“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “I-I…”
“She’s my world, Enzo. I’m a fuck up enough for all of us. I don’t need you fucking contributing.”
I stared at him as he got to his feet.
“I-I have to fix this?—”
“Cole, don’t wake Ellis.”
He paused for a moment before looking at me.
“What did you do to Rosalie?”
I rubbed my eyes. “She went out tonight with Ryder. He came up here to get her. She just got back. I-I guess I was irritated that she was out with him. I know she’s not with him, but it was suspicious. So I said some shit I shouldn’t have.”
Cole shook his head at me. “If you love her, love her. We’re all hurting, Enzo. I said stupid shit to her tonight too. It’s why I missed out on an evening with my daughter. Please. Make this right. Help me. Now I have two worlds I could lose. I-I can’t, man.”
“I-I will. Promise.”
He looked at the stairs and swept forward without looking back.
I sighed and got to my feet.
Damnit. I couldn’t stop fucking up.
41
COLE
Icurled up in a sleeping bag with my pillow outside Rosalie’s door. If she wanted to leave, she’d have to crawl over me. It would wake me, and then… I’d keep her and Ellis.
At least I’d try to convince her to stay.
The door opened, and I sat up immediately and stared at Rosalie. It took me only a moment to see she had her suitcases packed.
“No.” I struggled to my knees. “Rosalie. Please. Stay.”
“I learned a long damn time ago that staying in places that hurt you can really ruin your life. I am leaving. I’m going to go back to Klaus’s, and then I’m going to book a flight back home. With Ellis.”
I could see that Ellis was still asleep.
Good. I didn’t want her to be a part of this.
“Please. Just… please. Fuck. Give me a chance, Rosalie. Let’s talk. God. I’m begging you. I was a dick yesterday. I was angry and trying to figure shit out. Stay. Please. I’ll do anything.”
She stared down at me, her face emotionless.
“Rosalie, can we talk?” Enzo asked, his voice soft.
I’d been begging so hard I hadn’t even heard him come out of his room.
“No,” she said. “Get out of my way. I need to get my stuff downstairs.”
“Rosalie. Five minutes. Please. I don’t want us to wake Ellis,” Enzo said, his voice calm. “You and me. My room. We can talk, and Cole can get Ellis up. If you decide to leave, he’ll have her ready to go. Right, Cole?”
“I-I don’t want you to go,” I said, sounding fucking pathetic.
“Cole, you’ll have her ready,” Enzo said firmly, his voice still low.
