Chapter Nineteen
Noah carefully petted Lucy. “I like how she’s soft,” he said. “And she likes to cuddle. All my friends who have dogs say their
dogs play with them and stuff, but they don’t cuddle like she does.”
“She likes you,” Ryleigh pointed out, grateful for how her cat had taken to yet another change. She’d spent two days at Alex’s
house while Ryleigh had been working or with her sister, yet seemed unfazed by it all. The cat obviously adored Alex and Noah
and had spent both nights sleeping at the foot of Noah’s bed—a fact that delighted him.
Now, after sharing dinner, they were all sprawled out on the large sectional in the TV room. Lucy was draped across Noah’s
thin, bony lap, purring loudly. Jax had basically thrown Ryleigh out, telling her to get back to her life. Upon hearing that,
Alex had suggested a sleepover, and while she was exhausted, she also needed time with him, both as his friend and as his
lover.
So much had changed so quickly, she thought, telling herself nothing had to be decided right this second.
She had time and she would use it to figure out what she really wanted in a thoughtful and sensible way.
She wouldn’t be swayed by emotions or even her hormones, which were ridiculously happy at the thought of another Alex-induced orgasm or two.
They continued to watch the movie together. Ryleigh found herself getting sleepy a couple of times, which played in with the
plan of her “pretending” to be tired so Alex suggested she stay over. Not anything new, but somehow knowing this time they
were doing it so they could have sex made the moment feel more illicit.
“You going to make it?” Alex asked with a chuckle.
“I’ve been staying up late with Jax,” she said, covering another yawn. “Sorry.”
“You want to stay here?” Noah asked eagerly. “You and Lucy?”
“Why do I know you’re more enthused about the cat than me?” she asked, her voice teasing.
Noah grinned. “I like her and she likes me. I can’t help it.”
“Then I guess we’re going to stay the night.”
“Yay! You hear that, Lucy? You’re staying another night.”
Lucy offered a slow blink in response.
Once the movie ended, Alex got Noah through his bedtime rituals. After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Noah insisted
Ryleigh join him for nighttime prayers. He spent a few minutes talking to his mom, then asked God to keep his dad, Ryleigh
and Lucy safe. He ended with a wish that Ramon would come home soon so Auntie Jax wouldn’t be so sad.
They tucked him in. As they walked out of the room, Lucy strolled in then jumped gracefully onto the bed.
“It seems there’s a routine,” Ryleigh said lightly as they walked back into the TV room and sat. “She’s kind of an amazing
cat.”
“Very chill. It almost makes up for all the cat hair I’m finding on my suits.”
“Oh, no. Is it bad?”
“It’s noticeable. I’ve ordered several lint brushes. They’ll be here tomorrow. I plan to keep one in my car and one in the office. The rest will be scattered around the house.”
She winced. “It’s not too much, is it?”
“Go look at my suits.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He angled toward her and took her hand in his. “He’s happy and we’re helping you. Nothing else matters to me.”
His words were meaningful and filled her heart with all kinds of warm feelings.
“I really appreciate you taking care of her while I’ve been with Jax. This is such a hard time for her.”
“Still no word on Ramon?”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing. No one has seen him, which terrifies me. I wish there’d been at least a couple of sightings
so we could know he’s in the area. But the lack of them has me thinking he really was taken by someone and if he was, I don’t
know that we’ll get him back.”
“What about the computer program monitoring parrot sales?”
“What if the person who took him wants to keep him? What if he’s not eating and he dies?” She sighed. “Sorry. I don’t usually
go looking for the bad, but I can’t see a good way out of this situation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” She stared at their linked fingers. “So I’m going to change the subject, if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
She drew in a breath, then raised her gaze to his. “I have an interview.”
He stared at her blankly. “An interview for . . . Oh! An interview in San Diego. One of the schools got back to you. That’s
great.”
She watched him carefully as he spoke, listening for, well, she wasn’t sure what, but something. Annoyance, maybe, or disappointment.
“They emailed me today to set up a date and time. They’re very enthusiastic and excited about my qualifications. There’s a
signing bonus.”
“You must be excited.”
He sounded pleased for her, which was mildly upsetting and she couldn’t say why.
“I don’t how I feel. I wasn’t expecting such a fast response.”
“But this is what you wanted.”
She drew in a breath. “Sort of. I mean I do want to make changes but I’m confused about moving. I want to fall in love and
start a family. Part of me doesn’t understand why I can’t do that here.”
“You said you’d run out of single guys. Is there a new batch moving to town? Because given the choice, I’d rather you stayed.”
“You would?”
“Yeah. Ryleigh, you’re important to me. As a guy, I don’t usually think this way, but you’re my best friend. After Kim died,
I was lost. You saved me, you saved us. We’ve become close and that relationship matters to me. I respect and depend on you.
You’re an amazing woman and while it will kill me to see you move, I want you to be happy more than I want to be the selfish
jerk who tells you not to go.” He offered a self-deprecating smile. “Feel free to compliment me on my mature decision.”
“Very mature,” she said automatically, a little unsettled by his words but unable to say why. “You’re important to me, too.
As is Noah. I guess that’s what makes this so hard. If I move there’s no guarantee I’ll find what I’m looking for. What if
there isn’t some guy waiting for me in San Diego?”
“What if there is?”
“So you’re trying to get rid of me?” She tried to ask the question with a “hey, I’m joking” tone, but had a bad feeling that
she sounded a little more accusing than she would like.
“Never. If it were up to me, things would stay exactly as they are.” He held up his free hand. “I know. That’s the problem. The way things are isn’t making you happy. Sometimes you have to take the leap, kid. Do the scary thing.”
“I know. I’m going to schedule the interview and see what happens. I’m hoping doing that will give me clarity. In the meantime,
don’t say anything to Jax, please. She’s dealing with enough crap right now.”
“I won’t say anything but just to be clear, Jax and I don’t talk if you’re not around.” He leaned over and lightly kissed
her. “I wish you all the luck in the world.”
“Thank you.”
But even as the kiss deepened and her body began to respond, a tiny part of her didn’t like what he was saying and she had
absolutely no idea why not.
Friday night the bookstore closed at the usual time but instead of walking around, turning out lights and getting ready to
punch in the security code, Jax stood by the front door ready to welcome sixty teenagers and a dozen parental chaperones.
Thanks to volunteers from the community, there hadn’t been much work for Jax and her team to do beyond Cheryl coordinating
all the deliveries.
The teens showed up with sleeping bags, pillows and air mattresses if they wanted them. The caterers had worked their magic,
the TVs were hooked up and had been tested and more than one of her customers had given the karaoke machine a test-drive.
Usually Jax looked forward to the sleepover. It was a fun night for the teens. Most of them didn’t stay up until dawn, but
a few hardy souls got through all the movies.
The schedule was the same every year—an hour or so meet and greet with mocktails and snacks followed by the talent show and then karaoke.
Dinner came next, then a rousing few rounds of Would You Rather.
The movie marathon started around midnight.
One of the giant TVs would be playing the Hunger Games series while the other would feature Marvel movies.
Breakfast was delivered at six thirty in the morning, then the teens
went home. At eight a cleaning crew arrived to spruce up the store before it opened at nine thirty.
Jax waited while the first of the teens piled out of cars and headed toward the store. Parents waved and called out warnings
to behave. Jax held in a smile. She understood the very natural concern about a boy-girl sleepover, but there was a strict
separation of the sexes and the parent chaperones took their responsibilities seriously. “No sex allowed” was the policy and
as far as Jax knew, the rules were being followed. Just in case, the parents patrolled all night, taking turns prowling the
floors and keeping close watch on couples who tried to bunk down next to each other.
Jax welcomed the seniors and pointed them to the name tag station where they would write their names. One of the girls stopped
by the door.
“Any word?” she asked, her voice hopeful.
Jax shook her head. “Sorry, no. Nothing yet. We’re checking the internet for parrot sales, but we haven’t spotted an ad. Hopefully
we’ll know something soon.”
“What if he’s scared?” the teen asked. “What if he’s hungry?”
“We have to think positive,” Jax said, privately agreeing with the concerns. They kept her up nights.
“I will,” the girl said, then stepped into the bookstore.
And so it went until all sixty teens were safely in the store. The volunteers took over, collecting everyone in the center
of the store and explaining the rules and how the night would be structured.
Jax only half listened as she made her way to her private apartment. She would spend the night as she had been—sitting on
the widow’s walk, hoping Ramon would return. She changed out his untouched food, then collected a jacket and a blanket. When
she was settled outside, she scanned the sky.
“Please come home,” she whispered. “I miss you so much.”