Avoiding Commitment (46 page)

Lexi was almost certain that his cell number
would be scrawled on the back side. Even in her darkest of hours,
Chyna continued to get hit on.

“Thanks, Mike,” Chyna muttered not paying him
much attention.

He gracefully exited the room leaving the two
girls alone once again.

“Did you get his number?” Lexi asked pointing
at the business card.

“What?” Chyna asked oblivious. Then she
glanced down at the tiny piece of white paper. She flipped it
around experimentally in her hands a few times before noticing
that, indeed, there was a number scratched onto the backside.
“Yeah, I guess I did.”

Lexi couldn’t hold in her giggles. Chyna
looked aghast at her sudden onset of laughter, but quickly joined
in. Soon they were both laughing uncontrollably. Lexi put her hand
on her head and groaned as the pressure of her laughter cut across
her injury.

“Oh, Alexa, I really am so sorry. I didn’t
mean to be so…so mean. I had no idea you would faint,” she muttered
vehemently, her emerald eyes wide.

Lexi chuckled. “Me either. I’ve never done
that before.” She gingerly scooted up to rest against the
headboard, wincing as her head protested the movement. She could
hardly believe that this had happened to her. When Dr. Cutler had
told her that she had fainted, the memories had flooded back to
her. She remembered the argument with Chyna, and the sting of
Chyna’s words still rang in her ears. She knew she had overreacted,
but thinking about what Chyna had said made it difficult to
breathe.

“Does he mean all that to you?” Chyna
whispered wringing her hands.

Lexi sighed and turned her head to look at
her friend. She pushed her hair behind her ears several times
before answering. “He’s always meant everything to me.”

“But he’s with someone else now,” Chyna
stated hesitantly. She was afraid to set her off again and have a
repeat of what had just happened. She had never been so afraid for
anyone in her life.

“I know. I know. He said he wants to make
things right with me. I told him we could only be right if neither
of us are attached. I need to give him the time to become
unattached.”

“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 Chyna,
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 from 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 about him. “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 Saturday.”

“Oh!” Chyna said her mouth popping open.

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

“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 too
easy honestly.”

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

Chyna rolled her eyes. “It’s a reminder that
if this is what he wants,” she gestured towards Lexi, “then he
needs to make up his fucking 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 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. He wore an amazing Armani tux that was tailored to
perfection. His blonde hair was spiked 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 had 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, just above where the back of her
lacy black dress came to a point. The halter dipped low enough in
the front to show off the tops of her perky breasts 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 playing 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 crossed her face when she looked upon the couple,
even though she could see Lexi 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.

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.

“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 rested his hand against the back of
the seat once more. “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. “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, 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 the Georgia Tech and 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 had thrown 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 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 residence 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 motioned for them to enter.

“What was that all about?” Chyna whispered to
Lexi. She 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.

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 set across the
veranda, and the last hints of pink and orange hues lit up the
building before diminishing into darkness.

Lexi’s eyes followed the crowd of formally
dressed do-gooders noticing a distinct pattern. She set her gaze on
the swarm surrounding one end of the bar. Through the crowd a pair
of blue eyes seemed to catch sight of her across the room. His
mouth opened slightly when he took in her breathtaking beauty, all
concentration lost on his eager subjects. He was king for the
night, and the room full of jesters were keen to do his bidding.
The queen at his side appeared elegant and serene in her flowing,
gold, silk dress. She upturned her nose as the king extracted
himself from her grasp and volleyed himself across the floor to his
mistress in red.