Among the Echoes(27)

"Make sure you do that." Very gently, he reaches a hand forward to brush a hair out of my face.

I freeze, but not because I’m frightened. I can’t move as I watch his hand tenderly moving toward my face. It’s so slow that I know I could easily stop him if I wanted. It’s a purposeful speed that makes my heart skip a beat. He knows I’m skittish and he decided to take a risk, but he made sure to make me feel comfortable while he did it. The flutter in my stomach returns at full force.

"So yeah, I bet the fight is starting soon." I look down and step away, wishing I could have stayed. Story of my life.

"Right," he responds without moving an inch.

I look up to find him staring down at me with a sudden and unexpected heat in his eyes.

"You really need to get new contacts," he mumbles before walking away.

I collect myself for a few minutes before following him over to the couch. I look between the two men sitting on either end before settling for the tattered recliner nearest to Dave.

"No way!" Dave shouts, and Adam’s lip lifts a miniscule amount. "Did you see Lopez tonight? He’s huge!"

"He made weigh-in though," Adam challenges.

"Maybe with one leg off the scale." Dave begins to laugh, and Adam joins him in the most amazing and unexpected show of humor between the two men, who before this moment have been cordial at best. I can’t help but laugh right along with them.

The announcer begins his exaggerated introductions that vibrate over the speakers of our cheap TV, causing us all to automatically hush. Both of the competitors enter the ring and I sigh to myself when I think about how delicious Adam would look crossing through those ropes.

"I’ll be right back." Dave stands up and heads down the hall, rubbing his stomach, but Adam never drags his eyes from the TV.

A few moments later, the fight begins and he immediately slides forward to the edge of his seat. I don’t particularly care for boxing, but watching Adam get excited about it makes me curious. He doesn’t speak or even cheer, but as the rounds progress, I watch him more than the TV. I begin to think he's forgotten I'm even in the room. With every punch thrown on the screen, he twitches to the left or right, and at one point, he dips completely. I use a hand to stifle my laugh, but he immediately swings his gaze to mine. I try to wave him off and excuse my laughter with a hand gesture, but he cracks a knowing smile that makes me blush.

"Something funny, Riley?"

"No. No." I continue laughing. "It’s just I wasn’t sure which match to watch—the one on TV or the imaginary one you were fighting."

He gives me a quiet chuckle and leans back against the couch, scrubbing his hands over his jeans. "Sorry. Habit."

"So you really are a boxer, huh?" I ask, and his bright smile fades.

"I am," he answers shortly.

"You ever been to one of these big matches? I bet it would be exciting to watch one of these in person."

A glimmer flickers back into his flat eyes and he nods. "Yeah, I’ve been to a couple. It’s always…fun."

"Cool." I say awkwardly, looking down and plucking imaginary fuzz from my pants. "Hmm. I wonder where Dave went?" I peek down the hall to see the bathroom door shut but the light glowing from the crack under the door. I fully expected Adam to go back to watching the fight, but instead, he crosses his legs, knee to ankle, and tosses an arm over the back of the couch.

"So where are you from, Riley?"

"Florida," I answer without thinking. My eyes go wide when I realize what I just admitted, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t catch the truth as it flies across the room.

"Florida? Really?" He appears shocked.

"Well, at least that’s what I like to tell people. I’m actually from here in Ohio, but doesn’t Florida sound like more fun?" I nervously laugh as he narrows his eyes.

"Yeah, that does sound more exciting than Ohio. You ever been down there—to Florida, I mean?" He asks suspiciously.

"Yeah. I went to Disney World once when I was in college. I loved it. What about you?" I attempt to change the focus of the conversation to him.

"I’ve been to Disney a couple times."

"No, I mean, where are you from?"

"Oh, I grew up right near here actually, but these days, I’m kind of a nomad. I stay in Chicago a lot," he responds, glancing back at the fight. I could be wrong, but I think it’s more to avoid the conversation than to actually catch up on the action.