She shrugged. “I liked it when I was in college. There’s a lot to do and, hey, a whole new dating pool I can fail in.”
“You didn’t fail. You listened to your heart.”
“What if my heart was just having a bad day? What if my heart is sorry and wants a do-over?”
“Does it?” he asked gently.
She mentally probed the organ in question, then slowly shook her head. “No. It doesn’t.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Jax admitted, struggling to take it all in. “You were pissed when he didn’t propose and then when he did, you said no?”
At her words, tears filled her sister’s eyes. Jax immediately felt like parrot poop and moved close to hug her sister.
“I’m sorry. I said it wrong. Don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it, although at some point I should run out of tears. I cried earlier, when Alex stopped by and asked the very insensitive question of ‘What’s wrong?’” She wiped her face. “That was me being funny. He was a good friend.”
“I’m sure. He always is.”
They were downstairs in the formal living room that no one ever used. The kids were already in bed. About thirty minutes before, Ryleigh had texted that she had to come over and talk. Jax hadn’t been sure what to expect but hearing that she’d said no to Dustin’s proposal sure hadn’t been it.
“But you want to be married,” she murmured. “You saw yourself having a future with Dustin.”
Ryleigh nodded, her lower lip trembling. “And a dog,” she whispered as more tears fell. “He asked, I said no and now I’m nowhere.”
“Technically you’re here, but I get it. I love you.”
“Thanks and while nice, it’s not especially helpful.”
Jax had a bad feeling she didn’t have much more than support to offer.
“How did he take it?”
“Not well. I tried to take it back but I physically couldn’t say yes and then he left.”
Jax winced. “Did he yell at you?”
“He didn’t say anything.” Ryleigh sniffed. “I know I hurt him. We’re supposed to be in love. He knew I wanted to get married and then I said no. Just like that.”
Jax couldn’t even imagine how that had gone. Poor Dustin. She would guess he was equally stunned and humiliated. At some point Ryleigh was going to move past shock and start feeling really guilty.
“You were brave.”
Her sister wrinkled her nose. “That’s what Alex said.”
“Then it must be true. I mean, come on. We’re both pretty smart.”
That earned her a faint smile, then Ryleigh threw herself down on the sofa, resting her head in her sister’s lap.
“Make me feel better.”
Jax lightly stroked her long, dark hair, just like she had when they’d been kids and Ryleigh had come to her, hurting from some problem in her life. Only this wasn’t a bully at school or a difficult math equation. There was no easy big-sister fix.
“I love you very much and my love is the reason you’re alive.”
“I think Mom would have gotten pregnant with me even if you’d said no.”
A familiar argument, Jax thought humorously.
