“Daddy!” Ellis squealed, noticing that he’d arrived.
She tore off Ryder’s lap and rushed for Cole. He let his bag fall to the floor and scooped her into his arms before lifting her. He gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek.
“Hello, my sweet angel pie,” he murmured. “I’ve missed you.”
She threw her arms around his neck, getting pink frosting all over him. If he cared, he didn’t show it.
I stole a look at Rosalie to see her smiling. She came forward, and Cole immediately opened his other arm for her before pulling her in for a hug with Ellis.
I moved back to the island and took a seat next to Ryder.
“He’s a good dad,” Ryder muttered so only I could hear him. “Hope he sucks in bed though.”
“He doesn’t,” I said with a little laugh. “He’s a monster in the sheets.”
“Fucking figures.”
I watched as Cole held his family in his arms, his eyes closed, his lips moving as he whispered his love for them, and smiled.
I’d gone through hell, but I wouldn’t change this moment for anything. Seeing Cole this way meant a hell of a lot to me, and made me wish for everything to come together soon because I did miss my brothers. While I had Ro, Anson, Klaus, and Ryder all these years, there was an empty spot in my heart. Enzo and the guys had been my home one time, and I was definitely homesick. I wanted them back. It terrified me at the thought of what I might have to do to get it.
56
COLE
Ismiled at Rosalie a week later as Ellis slept on my lap, her doll clutched to her chest.
Rosalie smiled back at me as she softly strummed her guitar. Ryder and Evan had gone out to pick up groceries and had left me with my family.
I’d been staying there off and on, and hadn’t once fucked my Rosebud. I’d been sleeping in the guest room and sometimes the couch. I probably could have gotten into bed with them, but after waking up to Ryder spooning my ass, I decided I’d need to work up to that.
It was killing me, though.
Evan was quiet, per his usual. It was hard to get close to him, so I gave him the distance he seemed to want, but I’d noticed him looking in my direction sometimes. I’d smile at him, and he’d smile back, but he never really spoke.
And always with the damn sunglasses. I’d listened in as Rosalie told him to grow out his hair because she missed running her fingers through it. His smile was shaky, but I knew he was going to do it.
I also knew why he looked so different and kept his head shaved. It was because having his hair would be like going back to being Fox, the man who was tortured and died. Rosalie was too sweet to think about that aspect, but I was going to speak to her about it.
I’d been talking to some docs at work about eye surgery. I didn’t know the extent of Evan’s eye damage, so I didn’t have a lot to go on. I was thinking it might be fixable, though, because I did have a few contacts in the research world who worked on similar projects. I was going to try to get them information on his injury. I just had to figure out a way to ask for that information. I figured it was the least I could do for him considering all he’d done.
“What are you working on?” I asked softly, focusing back on Rosalie.
She smiled at me again. “Just a song.”
“Tell me about it.”
“It’s called Second Chance.”
“Is it about me?”
She laughed a little and continued strumming her guitar, not answering me, but I knew it was about me. I hoped at least this time she was saying nice shit. She’d been gutting my ass for five long years with her lyrical barbs.
Deciding Ellis would be more comfortable in her bed, I gently lifted her, took her to her room, and tucked her in for her nap.
“Love you, Ellie-Belly,” I murmured after kissing her forehead tenderly. This little girl was everything to me. I still couldn’t believe she was mine.
It took me a minute of staring at her before I forced myself back to the living room and settled on the couch.