Among the Echoes(21)

"Then what the hell is she so afraid of? Who are you to her?" I screamed as loud as my whisper would allow.

"I’m her family. Now, better question—what are you doing alone in my apartment with her?"

"I’m doing your f*cking job. I’m looking out for her. Making sure she’s safe. She’s not okay. I really f*cking hope you recognize that." I glared at him and his eyes immediately dropped to his lap.

"Hey." Riley suddenly appeared in the door, halting any further conversation.

I did everything I could short of dragging her away from him. And I would have done that if I’d thought it wouldn’t make me just as bad as he is. A barrage of images from the night flashes through my mind. I’ll never be able to forget how scared she was tonight, but the one picture in the forefront of my mind is that single moment when she smiled. Now that was amazing.





I have no idea how I let Dave guilt me into this. But somehow, I find myself nervously knocking on Adam’s front door. It’s still dark outside but the sun is starting to peek over the horizon. It’s been a really long night.

"What the hell am I doing?" I ask myself. This is ridiculous. He’s probably asleep and I’m going to be the crazy neighbor who wakes him up yet again.

Just as I turn to walk away, I hear the click of his deadbolt.

He opens the door and his eyes quickly check over my body from head to toe. His angry demeanor sends me back a step, but he immediately softens.

"Shit, Riley. Are you okay?" He reaches out to pull me inside, and normally I would be afraid of such a sudden movement, but the tenderness in his voice keeps my fear at bay.

"I’m fine," I say as he closes the door behind me.

"Did he hit you?" he growls, and my head immediately snaps up to his.

"Dave? No way! I promise, Adam. He would never hurt me. You have the wrong idea about him. I swear."

"Well I’m not sure exactly what idea I should have. You’re terrified of everything and he came home wielding a gun. Sorry, that doesn’t exactly scream your normal, average life to me."

"He’s my family."

"So I’ve heard," he replies sarcastically, and I suddenly feel like coming over here was even worse of an idea than I’d originally thought.

"Well, okay then. Here, I took your tape. I wanted to return it and say thanks for putting up with me tonight, including right now. I won’t bother you again," I rush out and turn to bolt.

Before I make it even a step, he asks, "Why’d you put back in your contacts?"

"They’re prescription," I answer with my practiced lie.

"You didn’t wear glasses when we were watching the movie earlier," he quickly responds with apparent disbelief and a surprising amount of attitude.

"What is this, an inquisition?" I snap back at him. "My glasses are broken. You don’t have to be a dick."

He sucks in a breath before running a hand through his hair. "I’m worried about you," he admits, catching me off guard.

"You don’t even know me."

"Which is what makes being worried about you difficult and ridiculous."

"Why do you care?" I inquire when curiosity gets the best of me.

"I told you. You remind me of someone I used to know." He lifts a single muscular arm and grabs the back of his neck. I can’t help but watch the way his bicep flexes.

"Really. I’m okay. I get a little out of sorts when he goes out of town. I’m sorry he almost shot you," I say in all seriousness, but even I can hear how silly and inadequate that apology sounds.

He begins to laugh, and I smile up at him through my lashes.

"Well if that’s how we are doing this…I’m sorry I almost killed him."

"Apology accepted." I finally look up and his smile fades.

"You should really get clear contacts." His eyes flash back and forth over mine as if he is searching for a glimpse of the true color. An unexpected flutter tingles in my stomach, forcing my eyes to the ground.

"Yeah. Anyway…" I try to change the subject. "Here’s your tape." I reach out to hand it to him, but he doesn’t immediately take it. He stands staring at my outstretched arm.

"So not only are you my weird neighbor who forces me to watch ‘80s movies and gets me into life-threatening situations, but you’re also a thief? I know that tape was in the bottom of my bag." He lifts a questioning eyebrow and crosses his thick arms over his chest. He looks pissed, but the twitch in the corner of his mouth gives him away.