When Girlfriends Chase Dreams by Savannah Page Page B

over a guy. I’ve been with Conner from practically day one in college, and my two “boyfriends” in high school weren’t really a reason for a broken heart. Even though I detested the guy Lara was with, and even though I really wanted her to pick up and move on with another guy—in search of that perfect love story—I can understand that sometimes it just doesn’t work. Like the pieces aren’t all right or the stars in Orion’s Belt are all skewed, and you’re just not really feeling it.
    I’m really happy, however, that she seems into this Nathan guy. If he’s as sweet and nice as Lara says he is, and if he’s as hot as Matt, then Lara might be on her way to a happily-ever-after.
    As for Emily, that’s another story. Sheesh! God help that girl. She’s always in and out of relationships!
    “Good for you,” Lara says to Emily, high-fiving her.
    “And? What else?” Jackie presses Emily. “You know I could call Matt up and find out what’s going on—God forbid.”
    “I didn’t know you two were good friends,” I say. I thought Jackie and Matt only worked together once upon a time when Jackie was actually employed, however short-lived it was.
    “I wouldn’t say we are,” Jackie says. “I mean a little bit…a while ago, at least. I was trying to set Matt up with Lara after all.”  
    I nod.  
    “I wouldn’t know anything anymore, anyway.” Jackie tosses back a sip of her newly refilled glass. “Seeing how Andrew probably wouldn’t be too fond of me dialing up that number again.”
    I remember that day. Andrew’s temper got a little out of hand and, to make a messy story concise, he accused Jackie of having an affair because of her routine contact with this Matt guy. Jackie said it was in the name of finding love for a friend of hers, and after a huge blowout that resulted in them slightly trashing their living room, Jackie and Andrew eventually made up.
    Lara, who’s probably the closest to Jackie, could dish more about it. She’s always helping Jackie out, taking care of her, sopping up the spilled milk kind of thing. Poor Jack. At least things seem better now. Even if it isn’t an ideal setup with Andrew often being gone, at least Jackie found herself a man to love her unconditionally. I mean, a man who will turn a house upside down because he’s afraid of losing her to another man—a twenty-something waiter, at that! Maybe I’m a cheesy romantic and find it a teensy bit sexy…
    “Well, tell, tell,” Jackie says, trying to pump Emily for more information about her new love connection.
    I love this! Love is all around. Lara’s finally found a guy who seems to be a smart match, Robin and Bobby are steady, Jackie’s married, I’m going to get married, and now Emily’s with Matt… That pretty much takes care of all us girls except for Sophie. But I think she’s married to her café for now, at least that’s what she’s always saying. I’ll have to try and set her up anyhow…
    “Matt and I have only been out a few times,” Emily says. “Things are fun.”
    “Fun?” Robin says quizzically. “What does ‘fun’ mean?”
    “ Fun? ” Jackie gasps. Her eyes are wide and a smile is starting to grow.
    “You know,” Emily says in a tone that is oh-so-telling.
    “Emily, I mean no disrespect when I say this,” Sophie starts, “but you get around more than anyone I know. More than Jackie ever did, before she met Andrew. No disrespect to you, Jack,” she says, turning to Jackie.
    Jackie doesn’t seem to be bothered. She’s working on her wine.
    “I don’t get around that much, Sophie,” Emily says defiantly. “You make it sound like I’m some kind of tramp.”
    “I don’t mean that!” Sophie puts up a hand. “No, no. That came out wrong. I’m saying that you always seem to find yourself—”
    “In some guy’s bed?” Robin finishes for her.
    “No!” Sophie flips her long, straight, brown hair over her shoulder. “Not at all. Em’s always finding herself in