Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding 1)

When she reached her car, she let the tears flow. She pulled out of his driveway nearly blinded by tears.

How had she thought that this could be some innocent night?

How could she lie to herself about what she was doing?

* * *

K.A. Linde

Interview with the Mistress

'Cause you're hot and you're cold

You're yes and you're no

You're in and you're out

You're up and you're down

-Katy Perry "Hot and Cold"

* * *

Chapter 7 - Present

The coffee shop Bekah had chosen for them to sit down and finally have their conversation in was delightful. In some ways, it reminded her so much of the place where she and Jack had first met. It wasn't well-lit, and there were so many people milling around that it seemed damn near impossible that they were going to find a table. On the other hand, the establishment was huge. Unlike chain and small town coffee shops, this place had three stories and took up an entire corner of a building. Lexi rarely came to get coffee at places this large. For her, it lost the cozy atmosphere with the size, but she wasn't going to complain.

Meandering through the densely populated shop, they went on a search for an unoccupied table. Lexi veered away from Bekah hoping to spot an available table in the opposite direction. She let her thoughts wander as the search continued.

Jack had dropped her off outside the establishment. He had complained the whole way back about having to wear a tie, and had ditched her as soon as they arrived. He claimed that he would be gone only as long as it took for him to change before he would meet up with them. She was pretty pissed that he had left. After all, he was the reason for this stupid conversation she was supposed to be having. Honestly, she didn't know if it made it easier or harder knowing that Jack wouldn't be hearing everything she said. One on hand, she might be able to speak more freely about their relationship, because she wouldn't feel constrained by his memories. But at the same time, she might be more convincing if Jack was there to back her up.

"Lexi?" a voice called out to her.

She turned in a half-circle hoping to find Bekah finally seated at a booth. She just wanted to get this over with. But there was no one in sight. She heard her name called again, and this time she recognized the direction of the voice. Turning slowly, she stopped and gawked at the person who had called out to her.

"Oh my God! Krista is that you?" Lexi asked rushing to hug the petite girl who had once been her gymnastics captain in college. "I hardly recognized you."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," she peeped standing to accept the embrace.

"Your hair…it's all one color…brown," Lexi exclaimed in awe. "And who would have guessed anyone would ever find you in a business suit!"

"Not in a million years," she said adjusting her silky v-neck blouse to reveal a bit more cle**age. So maybe things weren't that different.

"I thought you were in Vegas. When did you come back to Atlanta?" Lexi asked enthusiastically. Krista giggled. The girl actually giggled holding out her left hand to reveal a huge diamond surrounded by four others on a white gold band. "Oh wow, that's beautiful." Lexi stared transfixed at her ring. The rock was enormous. Lexi didn't believe anyone actually wore diamonds that large out and about, but Krista always liked to catch people by surprise.

"I got married last winter. My husband's company has an Atlanta branch. He knew how much I loved it out here so he relocated. I'm working with some interior design company. It's kind of dull but the hours are flexible. If they weren't, I'd quit that shit and go fulltime at the gym. We've got some amazingly talented girls. Last year, we had one make it almost all the way through the Olympic trials," she explained.

"That's amazing!" Lexi exclaimed truly happy for her friend.

"So what are you doing here missy? I'd heard through the grapevine that you were in f**king New York City," Krista said her green eyes glimmering.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just here visiting a friend." Lexi stopped suddenly realizing that Krista and Jack knew each other. That thought had completely slipped her mind. "Actually, I'm visiting Jack. Uh…Jack Howard."

"Holy shit! Jack f**king Howard. Now that's a name I haven't heard in awhile. I thought you two would be married by now. Run off together or something," Krista noted.

Lexi blushed. "Um…no."

"Damn. You always seemed like a perfect pair to me," Krista told her. She watched as Lexi's complexion colored over further. "So where is he?" she asked her head swiveling hoping to catch a glimpse of him. "He's so delicious. I'd love to see him again."

Lexi laughed remembering why she had always liked Krista. She was so straight-forward and vulgar. It was refreshing, and reminded her of New York. "He actually just dropped me off. I'm here with his…" Lexi trailed off realizing that she had been standing here for awhile and had completely lost Bekah.

"With his what?" Krista asked curiously.

"Uh…hold on." Lexi pivoted trying to look through the crowd, but she was too short. She couldn't see anyone.

"Who are we looking for?" Krista asked scanning the throng of people.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you," Bekah stated calmly as she walked up in the opposite direction of where they had been searching.

"Yeah. Sorry," Lexi stated awkwardly turning to face her. "I just ran into a friend."

"What a coincidence," Bekah said turning to face Krista. "Bekah Bridges." She extended her hand formally.

Krista took it, but glanced at Lexi conspiratorially. "Krista Hammond."

"Pleased to meet you," Bekah properly replied. "Wait. Hammond?" she asked eyeing her appearance. Krista nodded one eyebrow arched perfectly. "Any connection to Hammond, Stern, & Birch?"

Krista's eyes narrowed. "That depends," she muttered. Krista, always blunt, asked her, "Who the hell are you?"

"Beg your pardon?"

Lexi stepped in. "Krista, this is Jack's girlfriend. That's what I was going to tell you. I'm here with his girlfriend."

Krista stared blankly from Lexi to Bekah and back. "You're dating Jack?" she finally asked Bekah.

"That's right."