“What’s going on?” I asked, coming into the room.
“Just teaching her how to kick Penelope’s ass,” Cole said as Ellis swung again.
“Absolutely not.” I broke the pair up.
“Mommy! Daddy was showing me how to be strong like you!”
“Honey, Mommy doesn’t punch people in the face,” I said.
“Liar,” Cole muttered.
I blew out a breath.
“We don’t hit people. We tell the teacher, or you come home and tell Daddies and me, OK?”
“OK, but Daddy said people with fat lips don’t talk smack. Right, Daddy?”
“Right, Ellie-phant.”
God…
“Cole,” I said, closing my eyes to gather my patience. I was already annoyed with him and Enzo.
“Are you staying?” he asked, his voice soft.
I sank onto the bed. “Ellie, baby, go brush your teeth, OK?”
“OK.” She grabbed Mr. Rufus, went to the attached bathroom, and closed the door.
Cole knelt in front of me.
“Rosalie? Would it help if I said I was sorry?”
“Are you? Sorry?”
He nodded. “I am. I was angry and hurt. It’s hard for me. All I’ve ever wanted was a family, and I had one this whole time. It just… hurt.”
I nodded. “I know. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was scared.”
“I understand,” he murmured. “But I want this. I swear to you on my knees that I will do whatever you want me to do. I will cook for you. Buy you guys anything you want. I’ll get on all fours, and you can ride me around the house like a horse, just please. Don’t fucking leave me.”
“I have to leave at some point,” I said. “I have a life far from here.”
“I-I know, but fuck. Stay.”
I frowned at him. “What does that mean?”
“It means I fucking love you, Rosalie. We have a family together. I-I don’t care if you have a husband or new guys. Stay with me. I am begging you to be a family with me. I-I want you. So fucking much it’s killing me. I want Ellis. Please. Don’t take it all away from me.”
My heart ached at his words. I knew he cared. Cole was insane, but he loved hard. I’d always known that.
But five years ago, I thought he was loving someone else hard.
“You broke my heart,” I whispered. “I can’t trust you.”
“I know.” His voice cracked. “But please. Give me another chance to prove I’m worth it. I’ll be a good husband. A good father. You’ll want for nothing with me. I have so much fucking money that our great, great, great grandkids won’t have to work?—”
“It’s not the money. I have money.”
