Page 65 of Into the Fire

“It’ll be fine,” Fox said before I could speak up. “We’ll just watch her a little more and I’ll make sure Anson is aware of what’s going on. We don’t have to do shit right now. Let’s try to keep this bit of happiness as long as we can. I don’t want things to go back to shit either.”

“We can make this work.” I nodded. “I’ll make sure someone is always watching and we’ll keep at her side when we can. Anson can take care of things when we aren’t around.”

“I don’t want to trust her in the presence of that asshole,” Cole grumbled. “I don’t trust him.”

“I do,” Fox said evenly. “He will protect her.”

Cole looked away, that muscle popping along his jaw in anger again. I shot a look to Fox, who sighed and looked away from Cole to stare at me.

“I trust him,” he repeated.

“Are you ever going to clue us in?” I asked.

“Someday. Just not right now.”

It was the best and only answer I’d get out of him regarding it.

“Can we leave? I want to go home,” E said softly. “Rosalie texted and said she was getting a ride home with Anson. That was a half hour ago. I want to just go home and hug her. I don’t want us to end up like Dom. He’s hurting.”

I got up and nodded. “I agree. Let’s get out of here.”

I wanted to hug Rosalie too.

EIGHTEEN

ROSALIE

I’d danced my ass off and still sucked at it.

At least I thought I did, but the claps on my back and words from the group spoke otherwise. I was barely able to remember all the steps and movements Anson wanted from us.

“You’re your own worst critic,” Anson’s soft voice met my ears.

I looked up at him as I took my heels off and stuffed them into my bag, then pulled my shoes on. It was the first time he’d spoken to me all night. He’d walked around the room, ignoring me. He hadn’t offered me any help with the routine, even when I’d fumbled through the beginning of it.

“I’m surprised you noticed,” I said, scowling down as I finished tying my shoes. I slung my bag over my shoulder and made to step past him, but he grabbed me by the bicep and pulled me to a stop.

“LeeLee,” he murmured, a look of sorrow sweeping over his face.

“What?” I stared up at him, hoping he’d offer some clarity into why he’d gone MIA on me and why he wasn’t talking to me. I understood that people got busy, but this was Anson. My bestfriend here. In my experience with him, he was only ever silent when something bad was going on.

“Nothing.” He released my arm. “Do you need a ride home?”

I sighed. “No. I can have the guys pick me up.”

“I can take you. It’s not a big deal.”

“Even if it wasn’t, I don’t want it to turn into one. I feel like maybe I’ve been taking up too much of your time anyway. It’s fine if I have them come. They already said they would. Plus, it’ll get you out of babysitting early tonight and you can go do whatever it is that you’ve been doing.” I turned and walked to the doors, my phone out. Quickly, I typed out a message to Cole to come get me but before I could hit send, Anson was stepping in front of me and barring my exit.

He snagged my phone out of my hands and stuffed it into his pocket.

“Hey,” I started, but he pressed a warm finger to my lips to silence me. The words faltered before they fell away softly.

“I’m taking you home. I like spending time with you.”

We stared at one another for a long time before I swallowed thickly.

“It’s fine, Ani. I can get a ride—”

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