Chapter Fifteen
Ryleigh made a quick tour of the drinks table. She’d already put out fresh ice, so now she made sure there was plenty of soda
and juice boxes for the kids.
The impromptu Sunday backyard barbecue had come together in a matter of hours. Alex had texted that morning to say he was
in the mood to have people over. She’d agreed that the idea sounded fun, had packed up Lucy and some cat kibble, then headed
over. While Noah got Lucy settled, she’d helped Alex plan a simple menu of marinated chicken and several salads. Once they
had confirmation from their guests, she made the grocery list and Alex had headed out to do the shopping.
While she’d waited for his return, she’d gone in to check on her cat, only to find Lucy draped across Noah as he sprawled
out on his bed.
“So she still likes you,” she teased. “I wasn’t sure.”
Noah grinned. “She loves me,” he corrected, petting her gently, while she gazed at him with her big, soft eyes.
“She seems to.”
“I like the purring. I can feel it on my chest as well as hear it.”
Ryleigh sat on the foot of the bed. “Thanks for being such a good human big brother to my cat.”
That made him laugh. “So she’s my cat sister?”
“She is. We’re a very modern blended family.” She stood. “Come on. Let’s get out the serving pieces for the party.”
By two the chicken was marinating and she’d already made the BLT pasta salad. Alex cut up strawberries and washed spinach
for Kim’s famous salad while she went to work on the cucumber dill dish. He’d bought cupcakes for dessert.
Shortly before five, the guests started arriving. In addition to Jax, they’d invited several of Noah’s friends and their parents,
including his new buddy Bodie and his mom, Vivian. She and Alex had debated about Harris and Shawna, but since this was Harris’s
week with the kids, she had texted them an invitation. Ryleigh had hoped her former brother-in-law would send the kids but
wouldn’t want to come himself, but Shawna sent back an all caps YES followed by several hearts.
“Young love,” Ryleigh grumbled as she counted out bottles of soda, then decided they had enough. “It makes me tired.”
“I thought you were looking for young love,” Alex said.
“Oh. Right. Sorry. It’s the whole ‘Harris Shawna’ thing. I feel so bad for her and I’m mad at him. He’s being a total—” she
paused to glance around and confirm no one was nearby “—jackass about her. I mean we’re not supertight, but I like her and
no one should be put through that kind of crap by a man who claims to be in love with her.”
“I agree he qualifies for Jerk of the Month.”
“I thought he was a decent guy. When he and Jax were first together, I was so envious of how much in love they were. I wanted
that for myself.” She heard the wistfulness in her tone. “I never found it, which is beside the point. I thought he was better
than he was. It’s like knowing a really bad thing is going to happen and being unable to warn anyone.”
“Technically you could tell her what you know.”
She stared at Alex. “Are you insane? No, I can’t. I’m not going to be the nightmare person who destroys her life.” She paused
and replayed her statement in her head. “But if I don’t tell her, then I’m the friend who knew.” She sighed. “Now I’m really
mad at Harris.”
Noah came running up with his friend Bodie. “Can I show Bodie Lucy? We’ll be real careful.”
“I’ll take this one,” Ryleigh said. “You go play host.”
She took the boys inside and spent a few minutes watching them carefully pet and play with the cat. When they left her to
resume her nap, Ryleigh saw her sister heading in her direction.
“You okay?” Jax asked as she approached. “About the party and all.”
Ryleigh stared at her blankly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“This is the first social thing you’ve gone to without Dustin. I wanted to make sure you weren’t feeling weird.”
Oh. My. God! Ryleigh held in a groan as the truth slammed into her. “He never crossed my mind,” she admitted, feeling both
stupid and sad. “I wasn’t thinking about him or missing him or anything.”
“Isn’t that good?” her sister asked. “You made your decision and you moved on.” She paused. “Did I upset you by asking the
question?”
“What? Of course not.” Ryleigh’s sense of unease didn’t come from the reminder of the relationship she’d had but rather because
she’d let it go so easily. “I wasn’t in love with him. I get that now, but I’m still surprised by how not in love I was.”
She sighed. “I’m not making sense.”
“You are. You’re judging how much you think you should be mourning what was lost.”
“Shouldn’t that be judge-worthy? I was the one complaining he wouldn’t propose when it turned out I was so over him, I walked away and forgot all about him. I don’t even miss him.”
Jax hugged her. “I’m sorry I said anything.”
“Don’t be. It’s a good reminder that the next time I want to make a life-altering decision, I better make sure I know my own
heart.”
She waited for her sister to jump on that and start talking about how she shouldn’t move, but Jax only nodded.
“You sound wise,” she said. “Now, where’s the food you promised me?”
“Alex’s about to start cooking. Hey, why didn’t you bring Marcus?”
Her sister took a step back. “To this? Why would I bring him?”
“You’re dating.”
“Not yet.”
“He asked you out and you said yes. Isn’t that the definition of dating?”
Jax took another step back. “We haven’t been on said date yet. We’re pre-dating. Besides, if I brought him here, people would
think we were, you know, a couple.”
Ryleigh grinned. “Again I say the word ‘dating.’” She made air quotes.
Jax waved the comment away. “It’s too soon. I’d have to explain him to the kids.”
“Haven’t they already met him?”
“As my contractor. Not as, you know, a guy.”
“I’m pretty sure they already know his gender.”
Jax glared at her. “Why are you being difficult?”
“Because it’s fun. You’re not normally rattled about many things. Are you excited about going out with him?”
“Some. Mostly. I’m also nervous. My last first date was with Harris and look how that turned out.”
They both looked across the yard to where Harris and Shawna were talking to Cheryl and Bodie’s mom, Vivian.
“At least he meant it when he proposed to you,” Ryleigh said quietly.
“Right? He’s such a jerk for doing this. Ugh.”
“Think about Marcus,” Ryleigh told her. “There’s a happier conversation.”
“Except for me being faintly nauseous, it is.”
“It’s that bad?”
Jax sighed. “Not really. I know it’s probably good for me to get out there socially, but it’s also strange to think about
dating.” She smiled. “But thinking about the kiss is nice. It was very impressive.”
“Tingles?” Ryleigh teased.
“Dozens of them. I appreciate knowing I can still have them.”
Tingles? Ryleigh tried to remember the last time she’d felt any herself. It had been way too long. Her relationship with Dustin
had been completely tingle-free. Something she should have realized a long time ago.
Alex waved from the barbecue. “The chicken’s nearly done,” he called.
“Time to get out the rest of the food.” Ryleigh started for the kitchen.
“I’ll help,” Jax said as she fell into step with her.
It didn’t take long to get everything put out. Two hours later, everyone was fed, the last cupcakes were consumed and she
and Alex were saying goodbye to their friends.
“Are you sure about this?” Vivian asked with a smile. “Together they’re double the trouble.”
Noah and Bodie had begged for a sleepover and Alex had agreed, promising to get them to bed at a reasonable time for a school
night. Now Vivian handed over the small tote bag with Bodie’s things.
“Call me if you need me,” she told her son, then kissed the top of his head. “Be a good boy.” She gave him a pointed look. “Remember, you’re here to sleep, not to stay up all night watching movies.”
Bodie flashed her an innocent grin. “We wouldn’t do that, Mom.”
“I’ll monitor them,” Alex said.
Vivian waved and left. Ryleigh checked on Lucy, who was still sleeping on Alex’s bed, then started cleaning up all the dishes
while he got the boys settled with a movie. He joined her in the kitchen and began loading the dishwasher.
“The party was fun,” she said. “I’m glad you suggested it.”
“Thanks for all your help. I couldn’t have done it myself.”
“We’re a good team.”
“We are.”
Being with Alex was easy, she thought. He was a good friend and she loved hanging out with Noah.
He finished up with the dishwasher while she wiped down the counters. She was about to say she was going to collect her cat
and head home when he turned to her, his expression oddly tense.
“Could we talk for a minute?”
Her senses immediately went on alert. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine, Noah’s great. It’s just . . .” He drew in a breath. “Let’s go into my office.”
She wanted to demand he tell her exactly what was wrong that second, but instead nodded and followed him down the hall to
his home office. She’d nearly convinced herself everything was fine when he closed the door—as if wanting to make sure they
weren’t overheard.
Okay, whatever it was, they would get through it, she told herself. She would be there for him and Noah and—
He sank into his chair and made a strange half chuckle, half groan sound. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.”
Nervous? She perked up. People with bad news to share weren’t nervous. They were upset or crying. She stared at Alex and realized he really was nervous. He kept clearing his throat and wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“So you’re not dying.”
“What?” His voice was a yelp. He lowered it and said, “I told you both Noah and I are fine. It’s nothing bad. At least I hope
you won’t think it’s bad or weird or . . .”
He looked at the desk, then at her. Maybe she was imagining things, but was Alex blushing?
“Just blurt it out,” she told him, suddenly intrigued by whatever it was he had to say.
“That’s probably the best way,” he said, then cleared his throat. “I was wondering if, well, if you would want to or consider
or had ever thought about . . .”