Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(31)
His smile had never wavered. Country Club manners through and through. "Well, if you are sure I can't be of any assistance, I'll just let you find your own way," he said politely.
Lexi watched him purposely walk off in the opposite direction. Clenching and unclenching her hands several times calmed her down enough to allow her to search for Jack. To be honest, she had no idea where to begin. She should have let that guy help her. But after he had been so goddamn pushy, all she wanted to do was get away. She searched around unsuccessfully before noticing Jack quickly approaching her.
"Where have you been?" he asked concerned and a little annoyed.
"I ran into someone and they wouldn't stop talking to me," she complained.
"Well let's hurry up. We should hurry and get in there before they start taking orders," he said smiling down on her, his annoyance dissipating the longer he remained in her presence.
Her throat caught as his hand rested gently on her elbow and nudged her in the appropriate direction. She had wanted things to be like this for so long. It hurt to know that the only reason she was here, the only reason he was even talking to her, was because of his girlfriend. His perfect girlfriend whom he intended to marry. His perfect girlfriend that she was about to meet. She sighed heavily mentally preparing herself and followed his lead into a side room with a large gold plaque labeled Anderson, Bridges, and C. Brown.
The dining room that Lexi entered opened onto a balcony overlooking the ninth hole fairway. Cream colored walls and blue patterned carpet decorated the large space. Three elegant oak tables filled the area with matching cushioned chairs placed around them. Nearly all the seats were occupied, and roughly thirty people glanced up from their prearranged silverware to stare at Jack and Lexi as they entered the room. Lexi smiled repentantly and ambled after Jack to their assigned seats.
"Sorry we took so long," Jack said taking his seat across from his girlfriend.
"Uh...hi," Lexi said adding a tiny wave before scooting into her seat and tucking her dress underneath her.
Lexi pulled her eyes from the table and let them rest on Bekah. She knew that she didn't like her as soon as Lexi laid eyes on her. Bekah was definitely beautiful in a cookie-cutter sort of way. I mean if you liked Barbie doll types. The pin-straight blond hair, Lexi had predicted she would have, was all one length cut to the middle of her back. Chunky bangs covered her forehead. Big blue eyes popped out from Bekah's naturally beautiful face which was hardly tainted by make-up. Lexi felt sick upon realizing that Bekah had as nearly flawless skin as Chyna. Her pale yellow, square-cut sundress was modest yet fashionable all the while accentuating her best features. Eleven millimeter white pearls dangled from her earlobes and matched the thin chain of Chanel pearls draped across her neck. What bothered her the most wasn't that she knew that this woman was one hundred percent Jack's type, that bothered her for sure, but rather that she had something that Lexi had never appeared to have.
Innocence.
Okay, to be fair, Bekah probably wasn't all that innocent either. After all, she was dating Jack. But she sure as hell gave off the appearance. Lexi, on the other hand, had never given off that appearance. Something about Lexi's dark tangled curly hair, the way her eyes looked smoky without make-up, the way her characteristically bold personality tended to intimidate strangers, and the way she almost always felt completely comfortable in her body gave off the impression not that she was easy, but certainly that she was not innocent.
"It's so nice to meet you," Bekah said. A row of brilliant white teeth were revealed as she smiled across the table from her.
"Likewise," Lexi said coughing uncomfortably and glancing away from her doe-eyed gaze. The rest of the table was filled with mostly respectable middle aged men and women in high-quality attire. She was introduced as jack's friend from out of town, but failed to really take in any names. She didn't plan on remembering any of them anyways. Lexi nudged Jack. "Don't you want to sit next to Bekah?" she asked indicating the empty seat facing her.
Lexi had thought it strange that the seat was unoccupied. He smiled at her. "Well, yea I would, but this is where I sit."
Lexi cocked an eyebrow at him condescendingly. This must be some Country Club thing. Not that she wanted him to leave her side. "Alright," Lexi said not pushing the subject. "Are we missing someone?"
"My brother," Bekah answered. "He should be here shortly. He tends to run behind."
"Oh." Lexi didn't know what else to say.
Bekah leaned over the table smiling secretively. "Sorry about that. He's a bit of a troublemaker. He likes to upset my parents by showing up late for brunch, talking a bit too loud in public and the like." Lexi tried not to roll her eyes. This girl was serious. Talking too loud in public? Had she ever left her bubble? "I don't mind them so much though. I think it's humorous."
"I'm sure it is." Lexi tried to smile. She had just used humorous in a sentence. Fantastic.
"Yeah, Ramsey's a riot," Jack interjected.
Bekah smiled even bigger. "He is...something else," she said dropping her voice. "But anyway, I am so glad that your flight landed as scheduled. I would have felt terrible changing plans on you if you were still in transit. Jack wasn't sure if you would accompany us for brunch, but I'm very glad he was able to convince you."