Chapter 46
COLE
“Hey,” I greeted Rosalie the morning after I’d spoken to Evan on the phone.
As much as I wanted to hang out with Rosalie, her bath went on for a long time, and I got the distinct impression she did it to avoid me, so, not wanting to be a chump, I’d left her room after kissing Ellis’s forehead and went to my room.
There, I lay in bed, going over my conversation with Evan.
Overall, he didn’t seem like a bad guy. He seemed to have his shit together. He was the Hollywood type, so I guess it made sense that he fit in with Rosalie and the guys.
What the fuck did I have to bring to the table? Five years ago, I was the cool guy. Handsome. Rich. Smart. Funny. Now?
Fuck.
I wasn’t much compared to them. To make matters worse, they’d had her longer than I had.
They knew more about her. They’d been through so many things with her.
“Hey,” Rosalie greeted me as she came into the kitchen with her crutches.
“No Ellis?”
“She’s still asleep. I didn’t want to wake her.”
I went back to making pancakes and grumbled as I flipped them, only to find they were burned.
“Damnit,” I muttered. I wasn’t a cook. You needed business handled, and I was your guy. Needed someone killed. Call me. But fucking pancakes? Nope.
All I knew was that I wanted to make breakfast for my family.
I didn’t even realize Rosalie had gotten up until she was at my side.
“What are you doing?”
“Sit. I’ll do this.”
“Your ankle—”
“Sit, Cole.”
I sat, staring at her. She was still in her pink pajama shorts and tiny top. Her red curls were wild and untamed.
She looked damn good.
I wish I could remember our night together. Five years of jerking off with the guys, and I’d ended the streak by fucking the most beautiful woman in the world, only to not remember it.
Figured.
“I talked to Evan last night,” I said.
“He told me.” She didn’t bother looking at me as she worked on fixing my pancake mess. She threw away my runny batter and remade it. I watched, smiling, as she added chocolate chips. She knew my heart.
“I, uh, told him that I wanted to join you guys.”
She placed a pancake onto a plate but didn’t say anything as she made another.
“Rosalie?” I called out tentatively. “Is that OK?”
She slowed her movements and finally looked over her shoulder at me. Her pretty face turned into a scowl before she looked away. For a moment, I thought it was because of me, but then Enzo came into the room.
“Morning,” he said gruffly.
“Morning,” I replied, glancing at Rosalie. I knew Enzo had said he’d make himself scarce.
“I won’t be home until late tonight. I’m meeting E for dinner again,” Enzo said.
“OK. Uh, I have the day off, so I think we’ll just be hanging out here. Right, Rosalie?”
“Right,” she said softly.
She turned and slid a plate of pancakes across the island at me. I grinned. I hadn’t had her food in so long. I caught Enzo staring at her, his dark eyes drinking her in.
He could say he was out, but I fucking knew him. He wanted her just as much as I did.
It didn’t help that she looked mouth-watering in her tiny pajamas either.
Deciding I’d try my luck, I stood and went to her. Carefully, I wound my arms around her waist and nuzzled against her neck. She was stiff in my hold for a moment before she relaxed against me.
“You didn’t answer me,” I murmured in her ear so Enzo couldn’t hear. I glanced at him, watching him watch her, his body tense. He hadn’t moved an inch.
This had to be killing him.
Good. Maybe he’d pull his head out of his ass and try. Fuck Church and his contract. This was our girl. Our future. We could make this work…
“This is what trying looks like,” I continued softly. “Please. Try with me.”
She turned in my arms, her hands on my chest. I inclined my head and was pleased when her soft lips skimmed my cheek.
“Eat, Cole,” she murmured before she pulled away and went back to the stove.
I grinned like a fool and looked at Enzo.
He visibly swallowed as his eyes darted from her to me.
“I hope you have a good day,” I said.
He cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
“Do you want something to eat?” Rosalie asked, placing another pancake onto a plate. She hobbled to him, holding the plate in her hands.
I could tell he was warring with himself. He always loved Rosalie’s pancakes.
Finally, his shit side won.
“I, uh, I need to go. Thank you, though.” He raked his fingers through his hair as he backed away. “Have a good day.”
We watched him leave wordlessly.
He was an idiot.
I looked over to her for a moment to see her staring at the door he’d left through. I went to her, took the plate, set it on the counter, and wrapped my arms around her.
“He’s an idiot,” I murmured. “Your pancakes are great. Come. Let’s eat.”
I released her, and she hobbled wordlessly back to the stove. The fact that she kissed my cheek and wasn’t telling me to fuck off meant maybe we were making progress.
Ellis came into the room in her My Little Pony pajamas.
“Hey, Ellie-gator,” I greeted her.
She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and crawled onto my lap as I settled at the island. I smiled at the gesture. She pulled my pancakes toward her and began to eat.
Rosalie glanced back at her and gave me an apologetic look.
“It’s fine,” I said immediately. “She can have them.”
Rosalie went back to cooking, and within minutes, she’d made a big stack of pancakes along with some scrambled eggs and toast. We all dug in.
I smiled at my two girls, my heart full.
I had a family of my very own.
Maybe wishes did come true.
“No, Daddy! Like this!” Ellis instructed later that evening as she tried to show me a ballet step. I kept fucking them up. Rosalie watched from the couch, a little smile on her face.
She was supposed to get her nails done. Ryder was going to take her, but I begged her to hold out for a few days before running off and leaving me. I had to work tomorrow, so we agreed she’d go with Ellis while I was gone. I just didn’t want to miss a minute of time with her and Ellis.
“Like this?” I asked, trying the move again.
“Yes. Just like that! Very good, Daddy. Now do this.” She made a little arm movement I tried to mimic. It made me lose my balance, and I stumbled again.
“Damnit,” I muttered.
“It’s OK. You will get it. Just keep trying.” Ellis twirled around me.
I didn’t know fuck all about ballet, but I could tell my little girl was talented. She moved so gracefully for someone so small.
“Daddies should be calling soon,” Rosalie said.
Ellis stopped dancing and sat next to Rosalie.
“Want to get ready for bed, Ellie-belly?” I asked.
She nodded, and I scooped her into my arms.
“I’ll be back for you,” I promised Rosalie.
She smiled at me, which only made me grin as I swept from the room.
We’d had a good day. Rosalie hadn’t said a lot, but it was a comfortable silence.
I knew she had a lot on her mind, and I didn’t want to force her to be present.
I was happy to hang out with Ellis. We’d watched two princess movies, danced, and colored.
I got Ellis into the bedroom, and she quickly took her pajamas and went to the bathroom to put them on. While she did that, I went back to Rosalie.
“Want a ride?” I asked, opening my arms for her.
She gave me a small smile and let me pull her into my arms. Effortlessly, I cradled her against me and walked her back to the bedroom.
“I had a good day,” I said softly.
“Me too.”
I smiled. “I can’t wait to get home from work so I can see you both again.”
She rested her head against me, and I practically melted.
I got her to the bedroom and placed her on the bed. Ellis came out a moment later and joined Rosalie as they both settled against their pillows. I lay next to Ellis on her other side, so she was between Rosalie and me.
Rosalie’s phone rang, and she handed it over to Ellis, who wiggled excitedly in her spot as she answered it. I wasn’t sure if I should stay for bedtime, but I really wanted to be a part of the routine, so I could learn how it went down.
“Hallo, kleine Ballerina,” Klaus’s deep voice called out as he appeared on the screen, Anson and Evan on either side of him.
“Hi, Papa! Ich vermisse dich!” Ellis replied immediately.
I blinked. I had no idea she spoke German.
“Ich vermisse dich auch. Hast du Spa??” Klaus continued.
Ellis nodded eagerly.
Anson chuckled. “Good, princess. Bist du bereit für eine Geschichte?”
“Lo metterai in scena?” Ellis asked, switching to Italian. I didn’t know much Italian, but I knew enough to know my kid definitely spoke three fucking languages.
I looked at Rosalie in awe, and she winked at me.
Fuck, I was a proud dad. And while I hated Ass Hat and wasn’t a fan of Klaus, I could appreciate what they’d taught her.
“Lo faremo, se vuoi,” Evan said.
“Yes!” Ellis giggled.
“Hey, Cole,” Anson greeted me softly as he pulled on a silly animal mask.
“Hey,” I murmured, watching as the guys all put on animal masks and then proceeded to act out some kids’ story I vaguely remembered from when I was young. Ellis seemed to love it, her blue eyes bright as she took it all in.
She didn’t make it through the entire thing before she was out, breathing deeply as she nestled against me.
The guys removed their masks and tried to fix their hair.
“Enjoy the show?” Evan asked.
“I didn’t hate it,” I said. “Anson could use some work. His lines were a bit dry. His acting was mediocre at best.”
Anson scoffed and shook his head.
I cleared my throat. “How are you… Klaus?”
“I’m well. You?” he answered in that deep growl of his.
“Good.”
“We had a good day,” Rosalie added. “Ryder is taking Ellis and me tomorrow to get our nails done while Cole is at work.”
“Sounds fun,” Anson said. “I hope you have fun, baby.”
I looked over to see her staring fondly at the screen.
“I miss you guys,” she continued.
“We miss you, Ro,” Evan said.
“Bed’s lonely without you,” Klaus added.
“I’ll, uh, give you guys some privacy,” I muttered as I untangled myself gently from Ellis.
“Hey, Cole,” Anson called out.
“Yeah?”
“Take Rosalie to your bedroom,” he said.
I hesitated. “Why?”
“So we can talk,” Anson said.