I remembered that night. She’d been wearing a pretty dress, and her nails were done.
“Alex called me tonight to tell me she turned the contract down. Said she told him her boyfriend was having issues and she couldn’t leave right now. He told her he’d wait, but she said no.” Anson’s voice shook with his story.
“Ethan,” I murmured. “She’d give it all up for him because she knows he’s struggling.” I ground my teeth, my anger rising.Why hadn’t she talked to me about it?Fuck, it was her out, and she was choosing to give it up.
“The engagement party is coming up,” Anson continued. “In what? A few weeks?”
I nodded my stomach in knots.
“Fox, man…”
“It’s time,” I said softly, pulling the coin out of my pocket and staring at it.
“Don’t you dare fucking press that shit,” Anson snapped at me. I looked over to see a pained expression on his face.
“She’ll never leave. I have to,” I whispered. “You have to get her out of here. She loves us all so much… this life isn’t it for her. She’ll never have her dreams because of it. She’ll leave if I’m gone. She promised me.” My hands shook as I ran my thumb over the button that would change a fuck lot of things.
“Don’t,” Anson said fiercely. He reached out and wrapped his hand over mine. “Fucking, please, Fox.Don’t.”
We stared at one another for a long time before he spoke again.
“You fucking matter to me,” he rasped. “You’re one of my best friends. I can’t lose you. It’ll kill her too.Please.Rethink this. There has to be another way.”
I tore my stare from his and looked down at his hand, covering mine and the coin.
“I have to,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “For Rosie.
“Give me a few weeks, OK? I can fix this. I can get her to leave. I promise, man. Can you do that for me? Let me do what I have to do. Then she’ll go, and you won’t have to die for it. Please? Fuck, Fox, I’m begging you.”
I breathed out. “How would you convince her?”
“I’ll… tear her away,” he whispered. “I’ll make a move. It’s going to fucking hurt, but I’ll do it. She’ll-She’ll cheat and won’t be able to h-handle it.” His words wobbled with the ugly weight behind them. I knew he didn’t want it like that. Fuck, I didn’t want it like that, but I was willing to die, so this was hardly bad in comparison.
“She’ll tell you guys. I might be the one to die.” He let out a soft, sad laugh. “Then you tell her you’re done. It’s too much. The party breaks apart because there’s no group without you. It’ll tear it all down. I-I don’t want them to hate her because she’s so fucking perfect and easy to love, but I want you to live, Fox. I fucking do. You can find her again. I’ll take her. I swear I will. I’ll give her right back to you, man. I’ll do anything.”
We stared at one another for a long time.
“Will you fuck her?” I whispered, my heart clenching.
“If she wants me to,” he answered, his voice still holding that tremble to it. “I-I don’t want her like this, but I’ll do it if it means saving her from the heartbreak of losing you forever.”
“This is fucked,” I said thickly. “We’re fucked up for even discussing it.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “Tell me what to do. I’ll do it. As long as you live.”
I knew the guys wouldn’t let her go. Ever. And she clearly wouldn’t let them go. Something big had to happen. They’d never tolerate her betrayal. I’d never accept it. Anson mightget fucked up over it, but I don’t think they’d actually kill him because they’d still love Rosalie and wouldn’t want her to be hurt. They might even tell her they forgave her, but I’d be the one to say no. I’d be the one to break it to pieces. She’d go to Anson. He’d take her away. I’d live and find her again after she settled in.
It could work.
“Do it,” I answered softly. “Whatever you have to do, do it. If you don’t, I’ll push the button.”
A tear slipped down his cheek as he stared back at me. His bottom lip wobbled.
“OK,” was all he said.
It fucking hurt, but I was willing to pay the price to get her to have her dreams and her freedom.
SEVENTY-SIX
