Page 223 of When We Fall: Part One
“Why can’t I?” I looked at her again. This time, she looked back at me. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
She visibly swallowed and looked away. I reached out and cradled her face, forcing her to focus on me again. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Tell me, LeeLee. Tell me you don’t secretly belong to me.”
“Ani,” she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Don’t.”
“Why?” I whispered, my gaze sweeping over her pretty face.
“Because I don’t know how much longer I can… not.”
“Then just fucking do it, Rosalie.” I moved closer to her. “Take what you want.”
Another tear slipped down her cheek. She closed her eyes. I rolled onto my side so I could be closer to her.
“LeeLee. Look at me,” I murmured.
She opened her eyes and stared at me.
“You belong to me. I knew it the moment I met you that you’d someday be mine. Someday, we’ll be on the front porch. We’ll remember this moment.”
“What happens in this moment?” she whispered.
I thumbed her bottom lip. “I wish I’d have kissed you so I had that many more moments with you.”
She closed her eyes again. She breathed out and finally opened them to look at me.
“I have to stop doing this with you. I-I care about you, but I’m getting married. I have four guys at home—four guys I love and who love me. I’d be heartbroken if they were doing what I’m doing behind my back. I-I can’t do that to them.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “I understand.”
“Just friends, Ani. I-I think that’s all we can ever be. I mean that.”
Her words were a knife through my heart.
“If that’s what you truly want, it’s yours,” I said, my voice shaking. It was a blow, but I didn’t think she’d kiss me and tell me she loved me anyway.
“I-I’m so sorry.” She wiped at her eyes and sat up.
My phone buzzed. It was a good time as any. Sighing, I pulled it out to see my father’s name on the screen.
I cleared my throat and answered. “Father.”
“Alessandro, I require your presence. Are you able to come to me?”
“Uh,” I looked at Rosalie. She glanced back at me.
“Bring her with you. I did enjoy my time with her,” he said, clearly knowing I was with Rosalie.
“One second.” I put the phone on mute and breathed out. “My father needs me. He says you’re welcome to come. Do you want to come with me?”
I wasn’t even sure what she’d say to that. Matteo was a danger to her as far as the guys were concerned. I didn’t have any fear regarding him. He was my father, and he knew I cared about her. I trusted him, despite all the shit I’d heard about him and Dom with Bianca.
“Do you want me to?” She searched me with her green eyes.
“I do,” I admitted. “We can go shopping after. Get a pretty dress for dinner so you don’t have to return to the house and deal with all the questions.”
She considered my words for a moment. She told me she’d let Enzo know about the dinner but hadn’t said anything to the others. Wanting to see how it went, she’d kept quiet about it, saying she’d tell the other guys once she made a decision. It was a good way to handle things as far as I was concerned.
