Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding 3)

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.

“Did I wake you?”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. Just let me wake up,” she said, falling out of bed and stretching.

After a minute of stretching, she remembered everything that had happened last night. Dinner, the club, Marco, John telling her about the Bridges party, the proposal—what a night!

“You still there?”

“Yeah, sorry. How are you?” What she wanted to ask was why he hadn’t told her about the party.