Page 59 of When We Fall: Part One

“It’s not a big deal. So you guys are a little drunk,” I said weakly, hoping that’s all this was about.

“Fuck. Tequila,” he muttered, swaying for a second, his eyes closed. I watched him, hoping he’d want to go to bed and sleep it off soon.

He opened his eyes and stared at me. “LeeLee?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you hate me if I kissed you right now?”

I licked my lips and gave him a nervous smile. “I’ll kiss you if you promise to go to bed.”

“Deal.”

I leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek before moving to whisper into his ear.

“You are one of my best friends in the world. Please remember that.” I paused, feeling his body tense against mine. Sadness swept through me, but that’s all this could ever be. I couldn’t give him hope when there wasn’t any to give. “Come to bed, Ani. You need to sleep.” I pulled away and looked at him.

A sad smile curved his lips upward, but he didn’t stop me from helping him to his feet. I guided him to bed and helped him get beneath the covers. Once he was tucked in, I brought him another cup of water and placed it on the bedside table.

“LeeLee?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re a good girl. The perfect girl. The guys are so lucky to have you.”

“Good night, Ani.” I tucked the covers tighter around him, watching as his lashes fluttered before he went silent. I didn’t want to take this to a place it couldn’t go. His words made my heart hurt.

Sighing, I left the room quietly, only to come face to face with Enzo outside the door.

“I see we have company,” he said, his voice a soft growl.

“Ani and Fox drank too much. Ani is sleeping it off in there, and Fox is asleep in my bed,” I said thickly.

Enzo’s dark eyes raked over me for a moment.

“And where will you sleep, Sunshine?”

“In my room.”

He nodded and held out his hand to me. “Come. I’ll sleep with you.”

I placed my hand in his and let him lead me back to my room, neither of us saying a word.

If he wasn’t being overly possessive, then that was progress.

TWENTY-ONE

COLE

Iglared at the prick who sat at our table, eating the breakfast my Rosebud had just made. At least he looked like he’d been hit by a bus. That brought me some comfort. The asshole couldn’t even keep his eyes open fully.

Fox looked similar.

The two must have had a good night. While I loved my guys to have a good time, I didn’t like Fox doing it with Ass Hat. They were too close. It wasn’t sitting well with me.

I pulled Rosalie down onto my lap and buried my face in her neck as a way to both distract myself and irritate the fucker at my table.

She melted against my body, bringing me some relief. If she’d tried to escape as a way to preserve Ass Hat’s feelings, I’d have been pissed and probably would have drowned the fucker in his glass of orange juice.