Page 8 of Bailey-Rose: The Complete Duet

I rubbed my forehead, trying to decide what the best plan was. If I told my parents right now, they’d want me to bring her over immediately, which would be beyond overwhelming for Rosie. Better to give her a few days to adjust to this new realization before my family added their two cents. They would mean well, but since Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher were always gone, they’d taken to looking after Crew and Bailey-Rose like their own.

“God, my mother is going to be over the moon,” I muttered. “She loves Rosie like a daughter already. This will just make all her dreams come true.”

“Just think, you’ve now secured the favorite-child spot for life,” Crew pointed out as he raised his phone to his ear.

“I’m an only child, asshole,” I shot back, tuning out whatever he was telling my mother as I pulled out my phone.

Now the question was, do I call or text? We had a group chat, so maybe it might be better to get their attention first, then call them. Warrick wasn’t working at the bar tonight, and the others should be finishing up their day at this point, so it was a solid chance we could all talk.

Ulysses:

Guys, I have major news. This is not a joke. I need you to answer me right away.

Warrick:

Are you okay?

Gareth:

Do I have a minute to finish this meeting or do I need to step out right now?

Ulysses:

I’m fine Warrick, better than fine.

Ulysses:

Gareth, if you’re serious about it being a minute, otherwise you’re gonna want to tell them to come back another day.

Vili:

This sounds like it’s a good news! I free if call is needed.

Yun-Sun:

Good timing just got out of court.

Ulysses:

Once Gareth gives the go, I’ll start a call.

Gareth:

Fuck it, this guy’s pissing me off as it is. I can make him come back in hopes he’ll have better ideas then.

The second I finished reading his message, I hit the dial button, and an electronic ringing sounded.

“Dude, didn’t you say you were going to your best friend’s house?” Warrick asked when he answered. “What could possibly have happened in the forty-five minutes since you left the house?”

“I’ll tell you when the others get on,” I said, listening for the beeps that meant another person answered the call.

Taking a second to pull the phone away from my ear, I heard the water still running, which I was thankful for. It wasn’t that I was trying to hide I was talking to my pack, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep my cool as I told them. This had been a tough journey for us as we started to feel hopeless with one failed scent card after another.

“Yo, Ulysses, you still there?” Gareth called, snapping my attention back to the call.

I cleared my throat, suddenly overwhelmed with what I had to tell them. “Guys…” I started, unsure how to even describe what just transpired. “I-I found her. She’s here with me. Well, not right beside me. I got kicked out of the bathroom so she could take a shower, but I’m just outside the door.”

“Ah… one, that sounds a tiny bit creepy, if I’m being honest. Two, who the hell is she, and why was this an emergency?” Warrick questioned.