Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(62)

"Are you ready to go to the beach yet?" she asked wide-eyed.

"Just about," he said circling his arms around her waist and leaning his head against her shoulder. "I could use about five more hours of sleep. You interested?"

"You didn't sleep?" she asked.

"He slept on sand all night," Lexi said taking a long sip of orange juice.

Kate jumped as if just realizing that they weren't alone. "You were on the beach?"

Jack flicked his gaze over towards Lexi in warning. Lexi just continued eating. She knew that she wasn't that great of a liar. She couldn't word things like Jack could. He could manipulate his language so that no one would be able to tell anything was different.

"No, I was telling Lex and Clark that the den couch feels like it's full of sand."

"Oh, gross. You know that I'd come and share with you to make it more enjoyable, but I just cannot sleep on a couch," she said flicking her hair over shoulder. Every time she moved it just bounced back in front. "Well, you need to go change so we can get our asses on the beach," she said sliding off of his lap and tugging him out of the kitchen.

Lexi skimmed her eyes across the departing couple. Her stomach twisted at the sight of Jack's arm hanging loosely around Kate's waist…well a little lower than her waist. She really wanted things to work out so that she would be able to be around Jack more often, but so far she wasn't all the certain they could stay like this. She couldn't adjust the way she felt about him. But she knew that she'd have to at least try for Clark's sake.

"You two seemed to be getting along better," Clark said flipping a pancake over.

Lexi shrugged. "I guess," she said nonchalantly. "I'm going to go change for the beach. Thanks for breakfast." She hopped off her chair, kissed him on the cheek, and then rushed out of the room before she could give herself away.

The next few days passed in a similar fashion. The group would spend a fun filled day at the beach hanging out in the ocean, playing volleyball and Frisbee, and a whole hell of a lot of sun bathing. Each night after everyone passed out from physical exhaustion, Lexi would crawl out of bed and into the den. She would shake Jack from his slumber if need be, and they would slink down to the beach to spend the remaining hours until daybreak together. The next morning, they would wake up at the crack of dawn eager to be in each other's presence. She had resorted to afternoon naps on the beach to keep herself going during the day. Clark couldn't figure out why she was so tired all the time, but she continually blamed it on the sheer amount of alcohol she had consumed coupled with the sun's heated rays.

Lexi was lying back enjoying just such one of those afternoon cat naps when she was jostled awake. She grumbled as her earbuds fell out of place and drifting ocean noises took over for the tunes that had been playing from her iPod.

"Wake up sleepy head," Clark murmured as he sat down on the towel adjacent to her.

She swiped at her eyes and pushed herself up against her elbows. "How long have I been out?" she asked sheepishly.

"A couple hours."

"Where did everyone go?" she asked noticing that at least a few rather pertinent individuals were missing from the group.

"Probably doing to each other what I want to do to you right now," he muttered huskily his voice dipping low.

Lexi gulped. She tried to clear her mind of all thoughts of Jack. She did not want to think about him right now when her boyfriend was suggesting rather appealing options. However, she couldn't help herself. All she could think about was whether or not Jack was with Kate, and what they could be doing up at the beach house almost completely alone.

"You want to go join them up there? I'm sure we can find an empty room in that mansion of a place," he said winking slyly at her.

She giggled half-heartedly her smile not fully reaching her eyes. "Maybe."

Clark moved closer and rested his head in her lap. She wound her fingers through his thick slightly curly black hair. He had let it grow in longer for the beach, and she enjoyed the feel of it knowing it would all be gone before graduation. "I bet I can convince Hunter to take the couch tonight if you want to sleep with me," he offered. "Obviously you're not getting enough sleep."

In that moment, she was glad he couldn't see her face. Guilt creased her features. The last thing she wanted to do was give up one of her last precious nights with Jack. She didn't care how tired she was. They would never have an opportunity like this again, and she was planning on savoring every platonic second of it. "No, it's fine. Don't worry about me. I think I'm just adjusting to the bed finally," she volunteered the information off hand.

"Oh, well I was thinking I could give you some more incentive," he said sitting up and pulling her face into his hands. His mouth covered hers quickly and deliberately. Only earlier that week she had reveled in every kiss. Now that she had tasted Jack again if only briefly, the movement felt robotic and dispassionate. She felt no express desire him in that moment and that knowledge worried her.

She smiled against his lips and pulled back. "I think I'm going to pass. You heard Seth. Thin walls and all. I'd rather not have everyone hearing us, and then talking about it."

His eyes shifted focus. "Since when are you concerned with other people hearing and being self-conscious?"