Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or anything related to it. (duh)
Rating: M
Pairings: J/B and many others to come
Genre: All Human
Beta: Jessipooks
Pre-readers: LuvinJ and Mist
Banners: Mist
A/N: I hope you guys enjoy my story about the citizens of Dusty, Texas. Hold onto your panties because I'm about to take you on a journey where we will discover the bittersweet lives of people who will learn much about themselves and those they love.. xoxo August
The Almost Affair Chapter One: Empty Hearts
The apartment wasn't exactly spacious, hell it wasn't even comfortably small. It was just big enough for her. It had one large room that held the living room, kitchen and a small area in the corner for a bed. The second room held a small bathroom area with a large closet space. Sadly, it was all she could find on such short notice. She just couldn't afford to stay at a hotel for another month.
She hadn't been prepared to move out of the spacious three bedroom condo that she had put all her savings in with her ex-boyfriend. They made plans to make the condo their home and eventually they would get married and buy something bigger for when they started a family. She had spent so many hours of her personal time making the condo into a warm and loving home for them; only to discover her greatest fear, he was cheating on her.
Sam. Her Sam. The one man she had invested her love in and sacrificed so much for had betrayed her in the worse way. The worse part was that he hadn't had the balls to tell her himself. No, she had to walk in on him with his lover, flat on her back and half naked on the Italian couch she had bought him for an anniversary gift.
Bella could only stand there and stare at the both of them in dismay and utter shock. Her heart pounded, her pulse raced, and her stomach knotted up in agony. Tears streaming down her face she gasped for air. For one moment, one fleeting moment she hoped what she was feeling was a heart attack so that she might die in that instant. Her brain was screaming at her to say something or to attack him but her heart pleaded for her to just close her eyes and run before either of them saw her.
Before she could slip out of the room Sam turn and saw her. He knew he had been caught. Shaking her head, trying to pull herself together she managed to run away. Once the door swung open she ran. She ran until her feet could take no more. She wasn't entirely sure how long she had been running or where her destination had been but when she managed to catch her breathe, she collapsed on the ground. Curled up in a ball she cried until she could think clearly.
Her only saving grace was she had been alone in the park and no one had witnessed her break down. Crawling up on her knees, she pulled her phone out of her purse and saw she had ten missed calls from Sam and several text messages. She gripped the phone so hard she wished she had supernatural strength so that it would turn into dust in her palm.
Calling her friend Rosalie, she ask for a ride back to Rose's place so she could think about what she should do and how she was going to move forward from this tragedy in her life.
She called into work and stayed at Rose's for two days with out seeing or speaking to Sam until she could find the strength to look him in the face with out conceiving a plan to murder him. She couldn't let him break her. She vowed she would never let him see how badly he damaged her from his deception and betrayal.
Now, standing in an apartment on the not so good side of town, she realized that perhaps she had given away their dream home in haste. Her father had warned her that legally she had a right to sue him for her half of the investment but she had declined to take legal action against him. She wanted to get away from himand pretend that he never existed in her life.
She went into the condo while he was out and took all her personal belongings a few things that she had bought for the she caught sight of Big John wagging his tail with a set of sad eyes that Bella could totally relate a spontaneous move on her part, she took the dog that she really hadn't wanted in the first place. She knew that Sam loved the large Siberian Husky and it seemed fitting that she take something of value from him.
It hadn't occurred to her until she returned to her hotel room that having a dog this size might be more of an inconvenience. However, she kept the dog. She knew it wasn't fair to Big John that he had to stay in a smaller confinement but she wouldn't dare take him back to Sam and his new roommate slash lover.
"Come on Big John let's make this a home." Bella dropped the leash after closing and dead bolting the door.
"I know, it's not much but hey it's ours for now." Bella sighed heavily as she took a few steps and entered the small kitchen area where she still had a few boxes to unpack.
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"You don't know that for a fact." Jake warned his best friend. He knew that Paul had a temperamental side and an extreme jealous streak. He understood why Paul might see Leah's strange behavior and sudden lack of attention as a reason that they might be having problems in their marriage but he didn't think that was enough reason to accuse her of having an affair. He also didn't think that with out real proof of her "possible affair" his friend should have one of his own to get even.
"Look Jake, you don't get it. She's miserable. She complains all the time how we never spend any time together anymore now that we have two kids to handle and our professional lives." Paul slurred as he waved at the bartender to make him his fifth shot of whiskey.
"Then work on it. Try to find some time to do things for just the two of 't go looking for more trouble to add to your situation. Do you love her?" Jake tried tobe the voice of reason in his friend's clouded and stubborn head.
"Of course I love her. I wouldn't have married her if I didn't." Paul exclaimed rudely.
"Wait a second Paul, you two only talked about marriage after you learned she was pregnant. You never spoke of it before that. Maybe she thinks that is the only reason you two are together now." Jake had heard her mentioning this once or twice to her cousin Emily after Leah and Paul had one of their notorious fights. Latelythey were becoming more frequent. It made hanging out with them a real joy kill. Theyused to be the sort of couple that Jake envied.
He had a few relationships that seemed to be close to what his friends shared and the most recent one had started out well but crashed and burned over night. He understood how horrible it felt to learn that someone you loved no longer loved you.
"Don't be fucking stupid!" Paul slammed the empty shot glass down on the dark stained wooden counter top.
"Hello! Earth to Paul, your not the one using your brain molecules. Your thinking and reacting with your emotions and not that tiny organ called a brain." Jake grabbed Paul's headand pushed it back and forthhoping he would think before he made a mistake that could cost him everything.
"Knock it off." Paul shoved Jake's hand from his head. Lifting his left hand up he tugged off the gold band that Leah had placed on his finger five years ago and made a vow of love and devotion.
"What are you doing?" Paul put the gold band into the empty shot glass.
"You see that brunette over there. She keeps eye fucking me. Maybe I should give her something to fuck with." Paul licked his lips as he stared boldly back at the stranger who lifted her glass up in an invite for him to join her.
"Don't do it." Jake pleaded, reaching out to grab Paul's wrist.
"Why the hell not? Leah isn't doing it for me anymore? She sleeps in PJ's room half the time Jake. My wife doesn't want me. She doesn't have to say it out loud for me to know it." Paul's eyes were glossy from the alcohol but Jake could see the pain he was dealing with.
"Do you honestly think that when you fuck that stranger it will stop the hurt your feeling now? Trust me man, that woman over there doesn't want you for love. She wants to have a good time and nothing more." Jake silently prayed that Quil and Embry would hurry the hell up and help him get Paul out of the bar before they had to stand back and watch Paul destroy his only chance at happiness.
"That's all I'm looking for too." Paul smirked but Jake could tell he was lying. Paul's ego was bruised and that woman over there seemed like a possible cure for the pain but Jake knew that once Paul slipped in between her legs he would not only lose his wife but his kids respect.
"Fine. I'm calling Leah." Jake knew it was a low blow to threaten to call his friend's wife but he could not see any other way of getting Paul to sober up.
"Fuck you Jake! I thought you were my friend, dude. Go on call her. Maybe she will get turned on enough to join us." Paul snapped harshly before striding over to the strangers table where he was making the worse choice ever.
Jake grab the ring out of the glass and put it on his finger to keep it safe while he called his buddies again hoping some reinforcement might help persuade Paul to go home before he screw up everything.
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"Are you sure about this?" Her voice was raspy with desire.
"Never been more sure." His voice echoed the same depth of passion as he pulled her back into his arms. Their mouths locked in a frenzy as their hands explored one another.
Two bodies envelop into one while heavy breathing filled the room. Soft moans of satisfaction bounced against the walls while they both reach their own climax.
Feeling the need for more they took a moment to catch their breathe before continuing what they started.
Rolling on top of him she rub her breast against his smooth chest and smiled inwardly when she heard him suck in his breathe.
"Do you like this? Do you want more?" She flirted with him while her eyes enticed him.
"How can I not like this? I will always want more if your offering." His voice was filled with an eagerness that made her heart swoon.
"Good. Less talking. More action." Her lips grazed his, then sucked in his lower lip before she nibbled playfully.
"Mmm...my kind of girl." Grabbing her small waist he lifted his pelvis to press his hardness against her.
Hands and mouths explored everywhere until once again theycouldn't hold back what they wanted the most, an all consuming, hot and full filling orgasm.
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"Someone has a big smile today. I guess sleeping in your own place really does help." Lily noted as she handed Bella her paperwork for the mornings weather report.
"It does help." Bella held back what else had caused the constant smile on her face.
"I'm just glad one of us feels good. My head is killing me. How can you drink so much and not feel so awful?" Lily covered her stomach as another wave of nausea hit her. Every time she went out with the girls she somehow ended up drunk first and felt worse the following day.
"I just know when to stop myself." Bella licked her lips, flipping her hair off of her shoulders and look up at the camera.
"True. Your one of the few friends I have that has such incredible self control. I just say and do whatever feels right at the moment and then laterregretmost of it." Lily laughed lightly.
"I have fun when I can." Bella replied feeling a spark of excitement course her veins as she recalled her spontaneous rendezvous with a total stranger she had met at the club last night.
"When? I hardly ever see you doing something I would label "fun"." Lily laughed but regretted it as her head began to pound again.
"Look, not all of us have to do extreme things to be considered a fun person." Bella was referring to Lily's recent ambition of trying dangerous sports. One week she went bungee jumping the following week she took lessons in sky diving. Who knew what she had planned next. Bella wondered what had struck up her sudden need to live on the edge and defy gravity.
"I just think that you could lighten up a bit. Several guys have hit on you and I've watched you turn them down. Girl, I would kill to get as much action as your offered." Lily sighed heavily.
" I am hoping to get that promotion so I can get out of this town. I won't let a guy sway me from pursuing my dreams like Sam did." Bella answered strongly.
"I have a good feeling you get the next one they offer." Lily winked at her and grabbed the clip board out of her hand so they could start the morning news with out delay.
Bella inhaled deep and long. She hoped she got it as well. She made a foolish mistake before but this time she knew better. She had her goals and her priorities straight and no damn man would keep her from obtaining anything she desired, ever again.
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