Sawyer (Carolina Reapers 2)

“What the hell?” Echo challenged. “I’m hosting a private party, and you’re not invited.”

I stepped forward at her tone. As if sensing me, Echo spun and pointed her finger in my direction. “No,” she said simply before turning back toward the odd group.

The woman liked to fight her own battles. Got it.

I didn’t retreat, but I didn’t move any closer, either.

The guy grinned as he loosened his tie. His hair was as dark as mine, but it was parted to the side and slicked in a way that told me he spent a little too much time in the hair care aisle. He was thin, but so were his friends. They all looked like they belonged to the same Izod club, even the girl who clung to the guy in the right rear, who was obviously wasted.

“Give me back that key, Chad.” Echo demanded, holding out her hand.

Chad? Go figure. Guy looked like a Chad. But who the hell was he to Echo that he had a key to the bar she worked at.

“Oh come on, Echo. Honey, you know—”

Honey?

“You don’t get to call me honey anymore,” she hissed. “Give me back my fucking key and get out of my bar.”

I heard the tell-tale sound of wood scraping on the hardwood and knew my teammates had stood from their barstools behind me.

Chad’s eyes widened as he looked our direction. “Look, can’t we go in the back and talk? I just came to talk to you,” he urged softly. “I miss you.”

He fucking missed her? Honey? For fuck’s sake, she made fun of me for being straight-laced, but she’d been in a relationship with this country club douchebag?

“No,” Echo snapped. “I told you we’re done. We’re not together. We’re not friends. We’re not anything.” She gestured with her open hand, thrusting it toward him. “Key. Now.”

He glanced my way and then his eyes narrowed like he knew I’d had my hands on Echo a few minutes ago. I lifted a corner of my mouth in a slight smirk. He might have called Echo honey at one point, but sure as fuck not now. The wave of possessiveness caught me off guard, but I rolled with it.

“Chad!” Echo snapped.

He tore his gaze from me and looked down at Echo, then slowly placed a key in her hand. “I’m clean,” he promised.

A chill raced down my spine, sending ice through my veins.

“Don’t do this,” she shook her head slowly.

“I’m clean, Echo. Six months, today. That’s why I wanted to see you.” He stepped forward and Echo moved back.

I blinked. Her retreat told me more than enough.

“I’m glad you’re clean, Chad.” Her gaze cut to the others. “But if the company you’re keeping says anything, I know you won’t stay that way for long.”

“Oh, come on,” one of the guys mock-whined with a shitty little grin that was begging for my fist. “You used to like us just fine.”

“Sure, in college,” she countered. “But it’s been what? Nine months since graduation? We’re in the real world now, so grow the fuck up, Blaine.”

Blaine. The douchebag names just kept coming.

I heard a scoff behind me and knew it had to be Noble.

“Give me a shot,” Chad pled. “I got clean for you. A second chance—that’s all I’m asking for.” He reached a hand for her arm, and she backed up again—straight into me.

I didn’t budge, and if the asshole reached for her again, I’d be the one he got to touch.

Echo softened slightly against me, and with the way Chad’s jaw ticked, I knew he saw it. “Again, I’m glad you’re clean. I really am.” She sucked in a shaky breath that I felt against my chest. “But I really need you to leave.”

Her voice softened in a way that told me this guy had meant something to her.

His sharp brown eyes glanced back over my team before he pursed his lips and nodded. “I can see that you’re busy. Bar looks good, by the way. Let’s go, guys.”

The first three headed through the door. Chad looked over his shoulder at Echo. “I’ll try again another time,” he said with a smirking little grin that I’m sure he thought was charming. “What we had doesn’t just die, Echo.”

She stiffened. “It does when you kill it, Chad. Get out.”

He shot me a warning look that I nearly laughed at and followed his friends through the door. Echo walked over to the window, and once she’d relaxed, I knew they’d gone.

She spun to face us, then plastered on the smile I knew so well. “Okay, so that’s not up for discussion,” she said with a shrug. “Langley, how about you take the truth or dare turn?”

Langley swallowed, but she nodded, agreeing to change the subject and take the pressure off her friend.

The game continued, but I stopped drinking and silently watched Echo. She diligently avoided my gaze for the remaining hour we were at Scythe. If I hadn’t just witnessed that exchange, I’d have no clue that she’d been shaken, first by me, then by Chad—whoever the fuck he was.