His Rose

Ch. 2

"Rose, isn't this a surprise," Jace greeted, a stoic expression on his face. I bit the inside of my cheek for a couple moments before I said something I might regret. It would be really easy to say something wrong after hearing that previously endearing, now infuriating nickname, so I needed time to calm down. Jace called me Rose, or Rosie, for two reasons: 1) it's my middle name, and 2) my auburn hair.

"It really is," was the answer I settled on, managing to hold back the majority of my emotions. However, I couldn't help but glare a bit at him.

"Maybe she'll get fired by killing Jace instead," Nolan stage-whispered to his sister behind me. Elsie was quick to smack him over the head, but Jace still chuckled, the sound deep and husky and as attractive as ever.

If only he didn't break my heart.

"To answer your question, your parents just left, which means I have a job to do, so if you don't mind..." I trailed off, raising an eyebrow at him. He only shrugged, leaning against the doorframe.

"Don't mind me then, Rosie. Go and do your job." I grit my teeth at his nonchalance, but managed to find it in me not to slap that smug look off his face, instead turning around to face the kids.

"I'm going to hang out with Jace," Nolan immediately spoke before I even opened my mouth, stalking out of the room. I glanced behind me, watching him and his brother leave, but not before meeting Jace's unreadable gaze. He immediately looked away when I caught him. I turned back to Elsie with a small, forced smile, hopefully hiding my confusion, anger, and hurt.

"I knew your name sounded familiar," Elsie stated, sitting back down on the couch. "Jace and you dated until the spring of junior year, right?" I nodded.

"Yeah," I sighed. "What, did he talk about me that much?" I snorted after that, although a small part of me hoped she'd say yes. Either because it would be great blackmail or because it meant he did care for me, at least at some point.

"More like it caused arguments between him and our parents," Elsie replied, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

"Why?" I asked, not masking my own confusion. Elsie only shrugged.

"I have no idea. They always fought about it in Dad's office. All I know is that your name came up almost every time Jace was in there, and Jace always stood up for you." I glanced down at my rings, managing to keep myself from asking why he broke up with me if he cared so much. I knew Elsie wouldn't know. And, if she did, she probably wouldn't say.

"Anyway, onto happier topics. We'll leave big brothers out of conversation," I chirped, earning a laugh from Elsie. "Do you have any idea how you want to spend your time today?"

"There's so much to do," Elsie responded, going into a thoughtful silence. I waited there for a bit, calming myself down from that encounter, accepting the fact that I'd have to put up with Jace for the summer. And, although I'd rather die than have to do that, money was quite persuasive.

"How about we swim? We've got a pool in the back," Elsie suggested. I nodded, mainly because I had no better idea. I had no clue what all they had here.

"Sure, I just need to find my bags," I replied, standing up, chuckling. Elsie stood up, too.

"They'd be in one of the guest rooms. I'm pretty sure I know which one," Elsie started up the stairs. I followed her, trying very hard not to do something embarrassing on the stairs. Like, fall or pretend I'm a princess or other royalty...

"Here," Elsie said, pointing to the first door on the left. "My room is right next to yours, and then it's Nolan's. Jace's is across the hall from you." I suppressed a groan at that last statement, instead just nodding.