24. Rosalie
ROSALIE
“You’re not coming with us,” Anson snapped at Cole the following day after I’d had sex with them again.
Twice.
Because after they fucked me in the bed, they took me to the shower and fought over me.
I had to admit that they were really good together when it came to sex. I think it was their hatred of one another, and I honestly hoped they’d learn to get along better because while the sex was out of this world, past the bedroom, they were driving us all nuts.
“The fuck I’m not,” Cole shot back.
“Cole,” I started, but Anson got in front of me.
“I’m her husband,” he said.
“You’re not shit but her manager,” Cole scoffed. “Evan is her husband.”
“He has a point,” Evan called out. “I am the husband.”
Anson shook his head. “In public, I am her husband. How the fuck do we explain who the hell you are if paparazzi catches us at the fucking doctor?”
“Tell them you fuck me too,” Cole snapped. “I don’t give a shit. I’m going.”
Anson let out a growl of frustration and threw his hands in the air while ranting about how things had to be done a certain way, or it would cause more harm than good, and how for five years he’s kept it all together…
“Cole,” I said, reaching for him.
“Rosebud,” he murmured, immediately drawing me into his arms as Anson continued to rant and rave in the distance while Klaus and Evan tried to offer solutions.
“This is important that we do things a certain way,” I said gently. “Ani is right. Publicly, he’s my husband.”
“But he’s not,” he replied softly. “I-I could be too. I’ll get you a ring to go with the others—”
I pressed my finger to his soft lips to stop him from talking. His blue eyes searched me.
“Please,” I whispered. “I will call you the moment the appointment is over.”
“Rosalie, I am begging you,” he said, his voice choked. “I missed out on Ellis. Please. I don’t want to miss out on this. Let me go with you. Fuck, baby. I need to be there for this.”
He held me tightly at the waist and rested his forehead against mine.
“I’ll do anything, Rosebud. Please let me come with you.”
I closed my eyes. “OK.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“God, I fucking love you.” He crushed his lips against mine and dragged me against his body.
“Damnit,” Anson grumbled as we broke apart. “Listen, Scott—”
“I have a suit. I can pretend to be security,” Cole said immediately.
Anson narrowed his eyes at him.
“That’s not a bad idea. I’m impressed,” Klaus said with a chuckle. Evan winked at me, making me smile. I was honestly surprised Anson didn’t think of it, but then again, he may have and just didn’t want to mention it since the pair weren’t exactly best friends.
“Fine. Go get dressed. Hurry up,” Anson said, giving in.
Cole grinned and left the room. I turned to Anson.
“That was sweet of you not to fight him on it.”
“LeeLee, in case you missed it, I definitely did fight him. But fuck, he’s like a little kid. The joy on his damn face.” Anson sighed. “He drives me nuts, but he sure knows how to work the crowd.”
I kissed him sweetly. “Thank you.”
“Mm, baby, you know I’d do anything for you.”
“When you get back, we can discuss our trip,” Klaus said from his spot on the couch.
“Trip?” My heart jumped excitedly in my chest. “No one had mentioned a trip.”
“Yes.” Klaus’s eyes sparkled. He pulled out an envelope from his suit pocket.
I immediately went to him. I dropped to my knees in front of him as he sat forward. Anson walked over and sat beside him, Evan on his other side.
I took the envelope from him and opened it to see plane tickets inside, along with all the information for the wedding venue.
“Oh my god,” I whispered. “Really? This week?”
“If you’re OK with it,” Anson said immediately. “If you’re not, we can wait, but we thought we’d do it before the tour kicked off and things got hectic with the baby.”
“Yes. A million times yes,” I said, reaching for the pair.
They fell into the hug, both of them holding me tightly as Evan joined in.
“I’m so excited! I-I have to call Jamie—”
“Do it after the appointment in case you want to tell her that too,” Anson said.
He was right. I’d have so much to tell her. It was short notice, but I needed her with me for this.
“I love you guys.” I kissed each of them and was just pulling away when Cole returned.
“Why is everyone having a group hug?” he asked, frowning at us in his suit.
Damn, he looked good.
“We were just talking about our wedding,” Anson said, getting up.
“Wedding?” Cole frowned. “That’s not a real thing, right? Like you guys just do, like, a commitment ceremony and call it good?”
“No.” Anson smirked at him. “We’re legally doing it. Hell, Enzo should know all about it. He’s one of the guys pushing legislation so hard to legalize harem marriages in the states.”
“I know, but… I’m lost. It’s not legal yet.”
“That’s why we’re flying out this week to do it where it is legal,” Anson said, holding his hand out to me. “Come, baby. We’ll be late.”
I slid my palm against his and let him lead me out, Cole following behind. Ellis was in her ballet room that the guys had made for her, working with Trix, so this worked out well for us.
Ryder pulled the blacked-out SUV up, and we got into the back with Cole.
“You’re fucking getting married this week?” Cole demanded.
“Oh, good. You told him,” Ryder called out.
“Shut up, ass munch,” Cole snapped before focusing on me. “Rosalie… no.”
“No?” I frowned at him.
“Scott, you’re treading on thin ice,” Anson said to him. “Don’t start your shit.”
“I’m not. I just… why do you have to do it?” His voice lowered, and he looked at his hands.
“Because I love them and want to make it official,” I said.
“What about… me?” He finally looked at me.
“We’re just… starting over.”
“I know, but what if I want to marry you? We already have Ellis together. It makes sense if we marry.”
“You snooze, you lose,” Anson said.
“Fuck off, Ass Hat. Seriously,” Cole replied.
“Stop. Both of you.” I sighed. “Cole, just give it time, OK?”
“So you’re saying we have a chance at marriage?” He stared at me with so much concern and fear on his face that it broke my heart.
“Yeah. I think we do. It’s a long way away.”
“Why is it a long way away?” he asked. “I loved you long before Ass Hat and Ass Nut ever did. Why do I have to wait?”
“Cole, we only just started to try again,” I said gently.
“Don’t you think we’ll last?”
I sighed. “I’m not saying we won’t, but don’t you think it would really suck if we did this and things don’t work out?”
“So they might not work out with you and me, but you’re sure they’ll work out with the other two. Nice.” He stared out his window wordlessly.
I looked at Anson for help, but he was frowning.
“Please don’t take it personally. It’s just something we should wait on. We had a good weekend. We need to have more of those. You and Ani still don’t get along—”
“You’re right.” Cole nodded. “I need to fucking relax about it. I get it, but I’m going to marry you too. Someday, my ring is going to be on your finger right next to this dickweed’s.”
Anson chuckled. “God, you’re a fucking nightmare. When are you going to grow up?”
“Grow up? Fuck you. You don’t know shit about me or my life—”
“So enlighten me,” Anson said.
“Fuck off.” Cole looked out the window again. I knew he was upset, so I didn’t push him.
While I did want to explore the possibility of marrying Cole, I also knew it wasn’t something I could just jump into.
I knew Ani and Klaus. We’d been together for years.
I knew they were forever for me. With Cole, his world was volatile, and we still had no clue whether he would stay with Enzo or join us.
We wanted to give him the time to decide that, but it was hard because we were stuck in the in-between, waiting to see if leaving his life was even worth it for him.
I assumed it was, but he and the horsemen were best friends.
Ride or die. I wasn’t sure what was happening there, and it scared me.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence. When we reached the doctor’s office Anson had booked me at, we went in through the back door, Cole with us, his eyes taking everything in. Ryder stayed in the SUV.
“Welcome,” one of the office women greeted us. “Come on. We have everything set up for you.”
She ushered us into a room before we were seen. Anson already had them sign NDAs. I told him it was unnecessary because of HIPAA laws, but he’d looked at me like that didn’t mean shit.
“Oh, sir. We have a waiting room over here you can wait in.” The woman gestured for Cole to follow her.
“He’s with us,” Anson said immediately. “He stays.”
“Oh.” She raised her brows. “Security?”
“Yes. Thank you,” Anson replied tightly.
She glanced at Cole again, her cheeks pink. She was young and pretty, and Cole always had that effect on women.
She closed us in, and he sat in one of the chairs.
“It’s like being at work, huh?” Anson asked.
“Depends on which job,” Cole muttered. “If you’re referring to my doctor work, yes. If you’re referring to my enforcer gig… well, sometimes.”
“It’s weird. You’re on both sides of the same coin. The good guy, who saves people, and the bad guy, who kills them. Does that get tiring to live a double life?” Anson asked.
“Ani,” I murmured.
“Yes,” Cole replied. “It does. It’s why I’m considering leaving one life for the other.”
Anson huffed and took the seat next to me.
We were quiet again. The doctor entered the room, thankfully.
“Hello. You must be Rosalie,” she said, smiling at me. “I’m Doctor Sims.”
“Hi,” I greeted her.
“Looks like we need a set of vitals.” She immediately set to work and got all my vitals before taking in my information for my last period.
She quickly drew my blood to do a more accurate test and handed me a gown to put on before vowing to return shortly.
“How’d she do, doc?” Anson called out as I quickly put the gown on.
“Fine,” Cole muttered.
I smiled as I got back onto the table. It was crazy to think Cole was a doctor.
“Doctor Scott,” I murmured, staring at Cole.
He looked at me, his expression softening, and the harsh lines of irritation slipping away.
“I’m proud of you,” I continued softly.