Avoiding Commitment (38 page)

“With what?” she asked innocently.

“Dating college guys.”

“My penthouse was my sweet sixteen present.
Happy Birthday princess! We’re getting divorced. Move out,” she
said giggling sardonically. “It really was the best thing they
could do for me since I didn’t have access to my trust and couldn’t
purchase it myself.”

Lexi had gotten used to this loathing hateful
attitude Chyna displayed towards her parents. It was pretty common
place. Lexi tried not to broach the subject too often since she had
no experience in what Chyna was going through. Her parents, after
all, were still happily married after nearly thirty years together.
It truly saddened Lexi that Chyna’s perception of relationships was
so warped. The fact that her parents hadn’t completely jaded her
towards all human interaction was a miracle in and of itself. “Now
that you have access, why don’t you get rid of it?” she asked.
Though, she couldn’t blame her for holding onto the beautiful
apartment.

“I’ve replaced nearly everything inside from
knocking out walls and replacing the floorboards. It’s not like
it’s the same place anymore. Did I mention it overlooks Central
Park?”

Lexi resisted the urge to mention that the
penthouse was also the last gift Chyna had ever received jointly
from her parents. She highly suspected that was the real reason for
never selling the place.

Lexi could easily admit that an NYU dorm room
was nothing compared to Chyna’s apartment, but she was far from
ashamed of the place.

She shared a common area with three other
girls, all who had been admitted into the law school that fall. The
space was cluttered with knick-knacks from each other’s previous
residences. A mismatching couch and loveseat were crushed together
in front of the TV. The kitchen didn’t even have a stove because it
was a safety hazard. This explained why their tiny freezer was
always overstocked with microwavable dinners. Lexi had one of the
rooms, if you could call them that. She hadn’t lived in a lofted
bed since her freshman year of college. But if she hadn’t put her
bed nearly touching the ceiling, nothing else would have fit in the
space. A tiny desk, rolling chair, and miniature refrigerator were
crammed under the bed. The rest of the furniture was built into the
room. Somehow she wasn’t embarrassed to bring her rich friend back
to her place even if her room was as big as the girl’s closet. She
was in New York City at a top five law school. This was how people
were supposed to live or at least that’s what she kept telling
herself.

“Here we are,” Lexi said hearing the lock
click and pushing the door open. Chyna inspected the shared living
space while Lexi produced another key and unlocked her bedroom.

“It’s so…quaint,” Chyna announced cocking her
head to the side thoughtfully. Her eyes scanned the room, purposely
avoiding the ugly carpeted floors, before landing back on Lexi.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Chyna turned
towards Lexi following her into the bedroom.

“Wow. You didn’t prepare me for this,” Chyna
mumbled.

“I didn’t think it would be possible to
prepare you.”

“You’re probably right,” she agreed in awe.
Swiveling in place, Chyna observed the size of the room before
saying, “You do realize my closet is bigger than this room.”

“Maybe next year I’ll move into your closet,”
Lexi quipped only half-joking.

“Then where would my clothes go?” Chyna
asked, her hands placed lightly on her hips.

“I’ll work around it.”

“Fine. Just don’t touch the cashmere,” she
said giggling.

Chyna placed her hobo handbag in the empty
desk chair and sauntered towards the bay windows, which Lexi
repeatedly claimed were the only redeeming feature about her
bedroom. Lexi watched her for a few minutes recognizing the wheels
turning in her mind. Something was going on up there, and Lexi had
a feeling it wasn’t going to be good.

Whirling on her kitten heels, Chyna faced
Lexi with a beautiful smile tacked onto her face. “Can I redo your
room? I know this amazing designer. I’m pretty sure he would be
able to fix this um…problem.”

Lexi rolled her eyes dramatically. “My room
is fine the way it is.”

“Of course, dear,” she said linking their
arms and nuzzling close to her friend, “but I could make it
gorgeous. You would absolutely love Frederick too. He’s a
mastermind. He did the renovations in my guest bedroom recently and
they’re stunning…”

“Chyna…”

“He could really do a number on this place,”
she continued oblivious to Lexi calling her name.

“Chyna, chill out,” she said shaking her out
of her reverie. “How about we just have a good time?” Lexi
suggested.

“Oh, but Alexa, I’m telling you. The man is a
decorating genius.”

“I’m sure he is, sweetie, but this is a
college dorm room. It’s supposed to look like this.”

“I’ll get to you eventually,” she warned
poking her playfully in the ribs.

“Yeah, yeah,” she said waving her off.

“So…” Chyna drawled, “what do girls do at
slumber parties?”

“Haven’t you ever been to one?”

“Well yeah I have, but those were different.
Usually we took over the house of whoever’s parents were out of
town that weekend. We’d throw a huge party and get hammered. You
know how I like my alcohol,” Chyna said with a wink.

“I’ll admit alcohol is involved,” Lexi told
her diving into the freezer of her mini fridge. She pulled out a
tray of what looked like frozen gummi bears. “For those of us who
had to sneak alcohol past our parents, we made these.”

“You made gummi bears?” she asked
incredulously.

“No, they’re vodka gummi bears. You soak them
in vodka for close to three days, then they are as potent as the
real stuff, but it looks like you’re just eating gummi bears. Not
to mention they’re delicious,” Lexi informed her popping two red
gummis into her mouth and letting them slide down her throat.

“Oh, exciting,” Chyna said grabbing a
handful. “You’re right,” she said between bites, “these are
delicious. I can’t taste the alcohol at all.”

“It’ll hit you later,” Lexi told her giggling
as she swallowed a white gummi.

“So what do we do after we’re drunk from
these things?”

“Usually manicures, facials, late night chick
flicks, junk food, the works…”

Chyna sucked her bottom lip in between her
teeth as she looked at her perfectly done fingernails and imagined
the killer work out she would have to endure to process said junk
food. “You know…I don’t think I was missing anything.”

Lexi smacked her arm. “Hey, don’t diss on my
childhood alchy!”

“I can’t help it if your childhood activities
don’t appeal to a twenty year old,” she said playfully. “Let’s
finish off these gummis and then go party.”

Lexi had actually planned for this. Chyna
partied nearly every night, and though Lexi couldn’t join her most
nights since she was in school, they did end up out together at
least one night every weekend. “Fine, but we’re still staying here
tonight without bringing a guy home,” she added hastily.

Chyna stuck out her bottom lip adjusting her
features into a perfect little pout. “Alexaaa,” she whined.

“No buts about it, missy.”

“But, but, but, but…”

“No!” she cried tossing a gummi at her.

“Don’t waste them!” she squealed ducking the
assault and reaching for another gummi.

The girls changed as quickly as Chyna would
allow, all the time complaining about the ramifications of four
girls sharing one bathroom. Lexi laughed along as she pulled a
straightener through her hair which she had let grow near to her
waist. She knew it was a poor choice. Even though the evening air
was close to freezing compared to the Georgia atmosphere she was
accustomed to, the club was sure to be suffocating, and she would
be in need of a ponytail upon entrance.

As they exited the building, Lexi recognized
an onyx town car which immediately drove up to meet them. Lexi slid
against the black leather interior with Chyna following behind her.
Apparently, the driver already knew where they were headed, because
instead of offering a destination, Chyna popped open a chilled
bottle of Cristal resting in a bucket.

“I know it’s not vodka gummis,” she said
filling two flutes full of champagne, “but I suppose it will have
to do.”

“I suppose,” Lexi stated sarcastically.

Lexi took one glass out of Chyna’s hand and
raised it in the air for a toast. “I toast you, my dear. To being
young, fun, and free.”

“Not to mention beautiful,” Chyna added
clinking their glasses together and lifting it to her lips.

The bottle was nearly empty by the time they
reached their destination. The driver exited the car and moved to
the other side to open the door for them. Chyna floated out of the
town car and leaned against the side to steady her already uneasy
balance. Lexi stumbled from the car door and nearly collided with
the driver. Her alcohol tolerance was practically nonexistent, and
the combination of vodka gummis and champagne were really making
her head spin. Chyna laced her fingers with Lexi’s and plopped a
kiss on her cheek. Lexi giggled uncontrollably as she allowed Chyna
to pull her towards the bouncer who was openly ogling their
display. The rope disappeared as Chyna moved to step across the
threshold. Lexi glanced at the long line of waiting customers who,
she knew first-hand, were cursing her tiny ass as she walked into
the nightclub.

Lexi blinked as her eyes adjusted to the
flashes of lights ricocheting off of the mirrored walls. The night
was young, and Chyna and Lexi’s hotspot was crammed with couples
grinding on the dance floor.

Still holding tight to Chyna’s hand, Lexi
followed her up a winding set of stairs marked for VIP clientele
only. Without even batting an eye, the bouncer pulled back the rope
and allowed them into the exclusive upstairs bar. Lexi felt that
she would never be able to get used to this life with Chyna. Only a
month earlier she had been waiting in endless lines hoping for just
a peek inside the most illustrious clubs, and now she was drinking
for free in the VIP areas with an array of hot celebrities. She
couldn’t believe this had happened to her. A young NYU Law student
didn’t get to live this life.

Chyna shimmied to an available couch and
gingerly sat down on the red leather pulling Lexi down next to her.
“This was such a good idea,” she cooed into Lexi’s ear.

“It was your idea.”

“Alright. This was a perfect idea!”

Lexi smacked her playfully. “My idea would
have been perfect if you weren’t such a snob.”

“Me? A snob?” she asked sticking her nose up
in the air, her voice thick with sarcasm. “If I’m such a snob, you
can pay for your own drinks today, skank.”

“Did you just call me a skank?” Lexi asked
placing her hand over her heart as if wounded.

“I call ‘em like I see ‘em, honey.”

Lexi gasped. “How dare you!”

“You’re so silly,” Chyna said through
giggles. “Like you’d pay for a drink yourself looking so smoking
hot.”

“It’s only due to your brilliance,” Lexi
commended her.

“Yes. I know. It’s amazing what designer
jeans can do to your ass. You should really let me take you
shopping so I don’t have to keep forcing you into my clothes when
we go out.”

Lexi just shook her head. “I’m not getting
myself into any more debt.”

“You wouldn’t have to pay for anything. Te
amo mi amor. That’s all the payment I request,” she replied,
affectionately sweeping Lexi’s hair behind her ear.

“Oh, please,” Lexi said brushing aside her
hand.

“Fine. You’ll come around. But for tonight,
let’s find a gorgeous someone who wants to pamper us senseless,”
she said allowing her eyes to crawl across the room.

Lexi sighed happily and turned to play her
friend’s favorite game. Under normal circumstances, the game went
as follows. Whoever found a hot guy that met Chyna’s standards and
got offered a dance and a drink first would be able to choose who
the other person had hook up with.

“Oh, what about him?” Chyna suggested
pointing out a tall blonde in a sleek business suit.

Lexi assessed his features from behind
enjoying the view. “We need a look at his face before a final
decision can be made.” Just then Blonde turned around and brought
his beer to his mouth. Lexi nearly gagged as she got a look at his
face. “I’ve never seen a nose like that before. It looks like it’s
been broken in three places.”

“That’s because he’s a professional hockey
player,” Chyna said quickly, but Lexi could see the disgust written
on her face.

“I don’t care what he does for a living. That
nose is atrocious.”

“Okay, so Hockey Guy isn’t for me. Moving
on.”

They pointed out a few other good looking
men, neither of them really satisfied with the selection. Chyna
spoke up again, “Oh, him!”

Lexi looked to where her finger pointed out a
man wearing dark jeans and a bright blue button-up. Her heart froze
as her eyes traveled farther upwards to the shaggy dark brown hair.
She couldn’t see his face, but her body couldn’t resist allowing
the butterflies loose in her stomach at the possibility. She could
feel the blood draining from her face, and her jaw going slack with
fear and anticipation that he might be here. Short puffs escaped
her mouth, her chest expanding and contracting with each movement.
She tilted her head in hopes of catching a glimpse of Mr. Blue
Shirt’s face.

“Alexa, sweetie, are you okay?” Chyna asked
placing her hand on Lexi’s forehead which was already clammy to the
touch. “You look really sick all of a sudden. Do we need to get out
of here?”

“No, s…s…sorry. He just looks like this guy I
used to have a thing with,” she mumbled recovering.

“That Jack guy you were telling me about?”
Chyna asked bluntly.