2. Rosalie
TWO
ROSALIE
“ D amnit.” I tugged at my curls, frustration coursing through me. I couldn’t hit the notes. It didn’t matter what I did. It wasn’t working.
“You’re stressed.” Anson glanced at me from his spot at the piano. “You usually do great?—”
“Ani,” I warned, sighing and going to sit next to him at the piano. “I think we need to change keys. I can’t do it.”
“You can.” He played the music on the piano, his fingers flying quickly over the keys.
I watched, mesmerized by him. There wasn’t an instrument he couldn’t play.
He had an ear for music and could turn anything he heard into a masterpiece.
I liked to joke with him and tell him he was Mozart reincarnated.
He’d laugh and bump my shoulder with his before continuing with whatever song he was working on.
I listened as he slowed to hit the accompanying high notes. His voice sounded out, perfectly in tune with the music. The note faded, and he looked over at me.
“If I can do it, so can you.”
“You took it down an octave,” I muttered.
He smirked at me. “Well, I’m not a soprano, so I do what I can.”
I sighed and shook my head, not feeling like trying again but knowing I had to.
“OK. That’s it.” He closed the lid over the piano keys and got to his feet before I could open my mouth. I stared up at him as he grabbed my bag.
“What are you doing? We still have half an hour left.”
“LeeLee, you’re right. This isn’t working. You need a break. I’m giving you one. You coming?” He lifted his brows at me.
I hesitated momentarily, knowing everything was hell at home since the guys had been on Dominic watch duty. He’d tried to kill himself, and they’d been holed up at the hospital all night.
I’d been stressing out over it, my fear growing. If something this awful could happen to someone like Dominic De Santis and his wife, it could happen to anyone. I tried not to think about it because Enzo and I would be married in only a few months. It could be us.
“Earth to Rosalie.” Anson waved his hand in front of my face.
I blinked rapidly and focused on him.
“Sorry. I was just thinking.”
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I sighed.
“OK, a whole dollar for your thoughts.” Anson opened the music room door for me, and we stepped out.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just, I don’t know, Ani. I was thinking about how something so tragic happened to Dominic and Bianca and how it-it could happen to Enzo and me or any of us?—”
Anson rounded on me, sending my heart hammering in surprise.
“That will never happen to you, Rosalie. Ever. Do you hear me? I’d fucking die before that day comes.
” His blue eyes flashed with meaning. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and studying me.
“As long as I’m here, you will be safe. No matter what.
The last thing I want you to do is worry about stuff like this. I promise I’ll always protect you.”
I sucked in a breath and offered him a smile; the way he expressed himself made me fully understand how invested he was.
And I hated that for him. I didn’t want him so invested in my life that he’d sacrifice his. It wasn’t right. My desire was for no one to get hurt or die for me.
“I wouldn’t want you to?—”
“LeeLee, understand this, OK? There are some things worth dying for. You’re one of them. I’m not going to be swayed on the subject. When I tell you you’re safe, I mean it. Now, no more arguing with me over it.” He gave me a stern look. “Let’s go. I’m going to take your mind off things.”
Fixing a smile on my face, I followed him out, wondering what he could possibly have planned for us on such short notice.
“Sundae Funday,” I mused, shaking my head as we stood in line inside a build-your-own sundae shop near the Mayfair campus. “I thought you didn’t like ice cream shops.”
Anson’s lips quirked up for a moment. “I’m making an exception. Plus, you always look at this place when we pass by. I figured we needed to check it out.”
I grinned at him before stepping forward to the girl behind the counter. I had been eyeing the place. With its colorful storefront and seemingly endless stream of smiling patrons, it seemed like a shop I needed to be in.
“What can I get you?” The young woman smiled at me, but her attention quickly drifted to Anson, her cheeks flushing. I was sure I’d seen her on campus before.
“Uh, I’d like the Death by Chocolate sundae with caramel and strawberries.”
“OK, that’ll be eight forty-eight?—”
I opened my purse to take out some cash, but Anson wrapped his hand around mine without looking at me and spoke to the girl.
“Hey,” he said, his voice smooth.
“Hey,” she answered, the flush spreading over her skin.
“I want a Cookies and Cream sundae. Extra chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Put her order on mine. I’m paying.”
I knew he’d do that. He had a thing about making sure he paid for everything whenever we went out.
While I had no problem footing the bill myself, I was running low on cash.
I survived using my savings, but that was becoming depleted.
The last thing I wanted to do was ask the guys for money, even if I knew they’d hand it to me without question.
My goal in life was to make my way, not have it made for me.
I wandered away, not wanting to listen to the girl ask Anson about the t-shirt he was wearing beneath his leather jacket.
I didn’t often see him dressed so casually, but the look suited him.
Band tees and ripped jeans were a great look for him.
Add his good looks and natural charm, he made girls blush when he walked by.
I chose a table near a window overlooking a small garden. The green from spring was beginning to sprout, overtaking the drab brown world. I stared outside, imagining how beautiful the garden would look once the flowers bloomed.
Moments later, Anson came over and placed my sundae in front of me before taking the chair across from where I sat.
“That is a lot of chocolate,” he commented, smiling as I slid the sundae closer.
“I added caramel to offset it.” I picked up the spoon and dipped it into the gooey mess before taking a bite.
The sweet, chocolatey flavors overtook my mouth, making me let out a soft moan.
Anson visibly tightened his hold on his spoon and cleared his throat.
“Good, LeeLee?”
“Mm, so good.”
He shifted in his seat before taking a quick bite of his sundae.
“How is yours?” I asked.
“Good.” He took two more bites, not looking at me.
“The girl behind the counter was checking you out.”
“I’m aware. She gave me her number.”
“Oh.” I twirled my spoon in my sundae, my heart moving quickly but not out of excitement. I couldn’t quite place the feeling. All I knew was that it didn’t feel good.
Clearing my throat, I offered him a smile when he looked at me. “Good. You-You should call her. Go on a date or something.”
“Or something?” He raised his brows at me. “What’s or something ?”
I could feel my cheeks heat. “I just mean you’re a young, good-looking guy. I’m sure y-you have needs.”
He nodded and put another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. “You’re right. I do.”
My smile shook. “So you should call her. She’s pretty. She seemed nice?—”
“I’m not interested.” He dipped his spoon into his bowl again.
“You’re not?”
He looked at me and offered me a sad smile. “I’m not. My life is good. I’m happy with how things are. I’m not interested in dating.”
“Oh. Well, I mean…” my voice trailed off. I knew he’d been through a breakup with Alice not long ago. The sudden ending of their relationship and her leaving abruptly had left him moody and withdrawn. Maybe he wasn’t ready for dating just yet. I knew I wouldn’t be if it had happened to me.
His phone buzzed, saving me from figuring out what to say next.
He pulled it from his pocket and answered.
“Hello? Yeah. Uh, yeah. Nothing?” He swore softly.
“Damn. Well, keep trying. I need to find out anything I can. No, I’ll come out tonight.
Yeah, man. That’s fine. OK. See you tonight.
” He disconnected the call and went back to his ice cream.
I had no idea what the conversation had been about, but it wasn’t my business.
“Have you spoken to Fox?” I asked after a few moments of silence.
He wiped his mouth with his napkin and nodded, swallowing his mouthful of ice cream before answering. “Yeah, actually, he texted me at the counter. He’s coming home tonight to stay.”
I breathed out. The guys hadn’t been answering me all day. I assumed they were busy with whatever was happening at the hospital. Not wanting to bother them when I knew they were already stressed, I hadn’t pursued chasing them down. I knew they’d reach out when they got some time.
“Did he say what time?”
He shook his head. “Not really. Just said later.”
“Well, if you want, you can drop me off at home to go out with your friends. I don’t mind you taking a night off.”
“Not happening. I’ll go out when Fox relieves me.”
“Ani, you’re tired too. The guys and I run you ragged. It’s not fair to you?—”
“I’m happy to be doing this. Plus, I get to spend time with my favorite person. What else do I have to do? Go home and watch TV alone in my empty apartment?” He shook his head. “Trust me. I’m more than happy to be helping out.”
I sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to relent.
“Have you spoken to, um, your dad?”
“No. Let’s talk about something not related to the world we’re in. Something fun. I’m supposed to be distracting you. I’m failing.”
I studied him as he continued to eat his ice cream, noting how tired and sad he looked.
I hated that he did. All I wanted to do was pull him close and tell him everything would be OK.
He wasn’t the sort of person to show his emotions or the things bothering him.
I wish he’d open up more because I was sure I could help him.
Or Fox could, since they’d gotten close the last few weeks.
“Um, I-I think I have Cole and Enzo talking about getting a cat.”