Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(29)

Letting her hand go, I stood and marched to the kitchen to wrap up my bagel. I had to get out of there for a while. My hair was still up in a towel, but I didn’t care. I flung it off and ran my hands through my wet tresses, not caring that I looked like shit.

“What are you doing?” Gabriella asked, following behind me.

I drank my glass of orange juice and snatched a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. “I’m leaving. I need to clear my head and I can’t do it here. I just want to be alone for a while.” Sliding my bagel and water into my purse, I grabbed my car keys and started for the door.

“Where are you going? Do you want me to come with you? I don’t want you alone when you’re this upset.” She chased after me, down all three flights of stairs, and before I could get into my car, she gripped my shoulder and turned me around. “Please don’t leave like this,” she pleaded.

Sighing, I placed my hand over hers. “I’ll be fine, Gabby. Your brother would kill me if I made you miss a practice. I’ll be back later, I promise.”

“And Ryley? What about him?”

I unlocked my door and slid in. “I don’t know, but after today I think it’s time to come clean . . . both of us.”

Shutting my door, I started my car and sped out of the parking lot, only to have my silence interrupted by the incessant ringing of my phone. I huffed and put in my earpiece, knowing it was going to be Gabriella scolding me for letting the video get the best of me. “I don’t want to talk about it, Gabby. What did you not understand about me wanting time alone to think?”

“Uh . . . maybe because I’m not Gabby,” Colin replied. “What’s going on?”

Great, the last thing I need is to hear him mouth off about Ryley. “I don’t really want to talk about it, Colin.”

“Is it Ryley? What did he do?”

Gritting my teeth, I kept my eyes on the road and stayed silent. I wasn’t going to talk to him about it.

“Okay, I get it, you don’t want to tell me. All I’m saying is, you knew he was going to be a problem.”

“Colin,” I growled, gripping the steering wheel with brutal force.

He sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Listen, I got some good news this morning. I think I have the perfect place for you to get away to.”

“Oh yeah? And where would that be?”

“New York, baby. I know you’ve been dying to go there. I got a call this morning from one of the scouts saying they want me. They’re flying me up this afternoon and I want you to come with me. We can go anywhere and do whatever you want. This would be the perfect chance for you to clear your head.”

I’d dreamed of going to New York for so long a part of me was excited about the thought. “Colin, it sounds great . . . but I can’t go. It’s not the right time. I would be running away again, when really, I need to stay and face my problems. I’m happy for you though. I wish I could go, except there’s something I need to do.”

I could hear the disappointment in his voice when he spoke. “All right, I understand. I’ll be back on Friday for your celebration dinner. Take care of yourself, babe.”

“Don’t worry about me, I will. Be careful while you’re out there.”

“Will do. I love you, and will see you soon.”

“Okay, see you later.” I wished I could tell him I loved him too and have it not lead him on. I did love him, but not in the way he wanted. He waited on the line for a moment, but then sighed and hung up. My guilt consumed me. There was only one place I wanted to go, where I knew I could think clearly. Hopefully, this time away would be what I needed.





AFTER LEAVING ASHLEIGH sound asleep in her bed, I came in early to the gym so I could get done sooner. Danny helped me with my first round of training and then left for lunch, while I stayed behind to work more. I was giving my brother until the afternoon to have his shit out of my house. He hadn’t been into the gym yet, which didn’t surprise me one bit.

“Do you want to spar with a real partner today?” Matt asked, sidling up to the ring. He lifted his dark brows and smiled, waiting on an answer. Gabriella hadn’t shown up yet, which was kind of odd since she was always on time. Her brother would make her pay for it though.

“How can I refuse?” I replied. “Just make sure you go easy on me. I’m not as big as you.”

Matt chuckled and opened his gym bag, pulling out his gloves. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. I’ve been watching you the past few weeks. You’re technique has really gotten better.”

He jumped into the ring and smacked his fists together, getting into stance. “What you lack is a real partner. I haven’t seen your brother much lately. Where’s he been?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Danny interrupted, throwing down his gym bag. “He called and basically said I was fired. I wonder if he was being serious?”

Matt jabbed left and I went right, swinging around to powerhouse kick him in the head. I didn’t want to think about my brother, other than hoping he was packing his shit up and moving out of my house.

“Honestly, I’d say good riddance, Danny. I don’t give a shit where he’s at or what he’s doing, as long as he moves the f*ck out of my house. I’m done being his keeper.” Matt’s eyes went wide in disbelief, and Danny huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose.