Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding #2)(63)

She could tell it was purposive. For some reason, he didn't want her to know about his conversation. A million different scenarios played over in her head. She kept turning back to the idea that it must be Jack. Perhaps it was because he was on her mind, but it did make sense why he wouldn't want to talk to her about it. Sure he had just been here to talk to Ramsey, but what if he was still having second thoughts.

As a groomsman, it was kind of his duty to be on call about these types of situations. And for some reason that Lexi couldn't fathom, Ramsey felt loyal to his sister. He would do anything to make sure that she was happy even when she was threatening to destroy his life. Bekah had been when he had gone through all the difficulties in his life and for that reason alone Ramsey swore fealty to her.

Though her mind remained fixed on Jack, she couldn't help but wonder if she was overstating Ramsey's importance in this entire affair. Sure Jack had come by to speak with him, but why would he call back? More doubts surely could be triggered since Jack had always had severe reservations regarding marriage. But what would be the point? Ramsey would surely have told him the same things as before. If it hadn't relinquished any of his fears, then it surely wouldn't by talking to him further.

And now that she thought about it, Ramsey hadn't acted this strange when Jack had been waiting for them outside of his apartment. He had been calm and resolute when they had first arrived, and only slightly hesitant afterwards. He hadn't attempted to avoid her. In fact, the exact opposite had ended up occurring.

The usual suspects started pouring into Ramsey's apartment just as the final touches were complete. Lexi was greeted with a warm welcome from Ramsey now former roommates. She had to fend off their advances and couldn't keep from giggling as Brad's hands traveled lower and lower in their friendly embrace. She smacked him hard on the shoulder and turned towards Jason who wasn't much help.

"So you guys moved out?" she asked hopping out of arms reach.

"Yeah, we just got a new place in Buckhead," Jason told her.

"Bachelor pad. Nice," Lexi said smiling.

"Yeah, it's too bad you moved out right when you did," Brad began, "Since Ramsey was…" Jason smacked Brad's shoulder effectively silencing him.

Lexi glanced between the two guys. Both looked as if they had just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. "Ramsey was doing what?"

"Nothing," they both muttered in unison.

Lexi narrowed her eyes and let them dart between Brad and Jason. "Now listen here. What are you two hiding from me?"

Brad looked at Jason at the same time as Jason looked Brad and then they both shrugged. "Hiding?" Jason asked a smirk crossing his face.

"Are you hiding something?" Brad asked Jason.

"I'm not. Are you?"

"Nope," Brad said popping the last syllable.

"You think you're fooling me, but you're not," Lexi told them over the music.

"Lexi, Lexi, Lexi," Brad said draping an arm over her shoulders, "we would never think of trying to fool you."

"Then what was Ramsey doing?" Lexi persisted.

"I have no idea to what you are referring," Brad muttered looking for Jason for reassurance.

"Yeah you lost me," Jason chimed in.

Lexi let out a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you guys honestly doing this right now?"

Jason and Brad gave each other a meaningful look before venturing forward. "Look we don't want to ruin anything between you two," Jason began.

"Too late," Lexi mumbled.

"It is not," Brad added.

"Anyway," Jason said shooting daggers at Brad, "we just want you to relax and have a good time. Ramsey's changed since he's been with you and we can all tell that it's for the better. Honestly, Lexi whatever he had planned…whatever you may not have known about…it's only good from here on out."

"Why do people keep saying that?" Lexi grumbled. "There's no way for you to know that."

"Well we know Ramsey which is good enough for us," Brad told her.

"Regardless, anything you need to know Ramsey will tell you."

"Yes, because that's worked out so well for us in the past," she stated sarcastically.

"We can't change what happened in the past and neither can you. I'd just look to the future," Jason told her before following Brad out to the dance floor.

Lexi sighed knowing that they were right. Either way she wanted to know what Brad had been about to tell her. Everyone kept telling her that Ramsey had changed and that the future was going to be different, but she couldn't be sure whether or not to believe them. She had come down to Atlanta with hopes. She just didn't want that to cloud her judgment. Too much was at stake this week to not be fully aware of everything that was going on.

Jack was getting married. She needed to get through that before anything else. Keeping her thoughts set on the horizon, Lexi exited through the back door and onto the porch where she had shared her first kiss with Ramsey. Lexi breathed in the humid summer air and pushed her curls off of her forehead. The weather was as sticky as ever for a Georgia summer night, and she could feel a light beading of sweat form across her hairline and the back of her neck. She missed the warmth and familiarity of the place she called home. Nostalgia washed over her as she leaned back against the wooden railing and stared up into the night sky. The stars were barely visible due to the lighted backdrop of the city, but it still comforted her to look out into space.