Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(72)

"Shut up," I breathe.

"I also found some houses that I believe fit your criteria." He smirks, obviously proud of himself. "None of them have the porch swing, but I’m relatively sure I can have one of those added."

He steps over the puddle of coffee and sits down in the chair next to me. Pulling up pictures on his iPad, he goes through the specs on each house, always starting with security. I can hear him excitedly talking but I can’t see anything as my eyes swim with tears. I lean forward, using my hair to curtain off my emotions.

I never in a million years expected to feel…well, normal again. I’ve been happy with Slate for a long time, but to be casually sitting outside, breathing easy, while the man I love searches through a dozen houses to make our home—it’s overwhelming in the best possible way. I only thought he gave me back all the pieces of my life, but the truth is, Slate just keeps expanding the puzzle, giving me pieces I didn’t even know were missing.

"Stop crying," he whispers, leaning over to kiss the top of my head.

I say the words I’ve probably said to him a million times since I met him. "Thank you."

He never responds, but he doesn’t have to.





Five Years later….




"Well, is she running a fever?" I ask Slate while thumbing through the papers on my desk.

"Yeah. The thermometer said 99.8."

"That’s not a fever, Slate." I roll my eyes and smile to myself.

"It may not be a high fever, but it’s still a fever, Dr. Andrews. I don’t think it’s just her teeth. Her cheeks are all red too."

"Yet another symptom of teething, honey." I laugh but grab my coat and head out of my office anyway. "I’m on my way home."

"Good. No more working Saturdays."

"Yeah, good luck with that. Only four doctors—we all work a Saturday."

He groans just like he does every month when I have to work the weekend, but he quickly gets over it. "Be careful, beautiful. I love you."

"I love you too."

Slate and I got married the same day we moved to Indianapolis. It was a small, outside ceremony in a gorgeous garden with only Leo and Jimmy in attendance. Thankfully Slate didn’t propose with a gaudy engagement ring, but I’m not sure I would have even cared if he had. Three weeks after Wilkes was killed, we were lying in our talking position in bed when Slate pulled out a very tasteful, oval-diamond ring. His words will live with me forever. "The echoes are gone, beautiful. And the woman left behind is even more incredible than the one I fell in love with. Marry me, Erica." Of course, I said yes.

Life as Mrs. Andrews has been interesting. While I recovered my identity, I lost my life of anonymity. We have managed to stay out of the public eye for the most part. Some people may know who I am, but I definitely wouldn’t say they recognize me at the grocery store. Slate still gets attention when we go out, but most people respect our privacy these days.

Eleven months after we got married, Adam Slate Andrews was born. He is perfect. I’m well aware of how cliché it sounds, but Slate is the most amazing father I have ever seen. His patience knows no bounds. Adam got my eyes, and because of that, Slate has never been able to tell him no. It’s safe to assume that Adam is going to be hell on wheels when he gets older. He’s a good kid though—at least for now. Adam loves his uncle Leo, even if he doesn’t get to see him every day.

It was a huge transition for me to leave Leo. In a lot of ways, he was the only true friend I’ve ever had. Slate originally disagreed with our relationship, but after a bazillion hours of therapy together, he now accepts it for what it is. My relationship with Leo was grown from such a dark place that nothing should have been able to survive. However, sometimes even the darkness can't contain the most blinding lights. I love Leo like a brother. And it means the world to me that Slate, while he doesn’t fully understand, accepts that.

The day before we moved to Indianapolis, Slate signed the papers to transfer ownership of the Chicago apartment into Leo’s name. Leo tried to refuse at first, but after a private, hour-long talk between him and Slate, he finally accepted. My goodbye with Leo wasn’t a short one. It killed me to leave him alone with all the guilt I knew he was still harboring. We may have been freed the day Lucas Wilkes was killed, but Leo never truly escaped. Slate insisted it would do him some good to be alone, and I can’t say he was wrong.

Leo’s life really took off after I left. Slate put him in touch with several of his Hollywood contacts, and he had no trouble securing his spot on the security scene. He’s good at what he does, so it’s not exactly a shock that he is successful.

While we aren’t looking over our shoulders anymore, Slate isn’t taking any more chances with me. Johnson was immediately assigned as my personal security officer. I would have preferred Leo, but he was busy starting up his new security company.

Our life was amazing, but despite claiming we only wanted one child, we both knew our family wasn’t complete. Just under a year ago, Riley Renee Andrews finished off our family. She is the biggest daddy’s girl in the world, and from day one, she’s had Slate wrapped around her finger. She got his dark hair, but her hazel eyes are all her own.

Slate spends his days at the gym, and he actually has some pretty talented kids. He’s done great things for the boxing community in Indianapolis. Above and beyond all of that though, I think he is finally happy. Slate loves boxing, and now he can actually enjoy it from behind the scenes and out of the limelight.