Page 259 of When We Fall: Part One

“Hey, Sunshine.” I carved a smile onto my face and went to her. I promised myself I wouldn’t demand answers or push her on anything, hoping she’d tell me what was happening.

She wrapped me in a hug, her head against my chest. I closed my eyes and breathed her in. She didn’t smell like my Sunshine. She had a spicy cologne smell, and I bristled against it.

I glanced over her head to Fox, who stared back at me with a stony expression. He had to have smelled it, too.

“I missed you.” I kissed her gently. She didn’t hesitate. She kissed me right back.

“I missed you, too,” she answered.

I smiled down at her. “You smell like cologne.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Fox shot me a glare. We swore we wouldn’t push this shit, but fuck me. I had to know.

“Let’s talk.” She took my hand and led me to the couch. I sat where she indicated, Fox following. She took a spot on the loveseat and focused on us.

“I’m glad Ethan and Cole are gone. I think this is actually good,” she started.

I breathed out, really fucking hoping she wasn’t going to shatter our world.

“I’m not going to lie or hide it from you guys. I was so upset because I was offered a recording contract. I-I turned it down.” She twisted her fingers in her lap, her voice cracking. “Seeing everyone fight was the last straw.”

“What? Why?” I demanded, sitting forward. Fox didn’t look the least bit fazed at the news.

Suddenly, it all clicked. The reason why Anson was so intent on reaching her that night. Why he was willing to fight Cole to get to her. He knew. He was trying to stop her from throwing her future away.

“Ethan needs me. He begged me not to leave, so I turned it down, but it’s more than that.” She breathed in deeply. “Our lives aren’t good right now. I worry that if I leave, it’ll only put more distance between us. Right now, I want to focus on us. Ani said Alex would probably reconsider me if I decided to do it later. For now, I’ll finish the semester in the music program before shifting to the teaching route in the fall.”

“No,” I snarled at her. “Absolutely fucking not, Rosalie. You’re going to sign that goddamn contract?—”

“I’m not,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve made my decision. It’s final. I’ve already turned it down. I need to focus on what’s important to me, and that’s you guys. So I’m staying.”

I raked my fingers through my hair, irritated out of my fucking mind. Sure, I didn’t want her to go, but I didn’t want to be the reason she didn’t get her dreams. It was killing me inside.

“I want you to go, Rosie,” Fox murmured. “You can’t stay here. You’re right. Shit’s a mess, but you’ll end up resenting us later on if you miss out on this. Please reconsider.”

“I did. I chose you guys,” she whispered. “And I’ll keep choosing you. Always.”

I looked at Fox to see a stricken look cross his face. He was holding a gold coin, flipping it over his knuckles. I’d never seen him with it before, but fuck, I hadn’t been paying much attention. Maybe it was something new, although the symbol made me frown. I couldn’t quite place it, but it looked familiar.

“I’m not staying, baby,” Fox said gently, sitting forward. I swallowed hard at his words. I knew he was leaving. I wouldn’t want to hold him back from his dreams either. But fuck, did it suck.

“I, uh, I’ll probably leave to play ball. I’m not going to stay behind. I’ve made my decision if I get drafted. None of us should stay here if we can get out.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked tightly.

“It means that if there’s a fucking out, we should take it,” Fox answered back, his focus entirely on Rosalie.

“Fox,” I started.

“We’re not doing this,” Rosalie called out. “I’m not going to listen to more fighting. Foxy, I want you to play ball. I’ll be here waiting for you to come home. I’ll be your biggest fan. You know I will.”

“It’s not going to be like that,” Fox said, his voice shaking. “If I leave, I’m not coming back. I-I’ll be in another state to play for whatever team takes me.”

I ground my teeth at that. I knew that was a real possibility, but motherfucker…

“I don’t understand.” Rosalie frowned. “Are-Are you leaving us?”

Fox sighed. “I don’t want to. I just… if I leave, you need to as well. It’s unfair for me to get my dreams while you don’t. I don’t want that for you. I don’t want that for any of us. It comes back to me not wanting you to resent us.”

“But are you saying you-you’ll break it off with m-me?” Her voice shook as she stared at him.