by K. A. Linde
She bit her lip but didn’t pull her eyes away. The answer was no, and he could read it clear all over her face.
Adam hoisted Chyna up into his arms, and her head dropped back as she laughed at the pure joy and ridiculousness of the man she loved. Instead of letting her walk down the aisle, Adam carried her to a deafening round of applause just as the sun eased to the bottom of the horizon, and the sky changed to a gorgeous pink, orange, and yellow hue across the skyline.
John and Lexi came together in the center, linked arms again, and followed the couple off of the rooftop. Lexi didn’t glance over at Ramsey once. She couldn’t meet his eye. She couldn’t let him see the thoughts swirling through her mind right now.
They made it through the double doors, and when she finally removed her hand from the sleeve of John’s suit, she took a few steps away from him. Chyna and Adam had disappeared, and Lexi could only guess what they were up to.
“We’ll take pictures in about ten minutes,” the wedding planner said, addressing them.
“Thank you,” she got out weakly.
“Are you okay, dear?”
“She’s just a little light-headed,” John interjected quickly. “I’ll make sure that she’s taken care of.”
The wedding planner smiled, relieved. “Thank you. Remember, ten minutes.”
John waited until the wedding planner left before doing anything. The reception would be starting shortly after this in the ballroom downstairs. An open bar was keeping people entertained while they waited for all the pictures to be completed. But there was only one way on and off the roof, and John was hauling her into a private room, away from the entrance to avoid the partygoers who would soon follow.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” John asked once they were inside the room.
Lexi shrugged. “No.”
“At least you didn’t say that nothing was wrong.”
“Just…leave me alone.”
“What? So, you can mope in here during your best friend’s wedding? No can do,” John said. “So, just spit out what’s wrong, and we can go take some pictures.”
Lexi just glared at him.
“Better yet. Let me just guess. You’re realizing how heavy that ring is on your finger.”
“I am not,” she snapped.
“Let me see it,” he said, snatching her left hand in his. “Pear-shaped.” He tsked her, shaking his head. “I would have pegged you for a princess cut, but what do I know? I’m not marrying you.”
“You’re such an ass,” Lexi said, snatching her hand back. “I thought you were going to try to make me feel better, not harass me about my engagement.”
“Fine. Do you want me to lock the door? I bet we can make this quick,” he said, walking toward the door.
“No! Are you out of your mind?” Lexi asked, jumping up to stop him.
“Are you sure? You look like you need a good fuck to get your head on straight.”
“The only person fucking me is my boyfriend!”
“Fiancé,” John corrected with a smirk.
“Oh, whatever.”
“That’s right. It’s just, whatever. It doesn’t really matter,” he said, whirling her around and pushing her back against the wall, right by the door.
Once again, she was backed against a wall by John when she had given no invitation.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“Lexi, you can’t deny the physical attraction between us,” he said softly, running his hands down her cheek.
She tried to swat his hand away, but he grabbed her wrist. She started panicking. This was not good.
“Um…yes, I can!”
He leaned down toward her and smiled devilishly. “No, you can’t. You never could.”
The door swung open then with John hovering only inches above her lips, his hand gripping into her wrist, and the other, she hadn’t even noticed until then, was pressed into her waist.
“What the fuck is going on in here?” Ramsey asked, glaring daggers at John.
John released her slowly but kept that insufferable smirk on his face. He was clearly in no hurry.
Lexi didn’t even know what to say. Ramsey looked livid. His eyes were on fire. His body was rigid, and his hands were balled into fists. She had only ever seen him this angry that night on New Year’s so long ago. It was a white-hot fury, uncontrollable and unstoppable.
“I’ve only ever set one rule,” Ramsey said, walking into the room with slow, measured steps. “I don’t care who she’s friends with. I don’t care who she hangs out with. I don’t even care if they want to fuck her or love her or marry her. You just can’t touch her.”
And then, Ramsey pulled back and rammed his fist into John’s jaw.
Lexi shrieked in shock. Where the fuck had that come from? Holy shit!
John took a staggered step back on impact, but Ramsey wasn’t letting up. He slammed his fist into the other side of John’s face, then into his gut, and then another into his ribs. It wasn’t until that last one that John truly grasped what was happening. He blocked Ramsey’s next hit and sent his fist into Ramsey’s kidney.
“Stop!” Lexi cried, tugging on Ramsey’s suit. “Stop! Stop!”
It was like they didn’t even hear her or feel her trying to get between them. They were set on each other, and she could already see blood running from John’s nose. Fuck!
“It’s Chyna’s wedding! We still have pictures! Are you guys fucking stupid? Cut it out!” Lexi yelled, placing herself in between them and pushing Ramsey back with both of her hands.
He didn’t budge at first, but then he seemed to let the anger slide off him, and he sagged backward a few steps.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” John said, holding his nose. “Do you see what you’re marrying, Lexi? Do you believe me now?”
“Just get out of here, John. Go have someone look at your nose,” she said, pointing her finger to the door. “Fuck.”
John stormed out of the room in a fury, and Lexi was sure she would never hear the end of this with Chyna. How the hell were they supposed to take pictures now when John had a busted nose? And it was all because John had cornered her when she had been freaking out, and Ramsey had jumped to conclusions. She had been trying to push John away, and she had wanted him to leave but not like that.
“What was that, Ramsey?” she asked, shaking her head and pacing back forth. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I know you said that you would kill anyone who touched me, but I didn’t think that was a literal statement! I thought that you would just scare the person to get him to leave me alone.”
“He’s scared now.”
“Oh, stop talking. Just stop talking!” Lexi breathed in and out sharply, trying to keep her calm but finding no serenity from which to draw from. “Boys and their stupid fighting! As if this solves anything! It only makes everything worse!”
“I was coming to find out what was wrong with you at the ceremony. Don’t think it slipped by me that something was going on with you. Then, I come back here and find you like this? Is this what the problem is? Is it John?” Ramsey asked.
“No! It’s you!” she spat and then covered her mouth in horror.
Lexi jogged down the beach in nothing but a purple bikini top, short black hot pants, and running shoes. Her breathing was heavy, and her long brown hair was whipping around her face at her quick pace. This was her favorite place in the world—sand beneath her feet, expansive ocean as far as the eye could see, breathing in the salty sea air.
She was close to the beach house already, and her wanting to turn back around and run another couple miles had everything to do with the desire to soak up some more sun. It had nothing to do with the fact that the only reason she was at the beach at all was because she was on vacation with Ramsey’s family.
The one week she was allowed off during the year, and they’d had to use it to spend the time with his family who hated her. Okay, they didn’t all hate her, but it was never a pleasant experience. As if it
wasn’t bad enough that she had to spend time with his parents, Bekah, Jack, and Parker had tagged along for the occasion. Parker was practically family with the Bridges since opening the medical wing with Ramsey…and maybe even before then. It didn’t make any of this any easier.
Lexi slowed to a jog and then a walk, letting her heart rate come down. Sweat glistened on her in the late afternoon heat. She wasn’t sure how long she had been gone, but by the direction of the sun, she would guess she had been running for at least an hour, if not longer. How far had she run? She would have to map it when she got back.
Her feet carried her away from the ocean and through the loose sand, back up to the massive beach house Ramsey’s family owned on the Florida coast. Ramsey had his own house, but they had decided to go to his parents’ place because it was a bit bigger. The only benefit was that their room was far enough away from everyone else that no one could hear them, and she couldn’t hear anyone else.
Jack was sitting on the deck with his feet propped up on the balcony, reading a beat-up paperback. He didn’t glance up until she was climbing the short flight of stairs. His eyes traveled her tiny form wearing practically nothing while she was coated in sweat and sand, and he smirked. She smiled shyly, reading his mind.
There was nothing she could do about him being attracted to her, and she wasn’t going to go running on the beach in more clothes with the off chance that she might see him.
And him sitting around in nothing but blue swim trunks didn’t help her much. His dark hair was shorter, and his eyes…those blue eyes were as bright as ever as they stared at her.
“Have a good run?” he asked, flipping the book over and resting it on his leg.
“Yeah. It’s nice to be back on the beach,” she told him. “What are you reading?”
“Oh, this?” he asked, flipping to the front. “One of the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan.”
“Do you like it?”
Jack looked so relaxed. She couldn’t see him focusing on anything without enjoying it thoroughly.
“Yeah. Not usually my preference, but the guy can tell a story. We’ll see if I make it through all fourteen books.” Jack shrugged. “What are y’all doing tonight?”
Even though they were at the same house as everyone else, they hadn’t all been spending a lot of quality time together. Lexi hadn’t wanted to see any of them, and Ramsey had been happy to spend more alone time with her. It still didn’t feel quite like a vacation, but it was better than being at work.
“Not sure we have anything planned. You?”
“Bekah is meeting some friends from college who live in the area, so I’m by myself tonight.”
“She doesn’t want you to go with?” Lexi asked, remembering the time that she and Jack had been at the beach together with all their friends. She would have never thought of not including him, but then again, they were mutual friends.
“I didn’t really want to go, honestly,” he said with a laugh. “Her friends are a bit much for me. I’d rather sit here and read all night than listen to the constant chatter.”
“I get that.”
“So, if you guys are doing something, just let me know. Otherwise, I’ll be here,” he said, holding up his book.
“Will do,” she told him. “Right now, I think I need a shower.”
“Probably for the best.”
“I’ll let you know about tonight,” Lexi said, turning and walking into the quiet beach house.
Ramsey’s parents were around here somewhere, so she hurried to the back bedroom. She had been avoiding them all week when she could. And she didn’t really want them to see her like this. She felt grimy, and she was already anticipating the feel of the shower washing away the grit.
Lexi opened the door to the bathroom that also connected to their room. She pulled out a towel and set it on the counter for her to use. She was about to turn on the shower when she heard voices coming from the bedroom.
Odd.
She reached forward for the handle to open the door to find out who Ramsey was speaking with, but something held her back. Her fingers brushed against the doorknob, and then she let her hand drop back to her side. Moving forward, she pressed her ear to the thin wood and strained to hear the conversation on the other side.
“Are we having this conversation again?”
Lexi was just able to make out that Ramsey was talking. He hadn’t raised his voice, but she could tell he sounded irritated.
“I’m not sure why we’re having this conversation again, but I’m going to keep having it until it gets through to you,” Parker said.
Lexi’s stomach dropped. She knew that she shouldn’t be eavesdropping. She didn’t know what they were talking about. She didn’t want to know what they were talking about. She just wanted to know why they were having a private conversation in the back bedroom.
What she should have done was back out of the bathroom, retrace her steps back to the living room, and catch her breath. Then, when she was composed, she could return and knock on the door.
But she didn’t move from her place behind the door.
“It doesn’t change anything that has happened between us,” Ramsey said gruffly.
“I’m not asking for it to change your mind. I get that you’re with her. Don’t you think I get that by now?” Parker asked without a trace of hesitation.
This wasn’t the meek, quiet girl who Lexi normally saw around the hospital. She didn’t have to hold back with Ramsey.
“Good. You should get that.”
There was silence for a minute. Lexi wished that she could see what they were doing. Was Parker pissed? Was she frustrated? Was she happy? She immediately discounted the last thought based on the conversation at hand.
They were talking about her. Eesh!
“I’m not stupid. I have a medical degree. I’m a surgeon and a businesswoman. You don’t have to lay things out for me as if I’m not aware. I was there when you grabbed her and pulled her away from John at the hospital. I see the way you look at her. You don’t have to throw the words back in my face,” she said evenly.
“I’m not throwing Lexi in your face.”
“Ugh! This conversation isn’t even about Lexi. You’re happy with her. I get it. This is about false assumptions sitting with you for too long now.”
“They’re not assumptions,” Ramsey said in frustration.
“One day I’m going to prove you wrong.”
“I doubt that. You have no proof,” he bellowed. “You’ve never had proof. They’re just words from you, Parker. It’s why we never worked.”
Lexi heard Parker draw in a sharp breath, and she wasn’t sure if she had done the same thing. He was talking about the fate of the unborn child. Years had passed, and he was still hung up on it. He would never really find out whether or not Parker had had an abortion or a miscarriage. Why did he even bother having this conversation? How did it even come up?
“We worked,” Parker said just loud enough for Lexi to hear. “We worked for years. We were everything…everything. Just because you didn’t trust me enough to believe me, just because we were young and stupid and threw away the best thing that had ever happened to either of us so easily doesn’t mean that you can defile that memory with lies. You were going to marry me, Ramsey Bridges. And don’t you damn forget that.”
Lexi imagined him running his hand back through his neatly kept blonde hair, considering what she had said, debating on how to respond. She saw the anger further welling inside of him. She wondered if he would blow up on Parker.
“You’re right,” Ramsey said softly.
Lexi gritted her teeth. She was right? Just like that?
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you. The whole thing just pisses me off.”
“That’s because you’re a fool, and you messed up,” Parker said with such conviction that it sounded like it had to be the truth. “I wish you would just believe me.”
“I can’t. I can’t be over it…”
Lexi’s breath caught, and she took a step away from the door. She couldn’t hear any more of that. He wasn’t over it.
Did he mean Parker or what had happened to them or just the abortion-miscarriage fiasco? In any case…it wasn’t an appropriate thing for him to say…not with Lexi right in the other room. Sure, he didn’t know that, but there shouldn’t be any secrets between them. Wasn’t that what she had said from the beginning?
She stumbled back a few more steps, wanting to distance herself from what she had just heard. It made her chest tighten and her throat close up. After almost three years together, he still wasn’t over Parker.
No.
Okay, he hadn’t said that.
He just wasn’t over the fact that Parker had had an abortion. Sure, he didn’t have proof and that made it more difficult, but Lexi didn’t have proof about whether or not he had slept with Elisa, and she believed him. She had put it behind her. And she hadn’t needed years to get over it.
Sure, it still aggravated her. It still made her cringe to think of the bitch, but Lexi wasn’t hung up on it. She hadn’t left him over it. Why couldn’t Ramsey move past what had happened with Parker? Didn’t he love Lexi enough to move on?
Dwelling on it just allowed it to eat Ramsey alive.
What the hell was she supposed to do with that information? If he wasn’t over that, then maybe he wasn’t over Parker. It had been years, but they had opened the medical wing together. What had Jack said to her all those years ago?
On some small level, you don’t think that working in close proximity together every day is going to rekindle something that was once there? Imagine if we had to work together every day. What would it be like?
She had told Jack then not to try to make her doubt Ramsey. But maybe she always had. From the first day that she had found out about Parker, she had just reasoned that if she could get over Jack and become friends with Jack, then it only made sense that Ramsey would be over Parker. That was why Ramsey was with Lexi now after all. Right?
Was she just an idiot to not see it happening?
Lexi ground her teeth together. Fuck that! She didn’t have to deal with what was happening on the other side of that door.
