Page 114 of When We Fall: Part One
She shook her head. “No. He’s not here for me. It’s fine.”
I could hear the pain in her voice, and it put me on edge. I knew she liked him more than she let on, but I couldn’t fix that. I placed a kiss on her forehead before nodding to Cole to come in.
“Take care of her,” I murmured to him. “I’ll deal with Anson.”
“Deal.” Cole strode forward without looking back. I watched him gather Rosalie into his arms and take her hand in his before he kissed her finger with her engagement ring on it.
I smiled at that.
Anson lookedup when I came into the living room. I’d passed E in the hall heading to Rosalie, so I knew he wouldn’t bepart of the conversation I was about to have. He clapped me on the shoulder in passing, making me smile.
I expected Anson thought he’d see Rosalie, and judging by the crestfallen look on his face at only my presence, I’d say I was right. I knew Fox had left to give me a chance to talk to Anson, which I appreciated.
“Thanks for coming to help today. We didn’t mean to drag you from whatever you had going on,” I said, taking a seat on the couch. He shifted on the loveseat, his hands clasped in front of him.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I’m just glad she’s home.”
I nodded. “Me too. I’d like to compensate you for your time?—”
“I don’t want your money, Enzo.”
“Then what do you want?” I stared him down.
He scoffed. “Nothing. I wanted to make sure she was safe.” He got to his feet and made to walk to the door. “I’ll see you around.”
“Anson, wait.” I sighed.
He paused and looked at me. “Yeah?”
“She misses you. Your distance hurts her.” I hated to say the words, but I’d been lying to myself long enough.
“That’s not my intention.” He looked around like he was trying to find the right words. “I… I know I’m the cause of a lot of the issues that go on here. I know she loves you guys. My being around is fucking all that up. Because I care about her, I’m just letting go. One of us has to, remember?”
“Letting go is hurting her more. We can get through our shit, but she can’t get through hers alone. She needs you.” The words were heavy in the air. I didn’t want to say them, but I was trying to put Rosalie ahead of my feelings.
He nodded and backed away. “I’m only doing what I think is right. I just want her happiness, even if it’s at the cost of my own. I gotta go. I’m meeting with my father.”
“H-how’s that going?” I called out as he turned to go again.
He sighed and looked down for a moment before turning back to me, a sad smile on his face. “It’s going good. I wish you knew the man I knew.”
“He’s a monster, Anson.”
“We’re all monsters, Enzo. You know that.” And with those words, he walked away, letting the front door click closed behind him.
I stood in silence, his words hitting home.
We really were all monsters.
FORTY
ROSALIE
For the most part, things returned to our version of normal after Cole and I came home. Ethan wasn’t spending as much time in the basement, Fox was busy with training and classes, Enzo still worked and spent hours with Cole in the office before the pair would disappear to meet with people. It was a quiet calm, and for that, I was grateful.
Fox had fallen asleep early after a brutal training. I’d soaked in a bubble bath with him before he kissed me goodnight and returned to his room to get some rest because his shoulder was bothering him. Cole was out with a crew of Enzo’s men doing something that I was sure was dangerous and made me sick with worry.
Ethan had to do a little work in the basement since he hadn’t been spending as much time down there as usual.
