Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(42)

"Oh my God! Krista is that you?" Lexi asked rushing to hug the petite girl who had once been her gymnastics captain in college. "I hardly recognized you."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," she peeped standing to accept the embrace.

"Your hair…it's all one color…brown," Lexi exclaimed in awe. "And who would have guessed anyone would ever find you in a business suit!"

"Not in a million years," she said adjusting her silky v-neck blouse to reveal a bit more cle**age. So maybe things weren't that different.

"I thought you were in Vegas. When did you come back to Atlanta?" Lexi asked enthusiastically. Krista giggled. The girl actually giggled holding out her left hand to reveal a huge diamond surrounded by four others on a white gold band. "Oh wow, that's beautiful." Lexi stared transfixed at her ring. The rock was enormous. Lexi didn't believe anyone actually wore diamonds that large out and about, but Krista always liked to catch people by surprise.

"I got married last winter. My husband's company has an Atlanta branch. He knew how much I loved it out here so he relocated. I'm working with some interior design company. It's kind of dull but the hours are flexible. If they weren't, I'd quit that shit and go fulltime at the gym. We've got some amazingly talented girls. Last year, we had one make it almost all the way through the Olympic trials," she explained.

"That's amazing!" Lexi exclaimed truly happy for her friend.

"So what are you doing here missy? I'd heard through the grapevine that you were in f**king New York City," Krista said her green eyes glimmering.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just here visiting a friend." Lexi stopped suddenly realizing that Krista and Jack knew each other. That thought had completely slipped her mind. "Actually, I'm visiting Jack. Uh…Jack Howard."

"Holy shit! Jack f**king Howard. Now that's a name I haven't heard in awhile. I thought you two would be married by now. Run off together or something," Krista noted.

Lexi blushed. "Um…no."

"Damn. You always seemed like a perfect pair to me," Krista told her. She watched as Lexi's complexion colored over further. "So where is he?" she asked her head swiveling hoping to catch a glimpse of him. "He's so delicious. I'd love to see him again."

Lexi laughed remembering why she had always liked Krista. She was so straight-forward and vulgar. It was refreshing, and reminded her of New York. "He actually just dropped me off. I'm here with his…" Lexi trailed off realizing that she had been standing here for awhile and had completely lost Bekah.

"With his what?" Krista asked curiously.

"Uh…hold on." Lexi pivoted trying to look through the crowd, but she was too short. She couldn't see anyone.

"Who are we looking for?" Krista asked scanning the throng of people.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you," Bekah stated calmly as she walked up in the opposite direction of where they had been searching.

"Yeah. Sorry," Lexi stated awkwardly turning to face her. "I just ran into a friend."

"What a coincidence," Bekah said turning to face Krista. "Bekah Bridges." She extended her hand formally.

Krista took it, but glanced at Lexi conspiratorially. "Krista Hammond."

"Pleased to meet you," Bekah properly replied. "Wait. Hammond?" she asked eyeing her appearance. Krista nodded one eyebrow arched perfectly. "Any connection to Hammond, Stern, & Birch?"

Krista's eyes narrowed. "That depends," she muttered. Krista, always blunt, asked her, "Who the hell are you?"

"Beg your pardon?"

Lexi stepped in. "Krista, this is Jack's girlfriend. That's what I was going to tell you. I'm here with his girlfriend."

Krista stared blankly from Lexi to Bekah and back. "You're dating Jack?" she finally asked Bekah.

"That's right."

"Not Lexi?" Krista demanded.

Lexi wanted to cover her face with her hands. This was not going to help their conversation at all.

"Well no," Bekah said confusion beginning to get etched into her features.

"I already told you that we weren't together," she reminded Krista.

"I'm sorry. How do you know a Hammond?" Bekah finally asked unintentionally snooty. "And how do you know Jack?"

"I used to f**k one of Jack's friends," Krista said nonchalantly at the same time as Lexi announced, "We were on the gymnastics team together."

The look Bekah shot Krista was a mixture of disdain and confusion. Lexi figured she wasn't used to being around such crudeness especially not from someone who had a name she recognized. This just reminded Lexi why she couldn't stand being around Country Club types.

Bekah shook her head letting her golden blonde hair swish around her face. A bright smile appeared out of nowhere. "Well it is nice to meet another friend of Jack's," Bekah said quickly adapting to the situation. "Perhaps we could get together sometime," she offered. "You know coffee or lunch. Whatever works best for you."

Krista glanced at Lexi humorously. "Yeah, maybe." Lexi could read her expression clear as day. No chance in hell.