“Then it can only be one thing,” he told her. She turned to meet his determined gaze waiting for his guess. “Jack and Bekah.”
Lexi’s heart, which had stilled as she let the light breeze calm her mind, kicked into overdrive at Ramsey’s statement. Sure she knew that Ramsey had an idea about her and Jack from the conversation at Jack’s apartment. As far as she knew though, he had no idea about her actual involvement with Jack. He had no idea of Jack’s hold on her. He certainly had no idea that she had listened in on his threatening conversation with Jack.
But she knew she shouldn’t assume anything. Who knew if Bekah had told him or if Jack had spilled the beans about their past to him while she had been at home. She didn’t want to think about that either. The last thing she wanted to do was have anyone else know about her relationship with Jack, and Ramsey was getting dangerously close.
“What about Jack and Bekah?” she croaked running her fingers through the loose strands that had fallen out of her bun and threading it behind her ears.
“I’m not sure, but it’s something,” he admitted leaning in even closer to her.
Lexi breathed out a sigh of relief. He didn’t know. That was comforting. Him invading her personal space further was not. “You’re um…,” she gestured between them, “in my space again. We’ve talked about this.”
He nodded not backing up an inch. “Tell me what’s going on,” he gently asked bringing his hand up and stroking her face. His hand trailed down from her temple and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m pretty sure the only thing going on has something to do with you and me,” she muttered huskily feeling her body turn towards him. His hand wrapped around her tiny waist bridging the distance between their bodies.
“Maybe you’re right,” he whispered towards her. His lips were so close to her, when she licked her own lips, she brushed up against his as well. A groan escaped him with the light, teasing contact, and he hesitantly brought his lips down upon hers. The first touch was smooth and gentle as if he was testing the water. His lips were amazingly soft and she could taste the sweetness of peppermint on his breath.
Warning alarms went off in her mind. All she wanted to do was ignore what her mind was telling her and get lost in the here and now. Forget everything that was keeping her stressed out and relish the beautiful moment of a man wanting her.
Her hands moved from their place on the railing and pushed against his hard, muscled chest. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t let this continue. It would end up hurting everyone.
“I don’t know if…” she trailed off again. He didn’t let her finish her statement before pressing his body more firmly against her. Her mouth popped open in surprise leaving him with the advantage. He leaned his head down and kissed her bottom lip, gently sucking it between his teeth. Her eyes fluttered closed. Ramsey’s hand reached up to twine around her hair, tugging softly on the strands, and tilting her head back. He pressed his lips firmly against her own. It only took a second for Lexi to react and relax into him.
A loud coughing sound came from behind them. Ramsey and Lexi hastily broke apart, straightening themselves out as they faced the intruder.
“I figured I’d find you out here,” Chyna said cocking her weight to her right hip. She threw both hands up to her hips, leaning the left shoulder forwards, and tilting her head up defiantly.
Lexi ran her fingers through her mussed hair and smiled hesitantly at her best friend. “Well, you found me.”
“Oh no, I wasn’t looking for you,” she announced letting her eyes shift to the man standing next to her.
“How can I be of assistance?” Ramsey asked politely stepping away from the railing.
“Apparently, there is a birthday going on inside,” Chyna commented dryly. “You have something to do with that?”
Ramsey looked a bit sheepish as he took on Chyna’s confrontation. “Indeed I do.”
“Then perhaps you should run inside and check on what’s going on,” she suggested. “There’s some kind of catastrophe happening with the cake. Everyone’s looking for you.”
Ramsey apologized to Lexi, and quickly excused himself. He flashed Chyna a smile as he walked by, but she didn’t return the gesture.
Chyna stalked right up to Lexi standing exactly where Ramsey had been only seconds earlier. “What are you thinking?” she cried leaning back against the railing and pressing her hand to her forehead.
“Not now, please,” Lexi murmured feeling even more confused than earlier.
“I think we should get out of here,” Chyna told her. “You’re a mess. I’m not even sure you know what you are doing anymore.”
“We can’t leave,” Lexi said shaking her head. “I can’t leave yet.”
“I don’t know why we should stay. Now, I wasn’t going to bring this up, but I can’t stay silent, chica. You’re my best friend and I know you’re hurting. Jack is here with his girlfriend and despite what just happened, I know how you feel about him, and it has to hurt like hell. Why would you want to go through that? Then…Ramsey?”
“Well, I don’t know what I was doing with Ramsey, but I do know that I need to stay and see this through. Please…for me, C,” she begged her eyes swelling in size.
Chyna shook her head contemplating the decision before her. As Lexi’s best friend, she felt obligated to get her out of this situation. Lexi had been there for her more than anyone else in her entire life. How could she let her friend walk into the fire pit? She saw no alternative though. Lexi was determined. “Fine, but can you please be careful?” she pleaded.
After the girls agreed, they trudged back into the club where a loud chorus of Happy Birthday was being sung by the guests. Lexi and Chyna joined in with the celebratory tune weaving their way through the crowd to the birthday boy. Before they broke through, Lexi glanced up at the screen where the slideshow had been circulating pictures of Jack’s past. Her heart froze on the final image.
A high resolution photo taken within Ramsey’s house this past weekend was displayed before her eyes. Jack stood next to Bekah with his arm around her waist. Bekah’s head was tilted sideways comfortably resting against Jack’s shoulder. Ramsey had an arm slung over both Bekah and Lexi’s shoulders. Lexi was leaning back against Ramsey’s chest. The signs that she was too drunk to stand straight were already evident. All eyes were bright and smiling. Their faces were flushed from dancing.
But what caught her eye was the look on Jack’s face. He looked happy, buoyant even, but there was something different about his expression than the rest of the group. His eyes were diverted, cutting across his girlfriend and her brother straight to Lexi. And the look he was pressing towards her was very familiar. His eyes were crystal clear blue with desire. He only had eyes for her, and he wanted her. Even though his girlfriend was in his arms, he still couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Lexi.
She glanced around the room transfixed by the image before her. How could no one else see what she saw in the picture? How could anyone think of including this very recent picture with him looking at her in such a fashion? But no one else seemed to be looking at the picture. At least no one was analyzing it quite like she was. She couldn’t believe it. Was everyone momentarily blind?
“What are you doing?” Chyna hissed latching onto her hand and pulling her through the crowd. Lexi stumbled the few feet forward right into Ramsey. He reached out and slung his arm across her shoulder bringing her closer to the action. She glanced from him to Bekah to Jack. At the center of the table was a large sheet cake with blue frosting announcing Jack’s birthday. He had both hands on the table poised to blow out the flickering candles. Everyone was yelling for Jack to make a wish in the background, but all Lexi saw was the way the group was entwined. They were practically set up for the picture again, but this time when Jack’s head swiveled to the side, he locked eyes with Bekah before releasing his breath.