Chapter 103
ONE HUNDRED THREE
ROSALIE
We boarded the plane to Colorado. I knew Fox’s parents had owned a cabin there, and Fox loved visiting it when we were kids. Kurt reached out to me and said he’d meet us there for a long weekend before we headed to California.
I hadn’t seen Klaus. Matteo said he was handling some business and would reach out to me when he was done.
Then Matteo kissed my cheek and told me he hoped I liked his gift, which Anson would be giving me once we got to the cabin.
I assumed Anson was telling me he was free now, and we could be together.
I already knew my answer if he asked, too.
“Headphones?” Anson handed me the headset from his carry-on.
I took them and gave him a grateful smile.
“You didn’t bring me any?” Ryder flopped down next to me, and Trent took the aisle seat next to a tiny grandma.
“Do you bake cookies?” Trent asked her. The lady chuckled, but said yes, which sparked his intrigue.
“Fuck, he’s weird,” Ryder muttered as Anson chuckled.
Ryder and Trent were going with us. Anson said we’d need them for security once we started touring. I liked the idea of having people I knew with me, so I eagerly agreed.
The flight was a calm one. Despite the banter between the guys, I couldn’t take my mind off my horsemen.
I would miss them.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, but here I was, flying off to a new life and leaving them behind. They’d left me behind months ago, though. Enzo with his wife and new baby coming. Cole joining them. Ethan…
I wish I could have brought Ethan with me, but I knew he wasn’t ready, and I wasn’t sure I was either.
Maybe someday, though.
It still hurt when I thought about the three of them. I prayed for their safety. Despite how it ended, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to them.
Deep down, I still wanted them, but I knew it was over. It was too much for me to deal with. My future was ahead of me. Fox said not to look back, so I wouldn’t.
For Fox. For me. For whatever lies ahead.
When we landed, Anson went to grab our rental car, and we piled our suitcases inside.
I gave Anson the cabin’s address, but it wasn’t much of one.
The place was literally on a mountain in the middle of nowhere.
Kurt and Fox would go there and hunt when we were growing up.
I got to go one year when I was nine. I hated the hunting part, so I’d stayed back with Amy and we’d baked cookies.
I breathed out as I slid into the passenger seat. It was early fall, so the trees were brilliant shades of yellows and reds.
I said nothing as we drove to the cabin, the guys talking about how many damn tumbleweeds there were.
“This is dicey,” Anson muttered as we took a two-track up the mountain.
“It’s why you rented the fancy All Wheel Drive. Feels like I’m in a Toyota commercial,” Trent said.
We continued to climb the mountain until the log cabin came into view.
“Nice place,” Ryder murmured from the backseat.
Kurt loved this place. It was his pride and joy, which is why I knew he took such good care of it. He’d built it himself and poured his heart into it.
Anson parked, and we got out.
“The code is Fox’s birthday,” I murmured when we got to the door. It didn’t look like Kurt was here yet. He said he might be late getting here since he mentioned he had a few things he needed to do before leaving Chicago.
Anson typed in Fox’s birthday, and the door unlocked.
“Fancy,” Ryder commented as Anson pushed the door open and we stepped inside.
Kurt had obviously not stopped working on the place.
It was always big. The front door opened into the open floor plan living room and kitchen.
It was a massive area with floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio along the windows, which overlooked a stream and a small clearing in the distance.
I’d sat in that clearing with Fox years ago, picking flowers while he’d held binoculars to his eyes, searching in the distance.
“The view is incredible,” Trent said, staring out the window.
“Sure is,” Anson murmured. “Wow. The mountains are beautiful.”
“Fox loved it here,” I said, smiling sadly, tears prickling my eyes. Anson kissed the top of my head tenderly.
“Why don’t you go sit on the patio? It’s a nice afternoon.” Anson smiled at me. “Have some fresh air. We’ll unpack our stuff and start dinner.”
I nodded. I liked that idea. We’d stopped along the way to grab some groceries for the weekend. Kurt said he’d been here recently and had done a restock, but it was better safe than sorry.
I went outside, sat on the rocking chair, and stared out at the view for hours, no one bothering me. Night fell, and I looked up at the stars.
One streaked across the sky. “I wish Fox was still here.” My wish was soft as it fell from my lips.
I closed my eyes, repeating the wish, hoping that when I opened my eyes, the wish would be granted.
But no.
I was still on the patio alone when I opened my eyes.
“Hey, dinner’s ready.” Trent poked his head out. “Are you crying?”
I wiped at my eyes. “I-I’m not.”
“Lying ass.” Trent said, pulling me into his arms as I stood. “Come here.”
I hugged him back as we stood on the patio.
“It’ll be OK, you know,” he said gently. “In time.”
“I know. It’s just getting there is the hard part.”
“I felt the same way when my mom and sister died. It felt like an eternity in hell. But it was OK. Time did help. It doesn’t erase the pain completely, but it’s manageable.” He squeezed me. “Come on. Let’s eat. You can tell us the cool stories about the summer you spent here with Fox.”
I smiled. I liked that idea.
After a long night of telling stories and the guys laughing, I went to bed in the room I used to sleep in when I came here. Ryder and Trent bunked together, and Anson took one of the rooms with the king-size bed, leaving the other for Kurt.
Kurt had called and said he would be here in the morning. I couldn’t wait to see him. Everything had been a mess at the funeral, and I really wanted to hug him. He was a good man. A good father, and I knew he’d lost so much already.
I rolled over and looked at the time. It was after eleven in the morning. Groaning, I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair. Deciding I’d shower before I made an appearance, I went to the attached bathroom and did my business before hopping into the shower.
Once done, I returned to my room. Anson had brought my suitcase in last night.
I pulled out a long, white, flowy dress I’d seen in a window two days ago and put it on.
It was probably way too fancy for a day in a log cabin, but I wanted to feel pretty and walk through the late season flowers which were still blooming in the clearing.
I went to the living room to find Kurt sitting with the guys, minus Anson.
“Rosalie,” he said, fondly, getting to his feet and coming to me.
I fell into his arms and hugged him tightly.
“How are you, darling?” He pulled away and smiled down at me.
“I’m OK.”
“Liar.” He gave me a watery smile. “Anson is outside. He said he has a gift for you from Matteo. He’s by the car.”
“Thank you.” I pulled away and went to the front of the house and stepped outside to see Anson leaning against the SUV.
“Hey,” he greeted me. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” My cheeks heated at his compliment. He held his hands out, and I slid my palms against his.
“I have something for you. It’s from my dad.”
“What is it?” I stared into his pretty blue eyes.
“I-I hope you like it.” His eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “Um, he sent someone to see you.”
“Who?” I crinkled my brows, wondering if Klaus had come.
“His name is Evan.”
“I-I don’t know an Evan.”
“I know, LeeLee. You will, though. Come on.” He led me around the house so we could see the clearing. I saw a tall man with a shaved head, his back to us, gazing out at the scenery. Jeans, a t-shirt. Tattoos on his arms.
“Go see him,” Anson whispered, his voice tight. “He has your gift.”
I glanced at Anson before I walked toward Evan at the edge of the clearing. That clearing ended abruptly on a cliff with a river running below it.
Pretty purple flowers brushed against my dress as I slowly made my way to the man.
And then he turned and looked at me, dark sunglasses over his eyes.
I swear my heart stopped.
Evan…