Page 231 of When We Fall: Part One

“I need to go inside. Are you going to stay tonight?” I asked, sniffling.

“Do you want me to?”

I nodded. He gave me a sweet smile.

“I’ll stay.”

With those words, he got out, opened my door, and led me into the house, my folder clutched tightly in my hand, and my heart and head warring.

SEVENTY-TWO

ENZO

Something was wrong. She walked into the house with her eyes rimmed in red and wearing a gorgeous cocktail dress I knew she didn’t own. I watched as she clutched a dark folder to her chest. I nearly went outside and pulled her from his car when they’d parked. It took everything I had not to.

I wish I had because she’d been crying, and I wanted to know why.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, taking her into my arms.

“It’s been a long day,” she answered, hugging me back as Anson stepped past us. Based on his shoe removal, I assumed he would stay, which wasn’t unusual as of late. He gave me a curt nod before going upstairs, presumably to see what everyone else was doing or go to the bedroom we’d let him stay in when he was here. I hoped, at some point, he would see Dominic so they could form a decent relationship.

Cole, Fox, and Ethan were working in the basement, and I’d only come up long enough to wait for Rosalie to come in when I got a notification someone was in the driveway.

“What can I do?” I pulled away and cradled her face. “Tell me.”

She exhaled and stared up at me with glassy eyes. “I-can we talk? Just me and you?”

“Absolutely,” I said softly, taking her hand in mine. My heart was thundering in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm as I led her upstairs to my bedroom and closed the door.

She sat on the edge of my bed with the folder still in her hands.

I went to my knees before her and stared into her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Sunshine? Talk to me.”

She licked her lips, her jaw quivering. She placed the folder next to her on the bed.

“I, um, I have to tell you so many things, Enzo. I’m just scared of all of them.”

“Tell me,” I urged gently, taking her hands in mine. My pulse thundered in my ears as my anticipation cranked up.

“Will you be my secret keeper again?” She looked at me, a tear slipping past her dark lashes.

“I will be anything you want me to be. Talk to me.”

“You can’t get mad, either.”

I studied her for a moment. I knew I could be volatile. I didn’t want her to be afraid to talk to me. It gutted me to think she could be frightened of me. That was something I didn’t like.

“OK,” I agreed, hoping to manage what I agreed to. I frowned as I stared down at her freshly manicured nails.

“You got your nails done,” I commented, taking in the soft pink color, tiny diamonds, and little hearts on her fingers. “I didn’t know you were going to do this today. And your dress… it’s new?”

She nodded and sniffled.

“Did Anson do this for you?” The thought of another man doing this for my girl twisted my stomach. “If you need clothes and things like this, baby, just ask. It’s yours?—”

“It wasn’t Anson, Enzo,” she broke it.