Chapter 39
RYDER
We went out to the SUV Klaus left me to drive. It had blacked-out windows, which was nice, but since we were in the parking garage, I didn’t expect any issues with paparazzi, as I didn’t think they knew where Rosalie was.
“You OK?” I asked gently, taking in the way she seemed to shrink into herself. I didn’t like that. I liked her loud and proud, but clearly something was going on.
She shook her head, her tears falling. I was desperate to reach out and dry them, but I kept my hands to myself.
“Talk to me, Red. Let’s hear it.”
She breathed out and blurted out everything, right down to Cole saying he’d take Ellis.
“He won’t take her. The guys won’t let it happen. I won’t let it happen. No tears, OK?” I gave in and reached out to wipe them off her cheeks.
“Promise?” she choked out.
“I swear to you,” I murmured. “He’s going through a lot of emotions. Let him calm down, OK? I can’t imagine what he’s feeling or going through right now. He’s angry. He’s hurt. I don’t like the guy, but I get it.”
She nodded. “I’m just scared.”
“I know.” I hated that she was afraid. “Past that, are you doing OK?”
She nodded. “I guess. I want to go home.”
“I want that for you too.”
“Are you coming with me?” Her voice was soft.
“Yeah, Red. I’ll go too.”
“The night Cole took me, you were upset. Do you want to talk about it?” She stared at me with those pretty as fuck green eyes. My heart thrummed hard.
“No,” I said.
“Ry, please? I’m impartial. I’m here for you—”
“Let’s focus on you, not me—”
“Everyone always focuses on me. I’m tired of that. Let me focus on you. Please?”
I smiled at her. Ever the sweetheart. I reached out and tucked one of her curls behind her ear.
“I’m OK. I promise. We got back to Chicago. Being here, seeing you with Ethan, I guess it got to me.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“I just know how much you were hurt, Rosalie. I don’t want you to ever feel that pain again.
You’re in a good place now. I just worry.
” I didn’t come out and tell her it was because I loved her more than anything in the world and wanted a chance, but I was scared. But what I said wasn’t a lie either.
“I’m sorry for that.” The way her lip trembled made my heart ache. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to kiss away her fears and pain.
“It’s not your fault,” I said softly. “Don’t ever think it is. Shit just sucks sometimes, you know? It’s a me thing. I promise you that.”
She nodded and looked at her hands. She always had so much going on in her head. She fascinated me.
“Talk to me. Is there anything I can do to make your stay here better?”
“I don’t think so. I just have to get through it. I need to call Evan and the guys. I know this means the world to Ellis, and I will endure, but I don’t know for how long.”
“If it gets to be too much, just call me. I’ll come rescue you.”
“Like I’m a princess in a tower?” She laughed softly.
I smiled at that, really liking the idea of being her Prince Charming. I tabled the thought, though.
“Just like that.”
We sat there in silence for a long time.
“Ry?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Uh.” I blew out a breath. “No.”
“Why not? Aren’t you… lonely?”
“I am sometimes,” I said. “But you keep me busy.” I gave her a quick smile.
She frowned. “Why don’t you go out tonight? The love of your life might be just around the corner.”
I scoffed. “I’m not interested. That’s… That’s not for me.”
“Ani says you need to get laid.”
I chuckled at that. “Of course he does. I’m doing OK.”
“You’re here. Alone. No real work to do but hang out and wait for me. Why not go out and have some fun?”
“I am having fun.” I reached out and took her hand in mine. I didn’t know what possessed me to do it, but I twined my fingers with hers and stared down at our hands.
“I like your nails,” I murmured, taking in the pretty pink French tips.
“They need to be done again,” she replied softly, not pulling away from me.
I swallowed. “I can take you if you’d like.”
“I would like that,” she answered. “Ellis and I?”
“Yes,” I said. “My treat.”
She scoffed. “You don’t need to pay for me—”
“Can I tell you a secret?”
She nodded, her lips parted. I placed my other hand over ours.
“I want to pay so I can pick out your next nails.”
She raised her brows at that. “Really?”
I nodded. “I’d like to see them in something wild. Neon green. Long. Little charms on them.”
“Yeah?” She smirked at me.
I nodded. “Hot pink. Neon blue. Neon purple. That bright yellow. Maybe some black cheetah print on them. Give them a crazy 80s look.”
“Are you being serious?” She laughed.
“Yes.” I laughed with her. “I want to see your nails like that. I love this sweet look, but I know you, Red. You’re a wild child. Those would be wild.”
“OK.” She stopped laughing and stared at me, her green eyes sparkling.
I raised my brows. “Yeah? You’ll let me?”
She nodded. “Yes. You’re in charge.”
“I like being in charge.” I laughed softly as we stared at one another. I hadn’t even realized I was leaning into her until her nose was nearly touching mine.
Her eyes searched me as I darted my gaze to her soft, parted lips.
“Ry?”
“Yeah?”
“I-I should get back inside.”
I closed my eyes for a moment before breathing out and opening them. “Of course.”
I pulled away from her, her hand still in mine.
As much as I didn’t want to let her go, I did, the ache at missing her touch driving me insane.
I’d been suffering this way for half a decade.
It didn’t seem to be getting any easier, either.
Now I fully knew the depths that Anson suffered when he’d fallen in love with her and couldn’t have her.
I got out, went to her door, and opened it. I helped her out, and she winced, her breath coming out in a sharp gasp. She faltered, and I was quick to catch her before she fell.
“You OK?” I asked.
“Yeah. This just sucks.”
I got her moved away from the door and swept her into my arms. She stared at me.
“Carry your crutches, and I’ll carry you,” I said. “OK?”
She nodded, her eyes sweeping over me. She clutched the crutches, and I wasted no time getting her to the elevator in the parking garage.
“Y0u don’t have to keep carrying me,” she said. “I’m heavy.”
I snorted at that. “I can come up with a hundred words to describe you, but heavy would never be one of them. Trust me.”
She said nothing as we went higher.
“Ry?”
“Red?”
“You should go out tonight. I think it would be good for you. I worry about you.”
“I’m fine,” I said softly. “Promise. I have things to do anyway when I get home.”
“What do you have to do?”
“I have to find a decent place to take you and sweat pea to so you can get your nails done.”
She smiled at me. “You’re funny.”
“You’re funny if you think I’m kidding.”
She shook her head, a smile on her lips.
I liked making her smile. It was my favorite pastime.
The elevator dinged as we arrived at the top floor. The door opened, and I stepped out, her in my arms yet.
“You can put me down now,” she said, smiling up at me.
“Nope.” I walked her straight to the door before I placed her gently on her feet. I took note of the guard from earlier eyeing us from his spot on the couch.
“I’ll let you know about the appointment. Any particular day?”
“Soon. I want neon cheetah nails.”
I grinned. “Girl, you keep it up, you’ll have cheetah toes too.”
“Ooh. Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
“If you think that’s a good time, then I think I could really set your skirt on fire if I got to keep you overnight.”
Her eyes widened at my words, and I immediately mentally kicked myself for the flirtatious remark. I was a serial flirt. Anson always gave me shit over it, but it just slipped out.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “That was…”
She leaned in, and immediately, I bent down a bit since I was so much taller than she was.
She pressed her lips gently against my cheek, and I closed my eyes, relishing the way her soft lips felt against my skin.
“You’d have to buy me a new skirt if you set it on fire,” she said softly.
I chuckled. “I’d buy you ten new skirts, Red.”
She pulled away, the smile still on her face, and opened the door. I watched her go and didn’t move after the door closed.
“You know you’re fucked, right?” The guard called out. “That girl is so protected and wanted by all these powerful men. What do you bring to the table, man?”
I looked over at him. “Nails, skirts, and fire.”
He shook his head. “Good luck with that.”
Good luck, indeed.