Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(9)

Keeping my head held high, I turned the corner and didn’t hesitate when I entered the gym. My rapid breathing was all I could hear as the room shifted on its axis. It was like everything froze and the world stopped, except for me and Ryley. He didn’t even look over at me and it was obvious he already knew I’d walked into the gym. His body stiffened.

The magnetic feeling I always felt when he was near pulled me to him. Out of the corner of my eye, Gabriella watched on in amazement, but I couldn’t focus on anyone other than my fighter. I slowly approached him, biting my lip to keep it from trembling. He lifted his weights, one arm at a time, his muscles bulging with each curl.

Those arms used to hold me, but I was too stupid not to stay in their warmth and protection. “Ryley,” I murmured softly. Either he didn’t want to acknowledge me or he couldn’t hear. Even my own voice sounded foreign to my ears. Moving closer, I stood in front of him and took a deep breath. “Ryley,” I repeated. “Can we talk?”

Setting the weights down, he lowered his head and balled his hands into tight fists. His knuckles were torn wide open and all I wanted to do was touch him. Without making eye contact, he stood and towered over me, glancing around the room. He looked at everything, but me.

“Let’s go,” he demanded.

Before following him to the back, I looked at Gabriella who frowned and shook her head. This wasn’t going to be good. I felt like I was being led to slaughter by the way everyone watched me with trepidation in their eyes. All I wanted was for Ryley to look at me and listen to what I had to say. However, with each step, it felt more and more like the end. Once we got to the back, Ryley opened the door to an empty office and turned on the light.

As soon as I walked in, he shut the door behind us and locked it. I swallowed hard as he stood there, head down, body coiled tighter than a snake’s. I wanted to go to him and wrap my arms around him, but I was frozen. I wanted to hear him call me angel like he used to when we’d make love.

“I went to your house this morning. Your brother wasn’t too happy with me. Did he tell you I came by?”

He stiffened and sighed. “No.”

“I thought as much,” I whispered. “I guess I can’t blame him.”

Panic started to set in and I could feel the blood rushing to my head. I felt nauseated and lightheaded, but I swallowed it back as hard as I could. “I’m so sorry, Ryley. I never wanted to hurt you. But you have to know, there’s nothing going on between me and Colin.”

He scoffed and leaned against the wall, looking at my feet. “It didn’t look like that yesterday.”

“I know what it must’ve looked like and I know you don’t trust me after everything I did, but you have to believe me. All I want is a chance to prove it to you, to prove that—”

“To prove what?” he exploded, lifting his fiery gaze to mine for the first time. My breath instantly left my lungs and I faltered, tears welling in my eyes. “To prove that I can trust you? That you want to be with me? How the f*ck do you expect me to do that?”

Shaking my head, I found the courage to move forward, tears falling down my cheeks. When I lifted my hands to his face, he turned his head, the connection gone. “No, that’s not what I was going to say. I was going to say that I love you. That I’ll do whatever it takes to prove it to you.”

For a second it seemed as if he was listening, but then he jerked his face out of my hold and moved away. “I think you’re missing the point. You see, I don’t want you back. I’m happy with the way things are.”

“Really?” I choked. “So you get to screw whoever you want and party it up? Is that what makes you happy?”

Smirking, he shrugged his shoulders. “That’s just the way my life is. You wouldn’t even want me back if you knew the things I’ve done since you left.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I shouted. “I know you still care about me, Ryley. Why else would you have wanted to find me in Aspen?”

He’d obviously had enough. Thundering to the door, he unlocked it and opened it wide, keeping his back to me. “I’m not going to lie and say I never cared for you. But that time doesn’t exist anymore. It’s over, Ashleigh.”

And with those final words, he walked away. Tears clouded my vision and I clutched my stomach, envisioning the child I knew grew inside . . . his child. He was lying and one way or another I was going to make him face the truth. I could see it in his eyes that he still cared about me. I just needed to find a way for him to admit it.

Stalking after him, I found him in the ring, gloving up. Gabriella rushed up to me and put her arm around me, but I pulled away. “You’re a liar, Ryley Jameson.” He looked down at me, his face swirling with so many emotions. “Yeah, you heard me right,” I sobbed, “but I’m here and I’m not backing down without a fight. I can promise you that.”

Tightening up his gloves, he leaned over the rope and looked down at me. “And you will lose. Why don’t you just give up?”

“Because . . . to me, you’re worth fighting for.” Wiping away my tears, I glanced around the gym at everyone’s wide-eyed stares. I gave Ryley one last glance and turned on my heel, rushing to the door. I was going to be sick and the last thing I needed was to throw up in front of all of those people.