Avoiding Commitment

by craziebabe45

  "Okay Jack," she breathed. "I'm giving you a chance."

  "I'll show you everything I can be for you," he said hesitantly leaning forward and in a companionable manner kissed her cheek.

  Her breath caught despite the friendly nature of the kiss. Instantly, she wondered if this was such a good idea. Pushing the thought away, she scooted closer to Jack and together they sat and watched the ebb and flow before them.

  * * *

  K.A. Linde

  Personal Space

  Deep down you know it's best for yourself but you

  Hate the thought of her being with someone else

  But you know that it's over

  You know that it was through

  Let it burn. Let it burn. Gotta let it burn

  I'm twisted cause one side of me is tellin' me that I need to move on

  On the other side I wanna break down and cry

  -Usher "Burn"

  * * *

  Chapter 9: Present

  Huffing louder than was necessary, Lexi glanced around Bekah's guest bedroom in disdain. She had been directed in here to change for Ramsey's party, but she was currently having second thoughts about whether or not that was smart of her. She was going to this party because of Jack. Strike one. She wanted to prove that Bekah was a phony. Strike two. And possibly humiliate her brother miserably. Strike three.

  Wow. She was in a low place.

  She tried to clear her mind of her dark thoughts and really assess the room with an unbiased eye. This room was painted a light blue. The wicker collection had all white bedding, and a slight accent of navy blue curtains hung across the window. Lexi conceded that it was homey at least. Though the bed could easy be replaced by a wicker crib, and have the same effect. This couldn't have been an accident. She cringed at the thought of having children. Obviously, Bekah didn't.

  Lexi laughed at the thought. Of course the psycho marrying-type wouldn't have an issue with having children…with thinking about having children with Jack. Her laughter instantly turned bitter, and she returned to her darker mood. She couldn't be unbiased about Bekah. She had made up her mind that she would never like her…anything about her. Not that the girl was helping out anything by being hot and cold and having a pastel Easter egg colored house.

  She popped open her suitcase and rummaged around for something to wear to this damn party. Why had she agreed to go through with this? She was such an idiot. If Chyna could see her now. She just shook her head at how humiliating that conversation would be. Not caring much how she looked, Lexi pulled on a dark pair of jeans, and unable to resist herself, she put on her favorite ocean blue-green lace halter top.

  "Alright. Let's get this over with," she said walking into the living room and finding it empty. She glanced around wondering where they went. Then she heard a giggle slice through the silence. Too curious for her own good, Lexi traipsed back down the hallway to the source of the noise.

  Lexi stopped suddenly when she heard a loud moan coming from the other door on the hallway. She froze unable to pull away as she heard Jack and Bekah talking.

  "Jack, come on stop. She's right down the hall," Bekah breathed.

  "I don't want to stop."

  Lexi could hear some more whispers and a few smacking noises that she recognized as kissing. She gulped heavily wishing she had just stayed in the room so that she didn't have to listen to any of this.

  "She's going to hear us Jack," Bekah squealing smacking his hand.

  "I don't care if she hears."

  Lexi blanched at his words. He couldn't honestly be saying those kinds of things after last night. This just made her want to tell Bekah everything. Not just about their past either. She wanted to tell her about coming home early to see her, the pillow fight, staying up all night with her, and almost kissing her. Her hands were shaking at her side.

  "Jack," Bekah mumbled.

  "Okay okay. You're right. She shouldn't have to hear this. I hope she didn't," he said wistfully.

  "Well now I wouldn't go that far."

  "I would. Come on. Let's get out of here."

  Lexi quickly darted out of the hallway and back into the living room. She wasn't sure what to think of Jack's comments. Of course, she was pissed, because she wasn't certain which part he had meant. He had sounded more like himself when he had claimed that he didn't want her to hear, but she reminded herself that she was biased. Just another thing she would have to figure out before she went back to New York.

  When Bekah came out into the living room, Lexi couldn't help but let her mouth drop open at her ridiculously skimpy outfit. She had on a jean mini skirt that skirted the tops of her alabaster thighs, and a form fitting baby pink tube top. Four inch brown high heels made her already long legs look even better. Lexi felt plain next to her.

  "Oh you can't wear that," Bekah said reviewing Lexi's outfit.

  "I seem to be hearing that a lot lately," she said giving Jack and icy glare.

  "Oh well, Ramsey's parties are a little different than you'd probably expect," Bekah said choosing each word carefully.

  "Fine whatever. Let's just get this over with. What should I wear?" Lexi asked easily giving in.

  Twenty minutes later, the three found themselves climbing the stairs to Ramsey's townhouse in what Lexi recognized to be the ritzy side of Buckhead. The clothing look that Bekah had insisted on was a cross between trampish, smutty, and just a smidge of whore. It had been worth the effort when she had walked back out of the guest bedroom and had Jack open-mouthed gaping at her. His eyes traveled from the white pleated skirt that accentuated her bronzed skin. Then he slowly undressed her with his eyes as he traveled upwards to her cleavage bulging out of her blood red V-neck tank top. Her make-up was smoky and seductive. And though Lexi knew that she looked good without all the added effort, the way that Jack's eyes turned crystal clear with desire at her approach certainly made up for the extra time it took.

  Entering the townhouse was close to slipping into a new world. The bottom floor was swarming with people vying to occupy as much space as possible. Blaring music emanated from surround sound speakers placed all over the house, and bodies were grinding to the beat. Lights were dimmed low and flashing strobe lights projected chaotically across the space. The people were crowded in so close together that Lexi couldn't even see past the living room. She wasn't sure if there was anything past the living room by the looks of the place. She couldn't help but openly ogle the scene in front of her. She felt like she had just entered a nightclub, not a house party.

  Bekah took her reaction as a good thing, and smiled brightly at her. "I told you it was going to be a little different than expected," she trilled over the music.

  Lexi nodded, her earlier anticipation about coming here dissolving. To be honest, she felt very much at home in this environment. She and Chyna went to these types of events every weekend. She just didn't know that parties this crazy actually occurred in Atlanta. Let alone by someone like Ramsey. She figured she had a lot to learn about this Ramsey character. Openly smiling, Lexi felt her hips sway unintentionally to the music. "This will be fun," Lexi said back to Bekah who appeared slightly hesitant at her enthusiasm. Bekah hadn't missed the looks that Jack had given Lexi.

  "Yeah it will," Bekah said reaching up on the tips of her toes and kissing Jack on the cheek. He smiled down on her lovingly. Lexi tried to avert her eyes before either of them could see the horror on her face, but she hadn't done it in time. Jack glanced at her almost involuntarily and saw the haunted look cross her face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't in front of Bekah. Bekah saved him from commenting. "Let's go find my brother."

  Getting through the crowded living room was more difficult than anticipated. Several couples were already interlocked for the evening and disentangling them to create a footpath proved to be rather tricky. As Lexi trekked across the room, one of the only things she noticed as she tried to push through a path was that there were significantly more girls than guys. Lexi e
lbowed a girl in the side to get her to move into the mass just an inch further. She squeezed her tiny body against the girl inadvertently getting suggestive hip movements pressed against her as she passed. Finally, wedging between two menacing guys, Lexi reached the other side which was surprisingly empty compared to the living room. She trotted into the kitchen and breathed a sigh of relief to be out of that crowd. Jack and Bekah appeared right behind her.

  "Ugh...Ramsey's really out done himself this time," Bekah said brushing her fingers through her already perfect hair.

  "Yeah I'd say so," Ramsey agreed appearing in the kitchen from around the corner. He looked just as good as her memory afforded her. When she had first seen him, she had only gotten a critical look at his back side. And while that was impressive, his whole body was even better for the eyes. It helped that he wasn't in a suit. That way she was able to really see the definition in his chest and arms. He was dressed simple in dark jeans and a black Ralph Lauren t-shirt with a tiny yellow horse logo in the corner. Apparently, the dress code for these things didn't apply to the host.

  "Hey big brother," Bekah said giving him a hug. "You remember your old friend Lexi."

  Lexi tried not to roll her eyes at Bekah's statement. She was going to be really tired of this party if she had to deal with this type of bullshit much longer. She hadn't been able to keep her cool around Ramsey at the Country Club where your behavior was monitored by a hundred wrinkly socialites. Lexi was sure she wouldn't be able to do it here. "Can I just repeat that I do not know your brother?"

  Ramsey pulled away from Bekah and turned to look at Lexi. His mouth popped open in surprise. It was much the same reaction she had received from Jack, but there was something different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that her clothing option left little up to the imagination. No it was more likely that it had something to do with the fact that Jack had firsthand experience with what was under her skintight clothing. Either way she liked the attention. Where Ramsey had been earnest to speak with her before, he now looked as if he were much more ready to do other things with his mouth.

  "You can repeat it all you want, but I'm holding to the fact that we are old friends. And old friends hug when they greet each other," he said swiftly spanning the space between them and effortlessly lifting her off her feet. She giggled in surprise clutching onto his broad shoulders for support. He twirled her around once letting her hair fly out behind her.

  When Lexi felt ground under her weight again, she breathed out in relief. Then, compulsively she smacked Ramsey's arm as hard as she could muster. "Don't do that. We're not friends."

  "You're right. I'm overstepping boundaries...at my own party," Ramsey said sending a full-watted smile her way.

  "Oh shut up," she said give him a mirthless frown. "I didn't mean it like that."

  "How did you mean it then?" he asked stepping into her personal space again.

  Why was he always doing that? She cringed and took a step backwards. He followed her as if they were in a synchronized dance. "I didn't mean that you were overstepping boundaries or whatever. Just we're not friends. I don't know you. I've only met you once."

  "Well technically twice. Three times if you count when you were with Jennifer. Four times if you…oh never mind," he said plastering on a smile as looked at her.

  "Four times if what?" she asked curiously.

  His smile continued as he entered her personal space again. This time she stood her ground and looked up into face. He was so tall she had to tilt her head all the way back just to look into his face. "Nothing. I was just going to make something up."

  "Right well cut it out."

  "You really don't remember meeting me?" he asked ignoring the stares he was receiving from all angles.

  "I think I'd remember someone who has no concept of personal space," she muttered. He titled his head to the side really looking at her whole face from her smoky make-up to her large brown irises to her button nose landing last on her plump lips. Then he stepped back once and again.

  "My apologies. Is that better?" he questioned his eyes roaming her tiny clothing once more. Lexi just grumbled an affirmative.

  Bekah giggled and clung to Jack's arm breaking them from their argument, and bringing them back into reality. Lexi breathed out and took a sly glance at Jack. He looked tense and out of place as he slung his arm around Bekah's shoulders. Lexi hadn't even been paying attention to Jack throughout the entire encounter. But as she looked closer, she realized he looked ready to pounce. God, she did not understand him sometimes. Only a few minutes earlier, he had been making out with his girlfriend not caring who heard him, and now he was openly glaring because she was talking with Ramsey! She hadn't even been flirting with him. She had actually been annoyed with him. Oh wait dammit, he thought she was sexy when she was angry.

  Bekah broke the awkward silence that had settled in the air. "Ramsey you should introduce Lexi to your roommates. I have a feeling they would just love her."

  Lexi wasn't sure what that meant, but as soon as Ramsey called over his roommates she understood her implication. These two guys, though they had the same appearance of class that Ramsey wore, they didn't pull it off quite as well. Lexi could see straight through to the frat boy beneath, and cringed as they collided with her body. She hadn't even gotten the introduction before they were hugging and fondling her when they thought no one was looking. They smelled strongly of booze as if they had been drinking all day...all week. Bekah had wanted the introduction as pay back for the bitchy way Lexi had handled their earlier conversation. Not to mention for the way Jack had looked at her. The way her brother had looked at her. She wanted Jack to herself, and the only way she could accomplish that was by throwing other men in her path. Tricky. She wouldn't underestimate her again.

  Ramsey grabbed both of his roommates by the back of their collar and yanked them off of her. "Hands off. She's never been to one of our parties," he said roughly pushing them to the side.

  "All the more reason," the one dressed in navy said.

  "Agreed," the other in a Georgia Tech polo approved.

  "Uh...I don't think so," Lexi said pushing her hands out in front of her. Then she caught a glimpse of Jack's face. He wasn't doing a very good job at hiding his displeasure. If she'd thought that he had been jealous earlier today, it was nothing compared to the waves of jealousy he was sending her way now. Somewhere deep inside, she knew that she shouldn't enjoy the fact that he felt that way, but she was pretty much ignoring all things that she was supposed to be doing and feeling. She was in Atlanta for Jack which was bad enough in itself. If Jack was getting some backlash for his bad choices, well then so be it.

  "I don't even know your names," she said buying herself some time.

  "You don't need our names," Georgia Tech guy informed her whipping around Ramsey and snaking an arm around her waist. So maybe his roommates weren't as handsome as Jack or even Ramsey, but they were still cute. At least cute enough that she would have flirted with them on any other night.

  She thought she heard his friend whisper something derogatory into his friend's ear, but she didn't catch all of what was said. The end was something along the lines of "after we're through with her." But understanding the looks that were cast between the two of them, she probably didn't want to know the rest. She wasn't all that surprised since these two were obviously well passed hammered. She needed to say something to get their minds off of sleeping with her, because that would never happen.

  "So explain this party to me. It's eight o'clock on a Sunday. Liquor stores aren't even open on Sunday's," Lexi asked glancing between Ramsey and his two roommates.

  "Ramsey comes pretty stocked," Georgia Tech guy answered eye-fucking her clothing choice. It was a good thing she didn't do self-conscious.

  "Oh does he?" she asked eyeing him suggestively. Jack coughed uncomfortably in the corner. Bekah had snaked an arm up to his hair and was gently twirling the longer strands in the back
between her fingers.

  "I thought we weren't friends," Ramsey reminded her pushing aside his roommates who looked all too ready to devour her.

  "We're not," she said smiling coyly looking at him from under her long lashes. "I'm not this nice to my friends." This was better. She could avoid being rude to him for a few minutes while Jack watched. Though, she wasn't all too sure how long she could hold out the routine.

  "Alright," he began, looking at her peculiarly as if wondering when she had become so nice, "I have a good deal of friends who work in late night establishments weekend nights. So, I host parties Sunday nights for them."

  Well that was simple enough. "That's uh...nice of you."

  Bekah giggled. "Nice is one word for it."

  "Bekah," Ramsey said turning his attention to her. Though the tone wasn't sharp and the look he sent her was the same perfect Country Club smile that gave away nothing, she knew he wasn't pleased. She wasn't sure what it was about her that made her realize it. There was just a slight line of tension forming around his mouth, and his hands were curled into loose fists. Something about the way his eyes clouded over as he stared at her. Lexi seemed to have accidentally stepped into a family dispute, and was feeling all the more uncomfortable as Bekah returned his resolute smile.

  Slowly, he shifted his gaze back to Lexi. "Anyway, what they meant is that I have a fully stocked bar," Ramsey said sweeping his arm out to reveal a black bar along the majority of the back wall. The only wall space not obscured by the construction was a black door with a large open window opening up to what looked like a small balcony.

  "Ya know, I kind of figured that," Lexi said. A few people were already ordering drinks from a tiny blonde bombshell whipping up concoctions as fast as they were requested. Jack and Bekah sidled up to the girl hand-in-hand, and began swiftly knocking back their drinks.