Disclaimer: All characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. She is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Great, I am running late and I can't find my work shirts. I have five shirts and I can't find one of them. "Alice, have you seen my work shirts?" "Bella, I told you that I hung them in your closet by color, like the rest of your closet." Alice said in her sing song voice. I swear one day Alice is going to catch me on a bad day and I am going to accidentally choke her. I love my best friend, but sometimes her energy is exhausting. Now….what colors are my work shirts? Finally, I grab a green one and am ready to go.
When I get to the restaurant, the dinner crowd has not made it in yet thank goodness.
"Bella, you are so late. James is going to kill you." Rosalie hisses. "I know, thank Alice the closet fairy." I grab my book, go into the kitchen and write down the specials, and head to the hostess stand to get my tables straightened out.
"Ah, Bella, so nice of you to grace us with your presence do try to make it in on time tomorrow; otherwise I will have to think of a fitting punishment." James smirks.
He is so creepy it sends chills down my spine. James is tall, good-looking and well built, but his personality makes my skin crawl. He is always talking about punishing me. It's really starting to become an issue. Last week he asked me if we could talk over dinner. Somehow I have been able to get out of it every time he asks. I hate making excuses, but there was no way I could be alone with him. Call it intuition, call it what you will, he came on too strong in front of other people I can't imagine if we were alone. He has really been asking me out for drinks or dinner since he hired me, at first it was easy to get out of. Although I hated using my mother as an excuse, she completely understood. "Don't shit where you eat kid." That was Renee, always the charmer.
Renee, my mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. She went through chemo and everything was fine. She was in remission but they found another knot in her armpit. They had to remove several lymph nodes, but ultimately, there was nothing else we could do for her. We moved to Baltimore so that she could go to the best hospital, but even John Hopkins hadn't been able to help. Renee left her husband, Phil, telling him that he was too young to be widowed and he should move on. At first Phil put up a good fight, but she let him know that her mind had been made up. So, that is how we got here. I live in Annapolis because it's cheaper than living in Baltimore probably thanks to the Navy brats in the area. The Naval Academy makes living here cheaper than the other towns, and it also makes it nicer.
I have been working at Black's Pub since we moved here. Jacob, the owner, took a chance on me and I love him for it. He has been such a great friend to me through this whole ordeal with Renee. He has always let me off when she is sick, or when I just need a break from everything. He has even let me use his beach house on the weekend. He calls it house-sitting but I call it vacation. Vacation, I really needed to take a vacation. I really haven't had any time off since… well since the funeral.
"Bella, your first table of the night has been seated; do I have to spank you to get your ass in gear?" James whispered in my ear. He is always sneaking up behind me looking over my shoulder without me noticing. I used to be a lot more alert. I really need to get back on my game. I used to be this whole other person; Renee's illness really took its toll on me. I swear I have aged at least ten years in the past two. I am jumpy and a lot clumsier than ever, how that is even possible, I have no idea.
"Thanks, James. I will get right over there." I told James and he shot me a dirty look. "Watch your attitude Swan, or I will adjust it for you."
I walked past Rosalie who was shooting death rays from her eyes at him. "That son of a bitch! If he touches a hair on your head, I will have him killed." Rosalie seethed. "I wish he would try that shit on me sometime."
As I went to my first table I noticed it was full of Navy guys. Man, it gets hard working around these guys. There is nothing like a muscular man in navy blue. Now, if only they didn't know how good they looked!
"Wow, honey. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" the first one said, he was a big guy. Very good looking with muscles on top his muscles. Is it hot in here? "Emmett, really. Where are you manners?" the second one said with a southern drawl. He was a tall and tan with blonde hair. Also built very well. If he says too much with that accent, it will be all I can do not to dance on this table for him.
"What can I get you boys to drink?"
"Well, can you bring us a pitcher to start out? We have some other guys joining us shortly. Thanks, hon." The blonde one said.
"Bella! You lucky bitch! I gave you that table! Who is the big guy with the dark hair? Have you ever seen a guy that hot in your life? My panties might spontaneously combust! Please, let me take their drink order to them while you get that next table." Rosalie practically yelled.
"Rose, settle down. That next table is yours, are you really going to give it up just to take drinks to that table of Navy guys? You know how they are. One romp in the sack and they are done. Why waste your time?"
"Bella, he is so hot that I am close to taking him in the bathroom and letting him bend me over for a proper spanking."
Rolling my eyes at Rose I told her, "Go ahead Rose, take them a pitcher of beer."
I watched Rose readjust her bra, then her boobs, and roll the top of her jean skirt up to show off her "best asset", her long legs. Rose is beautiful. She has long, blonde hair, amazing skin, and she is too smart for her own good. She is going to school to be a doctor and working here part time. Guys always think she is easy because of the way she is built and dumb to boot. She gets hit on at least thirty times a day and it never fazes her, I am amazed that she is so attracted to this big lug. These navy guys have the "hit it and quit it" policy. Why would they want to settle down with a "local girl" when they will be on a ship traveling the world and getting exotic strange. They are always the same.
"Bella, wait until you see their friend that joined them, you are going to die. He is gorgeous. Not as hot as Emmett, but he will be perfect for you."
"Emmett, huh?" Leave it to Rose to already know his name. "You are so funny. Did you get him to put his number on your breast? There's enough of it showing for him to put it on there with the area code. I will have to see him; I have to go take their order."
Walking by their table, I can only see one of the newcomer's faces. Standard blonde hair, brown eyes, really Rose? This is who you think I'd be interested in? He is not even cute, even in his navy blues. All I see of the other guy is his dark hair. It looks like it has a cooper tint to it. That's not very masculine, I think to myself completely amused, of course Rose would think that I would be interested in the one that most likely dyes his hair. Some friend she is. Then he turns and I see his face. It's like the ahhhh music of the clouds parting plays. Don't get me wrong I have heard this sound before; you know when the hot actor comes on the screen in your favorite chick flick. But this time, it's really happening, or at least, in my own head its happening. It's perfect, he is saying something to Rose's fantasy and I want to taste the words as they come out of his perfectly pouty mouth. Whoa! What is the matter with me? Damn Rose and her spanking talk, all I can think about is this guy taking me to the bathroom and spanking me now. Shit! How am I supposed to speak in full sentences with those green eyes staring right through me? Then it happens, I can see the whole thing play out in slow motion, I am carrying the pitcher that goes to Rose's other table when my foot slips betraying me in front of this beautiful man. He really is beautiful too, which is my last thought before my ass smacks the ground and my head hits the floor. Awesome. That really just happened.
The next thing I can hear is voices in the distance, blurred faces in front of me…. Oh God. Really? I really just busted my ass and head on the floor in front of my ahhhh guy. Ugh! I hate myself right now. Rose is fanning my face with a menu and ahhh guy is holding me up. His hands are on me. They feel so strong and manly. I bite my lip as I picture him sweeping me off my feet and carrying me out of here like the scene from An Officer and a Gentleman. We are almost out the door when I hear Rose say, "Uh, Bella, are you ok?" with a giggle. Please, please tell me that I didn't say any of the scene playing in my head out loud. I. Will. Die.
I look over at Ahhh and he is smirking. "Bella, is it? Bella, are you feeling alright?" Finally, I decide I should speak.
"Yes, um, I'm ok. Thanks, I'll just…get up… and, get everything straightened up." I try to stand up and it's a little too much, I start to slip again. Great I am covered in beer giving quite a nice wet t-shirt show.
"Maybe I should help you to the restroom to get cleaned up." He says.
"Yes, that's a good idea, I will get your mess here cleaned up." Rose says and winks at me.
This could not be more embarrassing. "Bella, what are you doing? You shouldn't be hanging all over guys..uh, customers like this. It's hardly appropriate." James tells me very harshly.
"First of all, sir, Bella is not hanging on me, she just took a nasty spill and I was helping her to the restroom to get cleaned up. Secondly, talking to your employees like that is hardly necessary. Are you the owner of this establishment?" Aaah asks him with a tone that implies he is speaking to a child or a moron. I stifle a laugh and squeeze Aaah's arm a little tighter.
"Well, sir, I, uh… no I am not the owner I am the manager. I just didn't think that the situation was…."
"No, you didn't think before you spoke, you might want to work on your politeness filter; that way in the future you don't sound like such a moron."
Whoa. He totally just told James off! Yes! I am totally in love. This man is the best. In the past five minutes he has told rescued me from the floor, practically carried me over to get cleaned up without sneaking a peek at my wet chest, and told James that he was a moron! I am biting on my lip so hard trying not to smile, it's starting to hurt. We reach the door to the bathroom just in time.
"As much as I would love to go in with you, I probably shouldn't." he says with a laugh. I look up at his face and he has the sexiest smirk I have ever seen.
"Yes, thanks, that won't be necessary. I'm uh, Bella by the way. Thank you for picking me up off the floor."
"Bella, I'm Edward and it was my pleasure. I will see you soon Bella." He turns to walk away and laughs. I glance around and see James standing by the kitchen staring daggers in my direction. Man, he is such a douche. Rose walks up and hands me a new shirt and a skirt.
"Bella, I am sure that you forgot about me borrowing your extra jeans last week when we went to dinner after work. I am so sorry, this skirt is all I have and James says you can't go home since you were late so you are going to have to wear it." Rose looks at me like she is afraid of what I am going to say.
"Rose, it's ok. After that fall I am really going to need a short skirt to be able to earn some tips to pay for the pitcher I spilled on the floor."
"Wow, Bella, you are all flushed and smiley. Oh! You have a crush on that stud boy! Woo woo! This is excellent! Emmett has already asked me out for tonight, now we can totally double! You are a great wingman! If I didn't know you were a total klutz I would think you set the whole thing up!" Rose walks away cracking up and I wish that I was some comic genius that had done it on purpose.
As I am changing I say a silent prayer thanking God that I shaved my legs last night. I am such an idiot. I replay the whole thing in my head, I am so lucky that I don't have a concussion. Maybe I do, maybe that is why I am ok with wearing one of Rose's skirts. Either that or it's the idea of showing some skin to Aaah, I mean Edward, that has me completely thrilled. His hands on me were enough to make me faint. The heat from his touch, well it was the first time I have felt alive in months, maybe even ever. I sound like a fifteen year old with a school girl crush. My mind wasn't doing fifteen year old school girl things with him though. With one last look in the mirror, I wash my hands, take a deep breath, and head back out into the world, or the bar, anyway.
I walk up to the bar and get the new pitcher of beer and the mugs that are waiting for me. Slowly, but confidently, I place them all on my tray and walk to the table. I can feel all the eyes on me watching to see if I will make it all the way there or not and I start to laugh. As I walk past the boys in blue I say to them, "Don't worry boys, I got this!" and send Edward a wink.
"We are here for you if for some reason you can't make it." Emmett guffaws to the others. I walk back to their table and ask if they are ready to order.
"I will just have the double bacon cheeseburger with double fries and some of that sweet thing over there for dessert." Emmett points at Rosalie and smiles.
"Bella, this is my friend Jasper, he will be joining us tonight, but is worried about being a fifth wheel. Although I will be taking up most of your time, could you convince him that there is no need to feel that way because you will be paying him some attention as well?" Jasper, the blond, looks so embarrassed but says, "Maybe Bella would like me to show her attention more than she wants yours, ever think of that?"
"Boys, boys, there is no need to fight. Rose and I just happen to have a roommate that will be joining us so I am sure that there will be enough girls to divide your attention. Now, let me get your orders before my boss comes over here and tries to fire me." I get their orders in and I am practically giddy with excitement! I haven't been out in years. The rest of the night flies by. James doesn't even bother me. We told the boys that they could pick us up at our place and we called Alice to tell her the news. Alice, the one I expected to be beside herself with joy, was a little reluctant. I honestly think that she was worried that she was getting the loser friend since Rose went on about how hot Edward and Emmett were. I think she did it on purpose. Jasper was just as good looking as the other two, I told a couple of the other girls from work that they should meet us out too; they did have a couple other guys with them too.
The guys showed up at ten o'clock exactly. Navy men were always on time. Rose answered the door and practically threw herself in Emmett's arms. Alice stayed standing in the kitchen, trying to look like she was busy with something and I stood close to her so that I could make the proper introductions. First, the other blonde that had been at the table with them came walking through the door and Alice looked like someone had pee'd in her post-toasties. I even heard a sigh. I laughed and introduced her to Mike, then told her that I thought Mike would enjoy meeting her friend, Jessica. Mike smiled politely but looked like a hurt puppy that Alice wasn't meant for him. Then, I saw Alice's eyes light up. I don't think that I had ever seen this look on her face. I didn't even have the chance to introduce them when Alice danced over to him and said, "Hello, you must be Jasper, I am Alice," in her most seductive voice. It was all I could do not to laugh.
"Alice, you are hilarious! Edward, please meet our friend Alice." Alice looked at Edward and shook his hand, then shot me a look of approval. I am going to have to kill her.
"Ok, should we all head out? What did you all drive?" I asked the boys.
"We drove Emmett's jeep, but if we are all planning on having a good time, I don't mind paying for the cab ride over."
"Great," said Alice. "I will call the cab company; let's have a drink here before we head out. I will call Jess and the other girls and tell them to just come by here."
The discussion between the group flowed so easily, it was like we had all hung out before. Edward, and Jasper had grown up together and practically planned on the Navy being their future since they were old enough to walk. Their Dad's had both been in the Navy as well so they had always ended up in the same cities. They met Emmett at the naval academy a few years ago when some local guys had picked a fight with Edward and Jasper and Emmett had stepped in and took the guys out before Jasper even got the opportunity to take a swing. The boys laughed at the memory and it was like they were brothers. I could tell that Mike felt a little left out and part of me felt sorry for him. He was the one that really seemed like a fifth wheel. Rose told the boys that we had met at the bar and found out that we were both attending the same school and we had hit it off immediately. Alice and Rose had met at a local boutique where Alice had been designing clothes since she was a teenager. I loved these girls like they were my sisters. They had both been there for me when Renee died and I had no one else to turn to. Of course, Charlie was here for a few weeks, but he had to head back to his life in Washington with his wife, Sue. He had been there when Renee passed and that meant more to both of us than anything.
"Bella, are you ready?" Alice asked bringing me back to reality. "Sorry, Alice, I was just zoning out. You know it's past my bedtime," I said with a laugh. Really, I wasn't joking. I was usually so run down from work and dealing with that asshat James that I would come home, take a hot bath, and curl up with a good book in bed. I reached behind the door to lock and it and something washed over me. I knew once I shut that door, things would never be the same for us.