Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(34)
Author: K.A. Linde

"And you," Richard began turning on his only child. The cold calculating man Lexi had met in Chyna’s apartment had returned. He wore all the anger that had boiled up with the appearance of his ex-wife, and was redirecting that fury towards the next closest victim. "What part did you play in this?"

"What?" Chyna asked surprised.

"Don’t give me your innocent act."

"Did you not see how she treated me? I didn’t even know where she was," Chyna said defensively.

"Bullshit Chyna! You’re out to ruin me. I get your game now. After the way you treated Victoria…I just thought that it was petty and you would get over it, but this draws a line. I no longer want you in my sight."

Chyna’s jaw slackened. "Let me tell you about your pretty princess, you f**king a**hole. She is a bitch, a terrible excuse for a human being. You think she’s a goddess because you’re getting your dick wet. But let me tell you," Chyna growled stepping forward to her father. He usually held such an upper hand that it was incredible to watch her stand up for herself. "She’s nothing more than a new toy to you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s f**king someone on the side already. Just look at her, she obviously just wants your money. If you can’t see that, then you really are dumber than I thought."

"You will not speak…."

"No, I will speak to you however I see fit," she said looking him up and down, her nose turned up. "You raised me to be strong willed and independent. No matter how much you want me to just disappear from your life that’s not happening. I’m a part of you, and you can’t just act like I’m a child any longer. Grow up and deal with your mistakes."

With that she turned on her heel and followed in her mother’s footsteps. Lexi, Ramsey, and Adam followed quickly behind her all in a state of shock from the drama that had just ensued. Lexi wanted to talk to Chyna about it, but she knew now wasn’t the time. Chyna was angry….no she was pissed. And when she was in this state, she was a force to be reckoned with. Nothing anyone would say was going to calm her down at that moment.

When they reached the bottom floor the four of them piled into Chyna’s town car. Without a word, the driver zipped them across town to the party that was already in full swing for New Years. They had anticipated showing up fashionably late to the event. Chyna had originally thought they would be even later than they actually were, but they had skipped out on the reception increasing their departure by nearly an hour.

Chyna’s silence made it pretty clear that she was still livid about what had just unfolded between her and her parents. Not that Lexi could blame her. If her parents ever treated her or each other like that, she would have been mortified. The fact that Chyna had been able to grow up a semi-normal human being was a bit of a miracle in and of itself. With parents like that she should have been completely f**ked up.

When the car came to a standstill, the group rushed into the lobby of the building to escape the frigid night air. "Party is on the top floor," Chyna told them gesturing towards the elevators. "I’m just going to…uh…take care of a few things."

Lexi looked at her suspiciously. The last thing that Chyna needed right now was to be alone. "Do you want company?"

"No, no, don’t worry about me. I’m just making sure things are in order," she said vaguely. "Go on up and have a good time. I’ll meet you."

Chyna began walking in the opposite direction. Lexi stood there dumbstruck for a split second before starting to chase after her. She made it three steps before a hand came down on her arm. "Hey let me handle this," Adam requested pulling her backwards.

"Uh…wha…" Lexi asked not really formulating any clear words. She was confused as to what was going on. She was always there for Chyna. Chyna was her best friend. She would do anything to make her feel better. Not only that, she had known her for three years and thus, knew what made her feel better.

Adam was a fling, a nothing. Sure he was a nice guy who had helped them out in a pinch…twice, but that didn’t give him the right to go talk to Chyna when she was hurting. She needed her best friend, and Adam really just wouldn’t cut it.

"Lexi, really, I got this. Go have fun," he said smiling sweetly.

"But she needs me."

"Nah, she’ll be alright. Really. We’ll meet you," he told her pushing her gently into Ramsey’s arms.

"Yeah come on Lexi. Let them be," Ramsey said tugging her out of Adam’s grasp.

"I mean okay if you really think so."

"I do," Adam reassured her.

"Call if you need anything," she called to Adam as she let Ramsey guide her away. When they reached the elevators, Lexi murmured, "That’s so strange."

"What?" Ramsey asked stepping into the elevator.

"That he thinks he can take care of her. That he thinks she will let him take care of her. That he thinks he knows how to take care of someone like Chyna. I mean yeah he’s nice, but Chyna doesn’t go for nice," Lexi told him.

"Maybe she does," he said smirking.

"No," she contradicted.

"If he thinks he can handle her craziness, than by all means let him. I just want to have some fun with you tonight, Lexi. And I think I can handle your craziness," he told her playfully.

She smiled up into his handsome face. Raising onto her toes, she reached up and touched her lips gently against his own. Moving swiftly he pushed her body back against the elevator wall and began to kiss the breath out of her. By the time the door dinged open, she was so hot for him her mind had completely forgotten what had occurred downstairs.

"Are you sure you want to stay?" she asked him wiping her puffy lips.

"Oh no, you dragged me here. It’s time to party," he told her pulling her into the massive room Chyna had transformed into a New Years Eve bash. Even when Lexi had gone over dozens of plans for the event, she had never anticipated what was in front of her.

The black marble flooring opened up on three sides to floor-to-ceiling glass panes with a view of the city below. Fireworks already lit up the night sky in anticipation of the huge display that would occur at midnight when the Big Apple dropped in Times Square. There were several bars which were overflowing with alcohol. Half-naked waiters and waitresses were wandering around the premises carrying trays of champagne. Dozens of people that Lexi had met while out with Chyna were in attendance; several dozen more Lexi had never seen before. Some waved at her as she passed by obviously recognizing her as well. Lights were dimmed low, and pulsing techno music filtered into the room. A majority of the enormous space had been crafted into a dance floor where people were already bumping and grinding to the beat of the music. All in all the night was already appearing successful.

Ramsey snagged them two glasses of champagne, and made a toast over the increased volume of the music. "To our first New Years together." Lexi clinked her glass against his and went to drink her drink, but he stopped her. "I wasn’t finished." She looked up at him as if to encourage him to continue. "May we have many more to celebrate."

Lexi beamed from ear to ear at the implications in his statement. Taking a large gulp of the champagne, she motioned for Ramsey in a come hither motion. He leaned forward and she captured his lips once more. "If you keep this up, we’re not going to make it to midnight."

She winked at him, before shimmying seductively out to the dance floor. He followed her, and they spent the next couple hours lost in each other’s embrace. She had completely forgotten Chyna when she caught a glimpse of her long black hair which had been pulled out of her elegant hairstyle. She motioned to Ramsey, and he nodded saying he would follow her.

As she approached, Lexi realized that she wasn’t alone, and she looked much more like herself…drunk. Just before Lexi reached her, Chyna began furiously making out with the guy who was standing in front of her. Gulping hard, Lexi realized that the person she was sucking face with was Adam. Guess he had worked things out with her after all. Lexi cleared her throat causing Chyna break away from her make out session.

She turned around smiling brightly at Lexi. Her eyes were slightly glazed over, but she looked happy drunk which was a step up from sober angry. "Alexa!" she cried throwing her arms sloppily around her. "Are you having fun?"

Lexi giggled into Chyna’s ear as she helped her stand straight again. "Yeah C. You feeling better?" Lexi knew it was a pointless question. Chyna was obviously already better. She had probably drank enough in the short time that she had been gone that she couldn’t feel anything. She would have to deal with everything that had happened at some point, but right now was not that moment.

"Don’t even know what you mean chica. But I’m so glad you came over here," she gushed leaning into Lexi again for support.

"Oh yeah?" Lexi asked eyeing her apprehensively as Adam righted her again.

"Soooo you know how I’ve been sketchy lately?" Chyna asked her smile widening. She looked like a little kid in a candy store when her eyes refocused on Lexi. She wasn’t certain what Chyna was getting at, but she did know what she was talking about. Chyna had been doing all sorts of strange things lately. Not only was she forgetting things, but she had been skipping out on plans and calling her at random hours to find out why she hadn’t made it to their meeting when nothing had been planned. It had all been a little off for Chyna.

"Yeah," Lexi acknowledged.

"Well I actually do have a reason," she admitted. "I wanted it to be a surprise which is the only reason I haven’t told you so don’t be mad."

"Why would I be mad?" Lexi asked her curiosity growing.

"I have a boyfriend!"

Lexi jaw dropped open in surprise. Of all the things Chyna could have told her that was not what she had been expecting. She had never known Chyna to have a boyfriend…ever. This was just not something that Chyna did. She dated…a lot. She would go out with dozens of guys, but none of them were ever good enough for Chyna. And now suddenly she had a boyfriend? "What? Who?" Lexi asked incredulously.

Chyna glanced over at Adam and smiled seductively up at him. "Who do you think silly?" she asked wrapping her arm around his waist.

Lexi looked between Adam and Chyna in shock. She couldn’t even formulate words. She hadn’t even known that Adam and Chyna were still speaking let alone that they had been dating long enough for Chyna to consider him her boyfriend. How had she missed putting those pieces of the puzzle together? Had she been so lost in her own relationship that she had missed that her best friend was now in one?

Luckily, Lexi didn’t have to articulate her thoughts, because Ramsey broke in, "Congratulations. Adam told me at the wedding, but don’t worry I didn’t spoil the surprise for Lexi." He reached forward and wrapped Chyna in a quick hug.

"Thanks! Isn’t this awesome Alexa? Now we can double," Chyna squealed acting girlier in that moment than Lexi had ever seen her.

Lexi found her eyes drifting back over to Adam. He stared at her his expression a mask to his true thoughts. She wondered what he was thinking about all of this.

"Alexa, snap out of it. Aren’t you happy for me?" Chyna asked her voice increasing in pitch.