Alpha Brothers - The Beta (book 2)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6
Amy
"So," I started, as Liv and I lied on my bed after dinner, "You and Callum look pretty cosy."
Colour quickly came to her cheeks as she avoided my eyes.
"You guys are practically married."
She shrugged, "you say it like it's a bad thing."
I didn't know if it was. I had no proof that marriage was a bad thing. Our parents were happily married till the day they died. But for some reason, marriage was never really on the cards for me.
"That is, if that's what you want?" I asked.
A smile bigger than one I've ever seen appeared on her face as her eyes shined bright.
"It is. I mean, I don't plan to get married for a while. But Callum is the one."
At that, my heart started to race with happiness for her. Finally my sister had a love life. Even if I was jealous of her.
"Are you finally going to tell me how you met?" I asked, quickly taking her hand.
"I thought I did."
I shrugged. Maybe she did, but I wanted to hear it again.
"Okay, I missed the bus to, oh God I forget the place that I was even going to," I chuckled at her happiness, "Anyway, it started pouring down rain and out of nowhere a...c-car came and knocked me into a gully and –,"
"Wait," I stopped her, "A car knocked you down a gully?"
She bit her lip, "I was cold, wet and tired. A gust of wind could have knocked me over."
I shrugged. I guess it was true.
"Anyway, Callum was out walking and he caug – saw me fall. He carried me all the way back here. Got Doctor Glen to have a look at me and watched over me the whole night."
"Oh my God," I said before I could stop myself, "Creepy much."
She shrugged, "At the time, I thought so too. But then I –," she paused, "But then I got to know him and his family and..." she sighed, "And I've never been happier."
I smiled and nodded, believing her.
"What do you think of Archie?"
I frowned. The question came so out of the blue that I didn't even know how to answer it.
"Ahh, I don't even know him. I mean, he seems full of himself and probably has issues, the middle child always does," she giggled at that, "but yeah, I don't know him. Why?"
She shrugged but avoided my gaze, "just wondering. What about the twins?"
"Well, is Graham always like that?" I asked straight away.
"Causing trouble, God yes. It's not his fault, really," she stated, "he gets over shadowed. Callum runs the estate and Archie is second in charge, so they're always together. Allie, well, she always makes her opinion known. And Malcolm –," she paused, shaking whatever she was about to say away, "Graham just kind of becomes the background."
I nodded understanding a little more. But something wasn't clear.
"Malcolm, what does Malcolm do?" I asked.
She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it.
"M-Malcolm's not really a part of the family anymore. I mean, he is but...he doesn't want to be."
I frowned, "Why not?"
I saw the struggle in her eyes. She wanted to tell me, but couldn't.
"It's complicated."
"Complicated? How –?"
"Amy," she buttered in, "trust me."
I was about to protest but her eyes gave a clear warning. For the first time in my life, I just left it alone. She sighed and rolled onto her back. It was only then that I noticed that she wore nice silky pjs that she didn't have when she left American. I frowned when I recognised them on designer websites that I looked at when I felt like dreaming.
"Liv, are you wearing designer pjs?" I asked, making it seem more serious than it really was.
No, it was wrong.
I watched as she started to blush, giving me my answer. I gasped, slapping her stomach.
"Ow!"
"How the hell did you afford that?" I yelled, knowing full well how she afforded it, "So not only is your Hubbie rich and gorgeous but he buys you designer clothing. No wonder he's the one."
She scoffed, "You make me out like some sort of gold digger."
I shrugged, "Well if the shoe fits."
She gasped and slapped my shoulder. I fell into giggles, enjoying her anger. She giggled too, but she struggled to contain it.
"What about you?" she asked, "Are you happy?"   
And just like that, my mood was ruin. How do I tell my sister that suddenly had this most amazing life that mine was fulling apart? You don't.
"You know me," I said strongly, "Amy and not happy don't belong in the same sentence."
She giggled, believing me so easily. I guess she never knew anything different. And the mask I wore was better than my makeup.
"But um, I don't have any plans," I admitted, "So if it's okay with you, can I stay here? Longer than a holiday."
She smiled and tilted her head, "of course Amy. You can stay here forever if that's what you want."
I bit my lip, feeling her gesture touch me. It had been so long since someone had been kind to me that I had forgotten what it felt like. I didn't think that I could have a future here. But it was nice to know that I could have one if I wanted one.