Page 264 of When We Fall: Part Two
I stared down at her number for what felt like an eternity before I glanced at the time. It was just after noon.
Swallowing, I typed out a message to her, praying she’d answer me. Fuck what Enzo and Cole said. I just needed to talk to her.
Ethan: I hope this isn’t a bad time. I was wondering if we could talk. I promise I won’t take a lot of your time. I just want to hear your voice.
I stared at the sent message for nearly half an hour, each second that ticked by making my heart ache more. I wasn’t even sure what I’d say to her if she told me yes, but fuck, I just wanted anything I could get.
Feeling let down, I got up and smoked some sugar before showering and returning to my phone.
My heart jumped into my throat when I saw an unread message notification.
With shaking hands, I opened the message to see she’d replied to me. I’d been stalking her social media for weeks now, but she hadn’t updated anything since the photo of her and Ryder, which I didn’t believe was real for a second. Cole and Enzo did, though. Cole nearly destroyed the hotel room over it.
Rosalie: OK.
OK? OK, what? She had a minute? She wanted to maybe meet to talk?
I thumbed out a return message as fast as I could.
Ethan: Can I meet you somewhere?
Rosalie: Will you be alone?
Ethan: Yes.
Rosalie: No one will know? No security? No one following?
Ethan: Just me. Promise.
Her next message didn’t come right away. I wiped my palms down my jeans, my anxiety running high.
Rosalie: Meet me at Brewster’s Coffee Shop on Ninth. Thirty minutes.
I was on my feet in no time and quietly rushing from the high-rise.
“Do you need us, boss?” Dmitri asked as I stepped onto the curb outside. He’d been standing there drinking coffee.
“Uh, no. I’m going for a walk. I need some air.”
He eyed me for a moment. “Do Enzo and Cole know?”
I bristled at that. “I’m not a fucking child. I don’t need an escort or permission. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“My apologies.” Dmitri gave me a curt nod before moving to the waiting SUV. I wouldn’t put it past him to report my whereabouts to Enzo the moment I was around the damn corner.
Irritated, I hailed a cab and gave him the address, really fucking hoping my leaving the house wouldn’t be an issue. Everyone watched me like they thought I was going to fucking die.
If I wanted out bad enough, there wouldn’t be fuck all anyone could do to stop me.
I rode through the city for a few minutes, annoyed about traffic, before we pulled up at Brewsters. With my hands shaking and my heart pounding, I went inside and looked for Rosalie.
I spotted her in the back, her head down.
Nervously, I approached her and stopped next to her booth, where I saw her holding a coffee.
“Hey,” I greeted her softly.
She looked up at me, no emotion on her pretty face. “Hey.”
