Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(35)

"Well then, come see me. Nothing's stopping you."

"You know that there are plenty of things stopping me from coming to see you."

"Alright. How about this: I'll come see you. That way you don't feel like those reasons apply."

Lexi shook her head. "You forgot about my nosy roommates." She threw a few items aimlessly into the cart and continued down the aisle.

"Are they there right now?" Lexi knew they weren't, but there was no way she was telling him that. She didn't know her roommates' schedules, and if she was found with Jack, there would be a lot of explaining to do. And explaining why she was talking to him again was not something she was interested in. "Silence means they're not?" Jack guessed.

"I don't know when they are or are not there," she told him noncommittally.

"I just really want to see you. You've been so busy with your schedule that I haven't seen you but once since we ran into each other at Chamber."

"Yeah, about that. How did you know I was going to be there? You never told me," she said switching ears to adjust the uncomfortable feeling creeping through her shoulder. She couldn't afford to have aching muscles with conditioning beginning soon.

"Don't try to change the subject. When do I get to see you?"

"You can't see me until you answer."

"I won't answer until I see you."

"Well I guess we're at a stalemate," Lexi said attempting to maneuver the shopping cart one-handed.

"Okay fine. If I tell you, you promise you'll come see me? My roommates are out of town, and we'd have the house to ourselves."

All of a sudden, the invitation seemed very enticing. God, she knew she shouldn't even be talking to him. Spencer had no idea about the conversations they had been having, and she had no real desire to tell him. Sometimes she could swear that he knew that something was different about her. Jack always made her appear different. That wonderful month they had shared together, albeit he had had a girlfriend the entire time, she knew she had changed. Her parents had even commented on her seemingly newfound inner joy. Jack just made her glow. Which was the exact reason she could not tell Spencer about Jack.

Spencer would never understand. Sure he acted goofy and played everything off like it was a joke, but she knew that he would see more into it. And there wasn't more to it. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

"So what do you say Lex? You'll come over?" he asked persuasion etched in every line.

She sighed heavily weighing her options. Spencer was also out of town for the weekend. His great-aunt something-or-other from some no name city in Vermont was visiting his parents, and he was obligated to entertain her. She hadn't been too keen on the details. No matter how many times he had argued with his parents about having previous arrangements. It hadn't work, and she couldn't accompany him. His family was really old fashioned. He would be none the wiser if she happened to spend a few hours of her afternoon at an old friend's house. Then again, she felt guilty enough for not telling him about the phone conversations and text messages. How would she feel if she spent time with him? A knot formed at the pit of her stomach and she felt her heart begin to race.

"Just to talk?" she peeped, already knowing his answer.

"Of course, if that's what you want," he added.

"You can keep your hands to yourself?" she practically whispered into the other line. She glanced around the nearly empty aisle checking for people she knew or potential eavesdroppers...anyone at all that looked suspicious. If she found one person, she'd turn him down flat. But she didn't find anyone.

"I can if you can," he deadpanned.

"Well I don't know," she said prolonging the moment.

"You don't know if you can keep your hands to yourself?" he asked with a chuckle. "You should definitely come over."

"Oh, ha. Ha. I don't know if I should come over."

"Lex, I already told you I just want to spend a little time with you. I know you want to come over, and there's no reason for you not to. If one of your other guy friends asked you to hang out right this instant, what would you tell him?" She remained silent. He knew what she was thinking regardless. There would be no reservations in going to hang out with another guy. Any other guy wasn't Jack. Plain and simple. "That's what I thought. So, come see me."

"You know what. Fine. Whatever. If you say we're just going to sit around and talk and hang out, then I'll come over. But only if you tell me how you knew I'd be at Chamber," she said giving into him.

"Okay, that's an easy one," Jack said coolly.

Just then, Lexi's phone began to beep in her ear. "Hold that thought," she said, glancing down at the number that beeping into the line. She sighed heavily swearing escaping her lips as she read the name.

"Hey, can I call you back?" she asked Jack impatiently. "I have to take this call."

"You're still coming over right?"

"Sure. And you will finish your story there."

"Alright see you soon."

Lexi clicked over to the other line. "Hey baby," she trilled into the phone. "How's hanging out with the fam?"

"It's so dull without you here," Spencer complained. "Maybe I could still convince them to let you come up here and visit."