.”

There’s a pause. “I’m sorry. I must have heard you wrong. It almost sounded like I heard the sound of abandoned dreams and ruined careers.”

“I’m sorry, JulieAnn. We’ll just have to reschedule. Audrey is missing.”

“Who’s Audrey?”

I sigh. “Jaxon’s daughter.”

“Who’s Jaxon? The tasty cowboy who manhandled Trey?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the cowboy’s daughter will just have to get on without you. We can’t reschedule. You stand up Harry Wilson, and it’s over. You will not get another chance at this.”

“Then I don’t get another chance. They need me, and I’m going.” And just like that I’m willing to throw it all away. Oddly, I have no regrets. I know exactly where I need to be right now, and it’s with Jax searching for Audrey.

“Honey, listen. Last I rem

ember, the cowboy dumped you. And now you’re just going to go scampering back?”

Jax is calling through on the other line. “JulieAnn, I have to go.” She starts to protest, but I pull the car over, hang up on her, and switch lines.

“Jax?” I ask, my heart racing.

“We found her.” His voice is full of relief.

I smile. “Oh, thank heavens.” A weight lifts off my shoulders, and I feel as if I can breathe again. I rest my head on the steering wheel and exhale. “She’s okay?” My voice cracks on the last word.

“Yes, she’s okay Malia. She’s just fine . . . still mad at me, but she was at the wishing tree, just like you said. Turns out you know her pretty well too.”

I smile, and my heart warms at his words. “I’m so relieved you found her.”

“Yeah, now you can make it to your audition.”

“Oh, right. The audition.” It seems so inconsequential now. “Yeah.”

“I hope I didn’t make you late.”

“Sunset Tower Hotel isn’t too far from here. I should make it on time.”

“You’ll do great, I’m sure.”

I’m not sure I will. My heart won’t be in it. I left that back in Bisbee. But I don’t tell Jax that. “Will you give Audrey a hug and kiss for me please?”

“Yeah, of course. Good luck, Malia. Really, I hope you get everything you’re after.”

“Thanks.” I hang up and sit there for a moment, the cars driving past me in streaks of red taillights. I open and close my hands on the steering wheel trying to decide what it is I’m feeling at the moment. In acting classes, we learned how to convey many emotions, but I can’t seem to pinpoint this one. For a moment Jax and I were a team again, we worked together to find Audrey. It felt good to be needed by the people I love. But now, I just feel. . . hollow. Jax broke up with me. I don’t have a place with him or Audrey anymore. Before I can think on it further, my phone rings again. It’s JulieAnn.

“I’m heading to the hotel,” I say as a greeting.