Chapter 52 #2
I took a seat on the couch and hauled Rosalie onto my lap.
“I’ll be staying right here where I can watch everything,” I said.
Enzo grunted. “Great.”
I laughed softly at that and turned Rosalie’s face gently towards me and placed a sweet kiss on her lips.
“Is that OK?” I murmured. “If I stay?”
She nodded. “I would love it if you did.”
The front door opened as I smiled, and E walked in.
No son.
I frowned, knowing that was something else we needed to sort out soon if any of this shit was going to work out.
“Hey,” Enzo greeted him.
“Hey.” E looked over at me. “Hey, Anson. Ryder.”
Ryder nodded at him.
“How are you?” I asked him as he took a seat in a chair next to us. I rubbed Rosalie’s back as she nuzzled against me.
“I’m good, man. How you been?”
“Pretty good. Just working.”
“I know how that is. I took the job at Mayfair.”
I raised my brows at that. “Well, congrats, man! Professor Masters. Or Dr. Masters? Which one are you going by?”
“Uh, god. I haven’t thought about it.”
“Doctor Masters,” Rosalie said, eyeing E. “You earned it. Use it.”
He gave her a sweet smile. “Thanks.”
“Besides, I like how Doctor Masters sounds,” she continued. “It’s sexy.”
E’s cheeks reddened at her words. “That’s a big compliment coming from you… sweetheart.”
I looked over at Enzo to see if he had noted the chemistry between the pair. He clearly had as he stared hard at E.
I let Rosalie get up and go to E. She went to her knees in front of him.
“Hey,” he murmured, his voice shaking.
“Hug?” she asked.
“God, yes,” he said, wrapping her in his arms.
I smiled. I always liked E. However, he did need to tell her about his son. Like now.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said softly as they hugged. “So proud, Ethan.”
“Fuck, that means the world to me,” he replied, holding her tighter.
I looked back at Enzo, who was now watching me with narrowed eyes. I winked at him.
If I had the chance, I’d tear his fucking world apart after the shit he did to Rosalie. That included taking both the guys from him.
Enzo gave me a sour look as Cole came downstairs, Ellis clutching his hand.
“Daddy!” she squealed as she noticed me.
I got up, and she ran at me. The moment she reached me, I swept her up and twirled her, my heart full as I listened to her giggle.
“Hello, my sweet princess,” I murmured, kissing her cheek. “I have missed you so much.”
She hugged me tightly. “I missed you, too.”
“Have you been practicing your ballet?”
She nodded. “Every single day I practice. Daddy practices with me, and Mommy watches.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said, kissing her cheek again. She wiggled in my arms, and I set her down. Rosalie stood and ruffled her hair before she went to Cole.
I watched as she kissed his cheek gently. His eyelids fluttered closed, a tiny smile on his face.
“I have to go to work,” Cole mumbled before he looked longingly at Rosalie.
I hated the guy, but I had to admit that he did have it bad for her.
“Can I go, Daddy?” Ellis asked, clinging to his hand.
“Oh, Ellie-gator, I wish I could take you,” he said, bending to her level. “I can’t, though. Maybe Daddy Anson and Ryder can go out today and get us some fun stuff to do when I get home tonight. We could get some coloring books for you…”
“Oh! We could get you ballet slippers! We can dance together!”
I smirked at Cole, who blinked rapidly. We guys all had slippers. It was mandatory if you were Ellis’s dad.
“Uh, sure. I could get some of those. Daddy Anson probably knows all about ballet slippers and can get me some. How does that sound?”
She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held her tightly and whispered something to her that we couldn’t hear, but we didn’t need to because she answered back.
“I love you too,” she said as he released her.
He stood and looked at me. “Size thirteen. I like pink.”
I smirked at him. “Then pink it shall be.”
He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before looking at Rosalie.
“I’ll be gone until about eight tonight.” He slowly approached her. She’d settled back onto my lap moments ago. She stared up at him for a moment before he leaned down and hugged her.
“I’ll miss you,” he murmured. “Don’t forget about me, Rosebud.”
“I won’t,” she answered softly.
“And please don’t fucking pack up and leave while I’m gone,” he continued, his voice strained. “That would kill me.”
“I’ll be here.”
He breathed out and locked eyes with me.
“Get me a new pillow.”
I chuckled. “Sure, man. I’ll get you a new pillow... if you give me a hug too.”
His gaze hardened as I raised my brows at him.
I honestly didn’t think he’d do it, but he released Rosalie and wrapped his arms around me tightly.
I hugged him back, noting the stunned silence in the room.
“I’m going to kill you in your sleep,” he whispered in my ear.
“Not if I get you first,” I answered before releasing him.
His lips cut up into the smallest of smiles before he backed away. “See you guys,” he said, going to the door.
“Bye, Daddy! Have a good day at work! You’re my hero!” Ellis shouted as Cole pulled the door open.
He paused for a moment before he looked over his shoulder at her.
“Thanks, Ellie-phant. I needed to hear that.”
She giggled and ran back to Rosalie and me before telling us she needed to go get Mr. Rufus. She rushed out of the room after Cole left, leaving us with E and Enzo, who had been quiet the entire time.
“E, how are you?” Ryder asked to break the silence.
“I’m well,” E replied. “How did you sleep on our couch?”
“Well, I actually had a very interesting night,” Ryder started. I frowned and looked at him. I knew that tone. He was about to tell some hard truths. Even Rosalie frowned at him.
Enzo sat forward. “Fucking don’t.”