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He sighed before letting out a groan of frustration. “Yes, but I’ll also be looking for ways to save your ass.”

“Don’t.” I got to my feet. “I don’t want to be saved.”

“Why?” He stared up at me, confusion on his face.

“I… I know what my life would look like here. I won’t leave for football. I’ll stay. I’ll end up dying anyway. At least this way, most of her life won’t be wasted. I’m going through the motions until the end. Knowing you’ve done your part, I’ll rest in peace when it’s over.”

He said nothing as he stared back at me. It was just as well. There wasn’t shit he could say to me to make me change my mind.

I walked to the door.

“I’ll come back, but I’ll need some time,” he called out. “Give me that, and I’ll call her. OK? I’d like to go back to watching over her.”

“I’ll make sure Enzo knows.” And with those words, I left his place, my heart heavy with grief, but knowing I was doing the right thing.

For my Rosie, anything.

I owed her after all the shit I’d put her through over the years. Giving her the life she wanted was my ultimate goal. Unfortunately, that meant I wasn’t here for it.

And that really fucking sucked.

FORTY-EIGHT

ETHAN

“What’s going on?” I came into the office and sank onto the couch. Enzo sat in his chair while Cole was on the couch next to me. Fox sat on the loveseat.

I’d just answered Rosalie’s text. She would be late tonight because she was going to stop in and speak to one of her professors. Then, an opening happened in the practice room for the evening, so she was going to do that.

“I was at Anson’s last night,” Fox said, clearing his throat.

“What the fuck were you doing over there?” Cole demanded immediately.

I sighed, hating that this was how we would start this conversation. I liked Anson. He was a good guy, and I wished Cole and Enzo would let him in. It would be awkward and weird initially to see her with someone new, but we’d get used to it. He gave a damn about her, and I figured he was in for the long haul. I was all for it. I didn’t mind sharing her if she wanted to be shared. Whatever made my sweetheart happy was good with me.

“He asked to talk to me,” Fox said. “I went to see what he wanted.”

“Fuck him. I’m glad that prick finally got a clue. Don’t feed into his shit,” Cole spat out. “Let him be and tell him to go fuckhimself. You can directly quote me on that. I hope he gets ass herpes and chokes on a piece of crusty pussy.”

“Cole,” Enzo called out. “Enough. Fox. I know you didn’t want us all together only to listen to Cole’s rant. What’s going on? What did he want?”

Cole cursed softly under his breath and shook his head.

I sat forward, wondering what was happening too.

“He would like to resume looking over her,” Fox said.

“Yes,” I said immediately.

Cole snapped his attention to me, a sour look on his face.

“Hear me out,” I said before he could rant again. “If he’s around, he’ll return to looking out for her. She won’t be driving herself. We won’t be worrying about her after hours. She won’t be here alone while we’re gone. He has my vote.”

“Traitor,” Cole snarled. “He wants to fuck her?—”

“It doesn’t matter what he wants,” I said. “Rosalie is the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to that. She’s been nothing but honest with us on it. She’s not going to leave us for him. I trust her.”

“He fucking said he wants her! He’s kissed her!” Cole’s face reddened.