“Hey,” he said nodding his head at the bunch. “Whoa, your hair.” He immediately went to Lexi’s side and fiddled with a straightened strand.

She smiled up at him, goose bumps kissing her skin at his gentle touch. “Do you like it?” she asked hesitantly.

“You look great,” he said before he could filter his enthusiastic response.

“See, I told you!” Olivia cried. Lexi’s smile widened.

“So, let’s start the night off right. Shots all around and give me a hug,” he demanded of no one in particular.

Olivia giggled and nudged Lexi forward as if he had been talking to her all along. She didn’t need much coaxing as she nestled into his arms. He squeezed her tightly around the middle before releasing her.

“Good to see you,” he murmured huskily. “Chasity, shots? Hug? What are you good for?”

Jack scooted around the bar as Chasity poured the clear liquid into six shot glasses. He wrapped himself around her from behind and whispered something in her ear that Lexi couldn’t discern. Chasity laughed boisterously and shoved him away. “Whore,” she murmured at his turned back.

“I’m not the only one,” he quipped eyeing her black crop top and tiny black and white plaid skirt.

“I’m workin’ here. Cut me a break.”

“I would if you could count,” he said sitting in the chair next to Lexi and leaning across the bar.

“What are you talking about?” Chasity questioned glaring at him.

“Seven,” he said gesturing to the group.

Chasity’s eyes scanned the set in attendance, and then frowned. She quickly shrugged her shoulders and poured another shot. “Not my fault you were hiding the little brunette mouse. Who is she anyway?”

Lexi jerked around to find out what they were talking about. “Sandy,” she squealed enthusiastically. Despite the girl having zero common sense, she was beginning to grow on her. Apparently, she was extremely intelligent when it came to book smarts. She just wasn’t capable of showing that to anyone. Once you finally got her to open up, she was a real riot.

“Lexi! I didn’t know that you were going to be out.”

“I didn’t even know you were still hanging out with Seth,” Lexi said raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

“Oh, you know,” Sandy said blushing furiously, “here and there. Whenever he’s not with some other girl, I’ll give him a chance.”

“I don’t know how you do it. I would die if I had to share.” A chuckle emanated from behind her. She glanced warily at Jack, and the smirk on his face grew.

“It’s not the sharing that I mind, because I like to sleep with whoever I want. It’s just you know how Seth is and how he treats girls. Sometimes he forgets that we’re whatever…not trying to be exclusive. Then the lying starts and ugh,” she told her shuddering, “I just can’t even get into it.”

“Bottoms up ladies,” Chasity said pushing shots, several limes, and a salt shaker towards them.

“Tequila?” Lexi asked anxiously turning from her conversation with Sandy. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Nah. Just loosen you up a little. You’ve been way too uptight lately,” Chasity declared licking the crease between her thumb and first finger and pouring a generous amount of salt onto the space.

“Yeah, let’s loosen you up,” Jack said nudging her playfully.

Lexi glanced up at him and licked her lips provocatively. “I thought you didn’t mind me being a little tight,” she whispered loud enough for him to hear her.

His eyebrows shot up and he groaned a little at the mental image she was leaving him with. “Don’t tease me, Lex.”

“Who’s teasing?” she asked raising her glass to meet the rest of the group.

“To gettin’ fucked up,” Chasity yelled as they clinked their glasses together.

Much to Lexi’s surprise, Chamber did end up filling up considerably compared to the amount of people who arrived early enough to get personal attention from their sexy bartender. The townies were coming out of the woodworks knowing that much of the college population would be away for the holiday break.

As much as Lexi wanted to relax into their evening, something continued to nag at her. She couldn’t figure out what it was. Ever since that fateful night back in May, Lexi had been very careful in situations around Jack. She tried to keep her distance so that Clark wouldn’t see straight through her. And though he had never specifically stated that he thought something was up between them, he still commented on her behavior. He complained of her being distant and closed off, among other things...of a more sexual nature. Yet, that wasn’t what was bothering her. Every time she would begin to stop thinking about Clark, it was like she could feel eyes on her. The idea was ludicrous. Chamber wasn’t full by any means, but there were enough people in the place that no one specifically would be staring at her. She was recognizable from gymnastics meets, but she wasn’t the star. There was no real reason for anyone to be watching her.

Olivia left early complaining that she wasn’t feeling well. She asked Jack to take Lexi home smirking devilishly. Jack obliged her appeal. Seth and Sandy had not so discreetly located a corner to make out in, leaving Luke as a third wheel. Not too long afterwards, Luke was closely dancing with a large-chested blonde. Even with all of their friends occupied, Lexi still couldn’t get over the feeling that someone was watching her.

“Jack,” she began taking a strand of her straight hair and pushing it behind her ear.

“How can you be nervous right now?” he asked taking her hands away from her and placing them around his neck pulling her in close to him.

“What?”

“You’re messing with your hair. It’s a dead give-away,” he said letting his bright blue eyes bore into her.

“Right, sorry. I just…I dunno…I feel like someone is watching me.”

“Who would be watching us, Lex?” he asked incredulously.

“I said I don’t know, but I just feel like eyes are being drilled into the back of my head,” she informed him. Even as she said the words out loud she realized how paranoid and slightly delusional she must sound, but still she couldn’t shake the feeling.

Jack pulled his gaze away from her and let his eyes slowly roam the dark, crowded room. He paused briefly as if examining the individuals in a particular location then shifted to circle the entire room. “If someone is looking at you, then they aren’t right now. I can barely make out anyone ten feet away from me. I don’t see how anyone could be secretive about looking at you even if they were watching. Seeing as no one is blatantly staring from where I can see, I really don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“You’re probably right,” she said wrapping her arms around his neck tighter. His lips gently touched the soft spot behind her earlobe.

“If you really feel like that, we can get you out of here,” he muttered huskily in her ear. “Actually, I think I should get you home. It’s late.” He didn’t even check his watch.

“I’m glad you are so concerned for my well-being,” she stated mockingly.

“Oh, I’m very concerned for your well-being. I want to make sure that you get home at a reasonable hour, tuck you in, and all that.”

“Tuck me in?” she asked raising an eyebrow.

“Something like that,” he muttered, his lips only inches from her mouth at this point.

She giggled and pushed him backwards. “Chill out. None of that,” she said half-heartedly.

“Fine,” he said sticking out his bottom lip. “I’m going to close my tab, and then we’ll leave.

*****

A short while later, Lexi found herself in a very familiar bedroom wrapped in navy blue sheets. She stretched languidly on the bed and then perched on the edge waiting for Jack to join her. He exited the bathroom flipping the light off as he appeared before her. She couldn’t keep her mouth from dropping open at the sight of him. He entered the room in only a flimsy pair of green boxers. He had been doing some serious workouts lately since he was out of school, and the effort was really paying off. His already well-defined six-pack was toned to perfection. His arms and chest had grown in direct proportion making the full package look positively delectable. His tousled brown hair hung just above his crystal clear blue eyes looking at Lexi as if he were about to devour her.