"Looks like we have another week of hundred degree weather ahead of us, and it doesn't seem as though the heat wave will finally go away until Friday or Saturday. This is KLXO 101.2 FM with some Rihanna and some Black Eyed Peas coming your way."
I let out a long suffering sigh, and cuddled up closer to Edward, trying to remain cool. We lay on a picnic blanket next to the Cullen's newly installed pool. I was desperately envying Edward, and not for the first time, I wished that he would stop postponing turning me into a vamp. I'd had enough of this heat after the second day, and we were now into the second week of it. Of course the heat didn't bother any of the Cullens, hence my envying Edward.
Edward has been teasing me relentlessly. So Bella, I thought you liked the heat? Weren't you saying you missed Phoenix, Bella? Hey Bella, I bet you're happy it isn't raining? I wanted to slap Edward the moment it occurred to me that I missed the rain.
Edward's family was having a game of a volley ball in the pool. Edward kindly sat out with me. Volleyball + me = not good. Now, volleyball + me + pool + vampires = very bad. Edward lay next to me wearing only swim trunks, his skin looking radiant in the sun. I lay my head on his chest, and relished the coolness of his skin. His hands stroked my hair and for a moment I felt like I could take the most wonderful summer afternoon nap.
"Sorry Bella!" Alice called out. Edward was sitting up now trying not to laugh, as both of us plus the picnic blanket were completely drenched. I tried to give Alice a glare, but I couldn't muster one up. The cold water had felt so good, and it was interesting to see how much the water level in the pool had dipped with that one splash from little Alice.
Rosalie climbed out of the pool resembling an angry bristling cat. Her hair which had been done up nicely, was now soaked and ruined. Alice hid a snicker behind her hand, and jumped behind Jasper for protection as Rosalie gave her a dirty look.
"Oh come on Rose! Don't worry about your hair." Emmett climbed out of the pool following Rosalie back towards the house. "You're beautiful!" Emmett turned back, and while Rosalie wasn't looking, he gave Alice the thumbs up sign and a big crooked grin, which caused a round of laughter out of all of us. Rosalie turned around at the sound of our laughter and Emmett was caught. He groaned out loud, but even Rosalie was laughing now.
I squeezed my hair, the cool water dripping down my back, and for second I thought I might moan in pleasure. Edward got up, walked over to the pool and dove in gracefully. I followed him to the pool and sat at the edge to dip my legs in the cool water.
My pale skin looked ridiculous in the sun, especially surrounded by several barely clad sparkling vampires, but it was too hot for me to care. I pulled aside the strap of my blue bikini top and was thrilled to see a bit of a tan line. I heard a chuckle so I looked down. Edward and Carlisle were watching me from the water, both grinning.
"Oh no!" I gasped. Within seconds, Carlisle had a grip of my right leg and Edward had my left leg, and they held me firmly but gently.
"On the count of three?" Carlisle asked. Edward only nodded.
"One." Carlisle quirked an eyebrow at me, his lips turned up in a mischievous half smile.
"No wait!" I tried to wiggle my legs free, but it was hopeless.
"Two." Edward counted.
"Wait! I'll strike a bargain with you." I pleaded playfully.
"Oh?" Edward chuckled. "What kind of bargain my dear?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
I groaned, my mind drawing a blank. I looked up at the sky trying to come up with a good bargain. "Um, well…"
"Three?" Carlisle asked Edward.
"Three!" Edward agreed and within seconds I was pulled into the water, shrieking and laughing.
My head came up over the water and I took a deep breath. This time I managed to muster up a good scowl for Edward and Carlisle.
"Sorry Bella, time was up." Carlisle smirked, backstroking away from us.
"You're not sorry at all!" I splashed him and then turned all my playful fury on Edward.
He let out a small laugh at the expression on my face. He came over to me and gathered me into his arms, kissing me softly on the lips. "Bella, Bella, Bella."
I tried to struggle out of his arms.
"Oh no you don't." He lips touched mine tenderly, and for a second we forgot that we were still surrounded by his family.
It wasn't until a few moments later that a foam pool toy clocked Edward in the head and we remembered that we were not alone. I pulled away from Edward, blushing as usual. I could hear Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme laughing behind me, so I dove underwater to avoid their teasing.
……
A few hours later, as the sun began to set, we were all seated outside on the patio. It was still over 90 degrees out, but it somehow felt refreshing after such a hot summer afternoon. I sat curled up next to Edward on a hammock. I leaned against him, feeling relaxed and tired after a day of swimming in the pool and soaking up some sun. Rosalie and Emmett sat on the porch steps. Rosalie's hair was back in place. Carlisle and Esme were sitting on a bench and Alice and Jasper leaned against the patio railing.
It was the middle of July, school was out, and Carlisle was taking vacation time from the hospital. It had been far too unusually sunny this month for any of the Cullen's to go anywhere before dark. In fact Esme, was waiting for the sun to go down so she could go do some much needed shopping for household items such as cleaning products and gardening supplies. There was a Walmart in Port Angeles that was open 24-7, and Esme often shopped there after dark when it was too sunny during the day.
I sat with my eyes closed. A very slight breeze was blowing, and I could hear seagulls squawking in the distance. Edward turned his face to me and kissed my temple. "Bella, love?"
"Uh huh?"
"We're going for a hunt tonight. Do you mind love?" I felt his fingers tug lightly on a strand of my hair.
I sighed. "No, that's fine." I paused. "Who's Bella-sitting?"
"Esme and Carlisle." Edward said. "Esme's making at trip into Port Angeles, but she won't be gone overly long."
"How long do you think this hunting trip will be?" I dreaded Edward being away. I could never sleep without him next to me.
"We'll probably be gone until dawn. We're going to be hunting further up North for the next few months. It will give the local animal populations time to grow a little." He hugged me and then stood up. "I'm going to go get ready. Are you sure you don't mind?"
I smiled and got up to follow him into the house. "Of course not."