22. Cole
COLE
Istared at Rosalie as she came into the living room dressed in a pretty lavender sundress, her red curls wild and free. She was fucking breathtaking.
I hadn’t reached out in weeks, and I really hoped that wasn’t going to be a problem. It took everything I had not to call or text her.
“Hey,” I greeted her softly, my hands in my pockets. “I’m sorry about drugging you.”
She raised her brows at me.
“I-I thought maybe we could talk,” I continued. “Please?”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding.
I let out a breath and offered her a shaky smile. “Alone, if we could. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
She nodded again for me to follow her.
“You fuck up, you’re dead,” Klaus called out.
“I’ll be good,” I muttered, following Rosalie.
Much to my surprise, she led me upstairs to her bedroom and settled on the bed.
“You look really beautiful,” I said, eyeing the pretty purple sundress she was in. Her tits looked amazing. So did her legs. Everything looked delicious. “I love your dress.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Ani picked it out.”
Of course, he did.
“And your house. It’s perfect. It’s really something. I-I’m proud of you.”
She said nothing as she stared at me.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a velvet box, and sat next to her on the massive bed. We used to have one too. It was still in Rosalie’s room at our old house. Now, we just slept in regular king-size beds.
“I-I got you something,” I murmured, offering the box to her.
“Cole, you don’t have to buy me gifts—”
“I suck at apologizing. You know I do. Please. I-I tried really hard with this one.”
She took the box from me and opened it. She didn’t say anything as she stared down at the necklace with the birthstones on it. I’d gotten one for everyone. Klaus. Evan. Anson. Ellis. Me. I left out E and Enzo, although I did buy the stones. I was hoping I could add them to the necklace later.
“I-It’s one for everyone you love,” I said softly. “I-I’m hoping mine gets to stay on the necklace.”
“Cole, you… asshole.”
“What? Do you hate it? Fuck, baby, I’m sorry. I-I had to call Levin to find out Klaus’s birthday, and then I didn’t know fuck all about Anson, so I asked Dom—”
“I love it, and that makes me upset.”
I frowned, confused. “I’m not following.”
“I’m so mad at you for all the lies, but I-I…”
“Tell me.” I slid off the bed and went to my knees in front of her. “Please. Just tell me.”
“I love you,” she whispered, tears trickling down her cheeks.
“Oh fuck, baby. I love you too.” I held her hands in mine. “I came here hoping you’d still give me a chance. The guys told me to let you cool off. E and Enzo. So I did. It was killing me. But I did it. I couldn’t stay away any longer. Please. Don’t make me fucking leave. I-I want to stay.”
“You have a life in Chicago.”
“Fuck that place,” I said immediately. “My life could be at your side. I don’t need money. I only went to college so my parents wouldn’t keep riding my ass. I always wanted to tour the world with a rock band. I can play bass guitar decently. I could be your new bassist.”
She chuckled at that. “I already have a bassist. Bane would likely fight you for the position.”
“The blond? I’m prettier than him. I can do it. Give me the position.”
She smiled at me. “I’d rather you cheer me on.”
I breathed out. “I’ve been cheering you on since you left us. I want to do it at your side.”
She winced and pulled her hands away from me before clutching her stomach.
I frowned. “Are you OK?”
She shook her head and jumped to her feet. I watched her rush to her bathroom before I heard her throwing up.
I got up, went to her, and held her hair back as she continued to vomit.
When she was done, she flushed and wiped her mouth, her small body trembling slightly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Are you getting sick?” I reached out and felt for a fever, but there was nothing. I frowned.
“Water. Please,” she murmured.
I took one of the paper cups from her sink, filled it, and handed it back to her. She took it, rinsed her mouth, and handed it back to me.
“Mouthwash,” she said, looking tired. “Drawer to your right.”
I opened the drawer and got out the mouthwash before putting some into a cup for her. I gave it to her, and she swished it around in her mouth for a moment before spitting it into the toilet and flushing.
I watched as she rested with her back to the wall, her eyes closed.
“You’re shaking,” I said softly, sitting beside her as I took her hand in mine. “What’s going on?”
“I-I think I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice trembling.
I froze at her words. “What?”
“I-I have the tests, but I haven’t taken them. I’m too scared.”
“Rosalie, you need to know. Take the damn test. Whose baby is it?”
She let out a soft sob.
“Hey, it’s OK. You won’t hurt my feelings. I promise. I love babies. This won’t change how I feel. I still want to be here—”
“Cole,” she broke in. “I-I haven’t been with the guys since-since you. I-I was with Ani and you. That’s it.”
I blinked at her words, my heart pounding.
“What? Really?”
She nodded, tears on her cheeks. “Really.”
“I-I might be having another baby?”
She nodded again. “I-I’m sorry. You took me, and I was due for my shot. But then the guys and I decided we did want to try for another baby. Then… you happened.”
“I might be having another baby?” I repeated.
“Yes, Cole. You or Ani. I’m so sorry—”
“Sorry? Rosalie, this is the best fucking thing I’ve heard since you told me I had Ellis. Fuck. Where are the tests? Let’s take them.”
“Really?” She looked at me.
I reached out and wiped away her tears. “Yes, really. Take the test.”
“We don’t know if this is even going to work out—”
“I am not going anywhere. I thought you knew that by now,” I said. “Please. Take the test. We all deserve to know. I swear to you I’ll be at your side the entire time. You know I’m a doctor, right? I finished my OBGYN rotation last round. Fuck. I’m so ready for this.”
She squeezed my hand. “OK. I’ll take the test. P-Please call the guys and tell them.”
I wasted no time pulling Anson’s number up onto my screen.
Cole: Come here. Bring the guys. It’s important.
Moments later, I heard the guys enter the bedroom.
“What’s wrong?” Evan immediately stepped around me and went to Rosalie. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I-I’m going to take-take the test.”
“OK.” He kissed her temple. Apparently, they all knew she might be pregnant, and this wasn’t a shocker to them.
I looked over to see that Anson was already pulling out boxes of tests. I noted his hands shaking. It could be his baby. It could be mine.
I swallowed.
I’d still love the shit out of it, even if it was Ass Hat’s kid.
“Come, my love,” Klaus murmured, helping her to her feet. I watched as he cradled her face. I’d seen him kiss her five years ago in the club before I fought with him.
Then, I thought he was only after some top-shelf pussy, but seeing him with her now, I could tell it was so much more than that.
“Remember what we talked about,” he continued softly.
She nodded, and he leaned in and kissed away her tears.
“We’ll wait in the bedroom, OK?”
“OK.” She sniffled, and he kissed her forehead before stepping out of the room.
“It’s all set up, LeeLee. Three different tests,” Anson said, going to her. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she replied as he wrapped her in a hug.
He left, too, and I looked to Evan.
“Come on,” he said to me.
“I’ll stay,” I said to Rosalie. “If you’re scared.”
“I’ll be OK.”
She looked so distraught, and my heart broke for her.
Truth be told, I was fucking terrified too.
Not so much the possibility of being a dad again, because I wanted that more than anything, but of what it meant if I were, and how it would affect the things happening in our lives right now.
I had a lot going on with my life back in Chicago, and didn’t necessarily want to leave my brothers or Laz, but this… this was everything to me.
“We’ll be right outside the door,” Evan said, kissing her softly.
She nodded, and he gestured for me to go. I gave Rosalie a pained look, and she offered me a shaky smile before I left with Evan.
Anson was already pacing the room, and Klaus was sitting on the edge of the bed.
I felt out of place, and even more so as Ryder came into the room and settled in like he was part of the dynamic.
“She OK?” he asked.
“She’s doing the tests now,” Klaus said.
Ryder nodded and blew out a breath.
“Why are you so nervous?” I asked him. “It’s not like you’re part of this.”
“Not like you are either,” he shot back.
“Not right now,” Anson muttered at us. “Focus. Please.”
I wanted to tell him I was definitely part of it and that the baby might be mine, but I kept my mouth closed.
The minutes seemed to drag on forever until finally the bathroom door opened.
We snapped our attention to her.
“What is it?” Evan asked tightly.
“I’m pregnant,” she replied.
“We’re having a baby?” Anson called out, his voice shaking.
She nodded, tears in her eyes.
It took him all of a moment to sweep in on her and wrap her in his arms.
I watched as he kissed her and spoke sweet words to her. Evan joined in. Then Klaus. Then Ryder.
I stayed seated on the bed as they all surrounded her.
She was pregnant. It might be mine.
And if it wasn’t? I knew I would still be here, but knowing there was my potential life growing inside her was building something fierce inside of me.
I’d been here before and had lost one. Now I had my Ellie-belly. And this? This could be another piece of a puzzle I’d been desperate to put together since I met Rosalie.
And I’d get to be a part of it this time.
“Rosebud?” I called out, slowly going to her. My voice shook, and the guys stepped away so I could get to her.
“We’re having a baby?” I choked out.
“Maybe,” she said, staring at me, tears in her eyes.
I didn’t give a shit if someone punched me for my next move. I wasn’t part of their group, but I knew what I wanted.
I swooped in and claimed her lips, kissing her deeply. She melted against me as I gripped her by her hips tightly.
“I fucking love you, and I vow to be here through all of this,” I said fiercely against her lips. “You’ll have to kill me if you want me gone.”
She kissed me on her own this time, and that was it.
I was fucking done for.