Ch 127: Marked By The Rose

POP!!!

Thunderous applause roared through the room with joy. Blue confetti rained down on Rose and Ace from the second floor above them. Ace was leaping towards the sky to discover he and Rose were having a boy.

Today was their gender reveal party that Zoey, Veronica, Mrs. Collin, Ava, Mia, Sharlene, and I had for them. Rose was glowing like any loving mother. I could tell she was happy. Even if she wasn't having a girl. Pure love was still shimmering on her face. Being over twenty-one weeks on this day of July, she was certainly blossoming that baby bump and she looked absolutely beautiful.

The beautiful couple kissed passionately. Everyone either clapped or whistled.

Kai was next to me holding his niece Coraline. I can honestly say, he does great with children. Which guilts me out since I am denying him fatherhood by being on birth control.

Again he was away for a business trip while I was on my cycle for this month of July. When I broke the news to him over the phone. I could tell by his voice he was upset we weren't pregnant. I no one day I'll have to give in and birth him a child.

I thought as we walked up to Rose and Ace after they got hugs from their families.

"Congratulations!" Kai gave Ace a handshake and brotherly hug. As Kai still held Coraline up in one arm. For today's party, she was dressed all cute in a blue flowered dress.

"I'm so happy for you but I am so sorry you're not having a girl," I hugged Rose and we giggled together.

"That's ok," Rose gleamed. "I'm happier that the baby's healthy."

"For sure but I'll be expecting that back rub," Ace teasingly gloated before he smooched her lips.

"I expect a good rub down tonight," Rose flirted.

Most of us laughed as Ivan and Mia came up.

"How are you feeling, Rose?" Mia asked.

"Starving! Do I smell chocolate syrup?" Rose's nose seems to scan the room until she randomly slips out of Ace's arms.

None of us could stop laughing as Ace shook his head, watching her dart off. Fairly fast, she disappeared between the crowds to find that chocolate syrup.

"I can tell she's craving," Ivan chuckled.

Ace laughed, "Yeah, she's passed the puking. Now she just wants to eat everything."

We laughed as Mia said before she ambled away. "I'll go make sure she doesn't eat the whole food bar."

"Good call," replied Ivan before he kissed her.

"I'll go with you," I said but before I had any chance to leave I heard a tiny voice talking.

"I'm thirsty," I turned to see Caroline mentioning this to Kai.

As he kinda looked at her empty hands. "Where's your sippy cup?" Kai asked Coraline.

"It's in our car," I answered for her. "I'll go get it."

"Are you sure?" Kai asked. "I can get her a drink."

"The car is just right outside at the curb," I giggled. "It will take me two seconds to get it."

"Alright," Kai said with this unsure expression plastered on his face.

I wasn't sure why but he was being overly protective today. But I didn't make any remark and turned my heel to head outside. The door opens with a loud creak and shuts the same way.

Compared to being inside that crowded party. Out here was refreshing. Besides the loud sounds of speeding traffic. Since the building we rented was in the city.

Just before I could reach the car. This dashing man walked down the sidewalk. He was wearing a top hat and had an old-fashioned yet modern vampirish-style tuxedo on. And he wore a pair of black gloves. His appearance resembled a mysterious magician with a vampiric characteristic about him.

Upon seeing me, he twirled his top hat like a performer and did a bow. I couldn't help but giggle shyly at him.

"You have a beautiful giggle," he stood straight and asked, reaching into the pocket inside the tuxedo. "Would the beautiful lady like a red rose?"

He pulled out this beautiful bloomed red rose and held it out for me to take it.

"It's beautiful," I admired when I reached out to grab it. "Ouch!"

I hissed in pain when a thorn pricked my finger. A dribble of blood rolled down it. So I brought it up to my mouth to clean it.

Kai always shaved the thorns off. So I had forgotten how beautiful yet deceptively painful a rose can be. I looked at the snick before eyeing the man. He seemed to have this peculiar grin lifting his lips.

"Be careful. A rose will mark you before you know it," he said with a captivating voice. I didn't quite feel myself. My gaze was glued to the man. Until he broke eye contact to look at something else past me.

Then the rose I had was delicately taken out of my fingertips. As another hand touched my mid-back. I veered my gaze to the left and found Kai and Jack there unexpectedly. I must have been so zoned out that I never heard the noisy door creak. Before my voice could speak. The next thing I saw in slow-motion was Kai sailing that rose right on the busy streets.

Upon swirling down as a ballerina this car's tire flattened most of the rose into the asphalt. Petals broke off it as another car ran over it again. All the while my mind felt so clouded that I couldn't think.

Kai took my injured finger which caused me to turn back his way. Those sunglasses cloaked his eyes but I could tell by his lips he was irked. After looking at my finger, he along with Jack scorned the grinning man.

He took his top hat off again and did another bow. With his eyes on them like a vulture. Lastly, he took one peek at me and then left down the sidewalk.

Jack opens the car door and gets Coraline's sippy cup out of the cupholder on her booster seat.

"Let's head in and get you a bandaid," Kai said with a grimacing tone.

"It's just a little cut," I reminded him.

Kai knowingly smiled in this charming grace. "Even the smallest cuts can be all but deceiving, my love."

I wasn't sure what he meant by that but I didn't question it since Kai has been more guarding today compared to his usual. I followed him and Jack in as the noisy door squealed loudly.

Ivan got me a bandaid right away. Jack kinda scanned around the crowds. Their behavior was odd over a tiny cut.

"Let's get something to drink," Kai said and I allowed him to lead the way as Jack followed us.