“It’s mine,” he said firmly, his lips skimming along my jaw. “My little August grows inside you.”
“Cole, I know you want to believe the baby is yours, but Ani was there too. The baby could be his, and if it is?—”
“Shh.” He silenced me with a kiss. “Mine, Rosebud. The baby is mine.”
I loved that he was so firm on it, but at the same time, I worried he’d be heartbroken if the baby was Ani’s. I didn’t want him to hurt.
He went to his knees and rested his forehead against my stomach, his hands on my hips.
“Daddy loves you, Auggie. Your big sister and Mommy can’t wait to meet you, baby. We love you so much.” He breathed out, his forehead still against my stomach as Enzo came back into the room. His eyes locked on mine for a moment before he looked down at Cole on his knees, talking to my stomach.
“You are so loved and don’t even know it. I need you to be strong and healthy. I have waited forever for you.” He kissed my stomach as Enzo looked from him to me, a sad smile on his face. I returned it with a shaky one of my own.
Cole was so enraptured by my stomach that he didn’t even notice Enzo reach for my hand. I took his hand, and he placed a soft kiss on my knuckles before releasing me and backing away.
I ran my fingers gently through Cole’s hair as he continued to talk to my stomach.
As much as I wanted a baby with Ani, I also didn’t want to see Cole’s heart broken. So I sent up a little prayer that this would work out for Cole too because seeing him this way did something to my heart.
38
ETHAN
God, I was going to be sick.
I gripped Laz’s hand tightly as we stepped into the elevator to go to our place at the top of the building.
I’d put off dinner yesterday because I had a fucking panic attack in the hotel bathroom we were staying at. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through seeing Rosalie and Laz together. I knew I’d see hurt and pain on her face, and I didn’t know if my heart could take it
But fuck, I wanted her back.
I knew this was one of the biggest steps to make it a reality, so I’d forced myself into the car with Laz and had Memphis drive us here.
I’d called Enzo earlier to tell him I wasn’t sure what the fuck to do. Instead of agreeing with me to give it another week, he quietly urged me to come to dinner tonight.
Something was going on with him. He wasn’t acting like himself, so that had me concerned.
I breathed out as Laz looked up at me. I knew he had questions.
“We’re going home tonight to meet someone special,” I said to him. “Cole has… has… a-a girlfriend.”
Laz blinked at me, looking slightly confused.
“She’s very special to… us. It’s important that we are on our best behavior with her,” I continued. “She’s going to be here for a long, long time, and we want her to feel comfortable. She has a little girl who is your age named Ellis.”
Laz continued to stare up at me. He’d cut off words completely this week. I hadn’t heard his soft little rasp in far too fucking long. Therapy wasn’t helping him either. I was losing my fucking mind over it.
“Ellis won’t be here tonight, but she will be soon. I think you will like her. She’s the one who sent you those monster cookies.”
Laz continued with his silence. His facial expression didn’t change as he clutched his Ninja Turtle. He stared straight ahead as he held my hand.
I swallowed, my throat tight, wishing my boy would come back to me. It was killing me.
To say life had me stressed the fuck out was an understatement. I wanted Rosalie back, but I knew I had to get Enzo on board with it because there was no way in hell I’d leave him behind. But I also struggled with knowing I’d made Laz with Celeste.
Shit was a mess.
The elevator dinged on our floor, and we got out. With my body trembling, I led us to the door, nodding at Christian and another of our guards named Mike. I paused outside the door, and Laz stared up at me again.
