"Oh," was all she managed as she wet a towel and tried to salvage her outfit for the day. After a second of dabbing at the fabric, she decided it was a lost cause and would have to take it to the dry cleaner later today.
"Coffee?" he asked walking up to her and pouring himself a glass.
"Yeah," she mumbled sitting down in one of the dining room chairs.
Ramsey added some cream and sugar to the coffee before taking a sip. "I still don't know how you drink it black."
Lexi shrugged. "That's just how I like it."
"So I was thinking," Ramsey began setting his coffee down on the counter and turning to face her again. "I know you're busy with work stuff, but I thought maybe we should go do something tonight. You haven't really had a day off what with everything that happened with your father. I thought it might be nice to just get away."
"Don't you have work?" she squeaked out dropping her eyes to her coffee mug.
"I can take a night off for you," he said smiling.
"I guess let me see how far I get with my work today and then I'll let you know," she said reluctantly never pulling her eyes from her drink.
"Are you okay?" Ramsey asked moving to stand in front of her. "I know that you're sad about your dad but everything is going to be alright with him. He was released and everything right?"
"Yeah he was," she said. She desperately wanted to tell him about everything Parker had said, but she just didn't know how to bring it up. She had no idea if any of it was even true. All she wanted to do was go back upstairs, crawl into bed, and forget that this past week had happened.
"Well then maybe it would be a good idea to get away from it," he said bending down and resting his hands on her knees.
Lexi stood up abruptly letting his hands drop back to his side as she towered over him in his crouched position. "I'll see about work," she said sharper than she had intended.
Ramsey stood slowly watching her closely the whole time. "Alright," he said his eyes following her every movement. "How about this? I'll be at the club in my office finishing up some work, if you want to go out after work just swing by."
"I'll do that," she agreed diverting her eyes as she moved to walk away from him.
Ramsey's hand darted out and grasped her by the elbow. The light pressure on her arm sent shivers up her back. "Please come by," he whispered softly pulling her into him and kissing her softly on the lips. "I've missed you."
Lexi pulled away from the kiss still feeling the warmth of his mouth on hers. Her breathing was ragged. She felt like she could barely swallow. Her pupils had dilated at even the lightest of touches. Ignoring these most basic instincts, Lexi took another step away from him, gave him a curt smile, and disappeared back up the stairs to change into an outfit that didn't have coffee stains on it.
Work was practically mind numbing that day. She knew that she had to go see Ramsey afterwards, and she knew she couldn't hide what had happened from him for much longer. This morning had been the first time they had really been alone. She couldn't imagine what it would be like going out with him. She was a terrible liar and an even worse actress. She couldn't convince someone like Ramsey who noticed her every move that the only thing that was bothering her was her father's heart attack.
He would know that something else was up with her. She would have to tell him what Parker had told her. Then she would have to get the truth out of him. She wasn't sure if she was even ready for that. What would he say? Would he confirm all her fears or deny them? She didn't even want to think about it. And so of course she thought of nothing else.
All the while she was conducting research for her firm, making phone calls, and digging through files, she felt distracted. Her mind was lost on the words that Parker had embedded into her skull forever. Ramsey had lied. He had hidden an entire relationship from her. She could care less that all of that stuff had happened in the past. The past was the past. If anyone should know that it was Lexi.
She had a past that she knew she couldn't hide from. Everything always seemed to catch up with her. Why should Ramsey be any different? How could he think that he was any different?
It was just childish to think he could hide it from her. What could he gain from that? All of his friends knew the situation or at least most of it. They knew that they had been together…for years. They knew that they had been in love. They knew that they were practically destined for one another. And Christ, they at least knew that Lexi looked like Parker. Yet, she was never mentioned. She was never brought. He acted as if nothing had ever happened between them beyond the physical. No wonder he had freaked out when she had been left alone with Jessie and she had said that Parker and Ramsey looked like a cute couple.
Of course they did! They had been a couple for so long that it had to come second nature to them. She knew it did for her and Jack. Being with him was like breathing. You didn't just date someone for so long and then try and cover up the fact that it ever existed. People didn't just get over things like that. If anything the cover up made it seem like you never got over it…which was even more troublesome.
Just when Lexi thought her brain might explode from over thinking everything that had been said she received an incoming text message. "Lunch. Sushi. You know the place. See ya in 20. – Pookie."
Lexi sighed dropping the stack of papers she was holding onto her tiny desk. She grabbed her purse and sauntered out of the office letting her manager know that she would be back in an hour. The balding middle age man leered at her as she exited the office giving no complaint. At least she had that going for her.
Entering the crowded restaurant, Lexi searched the premises for Brandon. It was nearly impossible to find a table at this place during lunch or dinner, but Brandon always seemed to find them a spot. She didn't always ask how that was even possible. Finally seeing him crammed into a corner, Lexi strolled across the room and plopped down opposite him.
"Hey honey, you're looking a little rough," he said not too kindly.
Lexi scoffed pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Fuck off."
"No really. Have you slept at all?" he asked leaning back in the booth.
Lexi took a sip of the water he had ordered for her and shook her head. "Not really. Did you already order?"
"Yeah same thing right?" he asked. She nodded. "Cool so what's up? You haven't been dogging me for lunch or interrupting my make out sessions or any other of your annoying habits. I've barely heard from you. Who am I supposed to have lunch with?"
"Weren't you just complaining about me having lunch with you too often?" she asked feeling her annoyance from the past week and a half begin to take over.
"Yeah, but I was joking. You know I want to get in your pants. Lunch is just a way to be around you," he told her with a wink for good measure.
Lexi didn't even have the patience to humor him. "Whatever Brandon."
"Brandon? Did you just call me by my first name?" he asked his brows scrunching together. "Lexi what's wrong with you?"
"I don't want to talk about it alright?" she snapped fiercely just as the waitress walked up.
"Uh sorry," the waitress squeaked before scurrying away.
Brandon tilted his head at her slightly. "Now you've run our waitress off."
"I don't care. I'm not that hungry anyway," she mumbled though she felt pretty bad about having an outburst like that. It wasn't like it was Brandon's fault that she was in a pissy mood.