Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(43)
Author: K.A. Linde

"to the happy couple…"

She knew Bekah and Jack cared for each other, but somehow it had never felt real. It had all been a trick. Bekah had used Lexi to get Jack. There was absolutely no way that a sane person could participate in that kind of deception and still have normal human feelings. For some reason, seeing them together actually happy, everything came in perspective.

"may they remember this time forever."

Jack was marrying Bekah. This was really happening.

"To Jack and Bekah."

The crowd echoed the final sentiment, raised their glasses in unison, and took a swig of their beverage of choice. Lexi took a tentative sip of her lemonade, sputtered when she realized that the punch was spiked, and then downed another large gulp. She would need the alcohol to get through the rest of day.

The two moved in closer to the wedding party as the remainder of the crowd dispersed. She couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in his father’s eye from the toast and the look of adoration on his face as he stared at his only daughter.

"Ramsey, Lexi, so nice to see you could make it," Bekah said immediately including them into the group. Though, Lexi knew too well not to expect that to have been a welcoming. It was likely more that she was pointing out that the two of them had been missing.

Ramsey’s father clapped him on the back at Bekah’s statement. "Good thing you got back in time, son."

"I have to apologize," Lexi said speaking up in his presence, no matter how terrifying and imposing a figure he might be, "I was just admiring your beautiful trove of weeping willows." Lexi made a pointed effort not to look at Jack the whole time.

His father beamed. "That’s understandable. They’re gorgeous, massive trees right there on the lake." His wife bobbed her head along with the statements. Turning his attention back to Bekah, he asked, "What kind of trouble are you ladies getting into tonight?"

Bekah ducked her chin to her chest as if she were an innocent little girl up to no trouble whatsoever. "Nothing daddy."

"Don’t daddy me. I’m footin’ the bill. Where are ya’ll headin’?" he bellowed.

Bekah glanced from her dad to Jack and back. "You want me to say in front of the groom," she asked giggling clearly putting on a show. "Well alright, we’re just going to go to a few clubs daddy. We’ll be in by midnight."

"Midnight," he scoffed as if it was the most ridiculous statement he had heard.

Lexi wasn’t even sure what they were referring to in the first place. And she didn’t see why it mattered that she was going clubbing tonight with her friends. It didn’t exactly seem like an affair her father would typically be interested in.

"Could Lexi come with us since we’re down one?" Bekah asked her smile turning into a smirk at the edges. Lexi snapped to attention at the mention of her name. Where exactly was she going? Did Bekah actually just include her in something? She hadn’t signed up for this. Not to mention, she wasn’t exactly thrilled with filling in if they were down one…whatever that one was.

"You’re my only daughter and you’re only getting married once," he said that with finality. "You can take whoever you damn well want to. And anyway I insist she go along with you. Anyone who can stand Ramsey this long is someone you should be better acquainted with," he muttered a harsh laugh following the statement.

Lexi’s mouth hung open slightly. She felt Ramsey stiffen at her side, but he didn’t say anything. The looks she was receiving from Bekah and her friends weren’t exactly comforting either. She was pretty certain that whatever they had in mind wasn’t something she wanted to be involved in. "Go with you where?" she piped up.

Bekah turned to her as if she had forgotten that Lexi wasn’t in the know. Except that she had done everything on purpose. Bekah was always in control…always calculating. Every move was devious and planned out beforehand. Lexi wasn’t going to soon forget it. "Bachelorette party tonight doll."

Lexi knew she needed to watch herself before answering. This couldn’t be happening. How was she unfortunate enough to be at the bachelor party and now she was getting corralled into a bachelorette party. "Wow I appreciate the offer…" she began her voice monotone. She obviously was not thrilled with the invite.

"Well great," their father interrupted, "it’s all settled then."

Lexi had meant to finish with something all the lines of, "but I’m busy tonight." However, apparently after their father spoke everything else was final. Ramsey it seemed was the only person who ever argued with the man, and at this moment he thought it pertinent not to speak up. Lexi would have a few words with him later about that. But right now she needed to find a way out of this mess, because there was no way she was going to a bachelorette party with any of these people.

* * *

K.A. Linde

Karaoke and Cigarettes

I know he loved you a long time ago

I ain’t jealous of you

Just thought you should know

You were never good enough for him

Or anything like me

So you might as well sit back cause I ain’t

trying to show maturity

– Taylor Swift "Permanent Marker"

* * *

Chapter 14: March Four Months Earlier

Lexi was supremely uncertain about the situation at hand. Parker followed her and Ramsey into the beachside club where their planned outings was held. The place was in every way a tourist haven. The walls were covered in beachy slogans, coconut bras, grass skirts, and offers of margaritas, daiquiris, and other tempting beverages. The staff wore bathing suits or other sun-worn, thin clothing that could have come straight out of a surf shop. Music blasted from stereos as mobs danced on a make-shift dance floor. A side room was hosting karaoke where drunken college girls were singing their hearts out to Britney Spears.

The uncertainty arose from several places. One, she wasn’t sure Ramsey’s relationship with Parker. How could he know someone like her and never bring her up? It’s not like they had been shy about their past. She had opened up about Jack. She had told him what had happened between them. He may not know how strong the feelings were or what happened right under Bekah and his nose, but he knew enough about her past. He could put the pieces together pretty easily.

This bought up another big concern – the fact that he had openly admitted to her that he’s never had a girlfriend…that he’d never been in love. Not that she was claiming he was a liar. She didn’t even want to cross that bridge. But the look Parker had given him was beyond friendship. The shock in Ramsey’s face was more than an old friend found at the beach. Lexi had a thousand explanations, but she hated contemplating a single one. The girl could be nothing more than an old family friend…it was possible. But then why did her gut tell her otherwise?

She knew he had been somewhat of a Casanova before being with her. This made her jaw clench further. What if this girl was one of his conquests? What if she had been Lexi at one point in time – whisked off to a beach for a good time with friends and an endless supply of sex?

No. Lexi shuddered. He had told her he loved her. That much she was certain of. She remembered his blanket statement all those months ago. He had never been in love. And though this girl may or may not be a notch in his belt, it wasn’t more than that. She had to believe him…trust him.

She took a deep breath trying to slow down all of the thoughts swirling around in her head. She was having a hard time. Even if this girl wasn’t someone he had slept with, how many others were there? Would she ever meet them? Had she already met them? She gagged a little as her mind drifted to Lola. She wasn’t getting anywhere with that train of thought and really it was hypocritical to even go down that route. She had gone home with her fair share of guys. One was marrying his sister. He had to encounter him every day knowing what he had meant to her. She couldn’t be angry…merely curious.

And she was incredibly curious about Parker. Especially curious as to why they looked so much alike. Sure the more she was around her the less the resemblance was pronounced. But it was still there. How could Ramsey know someone who looked so similar to her and never mention it? In fact, no one had mentioned it before. Surely someone had to have noticed that they looked alike.

"Woahhhhh, small world," Brad called as soon as the trio emerged into the karaoke room. He picked Parker up and swung her in a big circle. "Parker baby you’ve never looked so good." He shot her a wink as soon as he set her on her feet.

Jason was there next giving the girl a big hug. "It’s good to see you, dollface. You’re lookin’ pretty tan. Been hittin’ the beaches?"

Lexi frowned wondering if he was making fun of Parker. She was so pale in comparison to Lexi it was unimaginable that anyone could call her complexion tan. Lexi couldn’t get that pale if she stayed out of the sun for a year.

But Parker just giggled and nodded her head. "Work has me busy, but I hit the beach when I can."

"Parker?" a girl squealed behind them. Just then Jessie rushed past Lexi and hurtled herself at Parker nearly tackling her. "I thought you were doing residency. How did Ramsey get you down here to surprise us all? I haven’t heard from you in forever. I thought you’d fallen off the face of the planet!"

Parker squeezed the girl in her arms and released her. "I’m doing my residency here…Ramsey didn’t do anything," she said glancing up into his green eyes hesitantly. Lexi didn’t understand the look that passed between them, and she filed that one away as just another question she would ask later. So far they looked harmless enough so there was no reason to get worked up.

"Oh I didn’t realize you were doing your residency here," Jessie cried again her face breaking into an even bigger smile. "If I’d known we would have come to visit you."

Parker shrugged. "Well I did kind of fall of the face of the planet while finishing med school. Didn’t really announce to everyone that I was here." Another looked passed between Parker and Ramsey. "But hey I’m all finished at the end of the semester," she said her face brightening.

"Oh my God," Jessie shrieked. "Tell me you’re coming home."

Parker’s smile was brilliant. "I’m coming home."

Everyone around them suddenly went into motion. Congratulations were yelled. Everyone pulled her in for hugs. Suddenly a round of shots appeared before them in early celebration of Parker’s return. Lexi suddenly felt like it was a long time ago when Ramsey had told her that he loved her. She felt very out of place in this situation. She had friends back home and from college, but nothing quite like this. She couldn’t think of a single person outside of Chyna who would be this excited for her return. All these people it seemed had known each other their whole lives. Who was she – an outsider – to intrude on their moment?

Just as she was about to turn to give them all some time together, Ramsey was there. He held out a shot glass full of clear liquid. Leaning in close so no one else could hear he murmured, "I believe a toast is in order."

She arched an eyebrow. "And what are we toasting?"

"A toast to us," he said softly.

Lexi’s smile instantly returned as she reveled in his momentary display of affection. She took the shot and let the alcohol sooth the nerves making her overreact to the situation. She was sure there was perfectly reasonable explanation for Parker’s absence from all conversations. She might actually not be all that important, or he just didn’t think about her.