by K. G. Reuss
“Sweetheart,” Ethan called out softly, my bed shifting beneath his weight. “What’s wrong? I texted you. I’m home.”
My heart clenched as Ethan shifted beside me and curled up against my body, his arms around me.
“Talk to me, Rosalie.”
“How did you get in here?” I asked, my voice barely above a choked whisper.
“Your dad’s study.”
Of course. The window.
“You didn’t come to me tonight when I messaged. I was worried.” He adjusted the blanket so only the top of my head was poking out. “Are you sick?”
“No. I just want to be alone.”
He grew quiet for a moment then he cleared his throat. “Sorry, sweetheart, I can’t do that.”
He ran his fingers through my hair and froze when my hair stopped short.
“What happened?” His voice shook, and he stiffened against me.
I sniffled again.
“Rosalie, what happened?” He turned me onto my back and tugged the blankets down. His eyes widened as he took in the disaster I’d become.
“What the fuck happened?” he demanded, his eyes darkening. “Who the fuck did this to you?”
I couldn’t even choke out the words. Instead, a fresh wave of tears overtook me, and I sobbed like a baby. Ethan went up on his knees and grasped my shoulders before giving me a slight shake.
“Tell me, Rosalie.”
“Ian,” I managed to say, my voice cracking.
“Mother fucker,” he snarled, getting to his feet and pacing, his fingers yanking his hair.
“I’m sorry, Ethan. Don’t be mad—”
“Mad? Rosalie, I’m fucking pissed! I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him.” He stopped and came back to my side. He reached out and cradled my face in his hands, a look of torment washing over his features. “Your face. He hit you. Your cheek is swollen.”
My bottom lip trembled. “I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“You don’t have a reason to be sorry. But he fucking does.” He pulled away, but I reached for him.
“Don’t go. Please, Ethan. Don’t.” I knew exactly what he was planning to do, and I couldn’t allow it to happen. “I need you. I’ve missed you so much. Please stay with me.”
He chewed on his fingernail for a moment before he came back to me and gently shifted me into his arms as he moved to lie beside me. I closed my eyes as he thumbed my tears away.
“I’ll fix it, sweetheart. I’ll make it better.”
“There’s nothing left to do,” I whispered.
“There is. Let me take care of you. OK?” He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. “Let me see it.”
I shook my head, swallowing hard.
“Rosalie, please.”
I opened my eyes and stared into his.
“It’s OK,” he murmured.
I nodded and shifted beside him so I could sit up. His eyes drank in how I looked. He reached out and tugged on a short lock.
“You’re beautiful. Believe me?” There wasn’t a doubt written on his face.
I nodded sadly, wanting to believe him. “Is it bad?”
“No, sweetheart.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “It’s fixable.” He thumbed away another tear before he leaned in and placed a kiss on my bruised cheek. “Ian, however, won’t be when I’m done with him.”
I grasped his wrists as he cradled my cheeks and shook my head. “No. I don’t want you to get involved.”
“I got involved the moment he drugged you all those months ago, Rosalie. I should’ve ended him then. This is my fault. I won’t fail you again.”
“Ethan, I’m begging you not to do something stupid. If something happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do. I-I need you. I love you so much.”
His eyes widened at my proclamation then his lips met mine in a deep, passionate kiss, his fingers tangling in what was left of my hair. I pulled him down onto the bed with me, relishing in how it felt to have him positioned over me, in control.
We said nothing as we made quick work of disposing of our clothes. Before long, we were both naked, Ethan’s hands gliding gently over my body, his lips still molded to mine. My body ached. I tried not to wince under his tender touch because I wanted him so much. If he knew I was in pain, he’d stop.
He slid his hard erection against my damp center, making me mewl with want, his warm breath mingling with mine as we touched one another.
“I want you,” he whispered against my lips.
“Take me,” I answered back, my fingers working their way through his thick hair.
He gazed down at me sheepishly. “Would you believe me if I said I don’t have a condom? I don’t want to put you at risk of getting…”
I had to tell him.
“What’s wrong?” He breathed out, not finishing his previous sentence. “You haven’t been yourself lately. Tell me, sweetheart. Is it because I was gone? Are you upset—”
“I’m pregnant.”
He froze over me, his eyes wide. “What?”
I pushed him off me and sat up. He reached out, captured my arm, and pulled me to him.
“What did you say?”
“I-I’m pregnant.”
“Is it Ian’s?” His voice cracked as pain flickered through his eyes.
“No. I’ve been trying to tell you something the last few weeks, Ethan. I cheated on you. I’m so sorry.” A tear slipped out of my eye as Ethan gaped back at me, wordless. I quickly grabbed my shirt and panties and pulled them back on as Ethan sat in stunned silence.
“Y-You cheated on me? With who?”
“Cole. I-I had sex with him right after you and I got together. I’m so sorry. It’s been eating me up inside, Ethan. And I kissed Enzo. I kissed Fox tonight. I know I’m a horrible person. I know I lied. I’m so sorry.” Tears ran in rivers down my face.
“You thought I’d be mad?” he asked. All emotion had left his voice and face.
“I know I made you choose. I’m horrible. I wanted to get back at the guys. All of you. You all hurt me so much when I cared about you all. I-I screwed up, Ethan. I thought I could break you guys apart.” I let out a choked sob at my confession. “I knew you were the weakest link because of your feelings for me. Selfishly, I hoped you’d be willing to love me. Just me. Even though my intentions might not have been totally pure, but I promise that I wanted you, still want you. My heart is yours. I hoped I’d get to keep you in the end.”
He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. My heart sank.
“If you want to leave, I’ll understand,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around my middle, trying to hold my broken pieces inside. “I’m pregnant. I’m a liar. I’m a piece of shit at this point—”
The words faltered as they left my mouth because Ethan’s warm lips met mine. His fingers clutched my short tresses.
“I’d never fucking walk away from you for following your heart. And I’d never leave you because you’re pregnant. Don’t you dare ever think that. Do you understand me?” He cradled my face between his hands.
I nodded as he brushed my tears away.
“I’m here at your side. Always. I made you a promise, Rosalie, and I won’t walk away now. I love you.”
“I love you too, Ethan.”
He let out a soft chuckle. “And you thought I was the weakest link?”
“I’m sorry—”
“Shh,” he laughed softly again. “You silly girl. You just haven’t realized I’m the strongest of the group yet. You’ll see.”
“I already know how strong you are, Ethan. You’ve been through so much. I’m proud of you.”
He smiled at me, got to his feet, and put his clothes back on.
“Where are you going?” I reached out for him, the fear of him leaving coursing through me.
“I’m going to get some ice for your cheek. Then I’m going to come back here and help you finish dressing. After that, I’m taking you to my place where I can properly take care of you without having to worry about your dad busting
in and beating my ass for being in your bed. OK?”
I nodded, my laugh breaking through my worries. “I’ll let them know I’m leaving.”
“Good girl. I’ll be right back.”
I watched as he backed out of my doorway, his footfalls fading away as he descended the stairs.
Wasting no time, I dialed my mom’s cell. She answered on the third ring, the sound of laughter and tinkling glasses in the background.
“Hey, sweetie,” she greeted me.
“Hey, Mom. I’m, uh, going to spend the night at a friend’s.”
“It’s not Ian, is it? Because we don’t want you staying at your boyfriend’s—”
“Ian and I broke up, Mom. It-it’s not him.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry to hear that. Are you OK?”
I fiddled with a strand on my blanket. “Yes. I guess. I just didn’t want you to worry.”
“We can come home, honey, if you need someone to talk to—”
“I’m fine. You guys have fun. I’m just going to go mope somewhere else.”
“Call me if you need me, Rosalie. I worry you need me, and I’m not there.”
“Mom, it’s fine, really. I promise.”
“OK. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hung up before I burst into tears again. I’d never cried so much in my life. I knew I had to break the news about the baby to them eventually. They’d be devastated. If my dad thought music was bad. . . I shuddered just considering his response to this. I’d managed to hide the paper with the musical in it so he couldn’t see it. Luckily, he’d been running late the morning it arrived and didn’t ask about missing it.
“Here, sweetheart.” Ethan came back in the room and handed me an ice pack.
I took it and thanked him. With the ice pressed to my sore cheek, I watched as he rummaged through my closet, pulling out various clothes and stuffing them into my overnight bag.
“Am I leaving for a long time?” I asked, watching him.
“I’d keep you with me forever if I could, sweetheart,” he called over his shoulder, offering me his sweet smile. “But I’m thinking we can start with an early weekend.”
I nodded, eager to be away from my house and school. The looming threat of having to tell my dad not only about the musical, but about my pregnancy was enough to drive me mad.
Once Ethan was done packing, he helped me to my feet. I winced as my muscles screamed at me. Ian had really screwed me up. Again.
Fury passed over Ethan’s handsome features, but he quickly righted his face when he noticed me looking.
“Rosalie, should I take you to the hospital to get checked?” Worry replaced his anger.
“I’m OK. I’m just sore. But I have to tell you something else.”
“What.” He set my bag on the bed and waited for me to speak.
“I erased the flash drive. I’m free.”
His eyes lit up at the news, and he swept me into his arms, fusing his lips with mine. “Fuck yeah, babe. I knew you could do it.”
“I still have that pill.”
“Flush it. We don’t need it anymore.” He released me and grinned. “We can be officially together now.”
I nodded, excitement coursing through me before I frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to tell Cole.”
Ethan gave me a gentle smile. “You do. When you’re ready. Right now, let’s get you rested. We can make you a prenatal appointment in the morning and get your hair fixed if you’d like.”
“Why are you being so nice about this?”
“Why wouldn’t I be, Rosalie?”
“I’m having someone else’s baby, Ethan.” I stared up at him, trying to read his expression.
He gave nothing away, as he kneeled at my feet and urged my legs into a pair of leggings he’d snatched from my drawer.
“You're having my best friend’s baby. Someone who loves you like I do. You know he does. You know we all do. Why on earth would I ever not be nice? I’m so in love with you, Rosalie. You just don’t get how much. Let me show you, OK?” When he stood, he brushed a short lock of hair away from my face. “And maybe we can all be together again someday.” His bottom lip trembled as he studied me. “Right?”
God, I wanted that. To be with my guys again. Us against the world. But there was just so much we had to fix before it could be a possibility.
“Maybe,” I answered. “I need to tell Cole first.”
“One step at a time. We’ll get there. I have faith in that, my love.”
My heart fluttered as he placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Come on. Let’s get you smiling tonight.”
The smile he spoke of graced my lips as he led me out of the room a few minutes later. If there was one thing Ethan Masters was good at, it was making me happy.
Thirty-Four
“You look beautiful,” Ethan praised, his eyes shining with adoration as I rose from my chair at the salon the following morning.
I’d spent the night in his arms as he whispered his promises to me, assuring me that everything would be OK. I’d never felt so loved in my life.
But I couldn’t ignore the guilt as he rubbed my stomach with his hand and commented on how much he already loved the baby. Excitedly, he told me he couldn’t wait to teach it to ride a bike and play piano. It made my heart both soar and sink as I tried to focus on his words, all while ignoring the doubts in my mind about how Cole might walk away once he knew.
Ethan reached out and ran his fingers through my much shorter hair, pulling me back to the moment.
“Do you really like it?” I asked as I went to the counter to pay.
He kissed my cheek and handed the girl at the register some money before I could dig into my wallet.
“I love it, sweetheart.”
“You don’t need to pay—”
“Shh.” He gave my lips a quick peck. “I do what I want.”
I laughed and shook my head at him. He grinned back and took my hand to lead me out of the salon and onto the sidewalk.
My hair brushed just past my shoulders in a longer, shaggy cut. At least the asshole hadn’t ruined my hair to the point I’d have had to shave it. But I would have to straighten it because I’d look ridiculous when it curled.
I accepted the compromise. It beat looking like a clown.
“What do you want to do now?” Ethan asked as we walked to his car.
“Would you be upset if I said I wanted to rest?”
“God, you’re perfect because that’s what I want to do too.” He chuckled, opening my door for me.
I slid onto the seat and snapped my seatbelt into place just as my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and stared down at the screen to see Ian’s name.
Ethan got into the car and glanced at me for a fraction of a second before his eyes caught my phone. A storm cloud passed over his features. Before I could put my phone away, he grabbed it and answered.
“Listen, Hall, you fucking piece of shit, stop calling my girl,” he growled into the phone. He grew silent for a moment before laughing softly. “Try me, bitch. I know what you did to her… You think so… Why don’t you go see if you even have your evidence? Pretty sure it won’t be there.”
Ian must have gone to check because a moment later, Ethan let out a bark of laughter.
“That’s what I thought. Go fuck yourself. If you ever come near her again, I’ll fucking kill you… If you hate me as much as you say, then don’t do me any favors.” He hung up and stared down at my phone for a moment before he blocked Ian’s number.
"You don’t need to deal with that shit, Rosalie. It’s not good for you or the baby. He knows the flash drive has been erased. He’s pissed, in case you were wondering.”
“He’s going to do something stupid.”
Ethan nodded. “Probably. But I’ll keep you safe, OK? I won’t let him hurt you again. I should’ve ended this shit a long time ago. If I’d have known. . .” His voice trailed off.
“It’s
OK. We’ll be OK.” I reached for his hand.
He gripped mine tightly and pressed his lips to my knuckles. “We will. Things are working out. I’m better than ever, and you’re going to see your doctor next week. Now I just have to convince you to love the others as much as you love me.”
“I already do, Ethan. You know that. It’s just—”
“I know. You have a lot going on.”
“I do. I need to talk to Cole. I’m just so scared.”
“You don’t need to be, Rosalie. Cole isn’t such a monster.”
“I know,” I murmured, taking my phone from him and opening it to Cole’s number.
“I can leave you at my place so you can talk to him in private. Would that be OK?”
I nodded, my throat tight as I hit SEND on Cole’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Rosebud?”
“Hey, Cole.” I swallowed hard and hauled in a deep breath.
“Are you OK? Where are you?”
“I-I’m going to Ethan’s. I was wondering if you could meet me there.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Yeah. Yeah. Are you sure you’re OK?”
“Yes,” my voice cracked. I could hear Fox and Enzo in the background. No Juliet, though. Thank god. I may have hung up and tucked tail if I’d heard her.
“Rosalie, what’s wrong?” Cole called out gently.
“J-Just meet me, OK? Only you.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I pulled the phone away from my ear and hit END.
Ethan pulled onto the street, and we made our way to his house, neither of us saying a word. I knew Ethan was trying to give me time to think.
When we pulled into his driveway, Cole was already there, sitting on the hood of his new car. Ethan didn’t bother cutting the engine, opting to simply pull me to him and press his lips to mine.
“It’ll be OK. I’ll go pick up some dinner. Call me if you need me.”
“OK.” I kissed him again. “Thank you.”
“No worries, sweetheart.”
I pulled away from him as Cole opened my door. He had his hands on me, gently tugging me out within seconds. His eyes went wide as he took in my hair and face.
