Second time lucky

38

Britts pov

"He legitimately has some girl coming to stay with him tonight for god knows how long!" I raged over the phone.

"Well what are you going to do?"

"Nothing, I can't control him or his decisions."

"Well what to do you want to do?" He asked the million dollar loaded question.

"Honestly.." I sighed. "I want to go and make sure she knows he is off limits." I admitted.

"So do it... I don't see what the problem is? Riley loves you."

"The problem is that I need to figure myself out, prove I can be on my own."

"Britt I say this as your brother and someone who loves you so don't be mad, but you're going to mess up any chance of you being with Riley if you keep pushing him away. Why does it matter if you can do it on your own? We know you can, you're doing it now just fine.....He won't leave again if that's what you're worried about."

"But he could." I argued.

"He won't. Britt you aren't high school kids anymore. Riley is grown and he knows he messed up just like you know you did. You're only hurting each other by fighting it."

"Maybe." I sighed and slumped down on the couch. "Well I better go Levi, Ava and Brett will be back with the kids soon."

"Alright, I love you Britt."

"Love you too Levi."

Riley had left an hour ago, and other than a customary goodbye when he left we hadn't spoken since he informed me that Courtney was staying with him. I didn't want to come across as the jealous type, but knowing that someone else, especially another woman was going to be in his house, sleeping under the same roof made me uncomfortable.

He had tried to reassure me, but I was too overwhelmed, too consumed by what he had told me to comprehend anything he was saying to me.

So I said nothing at all.

I couldn't take my mind off the fact that he was completely calm about it all, as if if were completely normal for a girl to stay at his house, and spend time with his family.

Levi was right, and by not saying anything at all I was pushing him away. Still, It seemed like the right thing to do. Keep him at an arms length, rebuild our friendship and see if things progressed from there.

It would have been a great plan had there not been an unaccounted for surprise female in the mix. Maybe I should let him move on with her, it's what I had said I wanted, him to be happy, but I couldn't help but feel protective of the dream family I envisioned in my head.

I needed to get information and I knew exactly where to start. I grabbed my phone and signed into Anna's Facebook account. She always used the same password for everything which in hindsight wasn't the smartest decision.

Once I was into her account I started searching for Courtney. I didn't have a last name, but I knew that she had gone to college with Riley and I knew that Anna was friends with her brother.

Thankfully it didn't take long to find her profile and when I did I felt myself deflate. She was stunning, beautifully flawless in every way.

Sun kissed tan skin with light blonde beach wavy hair that fell perfectly just past her shoulders. Big bright blue eyes and a thousand watt smile. She looked like the type of person model agencies hounded daily.

Luck wasn't on my side on this one.

I was going to have to think this through more strategically. This wasn't going to be a fight of physical proportions, it would be one of Witt. A battle of the heart, and mine belonged to Riley.