Page 271 of When We Fall: Part Two
Fuck. My heart shattered so fucking hard I was sure the entire city could hear it crash to the pavement.
“LeeLee… why?” My voice was strained as I stared at her.
“Because…” She looked around. “I’m human. I want to feel again. I want to have fun. I want to live.”
“It’s not you, LeeLee. You’re not this person. The girl I know would be focused on her future. I-I talked to Alex a few days ago. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to hang out tonight. He’s still waiting for you to sign the contract?—”
“I don’t want to sign the damn contract, Anson!” she shouted at me. A few people turned to look at us, but fuck them.
“What else are you going to do? Work tables and marry rich? I don’t understand. You’re not in school. You’re not singing. You’re just… I don’t even know anymore.”
“I-I don’t know either. I’m trying to figure it out. I don’t even know who I am anymore, Ani.” Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at me. “I’m scared. I’m angry. I’m hurt. I’m… lost. I’m so fucking alone. So please, stop reading me the riot act. I want to have a good night.”
“Is this because I-I can’t right now?” I stepped closer to her. “Because I’ve been distant? I don’t want to be distant from you. It’s killing me inside. I want you so fucking much, Rosalie. When I’m with you, all I can think about is kissing you. Making love to you. Whispering so many promises in your ear that you’ll realize I’m worth it. That it’s all worth it.” I’d moved so close to her now that our bodies were touching. She had to look up at me.
“I don’t want you to fall in love with someone else. I’m selfish. I want you to fall in love with me,” I whispered, reaching out and cradling her face.
“But you’re getting married,” she said, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“I-I…” I closed my eyes. “I know. Fuck, baby. I’m lost too.” I shifted and placed my hands on her waist and rested my forehead against hers. “It’s wrong of me to ask you to wait. I know it is, but hell, this is killing me.”
We stood in silence for a moment.
“You need to sing. That’s what I know. You were given a gift and an opportunity. You need to do something with it. I-I think it’ll take you to where you need to go in life.”
“Alone,” she whispered.
I tightened my hands on her waist, knowing what she was saying. If I married Bianca, I couldn’t just drag her and thebabies out on the road to handle Rosalie’s career. It wouldn’t work.
“Even if it is alone, for just a bit, you have to do it,” I said. “You have to, LeeLee. I will always be your biggest fan. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“Don’t marry her,” she blurted out, freezing me. “I-I know you have to, but god, Anson, don’t. Please.”
I closed my eyes, really fucking hating all of this. Torn between what was right and what I truly wanted.
“I-I have to. It’s what’s right. I made a promise. I-I have to honor it. I couldn’t live with knowing something bad happened to her or the babies because I was being selfish. That’s not who I am, Rosalie. You know that’s not who I am. Please, don’t ask it of me. She’s counting on me. I can’t back out.”
“I know. I-I know.” She exhaled before going up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips against my cheek. It was a quick kiss, and I was barely able to respond to it before she broke away from me.
“I think I’m going to go home.”
“LeeLee, no.” I reached out for her as she backed away.
“Timing is off.” She smiled sadly at me, crushing my heart. “Like always, right?”
“Fuck, don’t go.”
She walked backward away from me. “It’s OK, Ani. I’m going to be OK. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, right? I’ll see you around.” And with those words, she turned and walked away from me.
Devastated, I watched her go, hating myself for being me and this entire fucking world for putting me into this position.
I wasn’t sure what I had to do to get the girl, but I was damn well going to figure it out, because Rosalie Bishop was made to be mine, and come hell or high water, I would make it happen.
EIGHTY-THREE
COLE
“What did he say?” I demanded, storming over to Enzo as he hung up the phone, frowning. “Dmitri is good at getting into places. I know that fucker has answers.”
