Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits 1.50)

“Does Echo know about Mia?” I ask.

“That’s what you’re concerned about? Whether or not she knows you’re spending time with a past fuck?”

“Mia’s hounding me, not the other way around. I’m asking because I don’t want Echo hurt. She thinks every damned mistake I made is over a thousand miles away. For one short period of her life, Echo didn’t have to walk down the street wondering if I hit the next girl she passed.”

“Real noble, Noah, but she’s bleeding without the past-mistake checklist. Get your ass over there and fix whatever the hell is going on.”

“She’s leaving me!”

“Leaving? She’s been waiting for you to get your shit together.”

I step into him. “That Hunter bastard is offering her the world! What do I got to give? Nothing. I’ve got nothing.”

Isaiah slams his finger into my biceps. “She looks at you like you’re the whole universe! I’d kill to have a sliver with Beth of what you have with Echo. Wake the fuck up!”

I pound my hand to my chest, mimicking the pain slicing it. “Echo’s leaving me.”

“No, man. You’re the one leaving her,” he seethes. “Get it together or she will walk.”

Isaiah turns away, toward Beth, toward my girl. Echo lifts her head when Isaiah approaches. Her eyes wander past him and meet mine. The pain Isaiah referred to, it’s there as a shadow on her face.

Three months ago, I held Echo in an ER and promised her that I’d never let her down. Two nights ago, I made that promise again. The question I never imagined her asking me is out on the table and the truth is, I don’t know if I can choose living here for a year with Echo...giving up a scholarship to school...giving up a possible relationship with my brothers.

Fuck it...I do know the answer. I can’t. If she chooses Colorado, I’ll choose Kentucky, and then we’ll both choose a long-distance relationship. That would be tough enough without this doubt weighing over me of whether Echo’s moving past us as a couple.

I wouldn’t put it past Echo to choose Kentucky to please me, and I can’t allow that—especially if Mia is right. Echo and I could be on the downhill slide, fighting the inevitable. By dragging her up a slick mountain of mud, I could be costing Echo her career.

Running a hand through my hair, I break the connection with Echo and search for Mia.

Echo

Noah tears his gaze away from mine, and it’s like he’s torn my heart in two. I press my hand over my chest as if that could stop the pain. What’s worse than the dizzying nausea shooting through me is that he’s heading in the direction of the girl that he talked to, the one that he touched.

Disoriented and fighting a dry heave, I spin in the direction of the car. Isaiah moves in front of me. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t want to be here anymore.” My thoughts bounce as I try to think of a way to leave for the hotel without abandoning Isaiah, Beth and Noah. “I don’t want to be here. I can’t be here. I just...need to go.”

A long walk can do me good, even though it will be dark and I’ll be completely alone, but if I stand here any longer I’ll lose my mind. I giggle, a bit of hysteria bubbling up. My mind broke once before, and Noah was the one who helped me put it back together. Funny how life changes.

I step, and Isaiah steps with me. “Let me get Noah, and we’ll leave together.”

One beer. I’ve had one beer, but I feel crazy and out of control. “He wants this party, and I want to go so I’ll walk or call a cab or something, but Isaiah, I can’t stay here.” I jerk my keys out of my pocket and dangle them. “Take this and let me go.”

Because I’m a stupid moth drawn to destructive flames, I look over my shoulder, and Noah fades into the darkness.

I shiver. From the dread forming into a lead ball in my stomach, to how the way he walks reminds me way too much of Aires leaving me. The last time I watched Noah walk away like this, I ran after him, but this time...the ache inside me slashes further, creating a hole.

“He went after her,” I snap. Like Mom chose her art, like Dad chose Ashley, like...

Isaiah forms a T with his hands. “It’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?” I yell. He made love to me. Noah made love to me, and now he’s chasing after some other girl.

Isaiah pops his neck to the side. “Promise me you’ll stay right here. Keep an eye on Beth, I’ll get him, and we’ll go.”

I cross my arms over my chest, but my nonverbal obviously isn’t enough for him.

“Promise, Echo.”