Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(80)
Author: K.A. Linde

"Because you fooled me into liking you," she cried futilely pushing him away with her free hand.

He shook his head not budging an inch. "I never had to fool you. You just had to open up your eyes."

She clenched her jaw angry that he wouldn’t let her back away. "You did it for your sister."

This seemed to take him aback. "Why would I fall for you for my sister?"

"You did her bidding to get rid of me."

"But I want you around," he said smoothly, running his hands gently through her hair. "That doesn’t make sense."

"She put you in my path so she could have Jack all to herself," she tried to explain.

This did push him back a step. He released her hair and stared into her wild brown eyes. "This is always about Jack isn’t it?"

"No, nothing is about Jack anymore. And if you come with that territory, then good riddance," she muttered angrily.

"What if I told you, that was all a lie?" he asked curious about her answer.

"Could I believe you?"

"Have I given you reason not to?"

"Besides not telling me that you knew me previously?"

"I did tell you," he reminded her.

"Yes, but not about meeting in the club."

"Is that really all that relevant?"

"Absolutely," she told him staring him down. "Half-truths and hiding things is still lying."

"Then I apologize, but I had nothing to do with Jack. And I hope to God that I never will," he said inching forward again. His hands came up and secured themselves against her narrow hips. He grabbed her with a tad bit of force and pulled her into him.

"Ramsey," she whispered his name just as he locked lips with her. She held still as long as she could before giving into his kiss. His sweet taste of peppermint overpowered her senses and she closed her eyes to breathe him in. His lips moved softly against her own coaxing out her emotions not demanding them. She couldn’t help but give into his adoring affections.

"Yes?" he asked finally breaking away from her, but planting one more feather light kiss upon her plump lips.

"I…I can’t do this," she murmured against his lips, the air around them super heated.

"Why? Is it Jack?"

"No," she said quickly. Then sighed heavily and broke away from him. "Yes. It is Jack." He nodded accepting that without questions. He had known all along there was something between them. They had made it obvious enough. It was nice enough that she was finally admitting it. "You shouldn’t want me. I’m not in a good enough place to be wanted."

"But I do want you. At least, something with you, even if we start slow," he pushed.

"You know how people say you crawl before you walk and walk before you run? Yeah well I need to learn to hold my head up before I can even think about crawling," she muttered brushing her hair off her forehead.

"Yeah I get it, but Lexi…"

"No," she said pressing a finger to his lips. "This is the end of the road."

She turned from him and began to climb the stairs to the jet. Chyna was waiting for her at the top. It was pretty obvious that she had been eavesdropping, but she didn’t look displeased. Lexi wasn’t sure if that was because Lexi was finally standing up on her own or because they were on their way home. It didn’t matter either way.

"Will I hear from you?" Ramsey called as she hit the top step.

She turned around and smiled brightly at him. "When I can hold my head up high," she said adding a wink just for good measure.

"You ready to get out of here, chica?" Chyna asked pulling her friend into a hug. When Lexi pulled back, she already had a flute of Champagne stuffed into her hand.

"Very ready," Lexi confirmed.

"A toast," Chyna cheered raising her glass to Lexi, "to being free."

Lexi shook her head. "No. To closure," she announced clinking their glasses together and downing her first glass of freedom.

The End.