Rose

Two

Rose

I watch him through the window.

Now I realize that probably wasn't the best way to start. I also realize how stalker-ish this looks from my niece's point of view. She sits on a sofa behind me, waiting for me to return and finish 'Galactapus' friends' with her. At the moment, our mission was to find her teddy bear, Eli, and bring him home to his friends.

The man strides with his hand in his pocket as he speaks on the phone. He wears a gray hoodie and a baseball cap, preventing anyone from seeing his face without standing in front of him. He manages to make it to the apartment complex's stairs before someone notices him. I assume the person figures out who he is. The man signs his autograph and begins running up the first steps before another fan can recognize him.

"Aunt Rose!" Maybel shouts, bringing my attention back to her.

I turn to her with a frown. "Why must you yell, young one?" I ask, speaking in a fake British accent. I'm almost certain if an actual British person heard me, they would be highly offended.

She shakes her head. "That was terrible."

I laugh. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't let it happen again." She replies just as someone knocks on my front door.

Aware of who it is, I rush to the door. My heart racing, I run a hand through my curls and lick my lips before opening the door.

"May I come in?" He asks. When he looks up from his phone, my breath hitches.

Holy fucking shit.

"Damn." I mutter

Christian Roumery, one of the newest rockstars out. He's in a band he created, Las Vegas Revival. I had done my research on him two years ago when he first was introduced. In the beginning, they needed a singer. I auditioned, mostly because my family begged me to. I later learned there were hundreds of thousands of other people who auditioned as well.

He removes the hoodie and baseball cap from his head, revealing his messy, ivory black hair. Some would describe his hair as a 'bro flow.' Freckles faintly dotted his cheeks, but they were only really visible when you stood this close to him. His jaw was so sharp I feared if I touched it, I might get a cut. His tall and lanky body towered over me, making me have to look up at him.

God, he looks even better in person.

His eyes meet mine and my mouth parts. He was so attractive, I felt like I wasn't even worthy to look at him. "Ma'am." He says.

I blink and clear my throat. "Yeah?" I whisper, trying to control my racing heart.

"May I come in?"

I nod and open the door wider. He shoves his phone along with his hands in his pockets as he steps inside. Shutting the door behind him, I exhale a deep breath and focus on the reason he's here. Maybel looks up from her barbie doll with a frown.

"Auntie Rose, who is this white man and why is here?" She asks, making my mouth go agape.

I pick her up and lead her into her room. "Maybel you've got to stop eavesdropping on your mom's conversations." I whisper, setting her down next to the toys that scatter on her floor.

"Is he a cop? I know he's not your boyfriend. You don't get those."

"Okay, that one hurt."

"Mommy said only pretty girls get boyfriends. She said that's why you're so lonely."

A glare forms on my face. "Well, if that were true, your mommy wouldn't have a boyfriend right now, Maybel." I hand her a few more toys and kiss her forehead. "Now I need you to stay right here until my guest leaves, all right?"

"Okay." she mumbles, already finding more clothes for her barbie doll.

I nod and walk out of the room. When I step back in the living room, he still stands in front of the television. "How old is your kid?" He asks, glances around.

"Five and she's not my kid."

He rubs the back of his neck as he faces me with a look of regret. "Shit, I'm sorry. "

"It's fine." I respond, trying to avoid staring at him before I started to drool.

He holds his hand out for a handshake. "Christian Roume-"

"I know who you are." I reply, accepting the handshake.

His eyes widen slightly. "You do?"

"Well duh. I'd be surprised if someone didn't know who you were."

He pauses for a moment before nodding. "And what's your name, pretty lady?"

I blink. Did this man just call me pretty when he looks like that? It must be to get me to agree to what he is here for. Yep, I'll go with that.

"Rose Jinwell." I say, and a grin appears on his face.

"Rose." He repeats. My stomach heats up at the way he says my name. "I like that."

He smiles, two small dimples appearing on his cheeks. His dark brown eyes shine a little. Really, he had no right to have such a disarming smile.

"Thanks." I fold my arms. "I know why you're here. Some bald guy named Miles showed up the other day about it and the answer is no."

He takes a seat on my sofa despite what I've just said. His legs open slightly, he leans forward. "Just hear me out." He says.

I find myself staring at his crotch and avert my eyes. "You have two minutes."

"Our band needs a new singer. The last one was… not well, to say the least. I saw your audition tape from a few years ago and believe you're exactly what we need."

I shake my head. "As I already told him, my answer to your offer is no. I'm not just going to abandon my life like this. Besides, singing is a hobby for me. I don't want it to become my career. That's too much."

Now that is an absolute lie. For as long as I can remember, my dream in life was to become a singer. For years, I've practiced. Singing on talent shows, choirs, anywhere I can. But up until now, I've never gotten such a big offer. It terrified me.

When the first man offered the job to me, I said yes immediately. But doubt started to creep in, and whether I would be good enough for it. I would just be a disappointment. A woman like me, not to mention a black woman, was no match compared to his last singer. I would be a joke to everyone.

"Rose, I don't think you're understanding what I'm offering-"

"I think you should leave."

I walk to the door and open it as he stares at me with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he licks his lips, making them even pinker. He stands up and walks towards me as a grin rests on his face. When he steps outside of my apartment, he says, "I understand."

I nod, and after one last lingering glance, I close the door. Maybel comes running in the living room as I am about to take a seat on the sofa. The buttons on her overalls jingle as she does so.

She searches the room. "Is he still here?"

I chuckle. "No, why?"

"I got a dance to show you."

"Have. You have a dance to show me, Maybel."

She rolls her eyes as I take a seat on the sofa and she stands in front of me. "Mommy and me always talk about how annoying it is when you do that."

"Tell your mom to choke." Her eyes widen, making me realize what I have just told her to do. "Not literally! That's just a joke we have."

"But-"

"Show me the dance, Maybel."

She smiles and runs to her room. After a moment, one of her favorite songs begins to play, and she rushes back inside the living room. As she shows me her dance, there is only one thing on my mind.

"I understand."

For some reason, I had a feeling this was not going to be the end of this. In fact, I think it's only the beginning.