In the time that JC was gone, Lexi called her roommates and told them what happened. (She knew they would be home because the winter break had just started.) They were both almost hysterical after she was done telling them the whole story, but once they found out that she had been with JC the whole, Lexi’s assurance that she was okay were finally accepted.
Out of boredom, she turned on the TV and started flipping channels. The remote froze in her hand as she reached ESPN2. There, staring back at her, was Matt, on location in California for a baseball game. A reporter was interviewing him, and he bore a black eye that Lexi obviously gave him when she kneed him in the face.
The sports caster was about to sign off when Matt asked if he could say one last thing.
“I love you, sweetie.”
“Aww, well I’m sure she loves you, too. This is ESPN on location signing off…”
Lexi glared at the television in hatred and disgust. She couldn’t cry anymore. She only wanted to change the channel and totally forget about it.
JC came was back by 2:15 PM, as promised, and Lexi was ready to go. He followed her back to her place, and when they went inside a worried Nicki and Jen greeted them.
“OMIGAWD! I can’t believe what that prick did! I knew something was wrong with him!” Nicki said while hugging Lexi.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Besides, it’s over now.”
Jen and Nicki gave her doubtful looks.
“Really,” Lexi insisted, “I’m fine!”
“Well, I see you’re in good hands, so I’ll be going now,” JC said. “I’ll call you later.”
With that he gave Lexi a hug, told her roommates it was nice seeing them again, and left.
Again, Jen and Nicki kept on asking Lexi if she was all right. When she finally convinced then that she was, she went upstairs and changed for her appointment with Louise, the real estate agent. Although Lexi wanted to go house searching by herself, Nicki insisted that she go with her, and Lexi knew that she couldn’t fight Nicki on a subject like this.
At 3 PM on the dot, the doorbell rang. Nicki answered it and was greeted by a tall, energetic woman.
“Hi, there! I’m Louise, the real estate agent. You must be Alexis Morrow!”
“Uhh, no. I’m Lexi’s friend, Nicole. I’ll be going with you guys today, though.”
“Great!” Louise voiced. “The more the merrier!” Just then Lexi came down the stairs.
“Lexi! Louise, the real estate agent, is here!” Nicki yelled mocking Louise.
Lexi communicated through her eyes that Nicki should behave. Nicki got this, and began chuckling.
“I’m gonna go and get my coat,” Nicki said trying to control her laughter.
The three women piled into Louise’s beige Town Car, and once they began driving, Louise began to talk about the places they were about to see.
“Now, Lexi, I know you said that you wanted a condominium, but I just have to show you these two adorable apartments!”
Lexi glanced into the back seat at Nicki, who was yet again struggling to control her laughter.
“That sounds great, Louise.”
An hour later, they had looked at two apartments and a condo. The first apartment was too small, and the second one had too much work to be done on it. The condo was nice, but it had a wonderful view of the highway…and Lexi really didn’t want to be woken up by the sound of honking horns and screeching tires. They were now on their way to the last place Louise was going to show them today, and it was a condo, but Lexi was still skeptical based on the three places she had already seen.
Lexi was looking over a fact sheet for the condo that she was about to see as they pulled up to the development. She noticed at the top of the info sheet it said READY TO MOVE INTO. By the time Lexi looked up from the sheet, the guard at the front gate had already approved Louise. Good, Lexi thought. A gated community. I really want that extra security.
Lexi began to soak in the surroundings of the development, and it was very familiar to her for some reason.
“What’s the name of this development?” Lexi asked Louise.
“Palm Springs, dear. I have a feeling you’re going to love this condo!”
All of a sudden it hit her. This is the same development Josh lived in! It was a big development, so there was no way that this condo was close to Josh’s, seeing that they took a left when they entered the development (Lexi took a right to get to Josh’s place).
About ten minutes into looking at the condo, Lexi spoke a loud.
“This place is great!” Lexi said. “It’s the perfect size, it’s affordable, it’s on a little lake, and it’s ready to move in to!”
“Yeah,” Nicki agreed. “It’s a great place. Ya think this is the one?”
“Yeah, I think so, but there’s one problem.”
“What’s that, dear?” Louise asked.
“Oh, it’s just that I have a friend that lives in this development already.”
“Well that’s great! That should make it even better!” Louise said excitingly.
“By friend do you mean JC?” Nicki asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well, I don’t think that should stop you. Besides, that just means that there’s a booty call nearby,” Nicki whispered into Lexi’s ear.
“You’re disgusting!” Lexi said as she slapped Nicki on the arm.
The two girls started laughing while Louise stood by and smiled.
“So, what do you think, Lexi?” Louise finally asked.
“I think…I’ll take it.”
“Great! We can go back to my office and take care of the paper work today! Today is Friday, so hopefully you can be moving in by Monday!”
Chapter Fifteen
Yada yada yada...home.