46. Rosalie
FORTY-SIX
ROSALIE
I woke up with Anson’s arms still wound tightly around me.
I bit my bottom lip as I stared at his face.
He had several days of dark stubble growing.
His long, sooty lashes fanned across his cheeks.
His black hair was a mess. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and his tattooed skin lay beneath my fingertips.
And the marks on his neck. Whoever he’d been with last night had definitely left hickeys.
I exhaled softly, unsure about what was happening, why Fox agreed to this, or how he got the guys to agree.
All I knew was that getting a phone call from some angry woman in the middle of the night after he’d fucked her hadn’t sat well with me.
Anson wasn’t my guy. He wasn’t an option as far as Cole and Enzo were concerned, but that didn’t mean I wanted to hear about all the women he was screwing, and I definitely didn’t want them calling me after he said my name during it.
My face heated at the thought of him thinking about me like that. I knew what he’d said last night, but I forced myself to brush the words away because he was so drunk.
It had been weeks since the guys and I had any issues.
Everything had been amazing and so refreshing after the disastrous engagement dinner with his parents.
Things were on the up again, and for that, I was grateful.
However, the real fear that a night babysitting Anson may have set us back again hurt my stomach.
I slowly wiggled free from his hold without disturbing him.
When I reached the end of the bed and stood, Fox opened his eyes and stared at me.
I glanced at Anson and then back to him, hoping he understood I wanted to go before there was some weird, awkward morning after.
He seemed to get it because he carefully got out of bed and grabbed his jeans.
Wanting to leave before Anson woke, I quickly changed out of his sweatpants and put my skirt back on, then came out to meet Fox at the end of the bed. He checked Anson again and led me out of his apartment without a word. Neither of us spoke until we were in my car and heading back to the house.
“Fox?”
“I told the guys he was wasted, and I didn’t want to leave him in case his ass died,” Fox answered, glancing over at me as he drove my car.
“And to answer your next question, Enzo wasn’t happy, but he agreed and said not to fuck you in front of him again.
Cole raged. E said if we needed him, we could call, and he’d come help. ”
I nodded and licked my lips. “About sleeping with him?—”
“It didn’t happen. We slept on the couch.” He shot me a pointed look.
“I don’t want to lie?—”
“Rosalie, please. I understand the entire situation was weird and fucked, but it happened. Nothing happened past some sleeping. I agreed to it, so no harm, no foul. He didn’t try for anything, right?”
I shook my head. “No. He fell asleep.”
Fox nodded. “So it’s fine. It was only sleeping.
I think Enzo and E would let something like that go.
You know how Cole is. I don’t want more fighting.
That shit won’t happen again. The next time he gets shitfaced and fucks some chick in a bathroom stall and pisses her off, he’s on his own, OK?
Our lives are dicked up enough as it is without adding more to it. ”
“What if he’d have tried for more?” I whispered, looking over at him.
Fox didn’t look at me as he answered. “I honestly don’t know. It didn’t happen, so we don’t need to dwell on it.”
We both grew quiet. He finally spoke again after several long minutes.
“I’d have been OK with it.”
“What?” I looked over at him.
“You and Anson. I’d have been OK with it. But it can’t happen unless all the guys are good with it.”
“I’d never?—”
“Rosie, baby, I know you would never do that without all of us on board with it. Maybe someday, that’ll change. I definitely don’t guarantee it, but the possibility is there.”
I said nothing and opted to look out the window. I honestly didn’t know what to think. I was so angry and hurt by Anson’s recent actions, but I also knew he thought stepping back was doing us a favor.
It was still a lonely life without him. I had the guys, and I loved them, but Anson added something extra to everything.
Pushing the thought away, I stared out the window until I couldn’t take it any longer.
“I’m going to tell Enzo we slept in the same bed as him.”
“Rosalie,” he warned. “I thought we were over having fights. You know that will set him off. And Cole? For fuck’s sake, let it go.”
I shrugged. “I don’t want to keep secrets from him or any of the guys.”
“I highly recommend keeping this one.”
I said nothing, going back to stare out the window.
When we got home, we went inside. It was still really early, but Enzo was sitting up waiting for us in the living room. Immediately, he was on his feet and dragging me into his arms.
“Thank god you’re home. I worried about you guys,” he said, kissing my temple fiercely.
“It was fine. He probably won’t even remember half the shit he said or did last night,” Fox said, going to the loveseat to sit. Enzo led me back to the couch, pulled me down on his lap, and held me.
“Tell me everything,” Enzo said at once.
Fox shot me a look, warning me not to, but I didn’t want secrets.
“He asked us to stay with him,” I said. “In his room with him.”
Enzo stiffened. “What?”
Fox sighed and tugged at his hair.
“Nothing happened. We just slept,” I said.
“He was fucked up,” Fox added. “Honestly, I was concerned for his safety.”
Enzo said nothing for a long time before finally cradling my face and making me look at him.
“Nothing happened?” he asked softly.
“Nothing,” I repeated. “Fox never even kissed me in front of him. We only slept. We left before he woke.”
Enzo closed his dark eyes and breathed out before looking at me. “OK. I’m OK with that.”
“Really?” I crinkled my brows at him.
“Yes. I’m glad you told me. I don’t like it, but I can’t change what happened. He needed you, and you helped a friend. It’s done and over now. We can move on.”
“I love you.” I kissed him. He kissed me back, his hold on me tight.
“I love you too. Cole was upset you stayed there last night,” Enzo murmured against my lips. “Maybe we should wake him up to tell him you’re home. Show him what a good girl you are.”
I liked the sound of that. I looked to Fox, who offered me a relieved smile.
“Do you want to come?” I asked.
He let out a soft chuckle. “Of course I want to come , baby, but I actually can’t. I have training this morning with Coach and the guys.”
I groaned, remembering he had to do that.
“E is supposed to come with me and do some pictures,” Fox continued, pulling his phone out and sending a message. He’d barely hit send when Ethan came into the room looking happy.
“Morning. Got your text. I’m ready,” he said, coming over to me and planting a kiss on my lips. “How was last night?”
“It was fine. We just slept,” I said.
“Mm, good. Is Anson OK?” Ethan continued.
“I don’t know. He was way too drunk to talk, and we left before he woke.
” I glanced to see Fox looking thoughtful.
He’d voiced his concerns to me about Anson last night when we went to pick him up.
He’d been in the room when the call from the girl had come through.
Luckily, he didn’t hesitate to nod and agreed to go to get him with me.
Enzo had wanted to come too, but after Cole’s bitching, he relented, knowing Cole would end up following and things would get ugly.
It was over now, though.
“Well, I’m sure he’s fine.” Ethan grabbed his camera bag and grinned at us. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“You look excited,” I commented. These last few weeks, Ethan had been a bright, shining light. I loved it for him. He seemed so much happier and at peace. I didn’t want it to end.
“I am. I haven’t shot live-action like this in forever. I bought a new lens I want to try too.”
“Have fun,” Enzo called out as Fox clapped Ethan on the back. They each came to me with a kiss before calling their goodbyes and leaving me alone with Enzo.
“You’re really OK with Anson?” I asked.
“Mhmm,” he said, kissing my neck.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, baby. You came right home and told me. Honesty apparently gets my dick hard.”
“Really?” I angled my neck for him. He ran his hand up my bare thigh.
“Did he touch you at all?”
“He hugged me and wouldn’t let go when he went to sleep.”
“Did you like it?”
I frowned at his question. He kept kissing along my neck.
“I don’t know. It was awkward.”
“Good. I don’t want you to like it.”
I let out a squeak as he lifted me suddenly, cradling me in his arms as he took us to the stairs. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we ascended.
“Then why did you ask?” I inquired.
“I don’t know. My dick is hard, and all I can think about is waking Cole up and fucking you with him.”
I accepted his answer, even if I found it confusing. Enzo took us into my room, where Cole had slept. Naked, he was sprawled across my bed, the sheets tangled around him.
Enzo placed me beside him and quickly took his own clothes off. He raised a brow at me, and I hastily undressed.
“Come here,” Enzo whispered, gesturing for me to follow him between Cole’s legs.
“What are we doing?”
“Well, I’d like to fuck with him if we could. He’s always going on about me sucking his dick.”
“Are you going to?” My heart raced at watching something like that between the two of them.
“Like I’d give him the satisfaction,” he chuckled softly. “No. Just go up and kiss him. I’ll mess with him.”
I had no idea what he would do, but I was eager to find out. As carefully as I could, I moved further up Cole’s body and kissed his chest. His neck. His lips.
Enzo was busy doing something to Cole, but I had no clue what it was because I was trying to wake him.
Cole let out a soft murmur, my name on his lips.
“Mm, Rosebud.” He tugged me against him, and I snuggled, my hand splayed over his abdomen. He froze for a moment.