“Don’t tell,” she whispered, knowing that I knew that little girl belonged to Cole. I knew about what happened in thatbathroom the night at the club when Cole had gone after Klaus. “Please.”
My heart ached. She was Cole’s baby. Neither of us said it, though. If she wanted to go with her story, I’d accept it. But fuck. Cole would lose his mind. All he wanted was a kid. He treated Laz like he was his. Always teaching him stuff. Reading to him. Singing. Watching movies. Throwing footballs.
“What’s her name?” I asked.
Rosalie wiped at her eyes. “Elissandra. We call her Ellis.”
I nodded. The name Cole wanted for a daughter.
Damnit, Rosalie…
Fucking hell.
My phone buzzed loudly, startling us. We both jumped, and I swallowed thickly before grabbing the damn device and answering it.
“Hello?”
“It’s after one in the morning, prick. Why aren’t you home?” Cole’s voice came over the line. Rosalie backed away and got out of the car. I watched her walk along the edge of the lake, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
“I’m busy,” I said.
“Yeah, you get your cock sucked? Fuck that bitch you’re with?”
“Man, stop,” I snapped at him. “I’m not fucking anyone. I’ll be home later.”
“You have a kid, man. A son. He doesn’t need some random cunt coming into our home. Enzo said you’re not home yet?—”
“Cole, fucking stop!” I shouted, punching my steering wheel. “Fuck, man! Stop!”
He went silent as I breathed heavily.
“I’m not out getting laid.”
“You’re at the lake. I can see you on the map.”
I sighed. “I am. We came out here to hang out. We ate some pizza, just talked, and then we’re going to head back. That’s it.”
“Emily,” he scoffed. “Generic bitch name.”
“Cole,” I warned.
“Will you be seeing her again?”
I let my head fall back against the seat. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
“So you do like her.”
“I do,” I admitted. “But I don’t think it’s going to work out.”
“So you’re letting Rosalie go too? Is that it?”
I stared out at Rosalie as she wiped her eyes.
“Yeah. Yeah, I think I have to,” I whispered, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“You and Enzo… fuck you both.” He disconnected the call, leaving me in silence.
I took a moment to steady myself before I got out and went to Rosalie. I tilted her chin up and stared down at her.
