Page 3 of When We Fall: Part One

He smirked at me. “Well, I’m not a soprano, so I do what I can.”

I sighed and shook my head, not feeling like trying again but knowing I had to.

“OK. That’s it.” He closed the lid over the piano keys and got to his feet before I could open my mouth. I stared up at him as he grabbed my bag.

“What are you doing? We still have half an hour left.”

“LeeLee, you’re right. This isn’t working. You need a break. I’m giving you one. You coming?” He lifted his brows at me.

I hesitated momentarily, knowing everything was hell at home since the guys had been on Dominic watch duty. He’d tried to kill himself, and they’d been holed up at the hospital all night.

I’d been stressing out over it, my fear growing. If something this awful could happen to someone like Dominic De Santis and his wife, it could happen to anyone. I tried not to think about it because Enzo and I would be married in only a few months. It could be us.

“Earth to Rosalie.” Anson waved his hand in front of my face.

I blinked rapidly and focused on him.

“Sorry. I was just thinking.”

“Penny for your thoughts?”

I sighed.

“OK, a whole dollar for your thoughts.” Anson opened the music room door for me, and we stepped out.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just, I don’t know, Ani. I was thinking about how something so tragic happened to Dominic and Bianca and how it-it could happen to Enzo and me or any of us?—”

Anson rounded on me, sending my heart hammering in surprise.

“That willneverhappen to you, Rosalie. Ever. Do you hear me? I’d fucking die before that day comes.” His blue eyes flashed with meaning. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and studying me. “As long as I’m here, you will be safe. Nomatter what. The last thing I want you to do is worry about stuff like this. I promise I’ll always protect you.”

I sucked in a breath and offered him a smile; the way he expressed himself made me fully understand how invested he was.

And I hated that for him. I didn’t want him so invested in my life that he’d sacrifice his. It wasn’t right. My desire was for no one to get hurt or die for me.

“I wouldn’t want you to?—”

“LeeLee, understand this, OK? There are some things worth dying for. You’re one of them. I’m not going to be swayed on the subject. When I tell you you’re safe, I mean it. Now, no more arguing with me over it.” He gave me a stern look. “Let’s go. I’m going to take your mind off things.”

Fixing a smile on my face, I followed him out, wondering what he could possibly have planned for us on such short notice.

“Sundae Funday,”I mused, shaking my head as we stood in line inside a build-your-own sundae shop near the Mayfair campus. “I thought you didn’t like ice cream shops.”

Anson’s lips quirked up for a moment. “I’m making an exception. Plus, you always look at this place when we pass by. I figured we needed to check it out.”

I grinned at him before stepping forward to the girl behind the counter. I had been eyeing the place. With its colorful storefront and seemingly endless stream of smiling patrons, it seemed like a shop I needed to be in.

“What can I get you?” The young woman smiled at me, but her attention quickly drifted to Anson, her cheeks flushing. I was sure I’d seen her on campus before.

“Uh, I’d like the Death by Chocolate sundae with caramel and strawberries.”

“OK, that’ll be eight forty-eight?—”

I opened my purse to take out some cash, but Anson wrapped his hand around mine without looking at me and spoke to the girl.

“Hey,” he said, his voice smooth.

“Hey,” she answered, the flush spreading over her skin.