When the show ended, the surrounding families and groups began to pack up. Lexi sighed finding it strange that she was actually sad that the evening was coming to an end. She began to pull away from him, but he pulled her back down.

“It’s not over yet,” he muttered into her ear.

“But everyone’s...” she began gesturing to the crowd.

“Wait a second,” he said smiling down at her.

Lexi glanced around hoping to find out what he was talking about. Half of the people were already exiting the lawn, and they hadn’t even moved yet. She knew it would take awhile to get out of the park and was ready to start the long ride back to his place. If there was more to come, then no one else had been informed. She was about to tell him that he had been misinformed, when a loud pop sounded from the mountain.

Lexi’s eyes darted up to the sky as a red firework exploded, covering the night sky. There were never fireworks this time of the year. They only ever had fireworks for the week of the Fourth of July. The surrounding crowd had halted their urgent packing to look up at the shimmering colors falling towards the earth. Several more fireworks erupted from their perspective locations producing earsplitting booms and crackling popcorn. Lexi stared on in wonder as more and more fireworks colored the sky.

“I can’t believe they did this,” she whispered into the night. “I didn’t think they had fireworks this late in the season.”

“They don’t.”

Lexi shifted her gaze momentarily to stare into Ramsey’s shining green eyes. “They don’t? What do you mean?”

He smiled at her, reaching up and cupping her chin. “I thought you’d like the surprise.”

“You mean...you did this?” she asked putting the pieces together.

“For you.”

She couldn’t do much more than nod before his lips touched hers gently. She knew they had kissed the night before, but she had been drunk at that point and acting without inhibitions. This kiss occurred because she wanted it to. It was gentle and brief, but he sure did taste wonderful. She had no idea how he still tasted of peppermints. She hadn’t seen him eat one or anything. When he pulled away, she couldn’t help but whimper at the loss of his warmth. He chuckled and placed one more kiss on her lips as the fireworks display came to a close.

He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on. Now we can go.”

“Shouldn’t we pack up?” she asked looking at their feet.

“Nah. I’ll have someone take care of it. Let’s get you back. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

Lexi filtered in and out of consciousness on the ride back to Ramsey’s apartment. After last night, all she felt like doing was sleeping. Her evening with Ramsey had been magical. She was pleasantly surprised that he was capable of being well...human. She had such a terrible stigma against anyone from a Country Club that she had immediately thought he would be just like everyone else. And though at times, he did play that part, and obviously he had a good deal of wealth, she didn’t feel like that was the main part of his character. He was able to be a fun-loving guy, who just happened to have money, rather than the other way around, as she expected.

“I appreciate you taking me out and letting me stay here the night before,” Lexi told him truthfully, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. She followed him up the stairs to the front door. “I guess I should probably get a hotel or something tonight.”

He stopped and turned to look at her. “You could come inside if you like.”

Lexi gulped not feeling comfortable with the direction of that statement. She wasn’t really prepared to take this to another level. “Uh...I don’t think so.”

He scratched his head thoughtfully. “Sorry. No. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I have a guest bedroom. If you’d like to stay here another night, you are more than welcome.”

“Oh, well...” She didn’t know whether or not to accept the invitation. She was dead tired, and couldn’t exactly afford a hotel. “I guess that’s alright.”

Ramsey veered her towards the guest bedroom on the top floor and left her to get dressed for the evening. She changed into her own sleeping clothes and brushed her teeth. A soft knock sounded on the door and she pulled it open. Ramsey stood before her clad in nothing but a pair of black athletic shorts. Her eyes traveled to his six pack and then back up. She gulped unsure if she would be able to control herself if he came into the room.

“I wanted to give you a proper good night,” he informed her bending his head and crushing their lips together. She breathed him in enjoying every bit of pressure he was exerting onto her lips. She could tell he was trying desperately to keep himself from going further just like she was. She wasn’t exactly known for her ability to resist temptation. Her body was still flush against him when he pulled back, his breathing ragged, and his pupils dilated.

“I...uh,” he muttered pulling back a fraction of an inch.

“Yeah,” she agreed her own breathing coming out in short puffs.

“You know you never did answer me earlier this evening,” he said resting their foreheads together.

“About?”

“Will you accompany me to the birthday festivities?”

“Sure,” she said just as he captured her lips again. She moaned as his tongue slid against her own. Satisfied with her answer, he pulled back again.

He cleared his throat and stepped back into the hallway. “Well, good night.”

“Good night,” she whispered closing the door and leaning back against it.

“Shit,” she muttered to the empty space. “What have I done now?”

CHAPTER 14

DECEMBER TWO AND A HALF YEARS EARLIER

“How could you tell him?” she asked breaking down into tears for the second time that morning.

“What are you talking about?” Jack asked glancing helplessly into Lexi’s bloodshot eyes.

“You told Clark about what happened. You told him everything.”

“Lexi.”

“How could you do that?”

“Lexi…”

“I’ve been lying to him for months, he confronts you about it one time, and you tell him everything. And for what, Jack?”

“Lexi, please let me…”

“No! For what? What could you possibly gain from telling him? Do you think he’ll spare Kate the knowledge of what we did? Because I don’t.”

“Geez, Lex, can you give me a minute?”

“A minute? Oh yes, so you can try to explain? No, I don’t want your explanations. I already know what happened. You told him, and he’s going to tell Kate. All because you told him. I can’t believe this is happening,” she said her breath coming out uneven. She could feel the characteristic tingling feeling in her fingers and lips that let her know she was hyperventilating.

“Lexi,” he said stepping towards her, mouth hanging agape.

“Don’t touch me!” she shrieked pulling away from him. “I can’t believe you.”

“Could you listen to me for one goddamn minute?” he asked finally raising his voice.

She stopped her rampage. “Fine, say what you wanna say.”

“I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t say anything.”

Lexi’s eyes shot up to his face, her heart full of hope. Then she shook her head. “How did he know? He said you told him everything. You must have told him, Jack.”

“I told you I’d never lie to you again. Look at me,” he commanded. “Lexi, look at me. Look in my eyes and tell me I’m lying.”

Her eyes lifted to him once again. She searched those beautiful blue eyes for some sign that he wasn’t telling the truth. For anything that made him seem like he would tell her boyfriend to spare himself. Anything at all that said he didn’t care about her. But she found nothing there. He looked as sincere as he could get.