Avoiding Commitment (29 page)

“I’m always impatient.”

“Not like this.”

“I just...uh…miss Clark. I want to get out of
here so I can get my mind off of him being gone,” Lexi said
anxiously pushing her hair behind her ear. She really was a
terrible liar and did not want to have to deal with Olivia being
any nosier than normal.

Olivia raised an eyebrow further. “You sure
that’s all it is? You look like you’re anxious to see someone?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh come on. I know that you’ve liked Jack
since the beginning of time. It’s not like you have to hide that
fact from me,” she said coolly leaning against the sink.

“Jack and I are just friends.”

“Yeah, and pigs can fly.”

“Livy, cut it out. You’ve been on me about
Jack since you managed to get him to that concert. I just don’t
want to hear it anymore. You know what happened between us after
that catastrophe. Leave it be for once,” Lexi cried vehemently.

“I’m just looking out for your own good.”

“Sure,” Lexi said rolling her eyes.

“You know you can tell me anything, Lexi,”
Olivia said, her tone turning serious. “I wouldn’t tell Clark if
something happened with you and Jack. You’re my best friend. I hope
you’d trust me with anything. Or at least all the raunchy details,”
she said giggling.

Talk about a guilt trip. Lexi wanted to trust
Olivia with the details of what had happened with Jack all those
months ago, and what was continuing to happen to this day.
Something deep inside told her that the only person she could trust
with what she was doing was herself…and Jack, of course. Sure the
gravity of the situation was eating away at her, but even that
wouldn’t open her mouth. How could she tell anyone how she felt
when she was having issues discerning that on her own? She just
could not imagine her life without Jack in it anymore, yet she was
still with Clark. He was still with Kate. Neither of them had
talked about breaking up. Yet, they still spent time together
whenever possible. She didn’t know what to think about that.

“I know I can trust you with anything, but
there’s nothing to tell,” Lexi lied smoothly. “Can we get
going?”

Olivia clicked the off switch on her
straightener, glanced at her perfect appearance, and then nodded.
Ten minutes later they were pulling into a rather fortunate parking
spot down the street from Chamber. Lexi twirled her own stick
straight hair around her finger as she approached the door.

“Stop fiddling with it,” Olivia said swiping
at her hand.

“My hair doesn’t look good straight like
yours,” Lexi whined. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into
this.”

“Whatever, shut up. Everyone is going to love
it.”

Lexi strutted to the door and smiled
playfully at the bouncer. “Hey, Max,” she said kissing him lightly
on the cheek as she breezed through the door without him even
bothering to ask for her identification.

To say that Chamber was dead this Saturday
night would have been an understatement. They had gone out a little
earlier than usual, but it still seemed that everyone in the city
had gone home for Thanksgiving break. Lexi passed the empty dance
floor marveling at how hollow the room appeared without bodies
swarming the inside. Music filtered through the speakers at a
surprisingly reasonable volume for a Saturday night. The only
constant in the place was the voluptuous woman behind the bar.

“What do you want, girl?” Chasity asked
sidling around the corner to give Lexi a hug.

“Whatever you want to make me,” she responded
easily.

“Dragonberry, Red Bull, Sprite, cranberry…the
works,” she mumbled to herself. “Liv, you want one too?”

“I’m driving,” Olivia pouted.

“You volunteered,” Lexi said pushing her
lightly.

Chasity shrugged her shoulders. “I guess that
means you’ll stick to beer tonight then?” she questioned thrusting
an open Bud Light at her.

“You know me so well,” Olivia said
cheerfully.

“Oh dear, look at who just walked into my
bar,” Chasity said fanning herself.

Lexi’s head swiveled to find out who she was
making a fuss about, but she really shouldn’t have bothered. Jack
was a damn good sight for anyone’s eyes, but with Seth and Luke
flanking him they were a sexy set. Jack was gorgeously built with
his shaggy black brown hair and steely blue eyes. Seth towered over
the other two and had a very boy-next-door look about him that made
him appear to be safe. Well, at least until he opened his mouth.
Luke had tousled blonde hair and light brown eyes, and was
extremely clean cut. Though Lexi knew that Chasity was whistling at
the trio, her eyes were solely focused on one boy. His easy smile
upon seeing her sitting at the bar sent unexpected butterflies in
her stomach. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. She didn’t even have
the excuse of not seeing him often. She just wanted to drink in his
every feature. The way he looked right then and there in his worn
jeans, tight fit t-shirt, and navy jacket.

“Hey,” he said nodding his head at the bunch.
“Whoa, your hair.” He immediately went to Lexi’s side and fiddled
with a straightened strand.

She smiled up at him, goose bumps kissing her
skin at his gentle touch. “Do you like it?” she asked
hesitantly.

“You look great,” he said before he could
filter his enthusiastic response.

“See, I told you!” Olivia cried. Lexi’s smile
widened.

“So, let’s start the night off right. Shots
all around and give me a hug,” he demanded of no one in
particular.

Olivia giggled and nudged Lexi forward as if
he had been talking to her all along. She didn’t need much coaxing
as she nestled into his arms. He squeezed her tightly around the
middle before releasing her.

“Good to see you,” he murmured huskily.
“Chasity, shots? Hug? What are you good for?”

Jack scooted around the bar as Chasity poured
the clear liquid into six shot glasses. He wrapped himself around
her from behind and whispered something in her ear that Lexi
couldn’t discern. Chasity laughed boisterously and shoved him away.
“Whore,” she murmured at his turned back.

“I’m not the only one,” he quipped eyeing her
black crop top and tiny black and white plaid skirt.

“I’m workin’ here. Cut me a break.”

“I would if you could count,” he said sitting
in the chair next to Lexi and leaning across the bar.

“What are you talking about?” Chasity
questioned glaring at him.

“Seven,” he said gesturing to the group.

Chasity’s eyes scanned the set in attendance,
and then frowned. She quickly shrugged her shoulders and poured
another shot. “Not my fault you were hiding the little brunette
mouse. Who is she anyway?”

Lexi jerked around to find out what they were
talking about. “Sandy,” she squealed enthusiastically. Despite the
girl having zero common sense, she was beginning to grow on her.
Apparently, she was extremely intelligent when it came to book
smarts. She just wasn’t capable of showing that to anyone. Once you
finally got her to open up, she was a real riot.

“Lexi! I didn’t know that you were going to
be out.”

“I didn’t even know you were still hanging
out with Seth,” Lexi said raising her eyebrows up and down
suggestively.

“Oh, you know,” Sandy said blushing
furiously, “here and there. Whenever he’s not with some other girl,
I’ll give him a chance.”

“I don’t know how you do it. I would die if I
had to share.” A chuckle emanated from behind her. She glanced
warily at Jack, and the smirk on his face grew.

“It’s not the sharing that I mind, because I
like to sleep with whoever I want. It’s just you know how Seth is
and how he treats girls. Sometimes he forgets that we’re
whatever…not trying to be exclusive. Then the lying starts and
ugh,” she told her shuddering, “I just can’t even get into it.”

“Bottoms up ladies,” Chasity said pushing
shots, several limes, and a salt shaker towards them.

“Tequila?” Lexi asked anxiously turning from
her conversation with Sandy. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Nah. Just loosen you up a little. You’ve
been way too uptight lately,” Chasity declared licking the crease
between her thumb and first finger and pouring a generous amount of
salt onto the space.

“Yeah, let’s loosen you up,” Jack said
nudging her playfully.

Lexi glanced up at him and licked her lips
provocatively. “I thought you didn’t mind me being a little tight,”
she whispered loud enough for him to hear her.

His eyebrows shot up and he groaned a little
at the mental image she was leaving him with. “Don’t tease me,
Lex.”

“Who’s teasing?” she asked raising her glass
to meet the rest of the group.

“To gettin’ fucked up,” Chasity yelled as
they clinked their glasses together.

Much to Lexi’s surprise, Chamber did end up
filling up considerably compared to the amount of people who
arrived early enough to get personal attention from their sexy
bartender. The townies were coming out of the woodworks knowing
that much of the college population would be away for the holiday
break.

As much as Lexi wanted to relax into their
evening, something continued to nag at her. She couldn’t figure out
what it was. Ever since that fateful night back in May, Lexi had
been very careful in situations around Jack. She tried to keep her
distance so that Clark wouldn’t see straight through her. And
though he had never specifically stated that he thought something
was up between them, he still commented on her behavior. He
complained of her being distant and closed off, among other
things...of a more sexual nature. Yet, that wasn’t what was
bothering her. Every time she would begin to stop thinking about
Clark, it was like she could feel eyes on her. The idea was
ludicrous. Chamber wasn’t full by any means, but there were enough
people in the place that no one specifically would be staring at
her. She was recognizable from gymnastics meets, but she wasn’t the
star. There was no real reason for anyone to be watching her.

Olivia left early complaining that she wasn’t
feeling well. She asked Jack to take Lexi home smirking devilishly.
Jack obliged her appeal. Seth and Sandy had not so discreetly
located a corner to make out in, leaving Luke as a third wheel. Not
too long afterwards, Luke was closely dancing with a large-chested
blonde. Even with all of their friends occupied, Lexi still
couldn’t get over the feeling that someone was watching her.

“Jack,” she began taking a strand of her
straight hair and pushing it behind her ear.

“How can you be nervous right now?” he asked
taking her hands away from her and placing them around his neck
pulling her in close to him.

“What?”

“You’re messing with your hair. It’s a dead
give-away,” he said letting his bright blue eyes bore into her.

“Right, sorry. I just…I dunno…I feel like
someone is watching me.”

“Who would be watching us, Lex?” he asked
incredulously.

“I said I don’t know, but I just feel like
eyes are being drilled into the back of my head,” she informed him.
Even as she said the words out loud she realized how paranoid and
slightly delusional she must sound, but still she couldn’t shake
the feeling.

Jack pulled his gaze away from her and let
his eyes slowly roam the dark, crowded room. He paused briefly as
if examining the individuals in a particular location then shifted
to circle the entire room. “If someone is looking at you, then they
aren’t right now. I can barely make out anyone ten feet away from
me. I don’t see how anyone could be secretive about looking at you
even if they were watching. Seeing as no one is blatantly staring
from where I can see, I really don’t think you have anything to
worry about.”

“You’re probably right,” she said wrapping
her arms around his neck tighter. His lips gently touched the soft
spot behind her earlobe.

“If you really feel like that, we can get you
out of here,” he muttered huskily in her ear. “Actually, I think I
should get you home. It’s late.” He didn’t even check his
watch.

“I’m glad you are so concerned for my
well-being,” she stated mockingly.

“Oh, I’m very concerned for your well-being.
I want to make sure that you get home at a reasonable hour, tuck
you in, and all that.”

“Tuck me in?” she asked raising an
eyebrow.

“Something like that,” he muttered, his lips
only inches from her mouth at this point.

She giggled and pushed him backwards. “Chill
out. None of that,” she said half-heartedly.

“Fine,” he said sticking out his bottom lip.
“I’m going to close my tab, and then we’ll leave.

*****

A short while later, Lexi found herself in a
very familiar bedroom wrapped in navy blue sheets. She stretched
languidly on the bed and then perched on the edge waiting for Jack
to join her. He exited the bathroom flipping the light off as he
appeared before her. She couldn’t keep her mouth from dropping open
at the sight of him. He entered the room in only a flimsy pair of
green boxers. He had been doing some serious workouts lately since
he was out of school, and the effort was really paying off. His
already well-defined six-pack was toned to perfection. His arms and
chest had grown in direct proportion making the full package look
positively delectable. His tousled brown hair hung just above his
crystal clear blue eyes looking at Lexi as if he were about to
devour her.

She smiled coyly and patted the bed. He snuck
under the covers and pulled her towards him. “You’re so little,” he
said against her collarbone as he kissed a line across it.

“Um...thank you,” she said squirming under
his light kisses.

“And you should always wear my t-shirts,” he
said pulling back to examine the grey band shirt she had picked out
from one of his drawers.