“I don’t want to hear that from your deceitful, manipulative, lying mouth.”
“I am so sorry, Clark,” Lexi gasped sucking in deep breaths between tears.
“I still can’t believe you actually slept with him” He crashed back against the bed burying his face into his hands. “You little whore.”
Lexi’s glazed eyes stared down at him. Her humiliation was evident. “It wasn’t like that.”
“You slept with him while you were with me,” he said through clenched teeth. Finally, looking up at her, he said, “That makes you a whore.” She brushed her palm against her cheeks forcefully. It did no good, the tears kept coming faster. “After all that bullshit you fed me about ya’ll just being friends. After all the warnings I gave you about him.” She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him as his anger intensified. “Fuck, Lexi, you told me yourself that you didn’t think he had been faithful with one person he’d ever been with. Why would you let this happen? How could you let this happen? Do you think you are special? Do you think he’s just going to leave Kate for you? He just wanted to fuck you. And, now he’s done that. Try to explain to me how that doesn’t make you a whore?” he spat at her.
She had no answer for him. She had never felt so belittled before in her life, and she knew that she deserved every word. She had made a terrible mistake, and then on top of that she had attempted to hide her dirty actions. No wonder everyone had told her that she was acting uptight lately. She had been carrying around such a weight on her shoulders since that night in May. It was almost a relief that Clark knew.
“I just…I need to get out of here and think about this,” Clark said standing resolutely. He brushed past her and entered the living room.
“Clark…” she cried as he pulled the door open. “What does this mean for…for us?”
“I really don’t know, Lexi. I just can’t look at you right now. I’ll just…call you tomorrow after I’ve had time to think about all of this,” he said turning away from her and shutting the door.
Lexi crumpled to the floor shuddering from the tears raking her body. She could not believe that had just happened. How had she been so stupid to let this happen? She had just let the best guy she had ever had in her life slip through her fingers.
After a minute, Olivia came out of her room and sat on the floor next to Lexi. She scooped her up in her arms and held her as she bawled.
“Did…did you...h…hear all…of that?” Lexi asked her through her tears.
“Yeah, honey, I heard it. Why didn’t you just tell me? You know I would have been there for you. You know I would have kept everything a secret. I can’t believe you went through all of this alone,” Olivia said brushing aside her bangs. The movement reminded her so much of Jack that it only intensified her tears.
“I…I don’t either. I just…thought…that I could…handle this,” she muttered.
“Alright, darling. You have to get up. Take a shower, and then things will look a little brighter.”
Lexi nodded as Olivia ushered her out of the living room. “No!” she cried suddenly.
“What?”
“I have to go talk to Jack,” Lexi decided.
“I don’t think that’s the best thing for you right now.”
“Jack told him everything. How could he do that?”
“I’m almost certain Clark threatened him into it, but that doesn’t matter. Seeing that boy while you’re in this state is a really, really bad idea.”
“No, Livy, let me go. I need to go find out why the hell he would tell him everything and not warn me,” she said pulling away from Olivia and running for her keys.
She was in the car before Olivia could utter another comment about staying home. She drove much too fast to Jack’s house, swerving to get around rather slow drivers. She skidded to a halt in his parking lot, and dashed out of the front seat. Bursting through the still unlocked door, Lexi darted into Jack’s room. She could tell just by looking at him that he had showered. Her heart melted at the sight. She was furious about what he had done, but her heart still longed for him. She wanted things to go back to the way they were only this morning. She wished with all her being that she didn’t have to be angry at him.
"Lexi, what are you doing back already?" Jack asked surprise written on his face. "Are you okay? Have you been crying?" He rushed forward to meet her. She backed away not wanting to feel his hands on her.
“How could you tell him?” she asked breaking down into tears for the second time that morning.
CHAPTER 13
PRESENT
“Where are you taking me?” Lexi asked Ramsey for what felt like the hundredth time since they had been driving. She hadn’t thought much of it at first, but then as her mind registered the direction the car was taking them she began to get more suspicious.
For some reason, she had expected them to stay in Buckhead and have dinner at a fancy five star restaurant over candlelight, perhaps serenade her with live classical music, red wine, and caviar. Show off his wealth to reel her in. She wasn’t sure what had triggered that idea beyond just the fact that she had assumed all people in Country Clubs went on ridiculously impressive dates.
Jennifer, her college dorm mate, had told her many times about extravagant opulence displayed before her by men her parents had set her up on dates with. Lexi had always been wary of those types of stories and wondered if women actually succumbed to such antics. One too many towels on Lexi’s dorm door confirmed that they did actually work. As Jennifer proved this time and time again, Lexi slowly became adjusted to the fact that lavishness was more like a prerequisite.
She was relieved that she didn’t have to go through another awkward situation such as what occurred at the Country Club. She hadn’t exactly wanted to go on this…outing with Ramsey, but after how he had treated her she had given in. He had called it a date and she certainly couldn’t forget his words. He had smiled so brilliantly at her acceptance that she had almost been duped into believing she had made the right decision. But how could she really feel like that? He had so many strikes against him already. Setting aside the kindness he had showed at his party, he was a member of a Country Club, he was related to Bekah, and clearly had no concern for others’ personal boundaries.
All in all, she figured this was a huge mistake.
Her brain was working in overdrive attempting to discern where he was taking her. His forced silence on the subject only made her more curious. She had really only known this guy for one day, and the only good quality she had recognized besides his charming good looks was that he hadn’t slept with her.
Maybe that was pretty big for guys, but she had blacked out and was entrusted into his care by his sister. Obviously that meant something to him.
“Really, Ramsey, where are we going? We’re getting pretty close to my parents’ house, which I should remind you, is very far away from your place,” she told him.
“We’re close to your parents’ place?” he asked glancing over at her.
Lexi twisted her fingers back and forth in her lap, uncomfortable with revealing more information. Not that she was ashamed of her family by any means. In fact, she really got along with her parents and two younger sisters. But after being reminded of the Country Club, expensive Buckhead condominiums, and insane parties that resulted from such wealth, Lexi didn’t really feel comfortable explaining middle class to someone who had never had a bank account with less than seven digits. She had never even taken Chyna home, and she loved the girl to death.
“Uh, I guess. I mean I don’t really know where we are,” she explained trying to maneuver the conversation back to their destination and farther away from her.