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.
23
ANSON
Cole was a fucking dog with a bone when it came to Rosalie.
He was driving me nuts.
He’d been here two days, and all he did was hold her. Kiss her. Whisper to her. He was even sleeping next to her in our bed. We’d let him, opting to sleep away from them to give them time to themselves. I at least knew they weren’t fucking. I’d seen Cole’s dick in action. I hated to admit it, but the guy could fuck.
“He was always that way,” Evan mused. “Mostly. I think he’s gotten worse.”
“Separation anxiety,” Klaus muttered as he chopped vegetables next to me in the kitchen while we worked on dinner.
From our vantage point, we could see Cole holding her on the couch, his hand on her stomach as Ellis played at their feet.
They looked like the perfect family.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little put out by it. Evan and I had spent the last five years with her through everything. Klaus had been here for the last three years. I wanted the baby to be mine more than anything, since Cole already had Ellis.
I had no idea if he was even joining us, but judging by his clinginess, he was here to stay.
“He doesn’t let her breathe,” I continued. “It’s annoying me.”
“He leaves tomorrow,” Evan said. “Give him this time.”
I grumbled but let it go. He was right. Cole’s flight out was set for after Rosalie’s doctor’s appointment in the morning that I was taking her to.
We finished working on dinner before calling everyone in.
Cole pulled Rosalie’s chair out and settled in next to her once she was seated, then did the same for Ellis, so she was on his other side.
I stared at them from across the table, Ryder next to me and Klaus and Evan at opposite ends.
“Mm, this looks so good,” Rosalie said, reaching to put potatoes onto her plate. Cole beat her to it and doled the food out for her before doing it for Ellis.
“Relax, man,” Ryder whispered to me.
I breathed out. I’d been gripping my dinner knife a little too tightly. I wasn’t typically the jealous sort, but watching Cole slide his way in so easily was pissing me off.
