“Let’s get dinner tonight. We can talk more then.”
“That sounds good. I’m pretty sure Cole has this elaborate tea party planned anyway.”
I smiled at that. I was so happy for him.
“Sounds like Cole. Ellis will want for nothing.” I said.
Enzo laughed softly. “I pity the guys who try to date her when she’s older.”
I chuckled. “God help them.”
We shared another laugh before I spoke.
“I took the job at Mayfair,” I said.
“Oh? Hey. Congrats, man!” Enzo said, genuinely sounding happy. “That’s incredible. I’m happy for you, and honestly, pretty fucking proud… Dr. Masters.”
I grinned at the name. I still hadn’t gotten used to it. I struggled with work in high school, but Rosalie had a gift for teaching, and I’d learned so much from her. It led me here. I needed to thank her before we said our final goodbyes. In reality, it had given me this life of luxury. It gave my son a life of comfort. I owed her for that. I knew she’d never accept payment, but I still wanted to say the words to her.
“We need to get Cole out to celebrate,” Enzo continued. “Might be hard now, but I know he’d make time.”
“It’s all good, man. I know he’d be happy for me. I don’t want to pull him away from Rosalie and Ellis.”
“It’s wild, isn’t it?” Enzo mused softly. “He has everything he ever wanted right now. E, man, if you could see him. I’ve never seen him like this. He has the family he’s always wanted. I-I think he’s going to leave us for good. I know we talked about him going, but I do think it’ll happen. He’s not going to let Rosalie and Ellis go.”
“I know,” I murmured. “And I’m glad. He deserves this. He was most loyal. He held on even when it looked like there wasn’t hope. I admire that.”
“One thing about Cole is that once he commits, he’s in for life.”
I nodded. Enzo wasn’t wrong.
“Well, I have another meeting here in a few minutes. We’ll talk at dinner.”
“Sounds good. Stay safe.”
“Always.” Enzo disconnected the call, and I lay back on my bed, my heart in my throat.
Truth was, I was jealous of Cole. I’d told Rosalie I didn’t want kids all those years ago, and now, here I was, a dad. I wanted her back just as much as Cole did, but I knew our time was over.
It was killing me inside, too.
“Next life, sweetheart,” I whispered as I stared up at the ceiling.
It was a promise I hoped I could keep.
45
EVAN
“Thanks, man,” Fabian said as we had dinner. “I know you didn’t have to pick me for the part, but I’m fucking grateful.”
“The part was written for you,” I said, offering him a quick smile.
He grinned. “I appreciate that I’m running through your head.”
I chuckled at that.
We’d cast Fabian Henry as the lead in my movie. I specifically requested his audition, and the director loved him. I figured he would anyway. Fabian was taking Hollywood by storm. It reminded me of when Rosalie’s career started taking off. One day, life was normal, then it wasn’t.
