Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(65)

Parker and Brandon stared back at her in surprise. Neither of them spoke.

“The game was over.”

Chapter 12

Chyna latched on to Lexi’s arm as she stumbled forward. “You will not believe the things Adam can do with his tongue.”

“I don’t have any desire to know what he can do, Chyna,” Lexi grumbled.

“No, seriously, Alexa.” Chyna giggled as they walked forward out of the restaurant.

“Please spare me the details of your love life.”

“I never had to spare you the details before. You’re getting boring now that you have a job,” Chyna complained.

“Boring? Are you kidding me right now?”

“I can’t help it if your job and boy toy are turning you all domesticated. When you’re with me, chica, you get raunchy details, and we’re going to party like you never left. Have to make up for the lost time,” Chyna said just as her driver opened the door to her town car.

They both stepped into the onyx car, and he closed the door.

“So, we’re supposed to be meeting Adam at the usual spot. He’s already on his way,” Chyna informed her.

At the moment, it seemed she had forgotten about the story she was telling. Lexi was happy to allow her to forget. She leaned her head back against the black leather interior and sighed. It was so nice to be back in New York. She knew so many people who liked the city, but they needed to be far enough away in the suburbs, in the country, out in the f**king cornfields to feel like they could breathe. But Lexi felt the exact opposite. It was like the three years that she had lived here had been instilled into her very existence. Atlanta was a big city, but it had a different energy than New York. And through the smog, the traffic, the noise, the smoke, and the waste—she felt like she could breathe. Every time she visited, it felt more like coming home than it did when she went back down South.

Chyna’s driver pulled up in front of the club they always frequented, and they glided out. A mile-long line was already wrapped around the building, and Lexi was reminded of the first night when she had met Chyna. Lexi had been one of those girls waiting to enter the club, and Chyna had yanked her out of line after Lexi had bitched her out. Lexi had been sure Chyna had heard it a million times before, but it had been different somehow. And now, they were best friends and had been for four years.

The bouncer recognized Chyna in an instant, and he swished back the rope to let her in. Lexi heard the venomous threats sent their way as both girls squeezed through the door and into the crowded nightclub. They took the stairs to the VIP lounge on the top floor where Chyna winked at the bouncer as he smacked her ass to let her through. Lexi only shook her head. Chyna would always be Chyna.

Chyna pointed out Adam across the room, and they veered toward him. As they approached, they saw another body plant two drinks down before turning to look at the girls. A smirk crossed his face, and Lexi could see those hazel eyes staring straight through her in that moment. He was too damn attractive for his own good.

“What is he doing here?” Chyna asked, crinkling her nose.

“I don’t know. Adam probably invited him.”

“You didn’t?”

“I don’t talk to him,” Lexi told her.

Except when she had to talk to him, when he was helping with the medical wing. She saw him at least once a week, but it wasn’t the same. He knew way too much about her life, and she had no clue who was filling him in.

“Must have been Adam then,” Chyna grumbled. “If he f**ks with my buzz, I will end him.”

Lexi laughed and continued behind Chyna toward Adam and John. Chyna rushed right over to Adam, who promptly stood and wrapped her up in his arms. Lexi smiled at her friend. She was so happy for them. It was nice to see Chyna in some sort of a normal relationship. They had been going steady for over a year and a half, excluding their short time apart. Lexi knew a bit too much about what had happened when Chyna had been in Milan to completely discount that time, but neither of the girls tended not to bring that up.

“Hey, babe,” John said, standing and offering Lexi a seat.

“Hey,” Lexi said softly.

“Vodka cranberry, right?” John said, shifting past her.

His hand brushed against her arm as he passed, and she shivered.

“Yeah. How did you know?”

He just smirked at her once more. “Chyna, dirty martini?”

Chyna glared at him. “Go f**k yourself.”

“I’m not really into that.”

“I bet your hand gets a pretty good workout,” she grumbled.

Adam tapped her lightly on the arm and whispered in her ear.

John just shook his head. Lexi could read all the thoughts swirling through his mind. She remembered what had gone down between John and Chyna so long ago. Chyna had a hard time letting go of grudges. It was clear the grudge with John was still perfectly intact.

“Dirty martini, it is,” he said. “I’ll be right back.” He reached out and squeezed Lexi’s hand, his thumb running along her palm, before he walked away.

“I wouldn’t let him touch you, Alexa. Don’t know what you might catch,” Chyna said, glaring after him.

“Chyna, back off. Jesus!” Adam said, pushing her into a seat. “He’s still my brother.”

“And he’s still disgusting. Why did you invite him here tonight?”