Avoiding Responsibility (12 page)

"So what do I get if I catch you?" Ramsey called teasingly down the white expansive hallway.

"Didn't you hear me the first time?" she asked between breaths.

"Oh I heard you," Ramsey said. Lexi could hear his steps smacking the floor harder as he picked up speed. "I just want to make sure I know what I'm getting."

"Me," she crowed making a risky pivot turn and nearly falling over as her shoes slid against the slick floorboards. She caught herself just before Ramsey reached her, taking a few hesitant stutter steps before breaking away from him and into a massive open room filled with modern art.

She raced across the room hoping to make it to the next exhibit before he got close, but there were no turns and no where to hide. She couldn't evade him in here. She simply had to out run him. And that wasn't going to be possible.

Lexi felt a hand graze her shoulder and she tried to duck out of the embrace, but Ramsey latched onto her. He grabbed her by the waist, turning her a full 180, and pulling her in towards him. He dipped his head down to her face and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Her breathe was coming out heavy, but she couldn't decipher whether or not if was her from the chase or his steamy kiss.

"I caught you," he murmured against her lips.

"Indeed you did," she agreed.

"Can I change the terms of our arrangement?" he questioned formally.

"You don't want me?" she asked giving him another peck on his cheek and flashing him a devious smile.

"Oh I'm still keeping you," he said gripping her tighter around the waist. "I just have a better idea."

"And that is?"

"I want you to meet my friends," he said suddenly.

Lexi stared at him perplexed. She had originally offered him her body and now he wanted her to meet his friends. A pretty abrupt change, but he had won after all. "Uh, sure," she said uncertainly.

"Just meet at my house tomorrow around five. You'll have a good time," he said smiling reassuringly. "Oh and wear something warm."

"Warm?" she asked glancing down at her outfit.

He did the same taking in her small body and the clothing that covered every curve wonderfully. After a second of thought, he added, "And practical."

The next day Lexi arrived at Ramsey's apartment at five o'clock on the dot. She had dressed as practical as she could muster in a pair of worn blue jeans, red long-sleeve t-shirt covered by an old college sweatshirt, and her running sneakers. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with her bangs pinned back from her face. She snatched a purple and white jacket from the backseat just in case and stuck her hands in her back pockets as she approached his apartment warily.

This was the first time that she had been in Atlanta since August, and memories of this very apartment flooded her mind. The way she had scandalously danced with Ramsey in an effort to forget Jack. Then just as Jack peered through the backdoor window to the balcony, she had impulsively leaned into Ramsey's kiss, their first kiss. She had ended up staying the night after arguing with Jack, but Ramsey hadn't tried anything, even then, in her weakened position.

And then she'd ended up here again, broken, destroyed, torn to pieces. She had been used, abused, and she was no longer the Lexi that she had once been. Her carefree side had vanished into thin air with Jack's callous behavior. Ramsey had tried to help her, but after almost giving into his desires, she had run out of his house in the middle of the night. She hadn't even been able to trust her own shadow that day. It was a low point for her, and neither of them had ever brought it up. As she gazed up at his ritzy townhouse, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with all that had occurred.

Taking a deep breath, Lexi knocked on the door and waited for Ramsey quick response. His smile lit up at the sight of her, and how beautiful she was even in her most practical clothing. He liked her this way without all the luxuries that frequently felt like a necessity. "You're here," he said snatching her up into his arms, turning in place, and planting her on the floor in his apartment.

"Yep," she said unable to keep from smiling at his boyish exuberance. He looked as gorgeous as ever in a heather grey, long-sleeve, Henley shirt, dark jeans, and boots.

Just then Ramsey's two roommates bounded down the stairs, and Lexi was momentarily frozen as she realized she didn't remember either of their names. She had met them briefly several months ago and wasn't entirely certain whether or not she had learned names even then.

"Is she here finally?" one of them asked snottily.

Lexi smiled at his false annoyance. "Lexi, I doubt you remember my charming roommates," Ramsey states sarcastically alleviating her brief moment of stress, "Brad and Jason."

"Sorry about your first meeting," Jason said walking forward and shaking her hand. "We're not ourselves wasted." He added a shrug for good measure.

"Speak for yourself," Brad said sending a quick jab in Jason's direction.

Ramsey shook his head at his two roommates as he yanked the door back open to gesture for them to exit. Lexi followed them to the parking garage and once inside stared in shock. She knew Ramsey had his pretty little Mercedes, but there were several other cars inside as well. She wasn't even sure why they kept them all there.

"The Jeep is Brad's which we'll be taking today," Ramsey instructed her seeing her shock and awe. "Jason loves his little red Porsche. He thinks it helps him pick up girls."

"It does," Jason whispered to her just before sliding into the front seat of the bright yellow Jeep.

"But then…is that…?" she opened the door to the Jeep, but couldn't tear her eyes from the Italian sports car she had only ever seen on Entourage.

"Yeah you like that?" Brad asked popping the key in the ignition and revving the engine.

"Uh yeah," Ramsey said scratching the back of his head thoughtfully. "It's a Maserati."

Lexi's mouth dropped open. She knew how much that car cost. "Hell yea," Brad cried, "You should see the Ferrari he keeps in storage. It's a damn tragedy not to drive that beaut around the city."

Lexi swiveled instantly catching Ramsey's eye. She could tell he was embarrassed by the display of exorbitant wealth before her. He typically tried to tone it down for her, but she knew he had money. She just didn't really
know
as much as she thought she did. She took a large gulp and slid into the back seat beside Ramsey still taking in the knowledge that he owned two cars that cost more than any house her parents had ever owned.

"Maybe if you're lucky, he'll take you out on the Ducati," Jason said turning around to look at her as Brad pulled out of the driveway.

"The what?" she asked unfamiliar with that name.

"Ducati, it's a motorcycle," Ramsey informed her.

"You have a motorcycle?" Lexi asked a shiver of anticipation going down her back.

"Yeah if he can ever get the damn thing working," Brad interjected. "You should just take it to a mechanic."

Ramsey shrugged the comment off as if he'd heard it time and time again. "I like to work on it myself. Makes me know that it's getting done right."

"You work on motorcycles?" she asked in disbelief. Her mind was spinning with all the new information about him. How had she ever thought he was just some stereotypical Country Clubber? There was obviously much more to Ramsey that she had no idea about. He was an enigma.

She tried to force out Bekah's words, but she couldn't help hearing them over and over.

He's a player. You don't know him. You've only ever seen one side of him.

She had attempted to erase that whole conversation with Bekah from her mind. Rather unsuccessfully, but she had tried. However, the more she tried to forget it the more it kept creeping up on her. Perhaps this was just another one of Bekah's games not that she had any way of knowing Lexi would still pursue Ramsey…or did she? She hated thinking about it.

Ramsey had only shown her one side, but nonetheless Lexi was just seeing a new side. A side she liked, though it scared the hell out of her, but still different than before. She hated to think Bekah had been right in anything. She hated having doubts about Ramsey.

And though she had a hard time dispelling her reservations, she needed to focus more on having fun with him then analyzing his every move. She had been hurt before, but she didn't want that to define her.

Brad kept the music blasting to old 90s rock music the entire ride leaving very little room for conversation from that point on. That was fine with Lexi. She was still processing, and didn't really want to blabber a slew of personal questions in front of Ramsey's roommates. She could wait for later.

Brad pulled the Jeep off the road and down a winding path that had once been paved, but was now cracking and bumpy. Lexi understood why the Jeep was used instead of the other sporty cars. Wherever they were going was not meant for the lavish and luxury Lexi had witnessed in the garage. She hadn't really been an outdoorsy type since she spent most of her time on school work or locked in the gymnastics studio. However, when she was younger, she had been a girl scout and church retreats had kept alive her love of camping and bonfires. Living in the city for nearly three years made her forget just how bright and beautiful the stars were…not to mention how
many
. Thousands upon thousands of twinkling white beams stared down at Lexi through the glass. Her eyes lit up at the spectacle, entranced by the beauty of the countryside.

A break in the tree line appeared before them and Brad began to decelerate as they approached. Lexi peered out through the front window anxious to see what lay ahead. Even in the darkness, the magnitude of the lake, majestically lit by the moon, was evident. Lexi couldn't even glimpse the opposite bank.

Brad parked the Jeep in a gravel lot besides several other SUVs. As the ignition died, only the sounds of nature filled her ears. Lexi closed her eyes taking in all the noise that wildlife produced and the smell of pine mingled with red clay. She felt Ramsey's sweet kiss on her lips and opened her eyes to smile at him.

"So you like it?" he questioned rhetorically.

"What park is this? It doesn't look like Lake Lanier. And wouldn't we have had to pay for entrance?" Lexi mused aloud.

Lexi could hear a chorus of chuckles behind her, and snapped her head around to see a crowd of people standing under a covered patio with picnic benches. "Don't mind them," Ramsey said glaring in their direction. "My parent's actually own this land. I've been coming here since a kid," he told her as he veered her towards a garage that she hadn't noticed in the darkness. "I think my dad was going to make it into some ritzy resort or develop the property, but after awhile he just forgot about it. With the economy all messed up right now, there's no chance he's going to do anything to it now," he added the last part with a sigh of relief. Ramsey flicked a switch that illuminated a key pad and punched in a seven-digit code.

"What's in there?" Lexi asked in awe as a side door clicked open.

Ramsey walked inside holding the door for Lexi to follow. "This is where my dad keeps his toys," he murmured softly, "and now mine." He flicked another switch and the garage lit up showcasing two boats, jet skis, a number of four wheelers, dirt bikes, a collection of rafts, kayaks, and canoes, along with other various outdoors equipment such as a hammock, tent, and camping gear.

"Holy shit!" Lexi couldn't help herself from exclaiming.

"Yea," he murmured appreciatively. "Ever been on a four wheeler?" He walked over to a green bike in particular and set his hand down affectionately on the handle. Lexi shook her head unable to utter a single word. "This baby is a Raptor," he informed her, "you'll like her."

The garage door startled her by beginning to open to the front. Brad wandered over to them and stared longingly at the four wheeler Ramsey had just shown her. "You riding the Raptor?" he asked obviously itching to get on the bike.

"Lexi's never been on one," Ramsey told him effectively ending the conversation.

"Uh…you think I'm getting on that thing?" she asked apprehensively.

"I won't go that fast," he said winking at her. "Though it is one of the fastest models. I'll wait until you're more comfortable though."

As the rest of the group wandered into the garage and began claiming the various bikes and four wheelers, Lexi realized that there were less people than she had originally thought. There were two additional guys and four girls in total. She almost laughed aloud when she realized that they were evenly matched guys to girls. Silently she wondered if this had been planned.

"Alright I'm not really going to go into the details, but since you've never been on one before I'll just forewarn you that the buzzing sound is completely normal, the ride should and will be bumpy, and you're going to have a lot of fun," Ramsey said. His smile was infectious and Lexi couldn't help but revel in his enthusiasm. Though she assumed it was also the thrill and anticipation of what she was about to do.

Lexi gingerly climbed onto the back of the bike. She wrapped her arms tightly around Ramsey torso and pressed herself against his back. Nuzzling into his shoulder, she tried to calm her heart which had kicked into overdrive. Ramsey revved the engine, kicked the clutch into gear and took off. When Ramsey had said he was going to go slow, Lexi had thought he had meant slow, but apparently their definitions were different. He raced ahead easily taking the lead from his friends. The shorter layers of Lexi's hair released from her ponytail and whipped around in her face. She felt him switch gears and zoom forward into the tree line following a dirt trail that she couldn't make out. Her terror alleviated some the longer Ramsey drove down the path, but her grip only barely loosened.

As they took a sharp turn, a fire burning in the distance alerted her that they weren't the only ones in the woods. The adrenaline from the ride kept her mind vigilant. As she became more comfortable on the bike, she also became more aware of her surroundings. A dirt path lay before her and she realized that it was wider than she had originally thought. The tree line had gradually begun to grow in overhead to fight for the sunlight, but the moon was still visible.