“Ideally, yes,” I said, “but I suppose that depends on you.”
“Well, my answer is fuck off and no, you’re not.”
“Look at you.” I laughed. “You play nice on the phone when Rosalie is around, but you’re a real fucking asshole yet, aren’t you?”
“It’s not a fucking secret I hate your ass,” he snapped back at me. “I will play nice for Rosalie and Ellis’s sakes. They matter to me.”
I nodded. “We’re on the same page. I’ll play nice if you play nice. Perhaps we can come to some kind of arrangement.”
A muscle thrummed along his jaw.
“Yeah. Maybe. Just don’t fucking take my family away again. You already did it once to me.”
I sighed. “I didn’t do that shit, Cole. You and Enzo did when you cheated on her and left her in misery. I was just the guy who picked up the pieces. It’s OK to be mad about it, but put the blame where it should go. I have done nothing but support Rosalie and love her since I’ve known her. That’s not good enough for some people, and it truly sickens me.I’m too nice. I must have hidden motives.I honestly just want to love her fiercely and give her the world. I assume you want to do the same for her.”
“I do,” he said, his voice soft.
“I don’t have to be OK with this, but I am,” I continued. “After how I was treated, I can just say no. Rosalie wouldn’t pursue it, but I love her so fucking much that I’m willing to open our family up so she can have you. She can have E. She can even have that dipshit Enzo if she wants him. But we have stipulations. It’s just that simple. There is no point in beating around the bush here. Either you’re in or you’re out of this life. A choice needs to bemade. Without one, you’re prolonging everyone’s pain. It’s not fair to any of us.”
“I know,” he murmured. “I just…I’m trying. I know.”
I nodded. “OK. I just want you to know that before I leave here, I will get a solid answer from you. If you don’t have one, then all of this shit is over. Rosalie agreed. So… get your shit together, Scott. Everything you’ve ever wanted depends on it.”
“Why are you being so…”
“So what?” I asked, assuming he was going to call me a prick.
“Nice to me,” he mumbled. “Giving me a chance when I know you don’t think I deserve one.”
“I told you,” I said. “I love Rosalie. I love our daughter. They trump it all. I hope they are that way for you, too.”
I walked past him, leaving him alone in his room, and went downstairs to find Rosalie dressed in a pretty sundress. She sat on the couch with Ryder as Enzo sat at the kitchen island in his designer jeans and a black button-down.
“Anson,” Enzo greeted me as I came into the room.
“Lorenzo,” I said.
“Judging by your suitcase and the fact that you made yourself at home in our house, I’m going to assume you’ll be gracing us with your presence for a few days? Or will you be going with Ryder back to Klaus’s?”
I took a seat on the couch and hauled Rosalie onto my lap.
“I’ll be staying right here where I can watch everything,” I said.
Enzo grunted. “Great.”
I laughed softly at that and turned Rosalie’s face gently towards me and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
“Is that OK?” I murmured. “If I stay?”
She nodded. “I would love it if you did.”
The front door opened as I smiled, and E walked in.
No son.
I frowned, knowing that was something else we needed to sort out soon if any of this shit was going to work out.
“Hey,” Enzo greeted him.
