Page 141 of When We Fall: Part Two
“E?”
I stopped next to him as he continued to hold the door.
“I really am sorry. For everything.” His bottom lip wobbled.
“I know,” I whispered. “Don’t cry if I don’t make it, though. Smile because I won’t hurt anymore.”
A tear slid down his cheek, and he gave me a nod.
“I’ll fight for you,” he said. “Brother. Always.”
I said nothing and walked out the door and into the hallway.
I didn’t want anyone to fight for me anymore. I wasn’t worth it.
FORTY-FIVE
ENZO
Half the city turned up for Fox’s funeral. It was standing room only. People were gathered on sidewalks outside. Cops were directing traffic.
He’d have laughed and shaken his head, surprised that many people gave a damn. He might have even said they were nuts for wasting a Sunday afternoon.
I stared at all the photos of him throughout the years. Him. Rosalie. So many of them together. And us. The blank space from when he was away from her was filled with us.
The four horsemen.
Best friends until the end.
I wiped at my eyes, hating myself.
Santino stared straight ahead, no emotion on his face. He’d buried both his wife and son.
I understood his anger. I didn’t want trouble with him. In fact, I wanted to make things right, but I wasn’t stupid enough to think there would ever be a way to make it happen.
His coming out of hiding to be here in front of all these people in a city he once ruled…
Well, I knew things would go from bad to worse.
I listened as the priest spoke. As Santino spoke about what a great son Fox had been. He was everything a father could hope for in a son.
We weren’t asked to speak.
I understood why.
His coach spoke. A few team members shared some amusing stories about him, along with his leadership abilities. How Fox knew what being on a team meant. That he’d be missed.
And then it was time to say our goodbyes.
The entire time, Rosalie sobbed in her seat at the speeches. She was mentioned dozens of times in them, and each time, she’d only cry louder. Her parents arrived, but they stayed in the back and left before the service began. She refused to see them. I knew it was because her dad would likely want her to come home.
Cole held her through all of it, Jamie’s hand in hers.
I kept an eye on E the entire time because I knew he was barely holding it together.
The drugs seemed to help him, though, because he didn’t freak out. He was too stoned.
“Come on.” Cole encouraged Rosalie as we rose to get in line to view Fox’s casket one final time.
