“Yeah.” She smiled sadly at me. “I had a nice time with you tonight. Thank you for coming out.”
“Of course. Anything for you,” I said. “I want to see you again. Friends and all that.” I hated that. I wanted her more than anything in the fucking world. But if I could only have her friendship, I would accept it. It was better than the nothing I’d lived in the last five years in regard to her. Of course, if Church accepted the new contract, I wouldn’t even be able to be her friend. It was worth it for Cole to have his daughter and Rosalie back, though. I’d do it for him because he’d done so much for me.
“We can do that. I probably won’t be back in Chicago for a long time.”
“I’ll go wherever you want me to go,” I said. “Just name the place, and I’ll be there.”
She reached out and pressed her hand to my heart. “Promise?”
“Always, sweetheart. Just don’t forget about me.”
“I could never,” she whispered.
A blacked-out SUV pulled in front of my car. I knew it had to be Ryder, and a moment later, he was getting out and walking to us.
“Rosalie, I have to tell you this before you go.” I breathed out. This needed to be said before she left. “I was a mess back then. I am so fucking sorry for your pain. For all of it. I want you to know that. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you. It haunts me that you went through everything alone. You don’t know how many times I wanted to just hold you, but I was barely keeping myself together. I’m sorry I let you down. I’m so fucking sorry. For everything.”
She reached out and cradled my face. “I forgive you, E. We were all in a bad place. Don’t keep those feelings anymore, OK? We’re good. Promise.”
I swallowed hard and took her hand in mine before pressing my lips to her knuckles, my throat tight. I suddenly wished I had more time. I needed to tell her everything. Time. Fuck. I needed more time!
“I have to go,” she said.
“Fuck, Rosalie. Don’t. Stay with me.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. There was no way she could stay with me. I had my own secrets, and I knew she couldn’t leave her daughter.
It didn’t change that I wanted her to tell me yes.
“Ethan,” she said, her voice trembling. “I-I… can’t.”
“I know. I fucking know.” A tear slid down my cheek. “Promise you’ll call me.”
“I will. I promise.”
I pulled her close and held her tightly as Ryder reached her door.
“Go before I kidnap you,” I joked weakly.
She let out a soft huff of laughter before opening her door. Ryder immediately took her hand and helped her out.
“Baby girl, why are you crying?” he asked immediately, his voice gruff as he wiped away her tears.
I didn’t like him referring to her like that. Who knew, though. Maybe she was with him too, and she didn’t want to tell me about it. I deserved that shit after being the punk I was all those years ago. I knew she’d had a short fling with him, too, after all the things that happened with us. At the time, I didn’t think it was real, but the way he was talking to her made me second-guess myself.
“I’m tired,” she answered as he moved her to the sidewalk and said something to her that I couldn’t hear.
He poked his head into my car a moment later. “Everything good, Masters?”
“Yeah, man. We just missed each other. Had a talk. We’re both sad. You going to dry my tears too?” The bitter asshole inside of me came out of my mouth.
Ryder chuckled. “Nah, man. Have blondie do it.”
I ground my teeth.
“Everything go good? You didn’t fucking touch her?”
“Everything was fine,” I said tightly. “I didn’t touch her.”
Ryder eyed me wearily. “If she tells me differently?—”
