Echo’s mouth twitches.
Shit. Echo’s unpredictable, and who knows what the hell will come out of his mouth.
“I did.” I blurt, jumping in before he can say anything else. “He’s the guy who helped me the night I was mugged.”
“Oh.” Fallon says, her posture relaxing a fraction. “That was you?”
Echo glances at me, and there’s clear amusement in his eyes. “Yeah. I suppose it was.”
“Well, thank you for that.” Fallon says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to not so subtly pull me away from him. “There are way too many assholes in this world. It’s good to know there’s at least one good guy out there.”
Good.
If only she knew.
“Well, it was nice seeing you again.” I say, flashing Echo a polite smile. “Fal, you ready to go?”
Fallon eyes me for a second, then nods. “Yeah… sure.”
“Why don’t I walk you two out?” Echo offers. Before I can say anything to refuse, he reaches out and grabs both of our grocery baskets.
“Oh, you really don’t have to—” I start.
“It’s no problem.” He replies, already walking towards the checkout. “Besides, I’d love to get to know Fallon better. Any friend of Bambi’s is a friend of mine.”
Don’t call me that in front of her, I want to scream. But it won’t matter. It’s already out there. And judging by the look on Fal’s face, she definitely heard it.
Shit. This can’t be good.
On our way to the checkout, Fallon talks the whole time, and Echo nods at all the right places and says justenough to make her smile. I can tell she likes him. And Fallon St. James doesn’t like anyone.
I hate that he’s good at this. That he knows how to slip into people’s lives so easily. And I really hate that even after knowing what he’s capable of, I’ve gotten used to having him around.
By the time we’re outside, the sun is lower, and the air is cooler. Echo carries our bags to my car, pops the trunk, and loads the groceries without asking. Fallon gives me a look when he finishes, wanting me to say something to him, but all I can do is shake my head. She has no idea how much danger we’re in right now.
“Well, thanks for the help.” Fallon says, offering Echo a smile before climbing into the passenger seat. “It was nice meeting you.”
As soon as her door shuts, the energy between us shifts.
“I like her.” He says, his voice low so that only I can hear it.
“I don’t care.” I whisper back.
“You should. It’s important that your future husband and your best friend get along.”
My jaw visibly drops.
“You’re insane.” I say, shaking my head. “And you need to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“This.” I hiss, flinging my hand between the two of us. “You. Us. We aren’t a thing.”
“We are. You just haven’t accepted it yet.”
“I’m serious, Echo.”
“I am too.” He pulls back just enough to look me in theeye. “Yesterday wasn’t a mistake, Bambi. And you know it.”
