“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 thetop 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 shareweren’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.”
