“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 ofdating?”
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.”
