“And I thought you said you knew it.”

“I could try and remember, but I have a feeling that would take longer than the time we’re allotted.”

“Probably,” Lexi agreed, averting her eyes.

“Okay, wow,” Jack began turning his head between the two. “How did you say you know each other?”

“We don’t,” Lexi barked.

“No, no, we do know each other. She came here with Jennifer once,” he explained turning to his sister. “I guess they went to college together or something.”

“You know Jennifer?” Bekah asked Lexi perking up again.

“Wait, you know Jennifer?” Jack asked directing his question towards Bekah.

“Well, yeah, we went to high school together,” Bekah admitted. “How do you know Jen, Jack?”

“Jennifer and I dormed together freshman year,” Lexi told her at the same time as Jack said, “I know her through Lexi.” Jack had never liked Jennifer much, and he knew Lexi thought she was one of the most annoying people on the planet. The fact that his new girlfriend not only knew her, but grew up with her was just plain weird.

“Small world!” Bekah exclaimed.

“So your name is Lexi?” Ramsey asked speaking up for the first time since the beginning of this exchange. “Hmm...I like that.”

Lexi groaned inwardly glaring daggers at Jack for revealing her name. “Yep. That’s me. Lexi.”

After their introduction, conversation shifted to other topics. Brunch was served as the table began to discuss the upcoming golf tournament, specific techniques, and possible favorites in the match. Lexi withdrew from the conversation. She had learned how to play in college, but didn’t much care for the game, or at least, not enough to continue talking about it.

Instead, Lexi took this time to assess Ramsey for the first time since she had set eyes on him. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. He was pushy and forthright. For someone born and bred in this environment, his personality depicted rebellion despite his impeccably controlled appearance. He was dressed the part head-to-toe, but he looked more like he was in character. He was damn persistent as hell when he wanted to be, but as soon as he found out her name, he had done a complete one-eighty. He spoke to her only when polite conversation demanded it, and though his flattering tone and overwhelmingly charming demeanor never wavered, she could see, perhaps, underneath that there was something more. She wasn’t quite sure whether more was good or not.

Jack, at least, seemed to act normal…or at least normal for Jack. For that, she was grateful. If this new girl had changed him, or at least if she thought she was capable of changing him, things were going to get very interesting quick. Jack Howard did not change.

Seeing him speak with Bekah like he had always done with her was disconcerting to say the least. But after all, she had volunteered for this torture so she was might as well endure it with some dignity. Not that she had expected it to quite play out quite like this.

Bekah’s father stood and thanked everyone for attending their monthly brunch celebration. Lexi followed everyone’s lead and scooted back from the table to leave. Jack moved in front of her and grabbed Bekah’s hand entwining it with his. She could feel herself close to gagging. She quickly covered her mouth so as not to draw any unwanted attention to herself.

“You don’t mind if I escort you this time, do you?” Ramsey asked holding out his arm. His green eyes were twinkling again as a smile broke out across his face.

After contemplating her options, Lexi rested her hand in the crook of his elbow, and trailed behind the crowd exiting the dining hall. “I might mind, but I’ll allow it,” she said glancing up at him mischievously. She hadn’t realized how tall he was the first time around. Now standing directly next to him, she noticed that the top of her head just barely reached his shoulder. He had to be well over six feet tall.

“So, are you just here visiting Jack?” Ramsey asked.

“Kind of,” Lexi said neither confirming nor denying anything.

“Specific. Are you visiting your parents?”

“I plan on it.”

“So are you staying with Jack?”

Lexi saw Jack’s head swivel in front of her. He had obviously been eavesdropping on their conversation. “Um…no. I don’t think so.”

Ramsey nodded, but kept his face neutral. “Do your folks live in the city? Are you staying with them?”

“Why do you care?” she asked snootily.

“Why are you so snippy?” he questioned right back at her.

“Sorry, yankee thing,” Lexi said drawing out the word.

“Right, but you’re not from there,” he pointed out. “Either way, I was just curious about you is all. I told you that before.”

“Okay,” Lexi said eyeing him warily, “well my parents live on the south side of Atlanta about an hour maybe an hour fifteen south of here. I’ll probably be staying with them.”

“That’s pretty far away. Why don’t you just get a hotel?”

She rolled her eyes. This was typical. “Money. As in I don’t have any, because I’m in school,” she told him coldly.

“Oh, right. Stupid me,” he said smacking his forehead with his available hand. “Well, I think Bekah and Jack are coming over to my place later for drinks with some of my friends. You are welcome to join them, if you are interested,” he offered graciously.

“Oh my God, we would just love for you to come,” Bekah exclaimed interrupting their conversation. “Why didn’t you think of that, Jack?” she asked him, hitting him playfully on the arm.

“Must have slipped my mind,” Jack commented glancing from Bekah to Lexi and then down to where Lexi’s hand was still placed on Ramsey’s expensive sleeve.

“Then it’s settled,” Ramsey confirmed, “I’ll see you tonight.”

Lexi had come here for one purpose. Country Club brunches and parties were not on that list. She didn’t want to get to know Bekah or her family. She didn’t want to think about what a better lot Jack could get by marrying into this family…this girl. She didn’t want to go back to New York feeling worse about her situation and the way things had ended with Jack then she already did. She couldn’t imagine what that would feel like. She just wanted this to over with.

Why couldn’t closure be easier than this?

CHAPTER 6

PRESENT

“Jack, I can’t come over,” Lexi told him for what felt like the hundredth time. She rested her flip phone between her ear and shoulder while directing her car into an available parking spot in front of the grocery store.

“Sure you can. I don’t live that far away from you. What’s the drive, like ten minutes?”

“It’s not the distance that’s the issue,” she told him, getting out of the car and walking towards the entrance. She dodged a white SUV that zoomed in front of her. Lexi flipped off the driver as she skidded to a halt in the middle of the crosswalk. “Jackass.”

“What? No need for name calling.”

“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t talking about you,” she told him cautiously jogging the rest of the way to safety. “Some crazy driver.”

“I really want to see you.”

“I know. I want to see you too,” she confided in him. She bit her lip at the thought of going over to his house, and then quickly diverted her attention. She couldn’t let herself go down that path.

“Well then, come see me. Nothing’s stopping you.”

“You know there are plenty of things stopping me from coming to see you.” She grabbed a buggy and pushed it down an aisle.

“Alright. How about this: I’ll come see you. That way you don’t feel like those reasons apply.”