Cole said the statement was cold and Enzo acted like he didn’t care. Enzo sighed and shook his head over the entire thing, citing what the fuck else was he supposed to say?
To counteract Cole’s anger, he’d simply picked up more hours at the hospital, worked on his house remodel, and kept to himself. I figured he did what Enzo and I did. We threw ourselves into work to forget all the shit that happened in our lives. Build it back so it can never be torn down again.
Maybe Cole was doing that.
I really hoped he was. We kept getting phone calls from animal shelters, so I knew he was definitely up to something.
“I know that. Where?”
I sighed and looked over at him. “Just out, man.”
I dropped my brush onto the counter and moved past him to my bedroom, where I spritzed on cologne. I never wore cologne anymore. It had been years. Not since Rosalie, but tonight felt like I should.
“What the fuck is going on with you?” Cole narrowed his eyes at me as he turned to face me.
I pulled on a black button-down, not saying a word to him.
“Daddy.” Laz came into the room, speaking in that hoarse voice of his. “Where are you going?”
I kneeled in front of him. “Hey, bud. I’m going to go out with a friend. You’re going to stay with Enzo tonight, OK?”
“OK.”
I fluffed his dark hair and smiled at him. “I promise I’ll be home soon. Be a good boy, OK? No drawing on the walls or getting into things. Promise?” I held my pinky out for him.
“Promise.” He giggled and wrapped his pinky around mine before I hauled him in for a tight hug.
“I left the Turtles on downstairs. Enzo said he will watch all of it with you.”
Laz let out a squeal of excitement and pulled away before rushing from the room to go downstairs.
I smiled after him, my heart full, but yearning.
Yearning for so many damn things…
“Where did you meet her?” Cole asked softly.
I didn’t say anything for a moment. I wanted so much to tell him the truth, but only days ago I nearly died to keep Rosalie a secret. Her trust in me mattered, so I knew I had to lie to Cole to keep him from losing it. Although I knew the lie would be no better, at least he wouldn’t be racing to see Rosalie.
“Mayfair,” I muttered, deciding fuck it. “At the lab.”
He scoffed. “So you’re dating now?”
“It’s just going to be a friendly meeting. That’s all. Nothing is going to happen.”
“You’re letting go of Rosalie, too?” His blue eyes wavered as he stared back at me.
“Don’t do this. I’m just going out for drinks. Nothing huge. I promise I’ll be back soon.”
He nodded tightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Fine. Just so you know, whoever this bitch is, she’s not welcome in this house, E. She’s not welcome around our son.”
I smiled at that.
“OK,” I agreed. Cole always called Laz ours. Hell, so did Enzo. I loved the shit out of my brothers and thanked God every day for them in my life. I’d have spiraled out a long ass time ago had it not been for them.
“If you fuck her, E?—”
I went to him and captured his face between my hands, and rested my forehead against his.
