by craziebabe45
She watched his departing back sad that he didn't even give her a backwards glance. Had that really just happened? She couldn't be sure, but all of a sudden she felt incredibly uncomfortable in Spencer's grasp.
"I thought you didn't like being called Lex," Spencer said turning to face her and sliding his other arm around her.
Lexi smiled. "I don't."
* * *
K.A. Linde
The Country Club
So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall
Yeah fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
- The Calling "Wherever You Will Go"
* * *
Chapter 5: Present
Navy blue covers crinkled and scrunched around Lexi's lithe form. A down pillow lay crushed against her chest. One bare leg was slightly revealed while her feet remained tangled in the matching sheets. A sharp knock on the door roused her from her reverie, and she buried her face farther into the pillow. The door creaked open uninvited. "Lex, it's time to get up," Jack whispered into the darkness.
"Nuh uh," she grumbled shaking her head against the pillow.
"I thought you could use a shower," he said flipping the light switch and holding up a white fluffy towel. "I realized that I had washed all the towels before I left so there wouldn't be any in the extra bathroom. But if you don't want it," he said tauntingly waving the towel back and front in front of his face.
Her head popped up from the comfort of the pillow, and she looked at him groggily. They had been up way too late and her eyes weren't happy with the early morning wake-up. She flipped over on her back and leaned back against her elbows giving her eyes time to focus. "What are you going to do?" she asked stifling a yawn. "I don't mind walking around naked...and wet." She bit her lip at her own suggestive behavior.
She successfully elicited her desired reaction from Jack. He tried to stay calm, but she had known him long enough to be able to interpret his subtle movements. His eyes bulged slightly as they slowly crawled down her body, his imagination running away with him. He licked his lips as he thought of her wet, naked form sauntering around his apartment...or in his shower...or on his bed...or pretty much anywhere. His chest rose and fell irregularly, and the crotch of his pants jumped just a little bit, just enough for her to notice. He gulped uneasily. "Uh...yeah...well then, I guess you'll need this," he stammered walking into the room, and placing the towel at the foot of the bed, trying not to show his arousal. Then he quickly turned to leave before he did anything he might regret...or she might tell his girlfriend.
"Jack," she said stopping his exit. She kicked the sheet to the foot of the bed and stretched out arching her back. She was so bad. He just stared at her hungrily.
"Uh...yeah?" he asked his hands clenched in fists to restrain himself.
"Things aren't going to be awkward today after you know...last night, are they?" she questioned him, sitting up and hugging her knees to her chest.
"No, things will be fine...normal." She wasn't sure what normal was for them. Normal could be so many different things. "You look concerned."
"It's just...you did tell your girlfriend you were coming back last night, right? She knew I was staying here?" Lexi asked watching his eyes shift uncomfortably.
"Well..."
"You didn't tell her," she said interpreting his behavior once again. "As I thought."
"No. I couldn't tell her. She wouldn't understand why I'd let you do that."
"That's funny. I don't understand either," she said still staring him down waiting for his eyes to meet hers.
When they finally did, she could tell he was just as confused about his actions as she was. "Can we just talk about this later?" he asked. "I don't really want to think about that right now."
She nodded. "Yeah, sure. But you'll explain it later right?"
"I'll always be honest with you Lex," he said before exiting the room, pulling the door closed behind him.
Lexi threw her head back against the covers and smiled half-heartedly up at the ceiling. Yep, things were going to be way awkward.
She quickly showered and diffused her loose curls. She unzipped her suitcase and stared at the different outfits she had planned for the day. A brown sundress she knew would go perfect with her golden tan. Blue and white striped seersucker shorts coupled with a white tank top would have the same effect, but she was as indecisive as ever. Did she want to be cute and friendly like she should be or would she rather dress a bit sexier? After a moment longer, she opted for the shorts combo. No need to dress the part Kate had drawn her to be.
"You can't wear that," Jack said, entering the room without knocking.
"I could have been naked," she cried, but did nothing to cover herself.
He smirked. "Yep," he said cheerfully, "looks like I waited too long."
She scowled at him. "Anyway…why can't I wear this?" she asked gesturing to her outfit. "I think I look good."
"Plans just changed. Unfortunately, we're going to the Country Club."
Lexi crinkled her nose up at him. "Why are we doing that? I thought you said we were going to get a quick brunch and a lot of much needed coffee. Then get this ridiculous conversation over with," she mumbled the last part under her breath.
"I just got off the phone with Bekah, and there was some miscommunication with her parents."
"And?" Lexi asked clearly irritated.
"And we have to postpone our afternoon engagement." Lexi sighed, not a good choice of words. "She thought her parents were having their monthly Club brunch next weekend, but she just found out it's today."
"Okay well you have fun with that," Lexi said taking a seat on top of the bed stubbornly.
"Come on. I can't leave you. I already told Bekah that you made it here. She'd find it weird if I didn't bring you along."
"Jack, I'm not going to some snooty country club with your girlfriend and her parents! How would you explain me? How would you explain why I'm here?" she questioned him.
"Lex, please," he whined. She just glared harder. No way was he winning this. She had made the mistake of going home with Jennifer, her college dorm mate, for a weekend at the Club her freshman year of college. She had been completely humiliated when the rude, stuck-up, filthy rich members found out that her parents weren't wealthy. She had utterly refused to go back. A repeat performance…well…torture…was not something she ever wanted to endure.
"No! You can forget it."
"It will be easy. I'll just tell them that you're an old friend of mine who's here from out of town...which you are," he added. "We don't have to give them details. They don't give a shit about anyone else besides themselves anyway."
"Oh that's real comforting," she spat back at him.
He strode across the room and stood directly in front of her. "You know what I mean. They aren't going to care who you are or where you're from as long as you are with the right people."
She tilted her head up to look into his face. "And you're the right people?"
He nodded. "Bekah is the right people."
Lexi's stomach rolled at that sound. All she could picture about this girl was some blonde bimbo following daddy's orders and spending all of daddy's money. And, yes, she was certain Bekah was blonde. Jack always dated blondes. Not to mention, her parents were Country Clubbers. She groaned at the thought. No wonder Bekah was so worried about her parents cutting her off from their finances. "I'm not going," she said crossing her arms and legs at the same time and putting on a determined face.
"Ok alright, I can't make you," he said throwing his hands up. "I'll call her back and tell her you can't make it. It would just be for a couple hours, but...whatever." He turned and made to walk out of the room.
Lexi shook her head from side to side arguing with hers
elf. Did she really come all this way just to bicker with him? She had come here for him...even if she didn't really want to admit it. She might as well go along with his charade. "Jack," she said standing up and catching his arm before he exited.
"Look, Lex, I get it. You're a different person and blah blah. But come on, the direction you're going in life you could be one of these people someday. I mean what's the worst that could happen, you could make some useful connections if you decide to head back to the South?" he asked speaking roughly to her. "So stop spouting bullshit. I know why you don't want to go. I remember what happened with Jennifer. I thought you were better than letting one bad experience cloud your judgment."
Her jaw clenched as she listened to him rant. She didn't want to hear any of this. "Ok. Ok. Jesus Christ, Jack just shut up." He paused and looked at her expectantly. For a second, she got lost in his gaze. His baby blues clouded over with grey as he let anger take him over. Something about that stare froze her in place.
"Lex?" he asked. She hadn't even realized he had been speaking. "Were you going to say something or just stare at me?" he asked slightly amused.
"Oh. Oh yea," Lexi mumbled recovering. "I was just going to say that I'll go with you...you know...before you said all that shit."
"Oh."
"Yeah," she said shifting her weight uncomfortably.
"Well then you better change."
Lexi glared at him. "Are we back here?"
"Well now that you've agreed, you've got to change," he snapped, but his anger was gone. He actually looked bemused that she had caved so easily. She tried to not let that shake her.
Lexi changed tactics. "And what would you like to see me in?" she asked cocking her head to the side and looking at him from beneath her side-swept bangs. The flirtatiousness in her voice was evident, but this was how she and Jack worked. They argued. They made up. They fucked...oh wait...she meant flirted. Damn it!
"We don't have time for that." She glanced up at him innocently. "Or that. Now go put on a sundress. You brought heels right?"
Lexi shrugged. "Fine whatever, but you know you owe me right."
"I always repay my debts. Now go," he said pushing her into the room. She could imagine this conversation if they were together. He would kiss her softly on the mouth and smack her ass as she went to change. He'd follow her and ravish her body before they departed for their afternoon together. She sighed. Then again if they were together, he wouldn't dare drag her to a stupid Country Club. Oh yeah, and that whole girlfriend problem.
Lexi poured over her dress options. The brown sundress was too short for a Country Club especially if she was going as a guest. That left her to decide between a strapless ivory eyelet dress with a salmon colored satin belt and a bright green spaghetti strap number that billowed out around her knees. Frustration started to take over as her indecision intensified. She didn't really want to go to this brunch, and the fact that she had to put so much effort into her outfit made it even worse. Finally, she threw on the ivory dress with a pair of brown peep-toe mules leaving the green dress for a less judgmental audience.
"Ready?" Jack asked as she entered the living room. He looked as gorgeous as ever. A rather expensive, as she could judge by the quality, baby blue button up fit him perfectly even cutting in a bit at the waist to make him look leaner. A tri-colored blue, black, and silver tie hung from his neck to his light grey dress pants. The shirt brought out the blue of his eyes, and when they rested on her, they seemed to be a million times more intense than normal. She wasn't sure if that was because of her or not.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
They set off for the twenty minute drive out of town. A vast array of music filtered through the speakers. Anything from Dave Matthews Band to Dashboard Confessional to Oasis could be heard. Lexi hummed along to Wonderwall as they pulled up to the gate of the Club. After being cleared by the overweight security guard, they drove past the million dollar homes and around the immaculate eighteen-hole golf course to the mansion of a club house. Jack parked his Mazda 3 into an available slot between a BMV SUV and a tiny Mercedes convertible. Sauntering past the other meticulously detailed luxury vehicles, they made their way towards the daunting Club house. Lexi took in the massive arching entranceway and polished marble floors as her heels clicked noisily across the surface. The room was over-air conditioned, and smelled strongly of flowers. When she glanced around, she realized why. Hundreds of flowers of various types and colors were scattered in prearranged vases all around the entranceway. Lexi didn't remember that from the last time she had been there, and didn't much like it either. The whole thing made her want to sneeze. She followed Jack through the foyer and up to the receptionist seated behind a desk large enough to swallow her whole and covered with similar vases brimming with carnations, lilies, and tulips.
As they approached, the aroma grew stronger and she did sneeze this time. Jack touched her arm briefly smiling brightly in her direction. After Jack announced their presence, he ushered her down the hall towards the colossal dining hall. Lexi glanced around her at the couples sitting in overstuffed arm chairs sipping on tea and reading the newspaper. She scoffed and several heads swiveled to get a look at the interruption. She quickly followed Jack down the hall. Her hand instinctively went to her hair and began threading it behind her ear repeatedly.
Jack looked over at her and stopped moving. She took a few more steps before recognizing that he wasn't alongside her. "What?" she asked turning to face him.
"Don't be nervous," he said taking her hands away from her hair.
"Oh yea, well, I'll work on that."
"There's no need to be nervous."
Lexi shrugged not wanting to have this conversation. "I'm going to go to the restroom," she said seeing the blue sign behind his head.
"Alright do you want me to wait?" Lexi shook her head anxious to be alone and calm. "You'll be able to find us?"
"No problem," she said making a beeline towards sanctuary.
After about five minutes staring apprehensively at herself in the mirror, Lexi figured it was about time to get out of there. When she walked out, she was caught off guard by the man standing just outside of the bathroom talking to a woman who couldn't be a day under eighty. Lexi assessed the gorgeous specimen standing in front of her. She was quite certain he had one of the tightest asses she had ever seen. The suit he wore was obviously tailored for his build. An extremely muscular build, if she did say so herself. She figured he had to work out with a personal trainer…daily. His hair was a sandy blonde. Not that ugly highlighted look that so many guys were sporting, but a color that seemed infused with sunlight as if he lived at the beach. A look of disdain quickly crossed her face as realization hit her. It was pretty obvious that he was just another asshole country clubber like every other person here. Of course he was handsome. They bred them that way. His incredibly amazing physique was likely mandatory. His blonde hair doubtless was from the beach. No. Now that she thought about it, he probably owned the beach! She crossed her arms uncomfortably. Whoever this guy was she already didn't like him. There was no way he had a personality. Last time, she had been here Jennifer had been the closest thing to a human being in the establishment, and God that was saying something. Just as she began to move away from the attractive man in front of her, he finished his conversation and turned around nearly knocking Lexi over.
"Oh sorry. Excuse me," he said after reaching out to steady her.
"No problem," she said coldly, backing up a step out of his comforting grasp. Her dark brown eyes shifted up to his extremely handsome, apologetic face. He really looked concerned. Strange. She turned away from his strong jaw line and high cheek bones, ignoring his expression. When he didn't seem to get the hint, she returned her gaze to his face. "Yea?" she asked rudely.
"Uh…sorry…do I know you?" he skeptically asked his eyes roaming her face.
Lexi rolled her eyes. Was he really playing this game? That had to be the most overused line anyone had ever
used. Why would she know him? "Um…no, I don't think so," she said diverting her attention again. "I have to get to brunch." Lexi attempted to side-step him, but he cut off her path.
"No really, I think I know you from somewhere."
"You're in my way," she pointed out to him. She couldn't help how rude she was being. She wasn't really sure why he was eliciting such a reaction either. It's not like he had been rude to her, but Lexi didn't want to give him the chance.
"Oh yeah, sorry, but really we've met before."
"No, I don't think so."
"Have you ever been here before? I think it was here. Actually, I'm almost certain it was here."
"Just once a long time ago, but really I need to leave and you've blocked my path." Lexi didn't want to have this conversation. She didn't want to remember anyone she might have met that day when she had come with Jennifer.
"Okay, yeah, I definitely remember you now," he said cheerfully. "You came with one of my sister's friends. But she wasn't here, of course. I mean you wouldn't know that. My sister went to Duke. So she wasn't here. Which I already said. But you were here with her friend, I'm pretty sure. And man, she's really annoying." Lexi looked back up at him skeptically. Had he just called Jennifer annoying? Of course, Lexi thought Jennifer was annoying, but she was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to think that. "Oh no," he said staring down at her apologetically, "I mean she's your friend. I didn't mean that the way it sounded." She stared at him longer unable to believe what she was hearing. This guy was babbling. She was certain there was an unwritten rule somewhere preventing this from happening. "Wow, this isn't coming out right at all."
Lexi looked up at him incredulously. "Right then, I'm going to go," she said attempting to dodge him again.
"Oh right," he said seeming to step out of her way, but only blocking her path further. She sighed heavily, stepping in the opposite direction. He had the same idea and moved in front of her once again. He laughed heartily; probably a little too loud for the environment. The people she had been attempting to remain invisible from turned in their direction and began staring. She cringed and pushed her hair behind her ears.
