Chapter 82 Anson
EIGHTY-TWO
ANSON
Iwatched while Klaus sank the striped ball as he shot pool, Alessio shaking his head irritably.
Drake chuckled and sipped his drink. Matteo watched from his seat at the bar in his den, his eyes trained on Klaus.
“If I sucked as much as you, I’d never play again,” Klaus quipped.
Alessio grumbled and called him a name in Italian, which only made Klaus laugh.
Drake raised his brows at that and shot a look over at me.
Klaus never laughed or joked around. In fact, every day this week, Klaus was seemingly happy. He was whistling and smiling a hell of a lot for a natural born killer.
He finished off the game, beating Alessio. I watched him put the pool cue up before going and grabbing a drink.
“Who is the woman?” Matteo asked as Klaus drank.
“Klaus does not date,” Alessio said, nodding for Drake to play. Drake stood and grabbed a pool stick as Alessio gathered the balls again. “He fucks them and walks away.”
“Who is the woman?” Matteo repeated as Klaus drained his glass and poured another drink.
“How do you know it’s a woman?” I asked. “Maybe he just had fun kicking Alessio’s ass.”
Alessio scowled at me, making Drake chortle.
“Because he has been out every night this week, sleeping not here, and…” Matteo nodded to Klaus. “He has a fading mark on his neck. So he’s getting laid several times a week, or he’s met someone. What is her name?”
Klaus wiped his mouth. “Her name is unimportant.”
“So there is a woman,” I said, interested that the big, grouchy bastard could hook a woman who could stand his attitude. “Where did you meet her?”
“Club.”
“Which one?” Alessio asked, seemingly interested now that Klaus had confirmed he was seeing someone.
“Blades.” Klaus drank again, looking uncomfortable.
“And you played quickly to get back to her,” Matteo said.
“It is my night off,” Klaus said. “I would like to go to her, yes.”
“On a date?” Drake asked.
Klaus scowled at him. “No.”
“She must be a good lay to keep him interested,” Alessio said, smirking at Klaus. “I don’t know him to stay with a woman for longer than a night.”
“Have you told Levin?” Drake asked.
Klaus’s scowl turned into a glare. “No. It is not necessary. We are merely two people who get along.”
“And fuck,” Matteo finished. “Bring her to me. I want to meet her.”
“Fine.” Klaus finished off his drink. “But not yet. She will decide when she is ready.”
Matteo studied him for a moment before inclining his head. “So be it.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Klaus said before leaving without another word.
“Is it weird for him to date?” I asked, watching as Drake sank his shot.
“Quite,” Matteo replied, watching Drake knock the next ball in.
“He’s allowed to, right?”
“He is,” Matteo murmured. “It’s simply unusual.”
“He seems happy,” I commented, thinking about how damn miserable I was. I hadn’t spoken to Rosalie in almost two weeks. I pulled out my phone and opened the texts from her. The last one was sent exactly two weeks ago. I spent a lot of my time replaying our kiss in my head. Fuck, I missed her.
I was a shitty friend.
But hell, it hurt to want her and not have her.
I sent her a message, deciding we needed to catch up. It wasn’t right that we were so close yet so far away.
Anson: Hey, I was wondering if you’d like to get dinner sometime. Maybe see a movie or catch a show? I heard Hicks is doing an open showcase tomorrow night. We could check out the talent, or lack thereof.
I waited for her reply, and it came a moment later.
Rosalie: Sure. What time?
Anson: Depends. Dinner first?
Rosalie: Let’s just do the show. I work tomorrow.
Anson: Sounds good. Want me to pick you up at the hotel?
Rosalie: No. I’m not there anymore. I’ll meet you.
I frowned at that information. Where the hell was she? It made me feel even shittier that I didn’t know. I’d wait to ask her, though.
Anson: Sounds good. See you at eight.
Rosalie: Perfect.
I drummed my fingers on my thigh for a moment before sending the next message.
Anson: I’m excited. It’s been too long.
Rosalie: Me too :)
I smiled at that. Everything was OK.
I looked at my watch, frowning. It was fifteen minutes after eight, and Rosalie was late. For as long as I’ve known her, she was never late to a damn thing, and if she were going to be, she’d reach out to me.
I pulled my phone out, ready to call her, when she rushed up beside me.
“Hey,” I said, taking her in. Beautiful as always, her curls cascading around her, and a pretty black dress on that flared at her waist, and her high-heeled black booties in place.
“Hey. Sorry. I-I got sidetracked on something.”
I frowned and reached out instinctively and pushed her curls back to see that she’d tried to cover a hickey with makeup where her neck met her shoulder. While hidden, it still managed to peek through the makeup she’d applied over it.
My blood ran cold as I let my hand fall away.
“Who’s the guy?” I asked tightly.
“Oh, um, just someone I met at work.”
I raised my brows at that, trying to keep my irritation at bay. “Like a line cook or busboy?”
She bristled at my words. “Don’t be a jerk, Ani.”
“Is he?”
“No,” she muttered. “He works in finance. He comes in for coffee sometimes.”
“Is it serious?” I pressed, really fucking hoping she told me no.
“It’s just for fun. No strings attached.”
I blinked at that. There was no fucking way she had a friend with benefits. That wasn’t how my LeeLee was.
I snorted, making her frown deepen.
“You’re just randomly getting laid? Is that what you’re telling me?”
She scowled. “What’s wrong with you? You asked me to hang out. I-I thought it would be fun, not twenty questions—”
“Are you having sex with this guy?” I pressed.
“Yes.”
Fuck. My heart shattered so fucking hard I was sure the entire city could hear it crash to the pavement.
“LeeLee… why?” My voice was strained as I stared at her.
“Because…” She looked around. “I’m human. I want to feel again. I want to have fun. I want to live.”
“It’s not you, LeeLee. You’re not this person. The girl I know would be focused on her future. I-I talked to Alex a few days ago. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to hang out tonight. He’s still waiting for you to sign the contract—”
“I don’t want to sign the damn contract, Anson!” she shouted at me. A few people turned to look at us, but fuck them.
“What else are you going to do? Work tables and marry rich? I don’t understand. You’re not in school. You’re not singing. You’re just… I don’t even know anymore.”
“I-I don’t know either. I’m trying to figure it out. I don’t even know who I am anymore, Ani.” Her bottom lip trembled as she stared at me. “I’m scared. I’m angry. I’m hurt. I’m… lost. I’m so fucking alone. So please, stop reading me the riot act. I want to have a good night.”
“Is this because I-I can’t right now?” I stepped closer to her.
“Because I’ve been distant? I don’t want to be distant from you.
It’s killing me inside. I want you so fucking much, Rosalie.
When I’m with you, all I can think about is kissing you.
Making love to you. Whispering so many promises in your ear that you’ll realize I’m worth it.
That it’s all worth it.” I’d moved so close to her now that our bodies were touching. She had to look up at me.
“I don’t want you to fall in love with someone else. I’m selfish. I want you to fall in love with me,” I whispered, reaching out and cradling her face.
“But you’re getting married,” she said, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“I-I…” I closed my eyes. “I know. Fuck, baby. I’m lost too.” I shifted and placed my hands on her waist and rested my forehead against hers. “It’s wrong of me to ask you to wait. I know it is, but hell, this is killing me.”
We stood in silence for a moment.
“You need to sing. That’s what I know. You were given a gift and an opportunity. You need to do something with it. I-I think it’ll take you to where you need to go in life.”
“Alone,” she whispered.
I tightened my hands on her waist, knowing what she was saying. If I married Bianca, I couldn’t just drag her and the babies out on the road to handle Rosalie’s career. It wouldn’t work.
“Even if it is alone, for just a bit, you have to do it,” I said. “You have to, LeeLee. I will always be your biggest fan. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“Don’t marry her,” she blurted out, freezing me. “I-I know you have to, but god, Anson, don’t. Please.”
I closed my eyes, really fucking hating all of this. Torn between what was right and what I truly wanted.
“I-I have to. It’s what’s right. I made a promise.
I-I have to honor it. I couldn’t live with knowing something bad happened to her or the babies because I was being selfish.
That’s not who I am, Rosalie. You know that’s not who I am.
Please, don’t ask it of me. She’s counting on me. I can’t back out.”
“I know. I-I know.” She exhaled before going up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips against my cheek. It was a quick kiss, and I was barely able to respond to it before she broke away from me.
“I think I’m going to go home.”
“LeeLee, no.” I reached out for her as she backed away.
“Timing is off.” She smiled sadly at me, crushing my heart. “Like always, right?”
“Fuck, don’t go.”
She walked backward away from me. “It’s OK, Ani. I’m going to be OK. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, right? I’ll see you around.” And with those words, she turned and walked away from me.
Devastated, I watched her go, hating myself for being me and this entire fucking world for putting me into this position.
I wasn’t sure what I had to do to get the girl, but I was damn well going to figure it out, because Rosalie Bishop was made to be mine, and come hell or high water, I would make it happen.