Page 204 of When We Fall: Part Two
I shook my head. “I know you’re getting married. It’s weird to be here. I-I have some money. I’ll look for apartments?—”
“No,” he said immediately. “I don’t want you to do that. I want you to be here so I can…”
“Make sure I don’t kill myself?” I let out a sad laugh.
“Rosalie, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m worried about you, though. I’m not going to deny it. Do you know how many timesI wanted to pick up my phone and call you? Text you? See if you were OK? The guys told me not to. That there’d be hell to pay if I tried. You know they did, but fuck, I almost said to hell with it so many times.”
“I know,” I said, clearing my throat.
“What about classes? I noticed you’re not there.”
“I’m not going back,” I replied, tugging on the t-shirt to cover my bare thighs more.
“What? You have to?—”
“I don’t,” I broke in. “I won’t. If I go back, I’ll be the girl whose boyfriend died. It will be a constant reminder.”
“I get it.” He sighed and reached for my hand. I watched as he twined his fingers with mine.
“You have classes today, don’t you?” I asked.
He nodded. “I do, but you know me. I don’t need to show up. I’ll be fine. Besides, I already have a degree. I don’t need a second one. I’d rather spend the time I have with you.”
“What about Bianca?”
He looked away from me and let my hand go. It hurt, but I expected it.
“I’ll be headed over to see her later. Ryder or Trent will come over and?—”
“Make sure I don’t die?”
He frowned at me.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Anson. I-I’m not going to do anything. I got drunk and almost screwed up. Colten talked to me, and it stuck. I-I’m going to be OK.”
Anson scrutinized me for a moment.
“Promise?”
I nodded. “I promise. It’s just a lot, you know? I-I don’t know how to be me anymore. I guess I don’t even know who I am without the guys.”
“I get it.”
“Just don’t treat me like I’m a hazard. I’m not. I promise. I need a few days. I-I need to just come down from the hurt. T-That’s all.”
“Come here.” He opened his arms, and I fell into them without question.
“Fuck, LeeLee,” he murmured as I clung to him. “I’m so glad you’re here. We’ll get through this, OK? I promise.”
I nodded against him, my throat burning as I continued to try to will the tears away.
I finally broke away from him and wiped quickly at my eyes.
“I have something for you,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
I watched him go into his bedroom. It took him a minute, but when he returned, he was holding a box. He sat next to me and offered it to me.
“What is it?” I asked, taking it.
