I glanced at the box she was carrying, and noticed my name and address on the label. That made me raise an eyebrow. “You came all the way here for the delivery? Wouldn’t it have been easier and more protocol-appropriate to drop it at my house?”
“I didn’t want to just leave it outside,” Jackie answered with a quick shrug. “I heard there’s been a porch pirate in the neighborhood, and I’m not letting people steal your packages on my watch.”
“Oh,” I said, smiling, before I gestured for her to follow me to the office. “Thank you, then. Should give you a review somewhere. Five stars, above and beyond. You know, something that could get you closer to a raise.”
Jackie waved that off with a giggle. “Ah, I’d rather you told me how things have been going… Love-life wise.”
I didn’t answer until we were in the office and the door was safely closed. Even then, I double-checked that there was no way anyone could be eavesdropping. Finally, I took the box from Jackie and put it next to the desk, before she and I both took a seat.
Jackie was leaning forward curiously, like she was waiting for an incredible revelation. To be fair, I did actually have one, and I had been burning to share it ever since it happened.
“Okay, so something happened,” I admitted, and watched Jackie’s eyes light up. “Ash came over the other day, and Calder caught us.”
Jackie gasped dramatically. “And then? Were you in the dog box? I mean, they do all know about each other, don’t they?”
“Actually,” I paused, taking a deep breath for the extra effect. “I didn’t get in any trouble at all. Calder kind of… Joined in.”
That revelation had Jackie leaning back in her chair and staring at me like I’d just won the Superbowl. It was good toknow that she didn’t judge me for it, or at least didn’t think that I was some kind of completely horrible person. I’d been nervous about what her reaction would be like, but I was already feeling relieved.
“You’re kidding,” Jackie finally breathed, clapping her hands together. “Both? At the same time?”
“Mmhmm,” I answered conspiratorially, realizing that I was blushing; though not from embarrassment. It felt great to be telling someone. “You don’t think that’s too greedy, do you?”
Before answering, Jackie fervently shook her head. “Absolutely not. Frankly, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity if I was in your shoes. Let’s be honest; anyone would have. Whoever says they wouldn’t is lying. I mean, girl,two firefighters at once?It’s a dream come true.”
I had to agree with her on that one. I still couldn’t really believe that it had actually happened, and that it probably would again. And beyond that, it was possible that next time, Beck would be there too.
“But there’s a third one, too, isn’t it?” Jackie pointed out, as if she’d been reading my mind. “You think he’s going to come to the party, or is he going to cause drama?”
I honestly didn’t believe that Beck would be the kind of guy to start something like that. Plus, if Calder and Ash were game for sharing, I was almost sure that he would be, too. Then again, this whole situation had been unpredictable, and I wouldn’t know until it happened.
“I think he’ll be willing to try,” I shrugged with a sly smile, and that made Jackie clap her hands together again. The light in her eyes was encouraging, but at the same time, I was feeling slightly bad for her.
The way she was talking had me convinced that she was living vicariously through me, and all of her opinions and advice would be affected by that. I didn’t blame her. From what she’d told me, she was trapped in the world’s most boring marriage. But there had to have been a reason that she’d fallen for her husband in the first place.
If she was wild when she was young, how had he actually tamed her? What was it about him that had drawn her in? Had their love life been far more exciting before the children came along, or was there some other reason that things had started feeling so stale?
Maybe there was something I could do or say to help. After all, I’d learned a lot about being spicy recently, even if it wasn’t with a husband of twenty years.
“Have you ever thought of trying something new?” I asked, testing the waters. “You know, with your husband?”
Jackie waved me off with a chuckle. “Not since our early thirties. At our age, there’s a routine. You don’t really deviate.”
“Maybe it’s time for something to change,” I answered, leaning forward over my desk. “You know, try a toy, phone a friend, maybe just get a new set of sexy lingerie? Pretty sure even something small could help bring the spark back.”
This time, Jackie laughed loudly enough that I was sure she could be heard throughout the store. She sounded entertained, but there was a bitter tone beneath it all that she was failing to hide. I wondered if she’d tried new things before, and her husband was less than receptive.
“Don’t you worry about my old ass,” she eventually said. “I can figure out how to get my kicks. But you know what, you’ve inspired me to go for what I want in life. I’m done with boredom.”
“That’s funny.” I sat back and drummed on the desk with my fingers for a moment. “Because you’ve been inspiring me to get whatIwant.”
“Ah good, then I haven’t lost my edge,” Jackie winked at me before she crossed one leg over the other. “Good to know I can still make a difference for someone. I was starting to feel like I was just an extra in a terrible movie.”
I lifted the corner of my mouth. “No way. You’re closer to the main character than you think.”
“You know.” She seemed to want to change the topic, and I wasn’t going to push the emotional things too far, so I let her. “I’ve heard so much about these guys of yours, but I haven’t had the chance to really, officially meet them.”
“You’ve met Calder,” I pointed out, remembering that day in the park with the pretzels.
