Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(118)

After cleaning up, Lexi fell back into Jack's arms letting him hold her tight. He fanned out her hair letting it run loose between his fingers. "Better than the museum?" she asked playfully.

"Much better," he said leaning down and kissing her on her temple. "Everything is better when I'm with you."

She sighed heavily unable to believe that after everything they had been through and all the heartache and tears she had endured, she was finally getting the chance she deserved with Jack. So maybe they weren't officially a couple, but at least they were something. She could deal with whatever came next as long as he was around. That would be good enough for her…for now. Then they could go past this, and work towards a real future together.

But right now, she was ready for round two.

* * *

Thanks Cupid's Psyche, CaliBound, and total romance. for comments! Also, check out my book and Cupid's Psyche's "Thoughtless" in total romance.'s new Community The Greats of The Greats.

K.A. Linde

Fainting Spell

Am I alone in this?

Never a night where I can sleep myself 'til day.

We must try to figure it out, figure it out.

It won't be that easy.

We lost it somehow.

You come over unannounced.

Silence broken by your voice in the dark.

I need you here tonight,

Just like the ocean needs the waves.

- Mae "The Ocean"

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Chapter 19: Present

Lexi bounded into Jack's room and quickly stripped off the band t-shirt he had loaned her. She looked longingly at the cracked bathroom door where steam was currently streaming from. She took one step forward her heart racing with desire with the knowledge that Jack was just on the other side. She sighed heavily as she cautiously approached the bathroom and peered into the room. Lexi could just make out Jack's figure through the glass despite the room looking like a sauna.

She had been so determined to barge in there even though she had just kept them from making the same mistake. She leaned her head against the doorframe and shut her eyes attempting to reason with herself.

Yes, Jack was naked in the next room.

Yes, he probably looked freaking amazing as the water ran down his body.

Yes, she wanted him.

All of these things were obvious to her, but she needed to keep a lid on her emotions. Just because she wanted Jack didn't mean that she should have him. He was taken. Though she had never respected that in the past, she liked to think that she was a different person now.

Just as she was about to walk away, she heard soft humming over the drum of the water hitting the glass. The humming turned into a melody and eventually, Lexi could put the pieces together and make out the lyrics to Mae's song "The Ocean." She left her eyes shut tight allowing the lyrics to flow over her. She could have stood there indefinitely just listening to him sing so clearly over the water. His voice was mesmerizingly smooth and took her back to times when things had been easier. Or at least, she had thought they had been easier. In fact, they had just been the calm before the storm.

She knew that if she rushed into that bathroom right now it would be exactly the same. Jack would have all the control. She would be unable to control herself. It was hard enough turning him down twice in a twelve hour period. She wasn't sure she was capable of doing it a third time.

The final note of the song sounded in her ears and the shower cut off. Lexi jumped from where she was standing not expecting them to be timed together. She grabbed her clothes from his dresser and rushed into the guest bedroom. Quickly scrambling into last night's clothes, Lexi dashed for the exit. She didn't want to be here when he got out. She didn't trust herself enough not to succumb to his wiles.

Lexi hailed the first cab that she saw and had them whisk her to the airport. The plane ride from JFK to Hartfield-Jackson was only two hours, and since Chyna was flying private jet it might even be less time. Lexi didn't care how long she would have to wait. She just couldn't be around Jack right now. She needed her best friend. She needed her to tell her that she was doing the right thing, because Lexi had never been good at doing the right thing. And all she wanted to do was turn around and be back in Jack's arms.

"You not from around here?" the cab driver asked attempting to make conversation.

"Uh," Lexi mumbled. "Yeah I am."

"Oh, where you plane go?" he asked in broken English.

"Excuse me?" she asked dumbfounded.

"You go to airport. Where you plane go?" he repeated himself.

"Oh where am I going? No, um…nowhere. My friend is visiting," she told him hating to have to make small talk with cabbies.

"Oh. Where friend from?" he asked giving her a crooked-tooth smile.

Lexi flashed a half-hearted smile at the man. Her thoughts were elsewhere, and this really wasn't the best time. "New York City," she mumbled regardless.

"Oh! New York City. Big Apple. Statue of Liberty. Broadway," he exclaimed his eyes seeming to light up.

"Yeah," she responded not enthused.

"You go visit her next time," he told her. "New York very fun.'

"Right," Lexi said wondering why she was getting travel advice from someone that wasn't even from this country. She didn't even want to delve into the subject that she actually lived in New York. That would probably elicit another string of questions she didn't feel like answering.