One More Chance (The Alexanders 6.50)

“But it is something,” Ridley argued, her eyes narrowing.

Kaylee plopped down on the couch beside Katie. “You might as well just tell her. You know how she gets.”

The whole group laughed and Ridley flushed. What did that mean?

Raina patted her hand. “You know it’s true, Ri. You’re not happy unless you’re meddling.”

Kaylee covered her mouth with her hand she was laughing so hard. “You’d better watch out. If she thinks you’re not moving fast enough, you’ll end up booked into a hotel with Bennett.”

“That was an accident I swear,” Ridley lied. It wasn’t that bad, was it? When she’d done it for their own good?

Kay didn’t look convinced. “I think your brain does matchmaking subconsciously.”

“I’m just concerned for my friends. I want you all to be happy, that’s all.” Suddenly Ri was extremely tired. Was she really so annoying to everyone? Maybe she just thought she was helping. Obviously it wouldn’t be the first time when she’d read a situation wrong.

Katie seemed to sense that she was upset because she smiled. “I know you do, Ri. I’m happy. I’m just… confused. Okay, here’s the thing.” She took a deep breath, like she was gathering her courage. “You know how Bennett and I have been dating, right?”

“Uh huh. Things seem to be going well. Julia’s thrilled about it, you know.”

Katie winced. “I’d hate for her to get her hopes up. Especially since it’s probably already over.”

Ridley paused. “Whoa. What does that mean?”

“You know how Bennett originally wanted me to help him so he could impress his friend Olivia?”

Everyone nodded agreement. Ri wasn’t sure how the others had heard the story but it was pretty much impossible to keep anything a secret in the Alexander family.

“Well, apparently even though we’re together, Bennett is still going on a date with Olivia.”

Ridley immediately started to shake her head. “Wait, what? Bennett wouldn’t do that!”

“Oh I didn’t think so either. So I asked him point blank and he said he couldn’t cancel on her so close to the event. That it was rude. The man who would barely say hello to his neighbors is worried about being rude.”

“That’s crazy. I can’t believe Bennett said that. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind the next time I see him.” Ridley was going to strangle her brother-in-law.

Here she was going through all this trouble to find him his perfect match and he was jacking it up! Who went on a date with another woman when they had a girlfriend? Bennett was brilliant but completely clueless socially, everyone knew that, but even he should know better.

“No, I don’t want that. He should be with me because he wants to be. Not because he’s afraid of his sister-in-law.”

“He’s not afraid of me,” Ridley protested.

Raina looked at her twin from the corner of her eye. “Um, you haven’t seen you when you’re on a tear. You’re pretty scary.”

Kaylee got up and came back with the pitcher of margaritas. Without asking she refilled Katie’s cup. “This sucks. I still think we should go kick his ass. Why do men have to be such idiots?”

Soon the room was a chorus of voices, all talking about the dumb things their men had done.

Ridley sank back into the cushion of the couch, wishing desperately that she could chime in and ask for advice. But she’d already done that once and look at what had happened. She hadn’t had the heart to tell Raina that her seduction plan had backfired so spectacularly. It would only make her sister feel sorry for her and Ri didn’t want that.

No, she didn’t want anyone’s pity. She just wanted her husband to want her again.

?

Ridley closed the door behind Kaylee and Sasha gently, who’d stayed behind to clean up. It had been so much fun hanging out with her friends. She rotated her neck. Fun but exhausting. Not that she minded. At least it took her mind off her problems.

Before she even got out of the entryway, the door opened again and Jackson stepped inside. As usual, her heart rate picked up as soon as she saw him. Even after several years together, she still got breathless at the thought that this incredible man was actually hers. Then she remembered how awkward things had been since the night she’d started calling The Great Lingerie Fail. They’d been dancing around the topic for days, each pretending nothing was wrong. She wasn’t sure how long they could go on like this.

“Hey baby. Everything okay?” Jackson glanced behind her curiously.