“I swear to you,” I murmured. “He’s going through a lot of emotions. Let him calm down, OK? I can’t imagine what he’s feeling or going through right now. He’s angry. He’s hurt. I don’t like the guy, but I get it.”
She nodded. “I’m just scared.”
“I know.” I hated that she was afraid. “Past that, are you doing OK?”
She nodded. “I guess. I want to go home.”
“I want that for you too.”
“Are you coming with me?” Her voice was soft.
“Yeah, Red. I’ll go too.”
“The night Cole took me, you were upset. Do you want to talk about it?” She stared at me with those pretty as fuck green eyes. My heart thrummed hard.
“No,” I said.
“Ry, please? I’m impartial. I’m here for you?—”
“Let’s focus on you, not me?—”
“Everyone always focuses on me. I’m tired of that. Let me focus on you. Please?”
I smiled at her. Ever the sweetheart. I reached out and tucked one of her curls behind her ear.
“I’m OK. I promise. We got back to Chicago. Being here, seeing you with Ethan, I guess it got to me.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“I just know how much you were hurt, Rosalie. I don’t want you to ever feel that pain again. You’re in a good place now. I just worry.” I didn’t come out and tell her it was because I loved her more than anything in the world and wanted a chance, but I was scared. But what I said wasn’t a lie either.
“I’m sorry for that.” The way her lip trembled made my heart ache. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to kiss away her fears and pain.
“It’s not your fault,” I said softly. “Don’t ever think it is. Shit just sucks sometimes, you know? It’s a me thing. I promise you that.”
She nodded and looked at her hands. She always had so much going on in her head. She fascinated me.
“Talk to me. Is there anything I can do to make your stay here better?”
“I don’t think so. I just have to get through it. I need to call Evan and the guys. I know this means the world to Ellis, and I will endure, but I don’t know for how long.”
“If it gets to be too much, just call me. I’ll come rescue you.”
“Like I’m a princess in a tower?” She laughed softly.
I smiled at that, really liking the idea of being her Prince Charming. I tabled the thought, though.
“Just like that.”
We sat there in silence for a long time.
“Ry?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Uh.” I blew out a breath. “No.”
