I hung up. “Fuck. FUCK!”
I tugged at my hair, my chest aching.
“Cole, man. Relax. She didn’t leave,” Enzo said gently, coming around his desk to kneel in front of me. “I’d have heard them go. I’m sure Anson would have taken great pride in telling me he was taking her, too.”
I shook my head. “She’s gone. I-I’ve been trying. I have. I-I don’t know how to be what she needs. I love Ellis more than anything in this world, but maybe I’m not being a good dad. Maybe Rosalie knows that…Fuck, man…”
The front door opened, and I snapped my head up like a hungry dog. Quickly, I shoved Enzo aside and rushed back to the living room to find Rosalie coming in. Behind her, Anson carried Ellis in his arms and a few shopping bags.
I rushed at Rosalie and dragged her into my arms.
“I thought you fucking left me,” I choked out into her ear. “Fuck, Rosalie. I was scared. I called you guys, and no one answered.”
“I said I’d be here,” she murmured. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t. We got caught up shopping, and then fans recognized me?—”
“I don’t care. You’re here now,” I whispered, pulling away and kissing her forehead fiercely before I took Ellis from Anson.
“Daddy got you some ballet slippers,” she said tiredly.
“Yeah?”
She yawned and nodded.
“You’re a sleepy princess,” I murmured, taking her upstairs without looking back. I wanted to tell her a bedtime story tonight.
She nodded and snuggled against me.
We went into her room, and I pulled out her pajamas and handed them to her. It took me a moment to realize their bags had been put into the closet. I’d freaked the fuck out for nothing. Good grief. I apparently had separation anxiety. Perfect. Like I needed more shit wrong with me.
“Get dressed for bed, OK? Brush your teeth.”
She did as she was told, closing the bathroom door behind her. I quickly changed the bed sheets so she’d have soft new threads to lie in before I fluffed her pillow.
She came out a few minutes later. I lifted her easily and placed her in bed, tucking her in.
“Are you telling me a story?” she asked, yawning again.
I tweaked her little nose. “Yes.”
“What about ballet?”
“We’ll do it tomorrow when you’re fully awake to teach me everything.”
She smiled tiredly at me, and I wrapped my arm around her.
“What story will you tell me?”
“Mm, this is the story of why the opossum has no hair on its tail.”
“Is the opossum a princess?”
“No, he’s just a very proud opossum.” I launched into the story and hadn’t even finished it before she was sound asleep, clutching Mr. Rufus tightly in her arms.
“I love you so much, Elissandra,” I whispered, kissing her head gently. I made sure she was tucked in once more before I went downstairs to find Rosalie and Anson sitting on the couch together.
Enzo wandered in, went to the kitchen, and opened the fridge.
“Cole, you hungry?” he called out.
