Second time lucky

51

It's been a few weeks since Courtney left and things have returned to normal, or our chaotic version of it. We alternated nights with the kids between my house and his parents and occasionally he spent the night here.

Tonight they were with him and while things had been going really good between us since Courtney left, I hadn't had any time with Ava just to be girls. That's one of the reasons I was slipping into a spaghetti strap dress getting ready to meet her for a much needed girls night.

I ran out to her car when she pulled up and climbed into the front seat.

"Hey bestie." I grinned.

"I missed you!" We both said in unison.

"Let's get this night started!" She announced before pulling off just as my phone chimed twice in my purse.

The first message was from Riley causing me to smile at my phone.

"Have fun tonight and be safe. Call me if you girls need a ride"

"Thanks, Bretts already on call but we should be fine."

The second was from Hannah.

"Are you busy? I'm just a little overwhelmed and could use some girl time, if that's okay?"

I let out a sigh and turned to my best friend.

"You think we can squeeze in one more stop before we go out?" I asked.

"Yeah why?"

"Hannah. She doesn't have any friends and I totally know how she feels being a stay home mom. The difference is I have you!"

She rolled her eyes playfully, "tell her to get ready, and to send you the address."

I said a quick thank you to Ava before texting Hannah back.

"Send me your address and get ready. Me and my best friend are on the way to get you. We are going clubbing. Tell Kyle we have a ride already on standby for later."

"Thank you so much Britt."

She sent her address a few minutes later and it was only a little out of the way. It took about fifteen minutes but we arrived at her house soon enough.

Me and Ava jumped out of the car and knocked on the door as Kyle answered.

"Britt? Ava? What are you.." he began.

"We are kidnapping your woman. Brett is going to get us later if we need a ride and no you don't have a say." I shot back as he grinned playfully at me.

I tried to remember the fluttery feeling I always got when he smiled that way, but it never came. It wasn't until he turned to say goodbye to Hannah as she almost sprinted out the door that I realized why. We had loved each other because we healed each other, not because we were in love. Kyle and Hannah, they were in love, in the same way I was with Riley.

"Bye Kyle!" Ava shot back as she pulled me and Hannah to her car before he could even kiss her goodbye.

Once we were driving, there was nothing but laughter and friendly joking. Ava was a great friend, and sometimes I didn't appreciate her enough.

Not once had she tried to talk me out of building a relationship with Kyle, nor had she really put her opinion on my relationship with Riley out there unless I asked for it. She just supported me, no matter what.

"So Hannah?" She said.

"Yeah?"

"I know why me and Britt are forgetting the world, care to share why we should get wasted for you?"