Looking Out for Lexy (4 page)

             
The young man from New York wasn’t interested in sports much.  He was into his motorcycle, his guitar, and like to have a smoke now and then.  The New York girls had found him attractive because of his dark moodiness, an air of mystery about him.  Jack had few friends back east because he preferred it that way.  He hadn’t dated much, the girls in his neck of the concrete woods were not the type that you took home to meet the parents, or in his case, the lush he called “Pop”.  So, falling for Lexy Latton had stunned him.  The thing was, he had no idea how to approach her.  Maybe she wouldn’t even like his type.  All that didn’t matter because the boy knew he had to try.  Later that day, in Bio class he was going to get up the guts to ask her if she wanted to take a ride on his cycle sometime.  He had seen how she and her group of friends had admired his bike as he parked it every day in the same spot. Yeah, today was the day he would either get rejected or embark on a new adventure.  Jack Wyatt grabbed his books out of his locker and sauntered off to his least favorite subject, English with Miss Collins, a grey old spinster who was in love with the buxom, blonde typing teacher, Miss Jones.

             
Bending down to pick up his carefully dropped pencil, Jack straightened up, face to face with the girl of his dreams.  Lexy smiled shyly. 

             
“Hey.”  Jack grinned back.

             
“Hey yourself.”  Her big blue eyes, devoid of make up, were breathtaking.

             
“Uh, can I talk to you later, after class?”  His whispered comment brought twitters from the females and grunts from the guys around them.

             
Lexy stared at him for what seemed an eternity.  He had just about given up hope when she whispered that she would wait for him by her locker.  Did he know where it was?  He nodded.  A loud clearing of a throat beckoned him back to reality.  Mr. Larson gave him “the look.”  Jack put up his hand in acknowledgment and sat down quickly.  His mind raced.  Mission started.

             
Lexy was waiting as promised.  And she was alone.  He couldn’t believe his good fortune.  She smiled bashfully as he approached. 

             
“I didn’t think you would really be here.”  Why did she make him feel suddenly shy and awkward?  The New York boy never had to wait for a girl, they came to him. And he was always in command of the situation.  What the hell was going on here?

             
“I...I didn’t know if you would really come either.”  Lexy’s long, dark eyelashes drooped in deference to his admission.

             
“I was, well, wondering if you would like to take a ride on my bike with me sometime.  That is, if you like cycles, and if you aren’t busy.  I’ll understand if you are too busy or somethin’.”  Jack lowered his eyes and shuffled his feet.  His left foot made a couple of circles on the newly waxed tiled floors.

             
“I think I’d like that, Jack. I’m not sure my mom and dad would like it, so we’ll have to meet someplace, at least the first time,  I mean...I mean.....”  Lexy seemed totally flustered by her admission but his heart was soaring.  She had just inadvertently admitted she had more than a passing interest in him.

             
“Hey, that’s ok.  I can totally relate.  I know how parents are about Harley’s. Especially if their daughter is riding one.”  And he did know too.  Even bad girls parents didn’t like them riding bikes.

             
“I know they would like you, Jack, and once they got to know you, I’m sure it would be alright.  I didn’t mean they wouldn’t like you just cause you have a motorcycle.  It’s just that they are a bit old fashioned and they need to be broke in gently on something like their daughter riding on big cycle.”  Lexy gave him a pleading glance.

             
“Don’t worry An-uh, Lexy.  How bout I pick you up Saturday morning at the McDonald’s parking lot near here, say around noon?”

             
“Ok, Jack. I’ll be there.”  The bell rang loudly, and they both jumped.  “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon then?”

             
“You know I’ll be there.” 
Angel.
. 
Wyatt grinned wryly as she turned and fled down the hall.  Yes!  Mission continuing and soon would be accomplished.  The small town cheerleader, all around good girl would soon belong to the bad boy from New York.  The darkly handsome youth whistled as he strode down the hall to his next class.  Things were definitely looking up and even the halls looked brighter.  She would be his by the end of the month if he played his cards right.  Little did he know that his life would change forever, but not the way he planned.  Not that way at all.

Three

             
Lexy was curled up on the sofa in her favorite bathrobe watching
Drop Dead Diva
when her phone rang.  Moments later,  Ryan, her eighteen year old son came down the stairs. 

             
“It’s for you, Mom.”

             
“Tell whoever it is I'll call them back.  I don’t want to miss the rest of this.”  She loved the heart pounding mystery of the castaways.  “I can’t wait to see how they get out of this one.”

             
“Uh, Mom.  It’s some guy named Jack.  Should I have him call back?” 

             
Lexy vaulted off the couch. “No. I’ll take it in the bedroom.  She grabbed the phone from his hand.

             
“Okay, Mom.”  Ryan eyed her, surprised and curious. His mom wasn’t usually so eager to answer the phone.  Especially since the divorce.  Ryan was a good-looking boy, with dark hair and dark brown eyes.  Someday he would have the mature, handsome good looks of his father.

             
Lexy's heart was pounding so hard, her hands were shaking.  “Take a deep breath, woman.  You can handle this.”  She closed her eyes and took three deep breaths, letting them out slowly.  Then she reached for the phone.

             
“Hello.”  Her soft contralto voice was almost a whisper.

             
“Lexy.  Is that you?  This is Jack.  Jack Wyatt.”  His deep, sexy voice pierced her heart.

             
“Yes.  Jack.”  Her legs were suddenly weak.  Lexy sat down quickly.  Silence.  Then....

             
“I got your letter.  I’ve been busy, so I haven’t had time to call till now.”  There was another silent pause.  “Uh, how are you doing, Lexy?”

             
“Oh, I’m...Okay.  Jack.  It is nice of you ask.” 
Doing as well as a divorced woman with two teenagers can be
.

             
On the other end, Jack was pacing the floor in his hotel suite, raking his free hand through his hair, nervously.  It had taken him some time to get up the nerve to call her.  How could she be so cool and collected?  His mouth was dry.  And who had answered the phone?  Of course.  She would have kids.  What a fool he was.  He began again.

             
“Listen, I...I want to apologize for being such a jack...well you know what I mean, that night at the party.  I was way out of line.  I’d like to make it up to you.”  Jack paused a brief second to catch his breath.  Just hearing her voice again made his pulse start going crazy.

             
“That’s OK, Jack, I-”

             
“Let me finish, Lexy.  I felt like a fool the minute you turned and walked away, but I was too proud to come after you.  Thea set me straight on a few things, and, well, I just wanted you to know I’m sorry for the way I treated you.”

             
“It’s over now, Jack. I understood.  It doesn’t really matter.”  Her heart was pounding.  Of course it mattered or she wouldn’t have had the guts to write to him.

             
“Well...I was really actin’ stupid.  You know me, open up my big mouth and insert foot.  You...”  Jack hesitated, scratching his head nervously.  Lexy still made his heart take flight even after all these years. “Come on.  Let me show you I’m not such a bad guy after all.  I was wondering if you might want to come out to New York this weekend.  I've reserved a flight for you on Friday at two o’clock.  Your ticket is paid for.  You'll have your own suite.”  He rushed on quickly so she wouldn’t have a chance to say no and he wouldn’t lose his nerve.

             
“I have some time off this weekend, so I thought it might be a good time for us to, uh...see each other.  I mean now that you aren’t married anymore, or anything....”  His voice trailed off. God, he must sound like such a jerk.  He began to pace faster, sweat trickling down the back of his neck.  “That is, of course if you don’t have plans or somthin’.”

             
Lexy took a deep breath.  He certainly was assuming a lot.   

             
“No.  No I’m married anymore.”  She wondered just how much Thea had told him.  If she knew her friend well, she hadn’t revealed much.

             
“Well, Jack.  Seeing that you already bought the ticket and planned the weekend, I guess I could make arrangements to come.” Lexy thought she heard a sigh of relief at the other end.  Did she just imagine it?

             
“I only thought it would be easier for you not to have to make the plans, Lexy.  You sounded like you wanted to see...see New York again.” 
Way to go, stupid.  Blow it right away, and she wasn’t even there yet
.  He rubbed the back of his neck vigorously, feeling the heat that was rising in his body like a heat ray slowly flooding his body from head to toe.

             
“Well... mmmm...I’d love to see New York again.  Ya know what Jack, I’ll come.” Lexy was glad he couldn’t see how flustered she really was.

             
“Good.  Good.  I’ll be at the airport to pick you up.”

             
“All right, then.  I’ll see you in a couple of days, Jack.”

             
“Yeah.  See ya then.  Oh, I booked a flight for you with Midwest Express.  A ticket with your name will be waiting for you.”  More silence, except for two people breathing. 

             
Lexy broke the silence.  “Well...thanks.  I guess I’ll be seeing you soon then.....”

             
“Ok then...see you soon.”

             
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the nervous one
.  Lexy actually found herself smiling after saying good bye and hanging up.  It was the first time in a while that she didn’t have to force a smile.

             
She grabbed her phone again, punching in her best friend, April’s number.

             
“April.  It’s me.  Fine.  Listen.  You will never guess who called me just now.  Jack.  Jack Wyatt.  He’s invited me to New York this weekend....and I’m going!”  The words came tumbling out of her mouth.

             
There was a momentary silence on the other end of the line and then,“Oh my Lord, I’ll be right over!” 

             
Lexy still had her phone in her hand when her best friend walked into the bedroom.  She still had a dazed look on her face.

             
“Well, out with it, woman.”  April stood there, hands on her hips.

             
“I wrote to him after seeing him last month in New York and told him I was divorced.  I suggested that maybe we should get together again....for old time’s sake.  Lexy paused, breathless once again.  It was getting to be a habit lately.

             
"April, I can’t believe I was so forward. I really must be desperate.” 

              April gave Lexy a discerning  glance.  Lexy looked at her helplessly. 

             
“I’ll keep an eye on the kids for the weekend.  Start packing and we’ll do some power shopping tomorrow after work.  Call right now and take a personal day on Friday.  Well, get going!  Don’t just sit there like a lump.”

    
              “But April, he didn’t
ask
me if  I wanted to come.  He had everything planned, right down to where I was staying.  I’m surprised he didn’t tell me what to wear too.” 

   
              “So?  
You
wrote to him, not the other way around.  It’s what you really want anyway isn’t it?” 

   
              “I don't know. I’m not sure.” Lexy said haltingly.  She threw her hands up in the air.  "I don't know what I want!"

    
              “Look.” April stood there like a drill sergeant with her arms folded.  “You’re going and that’s that. Accept the consequences.  You’re getting more than what you asked for and I suspect, just what you were hoping for.  Now get moving!”  When April made up her mind about something, that was that.