Avoiding Temptation (29 page)

“No, it’s not,” Chyna said wistfully.

Lexi knew how hard it had been for Chyna to give up the one thing she been pretty amazing at, and had also really, really enjoyed.

“Whatever. Maybe we should just get out of here,” Chyna suggested.

“Where do you want to go?” Adam asked.

“We should go back to my place. I’m sure we could get our own party together.”

Adam shook his head. “Why don’t we just take a walk? Central Park?”

“At night?” she asked, scrunching up her nose.

“We’ll stay in well-lit areas. It doesn’t close until one.”

Chyna shrugged. “You want to?” she asked Lexi. Chyna clearly did not care about John’s opinion.

“Definitely.” Lexi knew that Chyna needed to get away from what had just happened to her.

Drinking away her problems had always been her coping mechanism, but Lexi knew it wouldn’t really help Chyna. Maybe just trying to get her mind off of it would be better.

They finished their drinks quickly and then exited the crowded nightclub. Chyna’s town car was waiting for them. Lexi forced John into the front seat as she scooted in next to Chyna. John told the man where to drop them, and they were whisked away through the city.

Chyna snuggled into Adam’s arm, and Lexi left them to their private whispering. She didn’t need to hear what they were saying to know that Adam was trying to cheer her up. Lexi stared out the window at the passing scenery. John glanced back at her once and smiled reassuringly. She shot her eyes back to the city lights and tried not to think about anything but the reason she was here…to hang out with Chyna.

Things had been pretty hectic at work, and Lexi was really glad that she had gotten the time off to come visit. She wished Ramsey had been able to join her, but he had been so swamped at work. Sometimes, she felt like she saw Jack as much as Ramsey these days, which was so bizarre. It wasn’t really true, but Ramsey was unbelievably busy, working all hours of the day and doing everything he possibly could to get the medical wing up and running. Half of the time, she just wanted to tell him to take a break, to slow down. She hadn’t actually wanted any of this to begin with, and he was overworking himself to get it done. It made for a tense situation even if he hadn’t meant for it to come off that way. When he was always at the office in a tense situation, it was a struggle not to bring it home. Neither of them was succeeding at that. Though, they were trying to take it one day at a time.

The driver pulled up to Central Park at East Seventy-Second Street and Fifth Avenue, and all four of them piled out. Chyna told the driver that they wouldn’t need him until later in the evening, and she would have Adam call to let him know when to return. As the driver left them behind, they walked down the well-lit entrance into the park.

Chyna and Adam took the lead, and Lexi fell into step beside John. The park was pretty deserted at this time of night, and it made Lexi anxious, even on the lighted paths. She had heard horror stories of people getting abducted in the park. Thinking about that just then did nothing to ease her anxiety.

“So, I didn’t know you worked with Marco,” Lexi said lightly.

“I’m sure there’s quite a bit you don’t know about me,” John said. His answering smile was brilliant. It lit up his whole face.

“That’s probably true,” she said, averting her eyes back to the path in front of her. “Like who the person is that is feeding you information about me. You always seem to know something…”

“Like the Bridges Enterprise event tonight,” John said offhand.

“Wait—what?” Lexi asked, turning to face him.

“There’s some event for the upper-level employees of the whole company. I think, primarily, it’s a big schmooze to pat themselves on the back. I’m a little surprised that you’re not there.”

Lexi stared up at him, stunned.
Had Ramsey ever mentioned this to her?
She couldn’t remember. The worst part was that it was entirely possible that he had, and she had brushed it off. She didn’t want to go to things if Bekah would be around. Not to mention, this week was Jack and Bekah’s wedding anniversary. It made her stomach twist, thinking about it, and she hadn’t wanted to be in town for the occasion. She had been pretty desperate to get out of Atlanta, so she must have just missed Ramsey telling her about this because he certainly wouldn’t have held this back.
This was a big thing to hold back.

“You did know about it, right?” John probed.

“Yeah…I guess I just forgot,” she lied.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a terrible liar?” John raised his eyebrows.

“Plenty of people.”

“I was surprised to find you here since that was going on. I thought your boyfriend would have wanted you there.”

“Don’t talk about him. I’m sure Ramsey told me about it. I’ve just been busy, and I had this trip planned already…” She trailed off as his smile grew. “What?”

“You always defend him.”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

“And he’s pretty shitty at the job.”

“I don’t know why you have such a negative opinion of your boss,” she spat back.

“He’s not my boss. I work for Global, and right now, I work with Jessica. Bridges Enterprise just happens to be a client of Global.”

“Now, who’s acting defensive?”

John chuckled. “You’re beautiful when you’re feisty.”

That wasn’t the first time she had heard that either.

“Um…thanks,” she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

At least he didn’t know that was her telltale sign of anxiety.

With a smirk, he pushed the other strand behind her ear for her. “No need to be nervous, babe.”

She gaped at him.
What the hell? How did he know that?
She had not been around him enough for him to know little things like that.

John shook his head and laughed again at her reaction. “Give me some credit, babe. I pay attention.”

“It’s been a year since I broke things off. I don’t know what you’re up to, but you have to stop,” she whispered.

She didn’t want Chyna and Adam to overhear the conversation or the earnestness in her voice. John hadn’t been pursuing her like she had expected him to. If he didn’t know so much about her all the time, she would say he had given up. But the gleam in his eyes and that cocky smile told her otherwise.
She was a challenge.
In fact, she had set forth the challenge for him, and he was trying to meet it. It clearly didn’t matter whether or not she wanted him to continue because he was going to anyway.

“I’ll stop when your heart doesn’t skip a beat when you see me,” he told her confidently.

Lexi opened her mouth to argue with him, but Adam cut them off. “Hey, you two. Come on.”

They had reached the Bethesda Fountain in the center of the park. It was a gorgeous display. Two giant staircases led up to a bridge that overlooked the fountain area. The bridge had seven lit archways underneath it that opened out to the fountain with the famous Angel of the Waters statue atop it. Depicted as a beautiful angel, the statue represented the blessing of the pool and its healing capabilities as referenced from the Gospel of John. Past the fountain, the bricked walkway opened up to a lakefront view. During the day, the area would typically be filled with families and couples rowing about on rented paddleboats.

“It’s so beautiful at night,” Lexi murmured, following Chyna and Adam to the lakefront.

“It’s perfect,” Chyna said.

A light breeze rustled Chyna’s black hair off her face, and she smiled up at her handsome boyfriend. They looked picture-perfect in that moment. John came to stand next to Lexi, and even though there were a lot of unanswered questions, they shared a moment where they were both happy for Chyna and Adam. Lexi had always wanted her best friend to be with someone who treated her like Adam did. Despite the differences between Chyna and John, he seemed pretty happy that his brother was so in love.

“You’re perfect,” Adam whispered.

He kissed Chyna softly on the mouth, and as he pulled away, he sank slowly down to one knee.

Chyna’s hand flew to her heart. Lexi froze. John placed his hand on Lexi’s back to keep her steady, and she glanced up into his hazel eyes for just a second.
He had known. He had known all along what was going on.

“Oh my God,” Chyna breathed.

Adam pulled a powder blue box from his pocket and opened it to reveal an engagement ring. “You’re the most perfect person I’ve ever known. You’re the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?”

It was so simple in that moment. Everything fit together. Her best friend was getting married. Lexi never thought she would see the day.

“So, this is what you’ve been hiding?” Chyna said. She nearly choked on the words.

Adam laughed and nodded. “I’d never hide anything else from you.”

“Well, are you going to answer him or what?” John joked.

“Well, yes, of course, I’ll marry you,” Chyna said.

She threw her hand out in front of her, and Adam slipped the ring onto her left ring finger.

“I love you,” Adam said, standing, picking her up, and pulling her into him.

“I love you, too.”

John and Lexi watched them for a minute before turning to give them their privacy. They took a stroll around the fountain and then Lexi took a seat on the edge. John sat next to her and stretched out his long legs.

“I can’t believe Chyna is getting married,” Lexi told him truthfully.

“She doesn’t really seem the type.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“Especially compared to her best friend who is still not engaged,” he said, nudging her in the ribs lightly.

“You’re a jerk,” she said. She shook her head at him. “Anyway, it’s not like I even want to get engaged or married or anything. It’s just this weird thing, seeing it happen to your friends.”

“You don’t want to get married?” he asked. “For someone who puts a lot of effort into her relationships, you sure act like someone who wants to.”

Lexi shrugged. “Law school was my first goal. I didn’t care about two, three, or four.”

“Would you tell him yes if he asked you?” John asked thoughtfully.

“What? Oh, Ramsey…I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it,” Lexi said, coloring softly at the admission.

“You really aren’t like other girls, are you?”

“I guess not,” she said, standing and dusting off her dress. She didn’t want to continue having this conversation with John. “You don’t seem like the marrying type either.”

He stood, towering over her, and gave her the cutest smile. “Guess we’re a pair, aren’t we?”

Lexi laughed, pushing him backward a step. It was not a good idea to have him that close to her. She couldn’t deny his attraction—not that she would ever be stupid enough to act on it again.

“Keep dreaming.”

“That’s where I always find you.”

Lexi rolled her eyes. “Let’s just go find the lovebirds. Shall we?”

They found Chyna and Adam still in a lip-lock. They were pressed so tightly together that not even an inch of space was between them anywhere. Lexi was glad the guest bedroom didn’t share a wall with Chyna’s. As it was, Lexi was afraid she might be able to hear what was going on through several layers of walls.

She and John managed to pry them apart. They walked out of Central Park as the clock struck one o’clock, and the park closed.

The car ride back to Chyna’s place was short and slightly uncomfortable. The physical attraction Chyna and Adam normally held back in public was gone for the night. Lexi couldn’t blame them. They were engaged now after all.

Lexi just stared forward until they reached her doorstop. John pulled open her door and let everyone pile out of the car once more.

“I know you’ll be devastated, but I’m going to head back to my place now,” John said. He leaned against the car and invitingly stared down at Lexi. “You want to join me? I can’t guarantee it will be any quieter than Chyna’s place.”

“You know I have no intention of going back with you,” Lexi said, taking a step back.

“Come on,” he coaxed. “You’ll have a good time.”

“And no one will have to know?” she offered up with a shake of her head.

“I’d rather everyone know—at least the entire floor.”

“Oh my God,” Lexi said with a blush. “I have to go. Good night, John.”

“If you change your mind, give me a call.” His eyes gleamed with mischief. He clearly enjoyed teasing her.

Turning quickly, she followed Chyna and Adam back up to the apartment, trying to push John’s attempts to get her to go home with him out of her head. She knew all too well what a night in his apartment entailed. She had been there a year ago…and it wasn’t something she should dwell on when she was lonely.

Lexi awoke the next morning to her phone buzzing noisily in her ear.
Fuck! Where had she placed that goddamn thing?
She looked around, bleary-eyed for a second, before she realized that it was actually under her pillow.

Stifling a yawn, she pressed the Talk button. “Hello?”

“Lexi,” Ramsey said into the phone.

“Hey, baby,” she mumbled, yawning big.