Page 237 of When We Fall: Part One

“Uh, hi. Alex? It’s Rosalie Bishop.”

“Rosalie! Hello. How are you?”

“I’m well. Thank you. How are you?” I bit my bottom lip and played with a piece of lint on my skirt.

“I’m fantastic.”

“That’s great. Uh, the reason I’m calling is to talk about the contract. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to turn it down.” I held my breath as silence greeted me on the other end.

“Do you need more money? I’ll listen to anything you want changed. Anson and I thought it was a fantastic package?—”

“No. It’s not that. It’s just that I have a lot going on here. I’m getting married, and life can be difficult sometimes. My-my boyfriend is having some issues. I-I told him I wouldn’t go. I don’t think it’s the right time for me because of it.”

Alex blew out a breath. “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to convince you? I can fly you to LA, show you the studio, lay some tracks down, and show you around. I’ll even feed you guys.”

I smiled at his kindness, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “I’m afraid not. Thank you so much, though. I-I’m sorry.” My voice cracked.

“Rosalie, I’ll give you all the time you want if that’s what you need?—”

“No, it’s fine. I have to go. Thank you again, Alex. The offer was everything I’d hoped it would be. I just can’t right now.” I hung up the phone before I sobbed.

The tears poured down my cheeks as I curled up on my bed and hugged a teddy bear to my chest that Cole had won for me at one of the fairs before Mayfair started. I’d tried everything to understand the guys, but realized maybe it was just love. To be in love, you had to accept everything that came with it, even the painful stuff, and let go of dreams.

I closed my eyes and let the thoughts of how good my life could be without those dreams. I’d be a teacher. I’d help others achieve their dreams. I’d be married. Have children. I’d be with my guys. Everything would be OK.

Eventually.

I was joltedawake by shouting.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes, listening as yelling wafted up to me from downstairs. I stumbled to my feet and saw Anson and Cole facing off at the bottom of the stairs. Fox was trying to push Anson back while Ethan and Enzo were working on keeping Cole from attacking.

“What’s happening?” I called out, my heart in my throat.

“LeeLee.” Anson’s focus snapped to me.

He didn’t need to say a word. His face said it all. He knew I’d turned down the contract.

I got between Anson and Cole.

“I-I don’t want fighting,” I said. “Please. No fighting.”

“Fuck this prick. He tried to go upstairs to you. That’s not fucking happening. You may be her little fucking bestie, but you’re getting a little too familiar if you know what I mean. You don’t just barge into our house and think you can sweep yoursorry ass upstairs to herfucking bedroomand do whatever you want,” Cole shouted at Anson.

“Fuck you, Scott. This is between me and Rosalie,” Anson shouted back.

“There ain’t shit between you two, you cocksucker.” Cole jerked out of Enzo and Ethan’s hold and rushed forward, knocking me into Anson.

I shoved hard against Cole as Anson caught me at the waist.

It was a war, and I had no idea who was where because fists began to fly.

I was so fucking over it. I heard Ethan calling my name as everyone tried to stop what was happening.

I managed to dart away from the violence. They were all too busy fighting to notice me grab my purse and keys and leave the house. I went straight to my car, started it, and left.

I hadn’t been out on my own since the night someone tried to take me.

Maybe I was being reckless, but I was fed up with all the fighting. My day kept getting worse. I’d let them tear into one another and get it out of their system. I was sick to death of constantly playing referee.