Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(91)

They wandered up and down the hallways, talking about trivial things. He would stop to talk to people in various rooms, and she would wait outside for the few minutes that he would be inside. She did a lot of people-watching and felt a bit like she was watching a television hospital drama with all the people chatting and wandering between disasters—not to mention, the obvious love interests.

John announced that they were halfway through, and they stopped for a minute, so she could pick up some coffee. She wasn’t sure why she was tired…or maybe she was just craving her coffee. Either way, the bitter taste was the pick-me-up she needed. Also, the liquid gave her courage to actually ask John the questions she’d had at the back of her mind.

“So, are you seeing anyone?” Lexi asked, blowing on her coffee.

“Why? Are you still interested?”

“Nope. I have Ramsey. I was simply curious.”

John looked at her sideways, assessing her, before answering, “Nothing serious.”

“So, you are seeing someone! What’s she like? Is she putting up a fight?” Lexi asked with a giggle.

She didn’t know why she found this amusing. It could just be because he always made fun of her about Ramsey. She just couldn’t hold it in.

“I’m not seeing anyone,” he told her stiffly.

“But you are or else you wouldn’t be acting like this.”

“I also wouldn’t be here with you, would I?”

Lexi snorted. “Yes!”

“Well, I know you’re worried, but you can stop. It’s not serious. Just something fun,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

“Uh-huh. So, what is she like? What does a girl have to do to hold your interest?”

“I’m looking at it,” he said, staring her down.

Lexi’s cheeks heated at the comment, but she pushed forward. “Are you saying that she’s like me?”

“No, she’s nothing like you. That’s why it’s not serious.”

Lexi didn’t know what to say to that. It had been a year and a half since they’d had any kind of sexual relationship. Sure, it had been a great month together, but she had stood her ground and put it behind her. If she could manage to be friends with Jack, then she could do anything.

Surely, all of John’s antics were more funny than serious. He was a man in a place of immense power. He’d graduated with a Harvard MBA, worked at Global, and had his own loft in the city. She just couldn’t see him pining after anyone—not when there were a million women in the city who he could chase after.

“Well, I hope she changes your mind, erm…proves you wrong,” Lexi said.

“It’s doubtful.”

“I’m sure you can find someone else to keep you occupied fairly easily.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” John said confidently. “There’s always another fish in the sea and all that. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“I mean, not…exactly.”

“I’m the last person who needs your pity.”

“I wasn’t trying—”

John turned and grabbed her hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

Lexi was so surprised by the abrupt change in the conversation that she just followed him down the hall. She hadn’t meant to come across as pitying him. She certainly didn’t look down on him for not having a girlfriend or for not settling down. To each his own for whatever lifestyle he wanted. Of all people, she definitely wasn’t the model for how to go about relationships. It wasn’t her place to judge, and she hoped he didn’t think that.

“Where are we going?” Lexi finally asked after they had taken the elevator to another floor and had rounded a corner to another hallway.

“I’ll show you.”

Lexi bit her lip, a sinking feeling settling into her stomach. She didn’t know where it had come from or what had made her apprehensive, but it just stuck in her gut. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear reflexively and continued to follow him down the hallway.

They stopped at a closed door. John knocked twice, and when no one answered, he opened the door and ushered her inside.

“What—” she began but then stopped when she saw where they were.

They were in a relatively small room with two bunk beds and a small computer desk.

“Where are we?”

“This is the on-call room,” he said, sliding his hands down her arms.

Lexi jumped when he touched her, and she pulled away from him.

“It’s for doctors to sleep or relax when they’re on-call in the hospital.”

“Oh,” she peeped. Her heart was accelerating as she stared at the small room. She didn’t know how true hospital shows really were, but this was frequently shown as the room where all the doctors had sex. She wanted to laugh it off, but she didn’t feel like laughing in that moment. She felt anxious.

“You know that night when you told me that I didn’t compare to your ex…to Jack. You said that you gave it up easy, but you didn’t do commitment,” John said, walking toward her.

Lexi took a step away from him. “I didn’t say that…exactly,” she whispered, wondering where he was going with this.

“I think you did. And I’m a bit confused by a couple of things,” he said. “Would you care to explain a few things to me?”