Looking for Trouble (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 1)

She wanted to curl up under the blankets and cry some more, but that was probably a pretty good reason to listen to her friends. “Okay,” she sighed, then smiled when the whole couch bounced with their celebration. “But I won’t look pretty,” she warned.

“We don’t care,” Isabelle said. “We’d still do you.”

“You’re so sweet.” She stood up and trudged toward the bathroom, then winced when she saw her eyes. She really did look like she’d been crying all day. And night.

Fifteen minutes of intensive reconstruction made enough of a difference that she could go out without looking like a hospital patient, but she wasn’t quite up for heels and stockings. Instead, she pulled on the jeans she’d worn the other night and a loose cashmere sweater. Maybe the ivory color would make her look innocent. She grabbed her brown leather boots and rejoined the girls.

“Oh, my God,” Lauren exclaimed. “You look almost presentable! Good job.”

“Thanks.”

“Let’s go. I’ll drive. Your only job is to get drunk.”

“And ruin Isabelle’s reputation.”

Isabelle gave her a thumbs-up.

Despite Sophie’s bravado, her stomach hurt the whole way to the bar. She clenched her hands tight and tried not to change her mind. She could quit her job, move back home, order everything she ever needed online. She’d never have to see another person again. After all, she’d never been brave about anything. Why start now?

She opened her mouth to say she didn’t want to do this, but Lauren slapped her leg. “We’re here!”

“No,” Sophie groaned. “The saloon?” This time of year, it would be packed with locals. “Why don’t we go to that wine bar on—”

“Oh, did I forget to tell you to wear your big-girl panties? I must have, because you’re obviously wearing some sort of inferior underwear.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t. Have you eaten anything?”

“Yes. I made a pot of mac and cheese for breakfast and then I ate it all day.”

Lauren got out and rounded the car to open Sophie’s door. “Good. I don’t think pretzels will be able to absorb this much alcohol.”

Isabelle gave another thumbs-up.

Sophie really did love these women, even if they were pains in her ass right now. No one else had bothered to check on her today. Her dad was dealing with his own sorrow. And her brother was a shit. And Alex...Alex had moved on. Good riddance.

So why did she have to blink back tears as she got out and followed her friends into the Crooked R Saloon?

It had just been a fling. And he didn’t understand her. He didn’t know what it was to have other people depend on you. He was selfish and placeless and—

“Stop frowning,” Lauren ordered. “Look like you don’t give a damn.”

“I need a drink,” she snapped.

Lauren poked Isabelle. “Go talk to that hot bartender. Sophie needs a martini, stat. We’ll find a table.”

Sophie glanced behind the bar and almost spun around. Benton was there. A really cute, really sweet guy that she’d accidentally slept with when she’d thought he was only here for one ski season. She didn’t want to see him tonight. She didn’t want him to see her.

But when he glanced up and caught her eye, he just offered a wide grin and a wave. He didn’t look pitying or scandalized. She waved back.

His hair was done up in wild twists tonight. They should have made him look a bit mad. Instead they made him look like an even-more-beautiful sibling of Lenny Kravitz. He had to be the most popular bartender in town, but he still had a friendly, open smile for Isabelle as she leaned close to order.

He was nothing like Alex, who scowled way more often than he smiled, and who would definitely move on like she expected him to. He didn’t know how to listen or comfort. He didn’t seem to know what she wanted to hear. But he also made her shiver with something close to fear when he touched her and told her what he wanted.

Shit.

“You’re frowning again,” Lauren said as she tugged Sophie to a table and sat down. “But that’s okay. No one is even looking at you. See?”