“You say that as if you are a player.”
He gulped. “Well, I haven’t played you.”
“Everyone was right when they said I didn’t know you and that you weren’t everything you seemed.”
“Is anyone ever what they seem?” he asked. “You have secrets. Everyone has them.”
“But I don’t try and ruin someone’s life for sport,” she spat at him.
“And you think I do?”
“As far as I can tell.”
“Who’s life am I ruining this time?” he asked staring intently into her eyes. “Please tell me what I’ve done, and why you are so offended.”
“You seduced me. You tried to fuck me. You would have fucked me,” she cried disgusted.
“What’s the problem with that? It’s not like you didn’t want me to,” he said stepping even closer to her. “You like me, Lexi. I know it. You know it.” He reached out to her, pushing his fingers up into her tangled mess of curly hair. “Why is that so wrong?”
“Because you fooled me into liking you,” she cried, futilely pushing him away from her.
He shook his head not budging an inch. “I never had to fool you. You just had to open up your eyes.”
She clenched her jaw angry that he wouldn’t let her back away. “You did it for your sister.”
This seemed to take him aback. “Why would I fall for you for my sister?”
“You did her bidding to get rid of me.”
“But I want you around,” he said smoothly, running his hands gently through her hair. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“She put you in my path so she could have Jack all to herself,” she tried to explain.
That did push him back a step. He released her hair and stared into her wild brown eyes. “This is always about Jack, isn’t it?”
“No, nothing is about Jack anymore. And if you come with that territory, then good riddance,” she muttered angrily.
“What if I told you that was all a lie?” he asked curious about her answer.
“Could I believe you?”
“Have I given you reason not to?”
“Besides not telling me that you knew me previously?”
“I did tell you,” he reminded her.
“Yes, but not about meeting in the club.”
“Is that really all that relevant?”
“Absolutely,” she told him staring him down. “Half-truths and hiding are still lying.”
“Then I apologize, but I had nothing to do with Jack. And I hope to God that I never will,” he said inching forward again. His hands came up and secured themselves against her narrow hips. He grabbed her with a tad bit of force and pulled her into him.
“Ramsey,” she whispered his name as he locked lips with her. She held still as long as she could before giving into his kiss. His sweet taste of peppermint overpowered her senses and she closed her eyes to breathe him in. His lips moved softly against her own, coaxing out her emotions not demanding them. She couldn’t help but give into his adoring affections.
“Yes?” he asked finally breaking away from her, but planting one more feather light kiss upon her plump lips.
“I…I can’t do this,” she murmured against his lips, the air around them super heated.
“Why? Is it Jack?”
“No,” she said quickly. Then sighed and broke away from him. “Yes. It is Jack.” He nodded accepting that without questions. “You shouldn’t want me. I’m not in a good enough place to be wanted.”
“But I do want you. At least, something with you, even if we start slow,” he pushed.
“You know how people say you crawl before you walk and walk before you run? Yeah, well, I need to learn to hold my head up before I can even think about crawling,” she muttered brushing her hair off her forehead.
“Yeah. I get it, but Lexi…”
“No,” she said pressing a finger to his lips. “This is the end of the road.”
She turned from him and began to climb the stairs to the jet. Chyna was waiting for her at the top. It was pretty obvious that she had been eavesdropping, but she didn’t look displeased. Lexi wasn’t sure if that was because Lexi was finally standing up on her own or because they were on their way home. It didn’t matter either way.
“Will I hear from you?” Ramsey called as she hit the top step.
She turned around and smiled at him. “When I can hold my head up high.”
“You ready to get out of here, chica?” Chyna asked pulling her friend into a hug. When Lexi pulled back, she already had a flute of Champagne stuffed into her hand.
“Very ready,” Lexi confirmed.
“A toast,” Chyna cheered raising her glass to Lexi, “to being free.”
Lexi shook her head. “No. To closure,” she announced clinking their glasses together and downing her first glass of freedom.
The End.
*****
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.A. Linde is an independent author and publisher enjoys writing novels that keep you guessing to the very end. She wrote Avoiding Commitment in 2009. She studied political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia and received her Masters in 2012. She currently resides in North Carolina. She enjoys dancing in her spare time. She has written a sequel to this novel and plans to have it released as an ebook in the near future along with her future endeavors.
Avoiding Series:
Avoiding Commitment
Avoiding Responsibility
The Affiliate
You can contact K.A. Linde at:
kalinde45@gmail.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you so much everyone who helped me get to where I am right now. I never thought that I would publish this book, and I am grateful every day to the people who encouraged me to keep writing and to take the next step in the process. Here is just a short list of amazing people who have helped me get where I am today:
S. C. Stephens is one of the most incredible and brilliant people I know. I’m very glad to call you a friend, and I look forward to that Seattle trip we have planned. Who knows, maybe we can get a black Chevelle to drive us around? My editing goddesses: Jenny Aspinall, Rebecca Kimmerling, Lori Francis! You three are a freaking ridiculous bunch, and I can’t wait for that drink in Bali. I’ll bring the vodka gummies! I am glad to have become friends with a number of book bloggers including Maryse at Maryse.net, Jenny and Gitte at TotallyBooked, Alyssa and Taryn at My Secret Romance, Autumn at Autumn Reviews, Chrystle at The Indie Bookshelf, and Laura at Novel Magic. Thank you for publicizing my work before I’d even thought about putting it out for publication.
Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations did a fantastic job on the cover design for this book. Thanks for putting up with my ever changing thoughts about the cover. I appreciate Mat Kinsey so much for the portrait on the back cover. You have such a talent! Additionally, Colleen Hoover might be one of the coolest people on the planet. Thank you for giving me the push to do this!
Finally, I wouldn’t be in this position at all if it weren’t for all of my fans at FictionPress. You guys kept me writing throughout it all with your encouragement and reviews. Whether I know you on a first name basis or not…you got me here! Cheers to you!