Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(101)
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K.A. Linde
Surprise, Surprise
When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is
-Celine Dion "That's The Way It Is"
* * *
Chapter 16:May Three Months Earlier
"Yes I'm sure I'm making the right decision," Lexi said into the cell phone just as the taxi pulled over onto the curb. "You've tried to convince me not to leave New York since I got the summer associate position."
"Why would I want my best friend to leave me when she's finally out of school?" Chyna pouted.
"I don't expect you to want me to leave, but I would like you to be happy for me," Lexi said opening her purse and pulling out cash. "Keep the change," she said to the cabbie as she popped open the door and stepped out.
"I'm happy for you darling. You're going to make a fortune which will be a nice change to you making nothing. I'm just going to miss my bestie. Perhaps I'm a little selfish," Chyna said adding a giggle in for good effect.
"You selfish? No," Lexi gasped sarcastically.
"Oh shut it!"
Lexi walked around to the back of the car and pulled open the trunk. "Well you'll have to come visit."
Chyna scoffed. "If I'm flying that far south, then I'm going to the Caribbean."
"Well make a pit stop and take me with you," Lexi told her lugging her bags out of the trunk and depositing them on the sidewalk. She stared down at the two bags before her. It didn't seem like enough for the next two months…maybe three if she worked her ass off. Her roommate, Rachelle, swore that she would mail her anything else she needed, but Lexi wasn't going to count on it. And anyway, she was going to be in California in less than three weeks. So if Lexi forgot something now, she would just have to do without it. Not to mention, the only other person who had a key to her place, Chyna was going to Milan for much of the summer for a photo shoot. Lexi couldn't be more jealous.
Lexi shuffled the bags to the foot of the stairs and decided that she would move them upstairs once she got the door open. No use hurting her back in the process. She figured the law firm she would be working for all summer would do enough damage.
"Maybe I will," Chyna said temporarily giving into Lexi's demands that she whisk her away to beaches far removed from the Atlanta smog.
"That'll be the day," Lexi sneered. "If I ever get
you into Atlanta again, it will have to be for something really special." Lexi didn't think she would ever get her here honestly. After what a catastrophe it was the last time she was here, Chyna had sworn off Atlanta. Too much drama in one place.
"True. The smog is killer and the traffic sounds are all wrong," Chyna said giggling.
"Well thanks for the support," Lexi said rolling her eyes.
"Alexa, I support you doll. I know you'll succeed at whatever you put your mind to," Chyna reassured her. "I just think you're picking the wrong town to succeed in. What happened to that amazing internship you had last summer in New York," she reasoned. "Ouch!"
"What was that?" Lexi asked bewildered.
"Nothing," she snapped quickly. "Sorry."
"Is everything alright up there?"
"Yes yes everything is fine," she said trying to sound convincing.
"Alright," she began hesitantly, "well that last internship didn't pay. I can't believe I found one that did. It's kind of amazing," Lexi told her.
"Yes well, at least you'll be close to home."
"True. But, hey, I'm finally here and I have a good deal of luggage to haul up these stairs so I'm going to let you go. I'll call you later chica," Lexi said hanging up the phone and stuffing it into her khaki shorts.
She pulled out the shiny key she had received in the mail only a few days earlier and slid it into the hole. Her heart fluttered as she realized the enormity of what she was doing. She was taking a summer associate position at a major firm in Atlanta doing exactly what she had always wanted to do.
And…she was moving in with her boyfriend. Her, miss lack-of-commitment was actually moving in with Ramsey. It was the biggest step she had ever made. She still couldn't believe that she was actually doing it. It was so unlike her. She could make rash decisions all day long when it came to Jack, but when it was really important she always hesitated. She knew Chyna thought it was too early for her to be moving in with Ramsey especially since they had only been together eight months. Lexi wasn't sure how much of her motivation was the fact that Lexi was leaving and how much of it was her concerns about Lexi living with Ramsey. But since she was going to be in Atlanta for the summer, Lexi thought it just made sense.
She only had the position in Atlanta for a definite eight weeks. This meant that she would have to sublease an apartment in the city while paying rent in New York at the same time since her lease ran through August. Even though she was getting paid, her student loans were astronomical. She would have to pay them off on top of two apartments. It seriously didn't make sense for her to get her own place.