Page 13 of Perfect Enough
A few days passed without a text from Sophia. I wanted to text her, but it felt strange being the one to reach out. Now I wondered if she was feeling the same way.
“Shaw, what in the hell do you keep staring at your phone for?” Warren asked.
Looking up, I saw Warren, Larry, and Donny—Warren’s younger brother, and a new addition to the team—all watching me.
“I’m not staring at my phone.”
Larry laughed. “Yes, you are.”
At that very moment, a notification came through—and I looked down to see it was Sophia.
Standing, I said, “I think I’ll get some fresh air.”
The three watched me walk out of the common room and head outside.
Once I’d cleared the room, I pulled up the text.
Sophia: Did I scare you off?
I smiled.
Me: Not at all. I figured when you were able to text, you would.
Sophia: Are you sure you’re not a girl?
Laughing, I looked around to make sure no one had slipped outside.
Me: I have an older sister, so maybe she wore off on me. I remember listening to her and my mother talk when I wasn’t supposed to. More than one conversation was about guys. Guess I picked up some things.
The dots started, stopped, then started again.
Sophia: Please tell me that doesn’t count as personal information.
Me: I suck at this rule. Let’s pretend that doesn’t count. What do you want to know?
I watched as Sophia typed. She must have stopped for a few moments before she started again.
Sophia: You said you worked on a cattle ranch. What’s your job?
That was an easy one.
Me: My family owns it, and I kind of do whatever needs to be done. My father used to raise bulls for bull riding, so most of my life I grew up helping him with that, as well as helping elsewhere on the ranch. Too many jobs to list. I’m also a firefighter.
Sophia: I’m assuming it’s the firefighter job that keeps the women away.
Smiling again, I typed back my response, wondering why these text messages had been some of the best conversations I’d had in a long time.
Me: You would be right. My turn. What do you do for a living, Sophia?
Sophia: My mother owns a dance studio, and I teach dance to little kids, mostly four - to twelve-year-olds. I also do all the books and admin stuff.
Me: Really? My sister Rose took lessons for a while, and the teacher let me join the class. I mastered first position, second position, third position, fourth position, and fifth position. I was pretty good at a plié, if I do say so myself.
Sophia: LOL! I’m impressed.
Me: Well, then you’re the first woman to be impressed by that.
Sophia: I’m a dance teacher, so I can see why.