She greeted him with a gentle smile. He knelt next to her and said something to Ellis, which made her giggle.
“Mr. Ethan,” Ellis said, her voice loud. “Is Lizard coming here? Mommy said she will bake my favorite cookies. I know he will like them.”
“No, darlin’, he’s not here. He really did like the ones you made for him, though. I am sure he would love the originals.”
“Mommy, can we make Lizard some cookies before Mr. Ethan leaves?”
“Uh, baby, we don’t have all the stuff for that,” she said.
“I’ll get it. Whatever you need,” I said immediately, trying to rack my brain on what Rosalie used to use for making cookies. “I-I can’t remember everything, but you need flour, right? Butter? Sugar. Um, vanilla? Those little chocolate candies and butterscotch chips. Right?”
Rosalie gave me a sad smile. “Right.”
I whipped out my phone and texted Memphis to grab everything and then some. Ice cream, too. We’d make sundaes. She probably liked sundaes.
I moved to sit on the couch next to Rosalie, Ellis between us.
Ellis immediately slid onto my lap. I held her tightly as E got to his feet. He left without a word and went to the office with Enzo.
“Tell me about yourself, Ellis,” I murmured as I pushed one of her curls away from her face.
“I am four years old,” she said, her eyes wide as she held up her fingers.
“Four, huh? You don’t look a day over three.”
She grinned at me before laughing.
She thought I was funny. My daughter was laughing at my lame jokes.
“What do you do for fun?” I asked.
“I dance. I’m a ballerina. Do you want to see?”
“Absolutely,” I murmured.
She slid off my lap and did some ballet moves. I had no idea what they were called. They were perfect, though.
“That’s awesome,” I said, taking in her perfect little spins.
“Come on, Daddy! I’ll teach you,” she called out amid a little giggle.
Fuck. Daddy. She called me Daddy.
I stumbled to my feet and went to her. She took my hand, and that was it.
This little girl would be my reason for every breath I took from that moment onward.
37
ANSON
Iwandered through our home, my heart in my throat. This was killing me. No Ellis laughing. No Rosalie chasing her or baking. Nothing. The place was silent.
“You get used to it,” Klaus said as I settled on the couch next to him. I’d been in meetings all day and was finally home. The label seemed happy that everything was resolved, so that was good. I was signing a new band later this week, and was hoping Trackmaster wanted them. It was looking great.
Despite things being quiet on the stalker front, Klaus had still brought on extra men for our estate. He was always willing to go to war, and I loved that about him. Even Trix had security when she went out. We all did, even the band.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it,” I said, taking the glass of whiskey Klaus handed me. I hadn’t been alone in a long time. Alone, meaning without Rosalie at my side. I felt like part of me had been torn away.
