Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding #1)(9)

He had to bend down so that she was able to hear him. He smelled like a heavenly combination of Irish spring soap and sexy cologne. "I think you study at the coffee shop I work at."

She turned her head up to face him. His brown hair fell neatly across his eyes as he looked down upon her. She had never noticed just how clear blue his eyes really were until they were set intently and solely on her. "I think you might be right," she confirmed giving him a coy smile. She was having a hard time breathing with him looking at her like he was, so she forced herself to speak. "Are you much into college boy rap?"

His laugh was easy and sincere. "No, not really, but this guy's not bad. He a friend of yours?"

"Yeah. He lives in my dorm." She cringed realizing she had just given away her youth. She had no idea about his age or whether or not he would consider a measly freshman to be worth his time.

"Nice. These guys right over there," he gestured with his thumb to the three guys clustered behind him, "lived on my hall last year in the dorms. Which one are you in?"

She let out her breath not having even realized she had been holding it for so long. "Um...R-Hall."

"That's where we were," he said nodding his head to the music.

"How did you hear about them? I mean, if you don't really listen to the music," she couldn't help but ask.

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of purple paper. He opened it revealing the flyer Olivia had been relentlessly handing out for the past two weeks introducing Nick and Neal. "I believe a friend of yours gave this to me," he said pointing to Olivia over the crowd of people.

Lexi giggled. That little devil. She hadn't been flirting with him when she had gone to get her coffee earlier that afternoon. In fact, she had been helping her by convincing Coffee Guy to come here tonight. "Well, yea, that's Olivia for you," she said shrugging, attempting to be nonchalant. "Oh, I'm Lexi, by the way." She extended her hand out to the side.

"Lexi...hmm...I like that," he said taking her outstretched hand firmly in his and giving it a good squeeze. "Jack. It's very nice to meet you,"

Silence fell between them as the show progressed. It really was near impossible to have a solid conversation with hip-hop beats blared in the background. When their set was complete, the crowd filed outside for an intermission allowing the main act time to set-up on stage. The majority of the people lit a cigarette as soon as they exited The Theatre. Lexi steered clear of them, and watched as her group of friends began making their way around the corner of the black building to the back entrance to meet up with Nick and Neal. Lexi waited awkwardly with Jack at the front of the building.

Olivia exited through the glass doors covered with torn flyers advertising upcoming shows, and bounced up to them humming one of the lively little tunes she preferred. "Hey sweetie," she said kissing Lexi on the cheek as she hopped back and forth from one foot the other. "Oh my God, that was just as fantastic as I could have imagined," she said, her eyes glazed a little and her low cut blouse smelling strongly of beer and secondhand smoke. Lexi could have kissed her back for getting Jack here tonight. "Oh honey," Olivia said realizing that Jack was watching her, laughter evident in his eyes, "I'm so glad you could make it. You met my good friend Lexi?"

"Sure did. But I think you're losing your group," he said pointing to the backdoor.

Olivia's eyes bulged. "Oh dear, I am. Be back," she said pinching Lexi's arm as she raced after the rest of the group.

"I guess she's a little bit drunk," Lexi commented shrugging her shoulders as she let her gaze land back on Jack.

"A little?" he questioned. "Hold on one second," he said directing his attention his friends who were trailing behind him. "Hey guys, I'll meet you at Chamber. I think Chasity said she was working." Nodding, the three guys disappeared down the street leaving Jack and Lexi alone.

Lexi assumed Chasity was a bartender, but refrained from asking. She had no desire whatsoever to know how they knew each other...or how well. "I'm not sure what my friends are doing," she said glancing around the corner, the group she had arrived with stumbling around outside with Nick and Neal at the center. "But by the look of things, I'm going to have to carry half of them home." At only a couple inches over five feet, that really would be a feat. "I should go catch up with them before they get into any trouble," she said looking concerned.

"My friends are probably lost without me too," he said jokingly.

"Are you working tomorrow?"

"Are you studying tomorrow?" he countered flirtatiously.

"I should be," she confirmed, thinking about the daunting stack of homework on her desk.

"Then I should be there."

She stood there for another second taking in his flawless appearance. He wore dark snug-fit jeans with a black button-up that he'd rolled the sleeves up to three-quarter length and worn navy Chuck Taylor's. He was taller than her by half a dozen inches with a well-toned muscular physique. She figured she wouldn't be able to reach his lips if she stood on her tip-toes, but he was strong enough to pick her up to them. Quickly pushing the idea out of her mind, she snapped herself back to reality. "Guess I'll see you there."

"Sounds good," he said as she turned and began to walk down the alleyway. After a moment's hesitation, he called out to her, "Hey, Lexi." He jogged down the street after her. She turned on her green high heels to find him standing directly in front of her again. "I know you have to study tomorrow, but what are you doing Friday?" he asked hesitantly.