Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(84)

"You don't have to hang out with her," he stated absentmindedly. He passed a sandwich to her and she reached into the basket to investigate the contents further.

"Yeah I know, but Jack wants me to," she said shrugging.

"Why is that?" he asked honestly curious.

Lexi shrugged again. "Beats me. We've known each other for a long time, and I guess since I'm here he wants me to get to know his girlfriend too."

Ramsey took a deep breath to keep from asking too many more questions. He had a million, but the last thing he wanted to do was overload her with them on their first date. If he had it his way there would be many more to come. "So how long are you here for exactly?"

"Well schools starts on Monday. So I guess until Sunday then. A week total." Lexi smiled at the grimace that crossed his face. She wasn't entirely sure if that was because she was staying too long or too short, but she was going to go with the later. She had found herself in quite an interesting scenario.

"I guess you'll be here long enough for Jack's birthday then," Ramsey said leaning back on his elbows and examining her reaction.

Lexi's mouth popped open in surprise. Oh my God. How had she forgotten his birthday? Of course, it was his birthday this weekend. And if she recalled this was a big one indeed. Twenty-five years old. Wow. A quarter of his lifetime gone by, and she had known him since he was just nineteen. She couldn't believe she had forgotten. "Oh yeah. What is he doing exactly?"

She couldn't believe she was asking Ramsey for information about this. Why hadn't Jack mentioned it? Had he just assumed she wouldn't come? Did he not want her to be there? There were so many questions she needed answers. At least now she understood why Bekah wanted to go shopping for Jack's big day.

"You don't know?" he asked skeptically.

"Yeah I wasn't really filled in," she admitted awkwardly.

He sure thought it was strange that she had come to visit Jack, but he hadn't even invited her to his big birthday celebration. "Well it'll be a surprise for you too. Want to go with me?"

Lexi was interrupted from answering again as her phone went off in her hand. "Goddamn it. Who wants to talk to me now?" Lexi popped open the phone. "Hello."

"Alexa!" Chyna squealed on the other line. "Oh my goodness, chica, I have missed you. How have things been going with you know everything? Are you planning to come home to me sooner rather than later?"

Lexi's laugh escaped her mouth as soon as she heard her best friend's voice. "Chyna, it's so good to hear from you." Lexi glanced over at Ramsey who's expression at turned had lightened in accord with her own enthusiasm. "Sorry to disappoint, but it doesn't look like I'll be joining you back home anytime soon. Though I do miss New York terribly."

"I knew you would," Chyna trilled. "How could you not? I know the summer is scathingly hot, but to get away to go somewhere not only hot but humid? Disgusting."

"Well you convinced me to come down here in the first place," she reminded her, getting lost in their conversation and not realizing that she was giving away information in front of Ramsey.

"Yes well how does closure suit you?"

"Actually," Lexi said pushing her hair behind her ear as she glanced at Ramsey's all too curious face, "I can't really talk about that right now."

"And why not? You're supposed to be with your family tonight right?"

"Err..."

"Oh my God, Alexa, you are not with him right now are you?"

Lexi's brows furrowed together hoping to God that Ramsey couldn't hear Chyna's end of the conversation. "No no no no no," she muttered quickly. "I'm just...um."

"Do not lie to your best friend."

"I'm not lying," she quickly corrected. "I'm just...on a date." Ramsey's bright smile at the recognition of their date was totally worth it. This guy seriously had everything going for him. Which begged the question what was he doing with her? But she couldn't think about that right now.

"What?" Chyna squealed. Then thinking the better of it, she asked, "With whom? Jack? It better not be Jack. Your vague texts over the past two days haven't been enough. Fill me in. What's going on?"

"Chyna, I'm kind of in the middle of something here," Lexi reminded her.

"Oh geez, Alexa, I'm sorry. I'll let you go, but I better get some details. You know how long I've been waiting for this to happen. If you don't call me by tomorrow..."

Lexi cut her off. "Good night Chyna." Lexi closed the phone and turned the damn thing off not wanting another such distraction. "I'm so sorry. I'm usually not this popular," she admitted smiling at Ramsey who just shrugged off the statements.

"No problem at all. Was that someone from home?"

"Yeah, my best friend," she told him.

Luckily, there were no interruptions for the remainder of the evening. The two managed idle chit chat with little interrogation or their normal rude behavior towards one another. The sun set as they finished their meal and an announcement went out signifying the beginning of the laser show. Lexi got lost in the twirling lights and loud popular music blasting from the speakers. She couldn't believe that they were capable of displaying scenes to go along with the music large enough to cover the entire side of the mountain. The couple had involuntarily snuggled closer together as the show continued. Ramsey had even ventured to lace his fingers with hers.