“I don’t even know your names,” she said buying herself some time.

“You don’t need our names,” Georgia Tech guy informed her sidestepping Ramsey and snaking an arm around her waist. So maybe his roommates weren’t as handsome as Jack or even Ramsey, but they were still cute. At least cute enough that she would have flirted with them on any other night.

She thought she heard his friend whisper something derogatory into the other’s ear, but she didn’t catch all of what was said. The end was something along the lines of ‘after we’re through with her.’ But understanding the looks that were cast between the two of them, she probably didn’t want to know the rest. She needed to say something to get their minds off of sleeping with her, because that would never happen.

“So explain this party to me. It’s pretty early to drink on a Sunday,” Lexi asked glancing between Ramsey and his two roommates.

“It’s never too early here,” navy guy said.

“Plus, Ramsey comes pretty stocked,” Georgia Tech guy answered eye-fucking her clothing choice. It was a good thing she didn’t do self-conscious.

“Oh does he?” she asked eyeing Ramsey suggestively. Jack coughed uncomfortably in the corner. Bekah had snaked an arm up to his hair and was gently twirling the longer strands in the back between her fingers.

“I thought we weren’t friends,” Ramsey reminded her pushing aside his roommates who looked all too ready to devour her.

“We’re not,” she said smiling coyly at him from under her long lashes. “I’m not this nice to my friends.” This was better. She could avoid being rude to him for a few minutes while Jack watched. Though, she wasn’t all too sure how long she could hold out the routine.

“Alright,” he began, looking at her peculiarly as if wondering when she had become so nice, “I have a good deal of friends who work in late night establishments during the weekend. So, I host parties Sunday nights for them.”

That was simple enough. “That’s uh...nice of you.”

Bekah giggled. “Nice is one word for it.”

“Bekah,” Ramsey said turning his attention to her. Though the tone wasn’t sharp and the look he sent her was the same perfect Country Club smile that gave away nothing, she knew he wasn’t pleased. She wasn’t sure what it was about him that made her realize it. There was just a slight line of tension forming around his mouth, and his hands were curled into loose fists. Something about the way his eyes clouded over as he stared at Bekah. Lexi seemed to have accidentally stepped into a family dispute, and was feeling all the more uncomfortable as Bekah returned his resolute smile.

Slowly, he shifted his gaze back to Lexi. “Anyway, what they meant is that I have a fully stocked bar,” Ramsey said sweeping his arm out to reveal a black bar along the majority of the back wall. The only wall space not obscured by the construction was a back door with a large window opening up to a balcony.

“Ya know, I kind of figured that,” Lexi said.

A few people were already ordering drinks from a tiny blonde bombshell whipping up concoctions as fast as they were requested. Jack and Bekah sidled up to the girl hand-in-hand, and began knocking back their drinks.

“What would you like?” Ramsey asked her. “Valentine can make you anything.”

Lexi giggled a little at her name. Valentine really? God, that was awful. Sounded like a stripper’s name or something. She quickly composed herself as Ramsey looked down on her fondly. She hadn’t meant to giggle. “A Grateful Dead would be nice,” she told the bartender picking a drink at random. Within seconds the drink was before her complete with a cherry and everything. She was impressed. “This is kind of awesome,” she admitted. The smile she received from Ramsey was nearly blinding. He genuinely looked ecstatic that she approved.

Another uncomfortable cough emanated from behind them, and Lexi hastily turned around to find Jack looking between her and Ramsey. She wasn’t sure why he was acting like this. Honestly, it was ridiculous. He was here with his girlfriend. She was the one who was supposed to be jealous. Not him. But it was kind of nice to have the upper hand in this silly game they were playing.

“We’re going to dance,” Jack said pointedly grabbing Bekah’s free hand and pulling her into the crowded living room. Lexi watched them become enveloped in the mass. She hated how they were acting. Wasn’t she supposed to be getting over Jack? She couldn’t see how hanging out with him like this was helping anything.

Quite the contrary. She felt as compelled to him as she had when she had first glimpsed his brown hair at the coffee shop or those enticing blue eyes at the club. She had been right to say that things weren’t different. And Chyna had been right to say that she needed some semblance of closure. She needed to be over him. She couldn’t keep living her life hoping they would one day find the right moment to be together.

Turning back to face Ramsey’s perfect smile, she downed her drink as fast as she could automatically reaching out for him to steady her weak legs. “Wow, that’s the good stuff,” she said returning his smile.

“Want another?”

“Mmm...sure. Wait,” she cried stopping him before ordering, “let’s do lemon drops! Those were my favorite.”

“Were?” he asked raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah, in college. I drank them every weekend. It feels like one of those nights.”

The peculiar look he had given her earlier returned. She liked it. He was very cute indeed. He turned back to Valentine. Seconds later, two lemon drops were in front of them. The dizzying effects of vodka coursing through her body were helping her successfully escape Jack’s hold. She needed another. After two more rounds of shots her mind was good and cloudy, and she was ready to dance. Ready to forget.

Lexi grabbed Ramsey’s hand and pushed her way through to the center of the crowd. He seemed surprised that she wanted to be around him all of a sudden, but got over that as she began to shamelessly grind her ass against him.

There was hardly enough space for her to breathe let alone move around much. That left her the option of being plastered against Ramsey’s strong chest, and really she didn’t mind. He was a solid rock of muscles. She had to be right in her assessment that he worked out constantly. There was no other option for how strong he was.

The best part was that he was also a great dancer. Each time she would change up her motions, he would follow along perfectly somehow making the movements even sexier. Lexi reached up, and wound her hands around his neck as she stood on the balls of her feet. He took advantage of the opportunity to move his hands along her exposed body feeling the hot skin through her clothing. Leaning back against him, she let her head fall onto his chest, and she stared up into his amazingly well-structured face.

Just as that happened, a buxom blonde shimmied up to them and began grinding on Lexi. The girl was doing things with her body that Lexi had never dreamed people were capable of. She was contorting and twisting all the while touching herself. The girl’s eyes were blood shot and unfocused, occasionally rolling back into her head. Lexi had no idea what was wrong with her.

Ramsey grasped the girl’s arm forcefully and squeezed. Her eyes snapped open. Lexi stared between the two and stopped moving. “Not tonight Coco.” The girl glared at him.

“You sure, baby?” she purred despite the fact that she looked murderous.

“Go get that shit out of your system,” he said lowering his voice in warning.

“Whatever,” she said yanking her arm away from him and exiting the living room.

Lexi’s head jerked back to Ramsey’s face. “Sorry about that,” he said his voice returning to normal.

“What was that about?” she asked curiosity getting the best of her.

“Just don’t worry about it. She comes here like that all the time. She’s supposed to be clean,” he said grasping her hips that were now facing him and pulling her close.