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"Nothing," he said a bit too quickly.
Lexi arched an eyebrow. She had been too focused on trying to keep from giving away what she had been doing to even really notice Ramsey. His shoulders were tensed and his face looked weary. His own hands were clenched more forcefully at his side. She had no idea what this was about. "What? What happened?"
"Nothing Lexi," he repeated.
"Don't lie to me. Look at yourself, you're tensed for battle. Did he say something about me?" she asked the first thing that came to her mind. "Did he want me to leave?"
"Uh, no," he mumbled. "He honestly wasn't even expecting you."
"Well then what was he doing here?" she asked exasperated.
"Lexi please don't make me say anything. He asked me not to." She could see that he was visibly fighting with himself about what to do. "I just wanted to let you know that he was gone so maybe we could get some lunch," he suggested nodding his head towards the stairs. She followed him out of the room, but was unable to get the thoughts of Jack out of her mind.
"Can I have a hint?" she asked as she trudged down the stairs after him.
"No."
"Ramsey, come on. He came here for some reason right?"
"Yes Lexi, but he wanted to speak to me alone for that same reason," he said never turning around to directly address her.
"It can't be that important. He only has a week to the wedding, what could be so secretive?"
"Lexi I'm begging you to drop this. Just let it go. I don't even want to talk about it," he said shaking his head again.
She followed him to the kitchen and watched as he prepared lunch for them. It was nothing too fancy, but she had never liked him for his extravagance. Her mind was elsewhere anyways. All she wanted to know was what had happened between him and Jack. She could see the weight of Jack's words weighing down on Ramsey. Whatever the conversation had been about had been important at least. It hadn't been just some random discussion about what tie to wear or some last minute demand made from the groom. This was something serious, something Jack literally had been able to discuss with no one else.
In the past, she had been that person for him. And she found it hard to believe that Ramsey was that person for him now. Not with his knowledge of their involvement. Lexi never saw him interact with Jack directly. Then again she had always avoided him as much as she could so that wouldn't have been likely to happen. Yet, it just didn't sit with her right that Ramsey was somehow Jack's confidant. What could be so important that he had to run to Ramsey of all people for advice or confession, whichever it may be?
And however she tried, she couldn't just drop the subject. It was there in the back of her mind throughout lunch. He talked pleasantries about the weather and insignificant things that had occurred over the past month. It might as well have been falling on deaf ears as much as she paid attention. She did her fair share of participating, but her mind was elsewhere and he knew it.
"I think that's the third time you've agreed with me on something that you hate," he said sitting back in his chair and taking a swig of his beer.
Lexi blushed slightly at the statement. "Sorry I'm just out of it."
"Psh," he muttered eyeing her cautiously. "You've been like this since Jack left. Can't you just forget about it?"
A smile touched the edges of her mouth as she shook her head no. She really couldn't forget about it now especially after he had made such a big deal about it. She was desperately interested in what had happened.
"You're incorrigible. You know that right?" he asked taking a deep breath.
"Absolutely. So what was he here for?" she asked leaning her elbows against the kitchen table and resting her chin in her hands.
"I really shouldn't tell you."
"Probably not," she agreed cordially a teasing smile touching her features.
"Then why am I?"
"Because you know I'll never let it go."
He rolled his eyes at her persistence. "Damn you woman," he said standing abruptly. "I gave him my word. If I tell you, what will it be worth?"
"Jack's is worth nothing so I've no idea why you feel the need to protect him," she shot back standing to face him.
"I'm not protecting him," he said carefully, "just the fact that I told him I wouldn't say anything should be enough. You're likely the last person I would want to tell anyway."
Lexi's eyebrows shot up at the last statement. She could tell that he wished he could take it back, but it was too late. Something had happened with Jack and not only did Jack not want anyone to know, but Ramsey had some strong inclination not to let Lexi know in particular. This completely changed things. She had been persistent before, but this was a different story. This was somehow personal.
"And why exactly would you not want me to know?" she asked eyeing him reproachfully.
Ramsey scratched the back of his head thoughtfully as he stared at the beautiful woman standing before him. "You just have a long…history with Jack."
"As if that changes anything," she muttered under her breath.
"But it does," he said closing the distance between them and entering her personal space. She took a step backwards not wanting the force of his presence to sidetrack their conversation. But he followed her movements wrapping a tight arm around her waist securing her in place.
"Personal space," she muttered causing him to smile at their remembered meeting where he hadn't been able to avoid standing so close to her.
"This is where I like to be," he said leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead.
Her eyes fluttered closed at the contact, but immediately opened back up to stare into his sparkling green eyes. "So are you going to tell me what he wanted?" she asked trying to stay on track.
Ramsey groaned tilting his head back to the ceiling. "He's getting cold feet," he said barely louder than a whisper.
Lexi's body froze at his words. The words hit her like a splash of ice water. She could feel everything begin to move in slow motion. She suddenly felt faint, but she couldn't let herself do that…especially not in front of Ramsey. Her hands which were gripping Ramsey's sides began to shake. She dropped them immediately and took a step back. She cleared her throat just so that she had something to do with her hands.
