Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(52)

“I mean, I was there for you this summer when you had nowhere else to go. Chyna was in her own state of bliss and a thousand miles away. That’s what friends do for each other.”

She had swallowed at the memory that sometimes hit her again like a sucker punch. Just when she had grown complacent—no, not a good idea to think about that.

“All I’m asking is for you to be my friend now…when I need you,” he had said softly.

She had felt glad that she couldn’t see those pleading blue eyes again. She had almost told herself that she had imagined the way he had talked to her in her office when he had told her about the divorce. He hadn’t wanted her. He had only been relying on a friend—a friend he needed again now.

“They won’t let me in the courthouse, and it’s a terrible idea for me to be there anyway,” she had told him.

“Meet me after?”

So, that was how she had ended up walking into the courthouse directly after work. She turned down the hallway toward the family court area and took a seat outside. Jack should be out any minute. She was a bit surprised they weren’t already done. These things didn’t take that long. It was usually the mediation and actual trial that took the most time.

She tapped her foot on the tile floor and looked down at her watch. Any second now.

As if on cue, the door opened, and Bekah walked out. Lexi scrambled to her feet. She didn’t want to be sitting if Bekah said anything to her. Lexi didn’t want Bekah to be able to look down at her at least.

Bekah’s lawyer followed. He looked familiar. He was probably one of the attorneys Lexi had investigated when searching out one for Jack. The lawyer nodded at Lexi and urged Bekah to keep walking, like he knew it was in her best interest not to stop.

Bekah didn’t listen.

“What a surprise!” Bekah said. She looked at Lexi smugly as if she had expected her to be here.

Lexi didn’t like falling into Bekah’s plans in any way. “Bekah,” she said curtly.

“Do you really think this is the best place for you right now?”

“Around you? No, not particularly,” Lexi responded dryly.

Bekah bristled, which was highly entertaining. Lexi liked to see her uncomfortable. She was just a little too perfect with her long blonde hair, perfect chunky bangs, and baby blues. She had on a rather innocent-looking pink dress and modest heels. Lexi assumed Bekah was playing the victim card just by her appearance.

“Let me just give you some friendly advice,” Bekah said, stepping forward toward her.

“Just what I always wanted.”

“If I were you, I’d stay away from Jack.”

“Is that so?” Lexi asked, arching an eyebrow.

“You shouldn’t even be here right now. What does Ramsey think about all this?”

“The best part about all of this, Bekah, is that it’s none of your business,” Lexi said. She shot her a big fake smile before turning her back and walking away.

Jack appeared in the entranceway a minute later. He didn’t look happy. Things must not have gone well. Lexi hadn’t thought they would.

“What happened?” she asked, concerned.

“She won.”

“It’s not over.”

Jack pulled out a paper. “I don’t even know where to start—exclusive use of the marital home, exclusive use of the motor vehicle, freeze on all joint accounts, payment of her attorney’s fees. Christ, her f**king attorney fees—when she’s a f**king vice president of Bridges,” he growled. “Plus, I still have to pay my half of the house and utilities—the house I can’t live in.”

Lexi knew that wasn’t the worst they could have done. Every single day, she was thankful that kids weren’t involved. Money could be spent and earned. It was just a piece of paper that people valued. What really mattered, money could never touch. It could make things easier, but it was such a fragile aspect of life. It was something that people so easily allowed to make or break their happiness.

“It’s okay. It’s not the worst it could be, and you’ll have time to plan a defense before you go to a full trial, if it comes to that.” When it comes to that.

Jack shook his head. “My attorney is talking to the judge. He wants to meet with me after this to discuss the impact and strategy going forward. So, I guess I can’t even see you, but thanks for showing up.”

“Of course,” she said softly.

She stared up into those blue eyes and just saw defeat. How had Bekah done this? She was destructive. Lexi wanted to go back outside now and beat her to a bloody pulp for every person she had hurt from her games and manipulation. That kind of person did not deserve to walk around the world with a chip on her shoulder as a vice president of a huge company. She deserved nothing less than to be buried six feet under—in the same way she was doing to Jack.

“Maybe I’ll see you soon,” Jack said.

It was the first optimistic thing he had said since she had arrived.

“Sounds good,” she said and then turned to go.

“Lexi, what’s that?” Jack asked, sounding shocked.

“What is, what?” She crinkled her eyebrows together.

Jack stalked forward, closing the short distance between them, and grabbed her left hand. “This. What is this?”