Alpha's Revelation

Chapter 6

Rocky rang the doorbell and Edward answered. Edward is their butler. Yes, they have a butler.

“Good evening Mr Richard and Miss Rosalie.” f*****g old man. We both rolled our eyes.

“Edward, how many times do we gotta remind you? It’s Rocky and Rosy. Please don’t make us feel old,” I laugh along with Rocky. He hates his name. Rocky is named after his father, that abandoned them. So he really doesn’t like it. Edward, however, attempted to remind us we had proper names. We walk in and Edward motions to the family room.

Taylor is sitting next to her dad with her head on his shoulders and Chris, Taylor’s younger brother, is on the other side in the same position. Chris is gay. He came out two years ago and everyone loves it. We all knew it, but it took him some time to accept it himself.

“Tay Tay,” I whisper, not wanting to interrupt.

“Rosssyyyy!” she screams and jumps off the couch. She comes running and engulfs me in a big hug. God, I missed her! We do a little happy dance before she lets me go. “God, I’m so happy to see your pretty face,” she says, while turning toward Rocky to hug him. They don’t need words. The hug said it all.

“Yeah, so glad to see that pretty face,” came a voice from behind me. Vince walks in and stands to my side. “Nice to see you again Rosy,” he says, giving me a side hug.

The boy needs to learn not to be so attractive. He’s in a pair of jeans and a polo t-shirt but has his hair gelled back like he would for the office.

“Nice to see you too, Vince. Still, as charming as always I see,” I laugh and so does he.

Mr Callum gets up and walks toward us. “Thank you so much for coming, Rosy. It means a lot to all of us that you came to be part of us at these times,” he hugs me.

“Thank you for having me, Mr Callum. I’m so sorry for your loss. I know how much Grace was suffering. Nevertheless, she will be missed dearly,” I reply as he kisses me on my forehead. He’s like a father to me. I never had one. Anything that I know about what a father is like is from Mr. Callum. Ever since Taylor brought me home with her for the summer, he treated me like his own. He would even buy me presents and send me texts just like he would for his kids.

Mrs. Callum is the same. They don’t know too much about my life, but they know I had a difficult one. Once I started spending all the holidays with them, they figured I had nowhere else to go. Which I did, but I wasn’t as welcome there as I was here. If I did hook up with Vince, his parents would be ecstatic, thinking they could officially call me their daughter. I smile at the thought and look at the gorgeous boy standing next to me.

Why did I have to give Blake a chance to take my virtue? Maybe Vince and I can work something out. I’m not getting any younger and Vince still seems as interested as he did the last time he saw me.

I got pulled out of my thoughts when Mrs. Callum walks in. Immediately, I walk over and hug her. God, I wish I could call her my mum.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I say as she hugs me back. Grace was her mother, and they had a very special relationship, just like she does with Taylor. She was an amazing lady. Strong, fierce and very sweet.

“Thank you, darling. I’m so glad you came. My mother was as much of a nana to you as to my kids. She would be smiling seeing you here.” She kisses me on my cheek and hugs me again.

Even though I don’t carry their name or their blood. I’m theirs. They love me and look after me. The interrogations haven’t begun yet, but they will.

We sit around talking and catching up. The funeral is at three and we have to be at the church a half hour before. Mr. Callum said Grace asked to be cremated, so we don’t have to go to a burial site. They will take her away after everything is done. We chat about work and life. Mrs. Callum tells stories about her client’s cheating husbands while Mr. Callum goes on about recent surgeries he’s performed. Then they start firing questions my way.

“So Rosy, I see you’re still single. No one has swept you off your feet yet?” asks Mrs. Callum.

Now, this is the part I hate. Taylor is always open with her parents about her life, whether it’s personal, love, work, anything. They have a great relationship. Her parents know about Rocky and their relationship and it seems like they approve because at least their girl isn’t sleeping around. They love Rocky. Mr. Callum always brags about how Rocky is self-made and has already started building a future for himself.

“Nothing yet, Mrs. Callum. Haven’t found anyone interesting, to be honest.” I reply and Taylor snickers.

“Oh, you’ve found someone interesting all right. Whether or not he’s interested is what we’re trying to figure out,” she says, and I glare at her. Shut up, lady! What the hell!

“You’ve found someone?” Asks Vince. He has been quiet for a while, but this obviously struck his interest.

“I haven’t found anyone. Taylor’s talking about my boss. Blake Cooper. He came into town last week and is living in the apartment opposite us. He is sweet, and all but forgot to mention he was the boss I’m busting my ass to get reports ready for. There’s nothing there besides two people that work together and live in the same building. So Taylor shut the f**k up.” I look straight at her and emphasise the words. Vince narrows his eyes at us, but stays quiet.

“Wait, did you say Blake Cooper?” Chris asks from the bar.

“Yeah, you know him?” I ask curiously.

“Know him? Do you not read Cosmo?? Kyra Banks and he headlined for weeks,” he says and hands me a Cosmopolitan magazine. He sits next to me and flips to page sixteen. There on the page is Blake with a blonde girl dressed very nicely. The headline reads, it’s over, and there is a ripped mark between the couple.

“Blake and Kyra were like Beyoncé and Jay Z. The hottest power couple around Huntly. They had been together since college. Kyra was cheating on Blake with his best friend. Turns out they had been hooking up since college and Blake only found out a week before the wedding. He broke it all off and disappeared. Now we know where he disappeared to,” says Chris, looking like he’s cracked the biggest gossip of the century.

“Did you say, Kyra Banks?” Vince asks, now sitting up at attention.

“Yeah, the one and only,” Chris says, turning the magazine over for Vince to see. A smirk forms on Vince’s face.

“You know her, don’t you?” Asks Taylor, trying to suppress a smile. She bursts out laughing when Vince nods.

“How??” I ask, not being able to contain my laughter.

“Ummm, all I really remember is that there was a bed involved,” he looks away, going red.

We all crack up laughing.

“Poor Blake. I mean Vince, damn! But that explains why he was so lost and unorganised when he moved in that day,” I say, and Taylor agrees.

“Well, Rosy, maybe you can mend Blake’s broken heart,” says Mr. Callum.

“Or I’m sure there’s another heart out there that would love to heal your broken heart,” says Mrs. Callum, wagging her eyebrow. I know who she was talking about. Vince clears his throat and gets up to head to the bar. It’s no secret that Vince likes me and everyone in his family approves of it. They have known me long enough to know I will fit in just fine. I just smile at them and look at Taylor. She takes the hint and starts another topic.

It’s past midnight when I decide to call it a night. “Edward, which way is my room?” I ask the old man after I excuse myself.

He’s about to answer when Taylor turns up.

“You’re coming with me. We need to talk so my bed it is” she says with a laugh. She drags me up the stairs as I shout goodnight to Edward.

Taylor’s room is massive! You can probably fit four beds in here. We lay on her bed giggling and just chatting.

“So tell me about Blake. Rocky said he sent me a little gift basket,” she says and I look around for it. It sat in my suitcase. I pick it up and bring it to her.

“I honestly don’t know what to say. He turned up out of the blue today just before we left and was being sweet. All week he was busy, and all I saw of him was at the office,” I shrug and watch her open the basket.

“Yeah, but tell her about what’s brewing,” Rocky’s voice rings through the room. He’s standing in the doorway. He walks in and lays next to Taylor.

“Brewing? Something’s brewing? Like you, like him?” She asks and her voice gets more pitchy with every word.

“No, I don’t like him. I don’t hate him. But I don’t know. Tay, he’s rich and famous. Like why do I wanna get myself into something that’s a guaranteed heartbreak? Besides, like he mentioned today, he’s only around for a while. I’m almost thirty. Do I really want a fling now? It’s more time to settle down. I want something serious,” I reply with a sigh.

Rocky and Taylor look at each other. Something I’ve said makes them think too. I’m tired and just need to sleep now. Maybe sleep will help me think again.

“Well, what about Vince? You’ve known him long enough and maybe you two could settle?” Rocky says. “We all know he’s interested in you, Rosy. He looks at you like he’s starving and you’re his meal,” he laughs. Taylor laughs too, but nods her head.

“Cmon Rosy. Become my sister-in-law please,” she says between her laughs.

“It’s very sweet that he’s still hoping that I’ll give him a chance. I was sure he’d find someone by now. What is he now? Thirty-two? Doesn’t he want a family?”

“He does, but I think he hasn’t found the right person. You know he always asks about you. I know he’s been on dates and stuff, but somewhere deep in him, I think he’s hoping you’d come around. What potion have you given my brother?!” Taylor asks, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes at me.

“Okay, it’s time for bed now! You two are just stupid! Rockz, you wanna stay here I’ll go crash in your room?” I ask, getting up.

“Well, can you give us maybe forty-five minutes and then you can come sleep here,” he says, grabbing Taylor’s waist.

“Ewww no! Get out of my room,” says Taylor, smacking him. “I told you I’m staying here with Rosy. Now out you go” she grabs his arm and drags him out, shutting the door on his complaining face.

We both laugh and get into bed. Taylor switches off the main lights and leaves the bedside ones on.

“Rosy, Rocky said you needed his car for a few hours tomorrow. Should you really be going to see her?” She asks quietly. I knew Rocky would tell her. But yes, I need to go. I need to get it over with while I’m here. I don’t wanna come back just for this.

“Yeah. Might as well. With Blake around, I don’t know if I’ll get any more days off. We were supposed to have a meeting today and on Monday. But with me being here, they won’t happen until I’m back. This is the only time I’ll have. I’ll only be gone an hour, Tay. Not like there’s much I have to do.” I turn around and pull the blanket over my face. I know she can read me. She knows how I feel and she can talk me out of it if she tries.

“Okay then. Goodnight,” is all she says before turning off the light.