A tap on her window made her jump clear out of her seat. Her hand flew to her chest, and her head darted to the source of the noise. Jack was laughing as he looked at her through the window, and she scowled up at him. She opened the door really fast and heard him grunt as it collided with his knee.
“Jesus, Lex,” he said, grabbing for the door to keep it from hitting him anywhere else.
Lexi stood from the car and smirked. “Serves you right. You shouldn’t scare a girl like that.”
“I didn’t think I would scare you. Chill,” he said, shutting the door for her. He experimentally stretched his knee out a few times, but then he seemed to walk just fine once they started up the hill to the entrance.
When Lexi located her office key, she opened the door and quickly disabled the security system. Once Jack was inside, she reactivated the alarm, so no one could follow behind them. Then, she shut and locked the door. They took the elevator to the third floor, and Lexi flipped on the light switch, illuminating the open office space.
Her office was one of the first doors, right next to the employee lounge, which was both good and bad. She always heard the latest gossip, but people frequently dragged her away from her work. Not to mention, she was one of the first people her boss would see when he walked in.
“Do you want to eat in the lounge?” Lexi asked, pointing at the open door.
“Sure.”
The lounge was high-end with two black leather couches, a mounted flat screen television, a small but sleek kitchen, and a wooden table that could seat six comfortably. Jack walked inside and set the food down on the glass coffee table in front of the couch. She followed behind him and took a seat on one of the couches before reaching for her food.
Lexi was anxious to know what he wanted to talk about. Too many scenarios ran through her head, but none seemed plausible. She never knew with Jack though—anything could happen. She wanted to broach the subject again, but he was already pulling out his pad thai and digging in, leaving no room for conversation. Seeing that he wasn’t going to talk about what had been so urgent yesterday until he was ready, Lexi reached for her sushi.
Silence with Jack had never been uncomfortable. Even now that things were different between them, it still seemed as effortless as it always had. He didn’t seem to be in a rush, so she didn’t rush. She didn’t have anything else to do tonight besides finally telling Chyna about the engagement. At that thought, she bit down on her lip on accident and squeaked. Jack looked up at her with a question in his blue eyes, but she just swallowed her food and looked away. He didn’t know why she was jittery, and she certainly wasn’t going to tell him after prying that damn ring off of her finger.
After they finished their food, Jack threw the rest away in the trash across the lounge. Then, he leaned back against the counter and stared at her. Lexi stared right back. She searched his face for a clue, for anything that would tell her what she was about to hear, but she didn’t like what she saw. His eyes were stormy and contemplative, his forehead was creased in thought, and his arms were folded lightly over his chest. Whatever it was…was heavy.
“Jack,” she whispered unintentionally, “what is it?”
“You remember that time we went to the beach together?” Jack asked.
Lexi tilted her head to the side and eyed him suspiciously. What did that have to do with anything? And for that matter, how could he think she would forget? That had been the first time they had…been together.
“Of course I do. What about it?”
“I was just remembering how you looked at me that day when you saw me in the sand.” His eyes were distant as he seemed to be recalling the moment.
“You weren’t supposed to be at the beach. You were supposed to be in Savannah,” she reminded him. “I was just surprised.”
“Surprised.” He laughed and shook his head. “You were flat-out shocked and lit into me, like it was all my fault for existing.”
Lexi’s cheeks burned as she recollected the experience. She remembered he had been about to kiss her before Kate and Clark had interrupted them. He had deserved her sharp tongue.
“It had a happy ending, I suppose,” he said with a shrug.
Lexi narrowed her eyes. “Happy ending? Clark conning me into telling him we slept together was a happy ending?”
Jack shook his head like he was breaking out of a trance—as if he had forgotten that was how the story had ended. “Sleeping with you was the happy ending.”
She immediately dropped her gaze to her hands. What the hell was up with him? Recounting old memories and digging up the past—there was no point in any of that anymore.
“What does this have to do with anything, Jack?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t have to do with anything, Lex. I don’t even know why I brought it up.”
“Jack, what’s going on? You’re acting really strange,” Lexi said, her gaze returning to his troubled blue eyes.
“Bekah served me divorce papers,” he said flatly.
“What?” Lexi snapped. “What did you say?”
“She served me papers,” he said, his blue eyes showing as much pity and shock as she had ever seen.
“After everything…she’s filing for divorce?” Lexi couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t f**king believe it. Bekah had done everything to keep her and Jack together, and now, she was going to divorce him after only two years. Lexi suddenly felt murderous. How dare she ruin everyone’s life over and over and over again like this!
“I guess, Lexi. I don’t know what to do. That’s why I called you. I never thought this would happen.”
“But did she at least give you a reason?” Lexi demanded.
Jack hung his head and sighed. Her heart went out to him in that moment. He looked so lost and vulnerable. Those weren’t emotions she associated with Jack.
“She thinks I cheated on her.”
Lexi snorted. That was rich!
“I’m serious!” he cried angrily. “Take this seriously.”
“How can I when this is all a sham to begin with? You did cheat on her!”
“Not while we were married!”
“And who’s going to believe you?”
“I was hoping you would.”
“You thought I would believe that about you, Jack? After everything I know about you, you thought I would think you wouldn’t cheat on Bekah? Did you hit your head this morning?” Lexi asked, crossing her arms.