Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(37)

"Um, no, you don’t," I say with more attitude than I originally planned.

He laughs and gives me a knowing smirk. "I believe I own this place. That kind of makes me a resident." He shoves his muscular arms into the pockets of his jeans.

"Well, you need to leave, I live here and we can’t stay if you’re here."

"Riley. I’m not going to bother you. I’m not here to rekindle something with you if that’s what you’re worried about. I just want to lay low and enjoy some downtime." I’m sure he didn’t mean those words as an insult, but they punch me in the gut all the same.

"I’m sure you’re not here to bother me, Slate," I hiss, and he physically dodges the blow of his real name. "But that doesn’t mean I want to be your neighbor."

"Are you pissed?" he asks, clearly confused. Well, he is absolutely not the only one.

His huge, sexy body is muddling my head and screwing with my resolve. However, based on his last statement, whatever hope of being with him again is obviously one-sided. I let out a loud exhale and look up at him. His eye is slightly swollen and there is a small cut under his other from his fight, but beyond that, he is just as sexy as I remember. But I wish attraction were all I felt for him.

"No, I’m not pissed," I say while becoming, well…extremely pissed.

"Right. How about this? I’ll stay out of your way. You won’t even know I’m here."

"Your just being here is the problem. You’re the freaking heavyweight champion who just successfully defended his title for the fifth time. Every cable TV station would trip over their own dick just to cover the story of whether you like Coke or Pepsi."

"Neither. I’m not really a pop person." He smiles, which only serves to piss me off even more.

"You’re an ass."

"Because I don’t like pop?" He tosses his hands out to the side in frustration.

"No. Because I’m being serious and you’re joking around. I can’t live next to you. So either you go or I do."

"It’s a month, Riley. Twenty-nine days from now, you will be free of me. I’m pretty sure the world won’t come crashing at your feet in that time."

"You are assuming I’ll live to see the world crash at my feet!" I scream irrationally, way overstepping what I’m allowed to tell anyone.

"What is that supposed to mean? Has he threatened you again?" Slate takes a step forward, crowding me.

"Oh, sweet Jesus. No, he hasn’t done anything. Everything is fine. No one tried to threaten me. My life is all unicorns and puppy dogs."

"Stop f*cking lying. You are always lying to me about something, Riley." He barely raises his voice, but his tone is angry nonetheless.

"Oh that’s rich, Slate. Last time we spoke was when you were telling me your name wasn’t Adam and that you were actually a millionaire recluse boxer with the whole world at your fingertips.

"Actually, I didn’t tell you any of that, beautiful. Have you been doing some research?" he says with a playful wink that makes me want to physically harm him—with my mouth.

"You’re impossible." I spin away and head back to my apartment.

"It was a real pleasure seeing you again," he calls behind me as I slam the door only seconds before the tears spring to my eyes.

"Riley!" Dave calls as I storm through the den and into my bedroom.

"Leave me alone," I say over my shoulder, desperate to escape his curiosity.

"Are you okay?" He finally catches up to me as I flop face-first on my bed.

"No. I’m a bitch and I hate him."

"So I see you ran into Slate?"

I dry my eyes only long enough to give him the death glare. "You knew he was back?"

"Yeah. I got a call from the big boys last night after you went to bed."

"You can’t keep this shit from me! Stop trying to run my f*cking life!" I curse at him, but he doesn’t seem to acknowledge my attitude when he walks into my room and crawls into the bed next to me. He doesn’t touch me—he never does. Instead, he throws his arms behind his head and crosses his legs at the ankle.

"We’re leaving," he announces.

"What?"

"You’re right. We can’t stay here if he is going to be coming and going. We need to hit the road. I’ve already let everyone know it’s time." He turns to look at me. "I mean, that’s what you want, right?" I swallow past the lump in my throat and give him a silent nod. No, it is absolutely not what I want, but it’s the smart decision. "I’ll get the ball rolling. Seven days max and we’ll be heading somewhere new. You’ll need a new name, so start thinking." He pushes to his feet and strides to my door. "That is, unless you decide you want to take a chance with Andrews. You say the word and I’ll make it happen."

"I can’t even begin to tell you how bad you are at this. He’s going to get us both killed," I respond.

"Maybe," he says entirely too nonchalantly. "But maybe we are already gone. Maybe he’ll just save you." His voice is alarmingly sad.

I quickly flip over, trying to figure out what the hell he is talking about, but I can hear his bedroom door close before I even have a chance to ask.