Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(29)

Lexi's bottom lip came out to pout involuntarily. Even though she knew that this was a bad idea that didn't mean she wanted to stop. He came forward and kissed her bottom lip. "We'll have plenty of time for the other stuff if I have anything to say about it," he said encouragingly.

After everything he had just told her about himself, could she really believe that he would stick this out? She presumed that as long as he didn't get what he wanted, then he would be around. But then she didn't understand why he would wait it out. Perhaps, there was more to him than she even knew. She really wanted to figure out the mystery behind Ramsey…but she wanted to do that without revealing her jaded love story.

She sighed and lay back against the bed. He wrapped his arms around her holding her close. At least in this moment, they could be content together with their secrets.

* * *

K.A. Linde

No Reason

Three days since the living room

I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you

Yesterday you'd forgiven me

but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

-Barenaked Ladies "One Week"

* * *

Chapter 5: Present

"I think I gathered that. Thanks Seth," Lexi said rolling her eyes at his proclamation.

She felt like a complete idiot. She knew she should have listened to Ramsey when he said that she didn't want to be involved. Out of past experiences, she should have known better than to come along when he said it was in her best interest not to. She hadn't been able to stop herself though.

After such an abrupt interruption, she just needed to know what was going on. She didn't want any more secrets. If he couldn't tell her where he was running off to in the middle of the night, then she felt she had every right to join him where he was going.

Granted, he probably should have told her what was going on. It wasn't exactly fair to spring Jack's bachelor party on her. Ramsey knew her qualms with the situation and could have at least given her some kind of warning. How hard would it have been for him to say that it involved Jack?

She shook her head knowing exactly how she would have reacted in that situation. She would have run in the opposite direction if he'd said that.

Or at least she liked to think she would have. In reality, she knew that she would probably just been pissed off. One for him bringing Jack up at all, especially after they had agreed they wouldn't talk about that damn wedding. Two, for him interrupting what they were doing because of Jack. And lastly, because Jack was here at all!

What was he doing in New York?

Of all the places to have a bachelor party. Honestly!

She had heard the stories of Seth's big night in Las Vegas. She knew things about his strip club experiences and other such festivities that no girl should have to hear about. And now Jack had brought his bachelor party here, to her front door. It really didn't make any sense unless he wanted to see her.

Her heart started beating even faster than before. She knew the best man typically put together the bachelor party, but rarely without the groom's permission. She just couldn't imagine Jack coming here without some type of ulterior motive. Maybe it was naïve on her part to feel anything about Jack's motives. After all, she had never really been able to figure them out before, but could there really be a competing explanation?

He had lived here awhile himself so there was really no point in seeing the sights. He'd already done all of that. She didn't know for sure, but she guessed he had been to a strip club or two around here. So he was missing the element of a new surprising experience. He had some friends left in the city besides Lexi, but as far as she knew his old roommate, Stella, at least, had left. That, thankfully, ruled out that possibility.

Lexi vision was swimming as these thoughts filled her head. She didn't know why Jack had decided to come to New York. After their history, this city had to hold too many memories for him. He had been with Lexi here. He had screwed up everything with Lexi here, in this city. He had to know Lexi was in the city. And with his rapidly approaching marriage, she wouldn't think he would want to be reminded of all these emotions. Lexi had always been the masochist of the relationship, not Jack.

"So are you going to celebrate with us?" Seth asked swinging his arm across Lexi's shoulders, inexplicitly keeping her from falling backwards into a rather inviting black chair. She just wanted to sleep away the rest of the evening. Her stomach was in knots and she didn't know which way to move to clear away the mist that fell over her mind at the knowledge that Jack was here in this city…in this establishment.

"No, we're not here for that," Ramsey said glaring at Seth's hand making its way towards Lexi's breast. "So tell me the whole story this time. I need to know who I need to talk to."

Lexi snapped out of her trance as Seth's hand completely cupped her breast. She smacked his hand and he released her. His drunken brain must have processed that she wasn't a stripper…or it was just Seth.

"Yeah Seth what the f**k is going on?" Lexi asked shrugging his arm off her shoulder and taking a step away. She didn't want him to think about touching her like that again. She didn't care how drunk he was. "Why did you drag us out here?"

"Well I didn't know you were going to be with her or I would have called sooner," he told Ramsey as he turning to face Lexi. He moved closer placing his hands on her hips. He began to sway from side to side like a middle school couple at their first dance.