Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(59)
Author: K.A. Linde

"And how do you know he’ll do that?" Chyna asked. "I mean didn’t he call you down here, because he was ready to commit in the first place."

Lexi bit her lip. "Not exactly. It was more for her benefit. It just seemed to backfire on her. He realized that he knew what he really wanted when I was around. That he wants me. You should have seen his jealous face when he found out that I went on a date with Ramsey," she said smiling fondly at the memory.

"And what about him? Just one date? You told me that you kind of liked him," Chyna mentioned hoping that something…anything would snap her friend out of this.

"Ramsey’s…ya know. Whatever. I had a good time, but he’s so…all in your face. His personality is all encompassing. I can’t breathe around him," Lexi told her surprised by the reality of her words.

Chyna cleared her throat. "Some people think these are good qualities. It’s called passion," she mumbled peaking at her friend under her thick dark lashes.

Lexi scowled at her friend. She didn’t want to think about Ramsey, mostly, because she didn’t know what to do about Ramsey. He wasn’t like the other people she had dated. She had thought that he would be easy to figure out, a cookie-cutter sort of character. Yet, she couldn’t deny that she had enjoyed herself on their date, uncharacteristically so. She had lost herself in his strange, in-your-face personality for a time. She had even forgotten about Jack. It had surprised her that she had been able to forget such strong memories while with another man. She had become so accustomed to measuring up every guy to Jack that, if she was honest with herself, it had been a pleasant reprieve from the tireless drone of unimpressive desperation that most guys wore like cloaks.

"I don’t know about that," Lexi replied biting her teeth and averting her eyes.

Chyna chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at her friend’s reaction. It was the same disbelieving tone she had used on the phone when talking about this Ramsey character. Chyna simply couldn’t wait to meet him to find out what exactly was so special that made him even mildly appealing to her friend. Then she needed to tweak those qualities to her advantage, because this Jack thing was getting ridiculous. Not that she could tell her friend that especially after what had happened. "I think you do."

"Well it doesn’t matter. I can’t go out with him again when this stuff is going on with me and Jack," Lexi told her.

"What? Why not? He’s going to be with Bekah!" Chyna cried forgetting her promise to herself that she wouldn’t get too excited while talking to Lexi. She bit her lip waiting for Lexi’s reaction.

"Shit!" Lexi cried her eyes lighting up with worry.

"Oh God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up again."

"No, not that," she cried closing her eyes and smacking her head backwards against the headboard. She cursed again, louder this time, with the pain of slamming her head.

"Don’t do that," Chyna cried reaching for her friend.

Lexi staved Chyna off. "I forgot I’m supposed to be going with Ramsey to Jack’s birthday party on Friday."

"Oh!" Chyna said her mouth popping open.

"What am I going to do Chy?" Lexi asked tears welling in her eyes from the pain in her head and the sudden realization that she was in quite a pickle.

"Well that’s easy sweetie," Chyna told her reassuringly, "You show up with that hunk of a man on your arm and revel in the jealousy that will flow freely from Jack. It’s just too easy honestly."

"I don’t need to make him jealous," Lexi said her brows furrowing.

Chyna rolled her eyes. "It’s just a reminder that if this is what he wants," she gestured towards Lexi, "then he needs to make up his f**king mind."

That is how Lexi and Chyna ended up three days later in a black stretch limo escorting them to Jack’s birthday extravaganza. Ramsey had dropped off Lexi’s purchases at Chyna’s penthouse suite. The two had instantly hit it off while Lexi glanced anxiously between the two. For some reason Ramsey never passed more than a fleeting glance in Chyna’s direction. It was unlike anything Lexi had ever seen. Most guys openly ogled her gorgeous best friend, but Ramsey managed to make pleasant conversation without flirting and without coming onto her. Lexi was amazed by the end of the encounter, and didn’t know what to think about it.

After that, Lexi visited her family for the remainder of the week. Chyna came down for an afternoon to meet the family, but otherwise had occupied herself as she always had with guys and nightlife. The time at home had been refreshing and grounded her unlike anything else could. The reality of the past week was setting in, and she needed to get a grip on herself if she was going to survive the weekend. Her parents hadn’t badgered her with questions about herself. They had just seemed genuinely happy to have her around, even though it was a shorter period of time then she had promised. They did seem to like the prospect that she might take the Georgia Bar, and practice law a little closer to home. She didn’t want to get their hopes up though and felt a bad when they continued to bring it up.

Regardless, Lexi was more nervous about the upcoming night. Ramsey looked smashing when he entered Chyna’s penthouse, where the girls had gotten prepared for the evening. He wore an amazing Armani tux that was tailored to perfection. His blonde hair was combed spiky and something about his green eyes sparkled when he entered the room. Lexi had to remind herself to breathe when his gaze met hers. He’d commented on how beautiful they looked, and Lexi had to admit that both of them had really outdone themselves.

Chyna’s shiny black hair flowed out across her shoulders and down her back, about eight inches above where the back of her lacy black dress came to a point. The halter dipped just low enough in the front to show off the tops of her perky br**sts and hugged tight to her body flowing out around her calves.

A red, strapless, sweetheart bodice clung to Lexi’s tiny form giving her curves that even she was surprised that she had. The dress fell to the top of her knees revealing the chiseled muscles in her calves that were only more prominent from the black stilettos that adorned her feet. Her chocolate curls were expertly held up off the back of her neck into a messy bun creation with tendrils falling around her face. Ramsey’s mouth parted at the sight of her, for once, speechless.

Lexi lounged back against the leather interior a smile played across her face at the memory of the look on his face.

"What are you all smiley about?" Ramsey asked not able to keep from speaking for very long. His arm was rested precariously over the back of her seat, a champagne flute held loosely in the other hand.

"Um what?" Lexi asked jumping in surprise. She hadn’t expected to be caught.

Chyna’s eyebrows lifted on the other side of the car. A smile came across her face when she looked upon the couple, even though she could see Lexi visibly flinching.

"You’re all smiley," he repeated trailing his free hand across her cheek.

Her eyes bulged slightly at the light contact. She sure hoped this wasn’t going to be one of those nights where she couldn’t keep control of her emotions. Ramsey was…well he wasn’t Jack. Of that much she was certain, but that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy his company…albeit erratic as he might appear.

Lexi tried to push Chyna’s words about Ramsey out of her head. She didn’t want to use him to make Jack jealous. She didn’t really want to think that she was using anyone. She was here with Ramsey, because, frankly, he had asked her to come with him. At the time, it had seemed like the best option. And as long as she drew the boundary line, as in no touching her like he was doing to her cheek right now, things might turn out alright.

"Just smiley," she told him as she dipped her head backwards leaving his hand caressing thin air. He didn’t seem affronted by her rejection and just rested his hand against the back of the seat once more. "So where are we going?"

Ramsey turned his brilliant smile on her and she gritted her teeth to keep from sending him a girly smile in return. "It’s a surprise if you don’t already know," he said confidently.

"You and your surprises," Lexi griped.

"You seemed to like the last one," he huskily whispered.

This time Lexi couldn’t keep the smile from her face or the blush that crept onto her cheeks. "Yes well…" she stammered.

Chyna giggled in the corner, quickly brushing her hand up to her mouth to contain her laughter. Lexi’s eyes darted to Chyna, reflexively glaring in her direction. Chyna winked back unable to control her euphoria.

The car continued forward, and Lexi tried to piece together the direction they were driving through the city in an effort to determine their destination. Lexi recognized the buildings as they passed from the Georgia Tech to the Georgia State campuses. They were going in the opposite direction of Buckhead. So once again, Ramsey had surprised her. Though she wouldn’t let him know. She wasn’t certain where they would hold a birthday party around here though. Even when she had been with Bekah searching for formal dresses, she hadn’t been quite certain where they were going that required something so formal. Now it appeared that they weren’t even going to be in the city.

As the limo took the next exit off of the interstate, Lexi’s eyes lit up with excitement. She had spent dozens of evenings inside the walls of the place they were about to be dropped off. Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, appeared before them. The parking lot was near empty which signified that there must be an away game. The limo dropped them off at the front entrance of the stadium where they were immediately escorted inside.

Even Chyna seemed impressed by the extent that had been put into a simple birthday party. She’d had her fair share of impressive parties, but this was altogether different compared to the things that occurred in New York.

Lexi, Chyna, and Ramsey followed the usher inside and as they rounded the corner the 755 Club came into focus. Ramsey thanked the guide and sent him on his way as he stepped forward to the hostess. The tall, buxom blonde standing behind the desk smiled pleasantly as Ramsey approached her. They shared a few words that showed they were obvious acquaintances. Lexi’s stomach knotted as the woman turned what appeared to be the full force of her charm on Ramsey. She knew it was irrational to feel anything, and honestly, she didn’t even know what this feeling was that was taking resident in her stomach.

Ramsey gestured towards Lexi and Chyna and the woman’s face soured slightly at the indication that he had brought two dates. The woman’s hand reached out and cupped Ramsey’s affectionately, but he quickly extracted it standing up even taller than before. Lexi saw the woman’s face pinch in at the movement, and she quickly motioned for them to enter.

"What was that all about?" Chyna whispered to Lexi. She just shrugged her shoulders not really wanting to know. Lexi had too many of her own issues to deal with, without thinking about someone else’s.

The room they entered was large enough for a party to fill, but not too big that everyone would be so spread out they wouldn’t enjoy themselves. The space was already beginning to crowd in. Lexi had originally thought they would be one of the first people at the party which she never enjoyed. It was refreshing that she didn’t have to make small talk with people she didn’t know nor care to know.

Lights were dimmed and music was playing evenly through the speakers at a volume just loud enough that no one had to speak over the music to be heard. Hors d’oeuvres were being carted around the room on silver platters. There was an open bar along one side of the establishment and another that opened up to a stunning view of the Braves field. The sun had just set across the veranda, and the last hints of pink and orange hues lit up the building before diminishing into darkness.