Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(30)

"Oh sorry. Excuse me," he said after reaching out to steady her.

"No problem," she said coldly, backing up a step out of his comforting grasp. Her dark brown eyes shifted up to his extremely handsome, apologetic face. He really looked concerned. Strange. She turned away from his strong jaw line and high cheek bones, ignoring his expression. When he didn't seem to get the hint, she returned her gaze to his face. "Yea?" she asked rudely.

"Uh…sorry…do I know you?" he skeptically asked his eyes roaming her face.

Lexi rolled her eyes. Was he really playing this game? That had to be the most overused line anyone had ever used. Why would she know him? "Um…no, I don't think so," she said diverting her attention again. "I have to get to brunch." Lexi attempted to side-step him, but he cut off her path.

"No really, I think I know you from somewhere."

"You're in my way," she pointed out to him. She couldn't help how rude she was being. She wasn't really sure why he was eliciting such a reaction either. It's not like he had been rude to her, but Lexi didn't want to give him the chance.

"Oh yeah, sorry, but really we've met before."

"No, I don't think so."

"Have you ever been here before? I think it was here. Actually, I'm almost certain it was here."

"Just once a long time ago, but really I need to leave and you've blocked my path." Lexi didn't want to have this conversation. She didn't want to remember anyone she might have met that day when she had come with Jennifer.

"Okay, yeah, I definitely remember you now," he said cheerfully. "You came with one of my sister's friends. But she wasn't here, of course. I mean you wouldn't know that. My sister went to Duke. So she wasn't here. Which I already said. But you were here with her friend, I'm pretty sure. And man, she's really annoying." Lexi looked back up at him skeptically. Had he just called Jennifer annoying? Of course, Lexi thought Jennifer was annoying, but she was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to think that. "Oh no," he said staring down at her apologetically, "I mean she's your friend. I didn't mean that the way it sounded." She stared at him longer unable to believe what she was hearing. This guy was babbling. She was certain there was an unwritten rule somewhere preventing this from happening. "Wow, this isn't coming out right at all."

Lexi looked up at him incredulously. "Right then, I'm going to go," she said attempting to dodge him again.

"Oh right," he said seeming to step out of her way, but only blocking her path further. She sighed heavily, stepping in the opposite direction. He had the same idea and moved in front of her once again. He laughed heartily; probably a little too loud for the environment. The people she had been attempting to remain invisible from turned in their direction and began staring. She cringed and pushed her hair behind her ears.

"Okay stop," Lexi commanded, reaching out and grabbing his arm to prevent him from moving farther. "I'm going to go right. Just…don't move."

"Who are you here with?" he asked, ignoring her demand.

"That's none of your business," she snapped, extracting her hand from his suit.

"You're right," he said sheepishly. "It's just I don't know if you remember me, which I guess you don't, but I remember you."

She wasn't sure what that meant and didn't plan on finding out. "That's great," she stated sarcastically.

"Is Jennifer here?" he asked glancing over her shoulder to see if Jennifer was about to appear at her side.

"I don't know, but I'll send her your way if I find her."

"So, you didn't come here with Jennifer then?" he asked. She flinched, realizing that she had unintentionally given a way a piece of information.

"No, I didn't. What's it to you anyway?" Lexi demanded getting more flustered the longer she stood in front of him.

"I'm just curious about you, is all. You've been here before, and you came back," he said in disbelief. "That never happens."

"Right well, I see that I'm a fantastic spectacle for you to wonder about, but once again, you are in my way. I'm going to be late for brunch, and frankly, I'm starving." Not to mention she was sure to be humiliated if she arrived a second behind schedule.

"Oh yeah. I keep forgetting about that," he said, bringing his hand up and scratching the back of his head thoughtfully.

"Well, I haven't. So…yeah…nice meeting you," Lexi said off-hand, finally getting herself around his solid figure.

"But you didn't. I didn't even tell you my name or get yours for that matter."

Lexi turned letting her loose curls trail down her back. "That's alright. I've survived this long without it." He walked forward towards her. "What are you doing?" she asked throwing her hand out to stop him from walking further.

"I can escort you to your seat," he offered, his perfectly straight, white teeth appeared as he smiled brightly at her.

"Absolutely not."

"Do you even know where you are going?"

"You don't know where I'm going," she reminded him. "And I'm sure I can find my way just fine, thank you." She took another step forward and he followed her. She clenched her fists. "Jesus, why don't you back off?" she exclaimed raising her voice for the first time. She regretted her actions almost instantly. The obnoxious middle aged members, who had only been half-listening to their conversation, now went silent and turned their full attention to her, making her cheeks burn bright red. It didn't help that she had taken the Lord's name in vain in the Bible belt. Goddamn it, New York had changed her. She took three calming breaths before glancing back up at him and smiling through gritted teeth.