“Unless you wanted to.” She winced.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” I choked out. “I do. I fucking do.”
I dragged her over to me, my heart thundering in my ears. I ran my nose along her jaw and breathed her in.
She raked her fingers through my hair as I rested my forehead against hers.
“I-I can’t though,” I finally rasped. “I want to, but I-I can’t.”
She crinkled her brows and pulled away from me. “Why?”
I licked my lips.
Fuck.
“I-I have a secret.” I swallowed hard.
She stared back at me before taking my hand in hers. “I have a few myself.”
I laughed sadly. “More than the ones you already told me?”
She nodded.
“Fuck.” I closed my eyes to gather myself. “Want to make a deal? I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
“I-I can’t tell you.” She winced.
“I can’t tell you either.” I let out a bitter laugh. “So what do we do, sweetheart?”
She sighed. “I want to tell you, Ethan. God. I do. If I tell you one of them, do you swear never ever to tell another soul? Ever? Even if you decide you don’t want me, you never tell. Promise?”
“On my life.” I crossed my fingers over my chest. “I would never tell.”
“I-I have… I have…” She winced, her breathing picking up.
“Hey,” I murmured. “Rosalie. Sweetheart. It’s OK.” I reached for her and pulled her close to me. “Whatever it is, it’s OK. I promise.”
She shook in my arms, making me frown.
Finally, she pulled away and brought her phone out of her purse. I watched as she thumbed through it for a moment before wiping her tears. I didn’t interfere. Whatever this was, she could tell me at her own pace.
“Here,” she whispered, handing me her phone.
I took it and stared down at the image of a beautiful little girl with long, blond curls. I frowned at the image. Blue eyes. A playful smile. In ballet gear, with a pretty little crown atop her head. She had to be Laz’s age.
“Rosalie?” I looked from the picture to her.
“That’s my daughter.”
I widened my eyes at her before looking back at the image. She looked like Rosalie, but she also looked like…
Fuck. I couldn’t say it, so I said something else instead.
“Is she… Klaus’s?”
She ducked her head. “No. She’s mine. I-I guess I had some wild nights after everything.”
“Rosalie.” I lifted her chin so she was looking at me.
