Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(38)

Two days later…





It’s official. I have crossed the line. I’ve somehow turned into a stalker.

I haven’t spoken to Riley again since I literally ran into her in the breezeway, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen her. I’ve seen her plenty as she comes and goes to and from work. Okay, this is definitely not my finest hour.

Sure, I came back to Ohio looking for a getaway. But mainly I came back looking for Riley. I can’t figure out what she is hiding or, better yet, why is she hiding so desperately from me. That fact just doesn’t sit well with me. None of this does. My lifestyle sucks, but it’s nothing that can’t change. I’ve wanted to escape the spotlight for a long time now. It’s not like I’d be giving anything up by slipping into oblivion.

I have nothing left to prove. I haven’t needed the money in a long time. If it weren’t for the fact that I love the sport, I probably would have retired from boxing as soon as I won the title for the first time. I can honestly say that I don’t know that I will ever return to the ring, and that has nothing to do with a beautiful woman who wants absolutely nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that I think I’m finally done. It’s a liberating decision in and of itself.

Now, I just have to figure out what the hell I want to do with the rest of my life. The good news is I have a whole month to not think about it. I flip on my iPod and head over to my couch for a night of solitude.

"You son of a bitch!" I hear shouted from outside my apartment. I recognize Riley’s voice and immediately rush to the door, readying myself for whoever she is screaming at.

Just as I pull it open, a box sails past my head. It’s quickly followed by a bouquet of flowers that hits me directly in my chest.

"Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?" I brush the stray petals off my shirt.

"Stop sending me crap!"

"You’re welcome?"

"I’m not thanking you," she says in the bitchiest tone I’ve ever heard outside of LA.

I can’t help but laugh at her. "So I’ve gathered." I smirk, and she narrows her eyes. "I can also see that your eyes are still brown, so apparently I haven’t gotten the right prescription yet. I’ll try again next week." I shrug and pick up the box off the ground.

"Call your little assistant or whoever you have sending me this shit and make them stop. I don’t want it. Damn it, Slate. I don’t want anything from you."

I toss the box back at her feet. "I don’t have an assistant. Well, I do, but I don’t even know her name. I sure as hell don’t have her out shopping for you. That’s my handwriting on that box. Now, if you just gave me your damn prescription, I’d stop sending you random contacts."

"Whatever. We’re moving, so send away. Maybe the next tenant has poor vision and your stupid contacts will finally get put to use."

"Where the hell are you going?" I step forward, fully expecting her to retreat. But she stands her ground and even squares her shoulders.

Her attitude and fearlessness makes my cock stir to life. Even with her bitch face, Riley is still beautiful. I’ve missed her so f*cking much. It’s absolutely absurd, but looking at her now makes it all so rational.

"Pssh. Yeah right. Like I’m telling you that."

"Riley, are you scared of me?" I ask, taking another step forward.

"What? No." She rolls her eyes, and I swear it makes my cock go ridged.

"Good." I suddenly loop an arm around her waist and pull her hard against me. She goes stiff, but she doesn’t resist. "You’re not moving. I’ll leave if I have to, but you are not going anywhere." I quickly turn and her shoulders fall back against the brick beside her door.

Her arms remain at her sides as she stands silently against me. She may not be afraid of me, but she definitely isn’t lighting up under my touch like she did in the past. Shit. I prop myself on a hand next to her head.

"Beautiful, you’re not moving. I have other places I can go—other places I can live—but nowhere I want to be as much as here."

She slowly lifts her head to look at me, and no matter how much I want this moment with Riley, I am not ready for the level of pain on her face.

"Slate," she says softly. It’s only a single word, but it wrecks me. I’m done with the bullshit. I’ve played her games for six months; it’s my turn now.

"I lied. I absolutely came back for you. It’s stupid, but, Riley, I can’t think of anything but you."

"Slate," she whispers again.

"Shut up." I gently grab her ass, forcing her against me. "Riley. I don’t even know you, but I spent a week with you, and if that was any sort of preview of who you really are, I want it all."

"You need to forget about me," she says, but every muscle of her body tells otherwise.

"Not happening. Try again."

"Forget. Me."

"I’d love to. But you see, we have a little problem, Riley. Not a single night has gone by where I didn’t lie in bed and envision your blue eyes. You have haunted my dreams. For six f*cking months, I’ve worried about you. Every time I heard even a car door shut outside my apartment, I would fly out of bed, frantic because I knew the noise would have scared you." I drag my nose up her neck and smile to myself when her breath catches. "Do you know how f*cked up that is, beautiful? You never even spent the night with me, yet I wake up in a cold sweat, worried about you. It’s f*cking ridiculous! But as the days passed, it was the memory of your smile that gutted me. So don’t tell me to forget about you, because trust me, I’ve f*cking tried."