41. Rosalie
ROSALIE
“It’s pretty,” I murmured, staring at the apartment Klaus got us, my phone in hand. “Klaus… this is… wow.”
“You love it?” Klaus called out through the video call.
“I do. It’s just so… Gosh. Wow. Really. I love it. I love you. Thank you so much for this.”
“Oh, hummingbird, anything for you, my love. I wanted to tell you that I’ll be able to fly in with Evan and Anson in a few days.”
“You all are coming?” I asked, excitement blooming in my chest.
“Absolutely. We only have a couple of days, but we want to be with our family,” Klaus continued.
“Oh god. I would love that,” I said. “I miss you all so much. I hate us being apart.”
“That’s something we want to talk to you about when we get there,” Klaus said. “I’ve been married to you for only days, and you’re too far away. I want to remedy that.”
“What do you mean?”
He chuckled as he stared back at me from behind the screen.
“We’ll talk when we get there. I’ll have Evan and Anson call you when they get in, although Anson may be quite late since he is doing a gig tonight with a new band he signed.
I think you should take this time with Ryder and enjoy yourself. ”
“Enjoy myself?” I ran my fingers along built-in bookcases on a wall in the long hallway upstairs. “You mean go out and ride motorcycles? Ani would lose it.”
Klaus laughed softly. “Ride something, baby.”
I frowned at his words. “I don’t understand.”
“Oh, I love you, baby girl. So much. We’ll talk soon, OK? I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can hold you again.”
I smiled at that. “I can’t wait.”
“Take care of our little bun, my love,” he murmured. “I love you.”
“I will. I love you too.”
We hung up, and I sighed as I stared around at the place. Klaus had really outdone himself with this one. I knew it had cost a ton, but he was always buying and selling real estate. I was sure this was just another one of his deals.
“Red?” Ryder called out. “Where are you?”
“Mm, looking at my new room,” I shouted down the hall before I stepped into the pretty bedroom with the walk-out balcony.
Ryder found me as I twirled a circle.
“Don’t you love it?”
“It suits you,” he said, smiling as he looked around. “The guys put a lot of thought into this, and shelled out a pretty penny to get it done fast.”
I could still smell the lavender paint on the walls.
I grinned and sat on the edge of the massive bed. I knew they definitely planned for us to sleep together here when they came to visit.
“Did you see Ellis’s room down the hall?”
I shook my head and stood. Ryder held his hand out to me, and I took it, letting him steer me out of my room and down the hall to Ellis’s.
“Oh wow,” I murmured, taking in the ballet-themed baby pink room. They’d even had a pretty little pink canopy bed put in for her. Loads of toys and a dollhouse. It had literally everything she’d love.
“They’re so amazing,” I whispered.
“Lucky girl,” Ryder said, squeezing my hand. “Come on. I want to show you what my contribution was.”
He tugged my hand and led me out of the room and back to the kitchen. He released my hand, and I watched as he opened all the cupboards. They were completely stocked with food and the best pots and pans. He had everything here.
“You did the kitchen?”
“Anson and me,” he said. “But this… this is from me.”
I watched as he picked up a single red rose and brought it to me.
“Oh, Ryder,” I whispered. “It’s pretty. I love red roses.”
“I know,” he murmured. “I’d have filled the place with them, but unfortunately, the worst florist in the city is on our block. Go figure.”
I chuckled but reached for him. He came wordlessly, and I hugged him tightly.
“Thank you. It’s perfect.”
“I’d get you an entire rose garden if I could,” he said softly. My heart jumped at his words, and a surge of feelings rushed through me. I forced them down and pulled away from him.
“I’m going to put it in some water,” I said, knowing damn well my cheeks were red.
He stared at me, something on his face I didn’t recognize, but I turned my back in case he could see what I was feeling.
I was in too damn deep.