Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
Beta'd by HollettLA and BellaFlan—I can go on and on about why I love them, but just know, they make "Weather the Storm" worth reading!
Huge thank you to everyone who continued to follow this sequel. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Thank-Thank-Thank YOU! Love you guys, too! Lollipops and leg humps for everyone!
OH! I totally came back to put this note in here. EDWARD AND BELLA WILL NOT BE CHEATING ON EACH OTHER IN THIS FIC. Sorry for the spoiler, but - and I hope you understand my frustration - I get asked this on a daily basis. Thanks. ENJOY!
"Weather the Storm" Chapter Two: Conformity
Flanked by two of my sociology class buddies, I continued to walk through the drizzly rain toward the Biotech building. I had math, which I hoped to stay awake through. Luckily, this is my last class of the day. I take three classes twice a week, which means that each class is two hours long. The first two classes are a pleasure to get through—Basics of Accounting and Sociology.
It's math that ruins my days. I'm always exhausted after. My math class is just too advanced for me. When I was previously going to school, my placement exam placed me in calculus. All the other times before, I chose to enter an easier mathematics class. This time I thought I could handle it. I was wrong, once again. Plus, I don't really need the class. I have enough math credits to continue my major in accounting.
Yes, I took Edward's advice and decided to go into accounting. I only did it, so I can have a more active role in managing our finances. Edward handles everything. There's always money in my account, as much cash as I could ever need, and the bills are always paid on time. Even though he doesn't need it, I want to help out however I can.
Esme and Carlisle have always done the books for the tanning salon. For all I know, they could be robbing the place blind...Of course, they'd never do that.
"I think I might focus on how to discourage handicapped parking cheaters," Roger said.
I chuckled, and Sandy pushed him. "That's so high school. What are you going to write about?" She looked to me.
I blew out a breath and stopped my hood from flying off my head. "I have no idea…different behaviors?" I laughed. "I have plenty of test subjects."
Sandy nodded. "Tell me about it. Between my mom and my grandma..."
I continued to walk, but didn't contribute any more to the conversation. I'm cool with both Sandy and Roger, but neither knows that I am married, have three kids, and am in my thirties.
Unlike the last time I attended school, Edward asked me not to be overtly friendly with too many people. It's not like I ever was; he didn't need to ask. Edward knows that I am friends with Sandy—maybe not Roger, which I know is wrong; however, Edward would flip out.
Roger and Sandy are in their twenties, I think.
You see, that's the beauty of both Sandy and Roger. They don't know me. I don't know them, and we share notes. Sandy also happens to be in my calculus class, so we sometimes have coffee between classes, like we did today to go over a few things. She's really good at that shit, and I suck.
The only problem with them is that they actually live in this area—the area surrounding the college. I live about a fifteen-minute drive away in Mill Basin. In Brooklyn, that might as well be another state. I've found that most here don't travel far outside their neighborhoods.
One would think that's amazing, yet it's not.
The boys—although they have changed schools—attend Saint Edmond's, which is in this area of Sheepshead bay/Manhattan beach, too. Their school is actually a few blocks away from the community college I attend.
Aro and Lauren also live near the college, and their restaurant is close as well. As a result, my family and me are always in this part of Brooklyn—where Roger and Sandy happen to live. I just know that I'm going to bump into them with the kids or with Edward. I just keep hoping for the best.
Another downside is all the lies, and the need I felt to be cordial to them in the first place. They seemed like cool people, and the only others I know here in Brooklyn are all "connected" to Edward.
Edward's friends are now my associates, but Sandy and Roger are like a breath of fresh air.
"Are your mother and grandmother diverse or alike?" Roger asked.
"Diverse. As different as night and day and yet, they're very close. All three of us get along." Sandy stopped to light a cigarette. "I can't wait to get my own place."
"Ugh…rent," Roger scoffed.
I nodded and kept walking.
"Bella, how about you?" Sandy asked.
"Yeah, you never talk about your roommates," Roger laughed.
I raised a brow. "They're all...very interesting individuals." I smiled.
"You share a place with how many?" Sandy asked. "'Cause…if you're looking for another roommate…"
"There's too many as is." I grinned apologetically. "Sorry."
"You live in Sheepshead?" Roger pried.
"What's with all the questions today?" I was getting a little annoyed.
Roger sighed and placed his arm around me. I deftly maneuvered out of the embrace. He laughed it off. "You seem like an interesting test subject—something about your eyes."
I chuckled. "Yeah…okay."
"I'm serious," he replied.
"You do seem like a very interesting person, although private." Sandy bumped her hip to mine.
I widened my arms. "I'm an open book. I don't have a life…I'm going to be one of those old cat ladies…who will probably still be in school trying to earn a degree because work takes up too much time." I waved a hand. I've found lying to people is a lot easier than it used to be.
"No!" Sandy protested. "I mean…you're older, but…what are you, twenty-seven?"
"Bless your heart." I smiled wide.
"Mr. Right is out there. I happen to believe he's out there for everyone," she mumbled.
I nodded, while thinking about my own Mr. Right. We made a deal to shower together at night before bed. It gives us a chance to be intimate and talk. Plus, with the shower going no one can hear anything. After dinner when the kids have settled down, we sneak off to shower—when we can. We can't do it every day, but we plan to try. By the time the kids are asleep, I am ready to pass out, and so the shower is our compromise.
"I believe that, too," I nearly beamed at her; partly because I felt very lucky to have Edward. "He's out there—there's someone for everyone."
Sandy gasped. "You should totally come out with us this weekend, right?" She turned to hit Roger's arm.
"That'd be cool." He pushed her away from him.
"Stop." She pinched him, and I suddenly thought I was with Damion and Sonny.
"I can't—" I started.
Sandy disagreed. "You so can. You work too much…we're stuck at this crap college, too. Our whole group is going into the city this Saturday." She waved a finger between her and Roger.
I furrowed my brow. "Group…you guys know each other?"
They looked to each other and then back to me. "Rog and I have known each other since high school."
"Oh…" I pulled my hood down when I made it under the building's awning. "Where are you guys going?"
Sandy's eyes went wide. "We do it up. First we go to dinner, have drinks—blah, but then we usually hit up a few clubs."
I rolled my eyes. "Like Twilight and Midnight Sun?" I laughed.
They looked to each other and back to me again while shaking their heads no. "We go to like Touch and Pacha—" She looked to Roger. "We're so going to Pacha this weekend."
He nodded.
"What's wrong with Twilight and Midnight Sun?" I asked.
"Nothing," Roger said. "It's just not our scene. Besides, the drinks in those places are overpriced—"
"Every club has overpriced drinks." I snorted.
"The cover charge is ridiculous, too. Not to mention, the music kind of sucks."
"No, it doesn't," Sandy grimaced and looked to me. "Those clubs are awesome…" She looked to Roger and then to me, while she wore a small grin. "What my 'Politically Correct' friend is trying to say—but would never be so 'incorrect' to say—is that those clubs cater to…people of Italian-American descent who may or may not be involved with illegal activities."
"You're so stupid," Roger laughed. "I'm a Guido, so I can say it, which I would have—had you given me the chance."
"A self-loathing Italian-American because he's a guido named Roger." Sandy pushed him and laughed too. "You know?" she asked me.
"No," I smirked, "I don't know." I cupped my sleeve around my right hand. It's not something I am proud of.
Part of the façade is that I now wear my engagement ring and wedding band on my right hand, with the diamonds facing inward. You can't see the rocks, I make it a habit to hide my right hand, and even so, my rings just look like regular bands—just a ring or two.
"Mobsters," she whispered. "You see them go in and out…like that guy on the news—the Don of New York." Sandy turned to Roger, and I thought I was in the middle of a nightmare. "The guy that was on trial like five years ago." She snapped her fingers. "What was his name?"
"I should go grab my seat." I pointed into the building.
"Class doesn't start for another ten—Cullen!" Sandy shouted.
"Edward Cullen." Roger rolled his eyes. "My uncle says he's an asshole."
Sandy turned to me. "Roger swears his uncle is 'connected', if you know what I mean," she whispered.
"I wouldn't spread that around, if I were you." I faked a laugh and looked to Roger.
"Family hearsay." He shrugged. "Who really knows?"
"What was that line you used to use back in high school? Your uncle Ronnie could get you into any club in the city?" Sandy asked Roger.
"No…my cousin was a promoter. He could have gotten me into any club he was promoting." Roger shook his head. "My family doesn't talk to my uncle Ronnie—he's a low-life criminal, like the rest of those guys…I mean, get a real job, right?"
I gritted my teeth and wanted to thank Edward for urging me to register with my maiden name. Edward isn't paranoid. I understand perfectly. Just like he understands that becoming friends with a few people is unavoidable. It wouldn't take much for some undercover FBI agent or one of Edward's enemies to try to be my friend—just to get closer to Edward through me. All of that is what makes not being friendly worth it. There's no hassle.
And Edward made sure during the whole media frenzy that the kids and I remained anonymous—out of the picture—and out of any pictures in the media.
"Maybe we should go there." Sandy elbowed my arm. "Have you ever seen him?"
I shook my head no. "Wait—who?"
"Edward Cullen, "the mobster"?" She used air quotes.
I shook my head no again.
"He's from Brooklyn—probably still lives here. My friend Blanca's cousin's friend Janet, slept with him when they were in high school. So did my older cousin, Breanna, when they were teenagers. They say he's got a huge—"
"I'm standing right here." Roger stared at his friend in disbelief.
Sandy ignored him. "Google him—the man is fucking gorgeous." She smiled wistfully. "I bet a guy like that is a pig though—all the women must throw themselves at him. Fuck…I would, and I'm not ashamed to say it."
"San, have some self-respect." He shook his head.
"I totally would—a guy with all that power, money, and a huge—hello!" She laughed loudly. "Did I mention he was fine? The panties would have a mind of their own." I could tell that she was teasing Roger now, but I still wanted to reach out and smack her.
I looked to the ground. "You have an extra cigarette?" I asked Sandy.
"Sure." She reached into her bag and handed me the pack.
Roger leaned into me to block the wind while I lit my smoke. "He owns those clubs or something," he said. "Those spots are filled to the brim now with people just wanting a glimpse of him—so weird. Like how the Long Island Lolita who shot her lover's wife in the head gets a reality TV show after she was released from prison…or how Monica Lewinsky became a celebrity for sucking dick…It's astounding how this society—"
"Okay, stop while you're ahead!" I rushed out, looking at Sandy. "I'm good. Thank you for the invite." I took one last drag and walked past them into the building. I couldn't take it anymore. It was my fault too, because I just had to mention Twilight and Midnight Sun.
I didn't get too far before my "friends" came following after me.
"Did I say something wrong?" Sandy asked from behind me.
I turned to face her outside our classroom. "Not at all. I was cold."
"Oh…" She looked down. "It's just…you seemed mad."
I blew out a breath. "I'm a huge Monica Lewinsky fan." I winked.
"Dude…if the President of the United States says 'Suck my dick', you do it." She snorted.
I let out a genuine giggle. "Right."
"It's a shame she's not so popular now," Roger said, giving Sandy a look I couldn't name. Was it, conspiratorial?
"Oh, right…I have to make a phone call before I…" She ran into the classroom.
I turned to follow her. "Take care," I said over my shoulder to Roger.
"Wait a minute." He lightly tugged on my coat.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Um…" He pushed his black hair back. "Were you listening during the last ten minutes of Professor Banner's lecture? I think I only got half of it."
I nodded and reached to open my bag. "I got everything, but he really didn't say anything of importance." I opened my spiral binder to today's notes. "I paid pretty good attention—give it back to me Thursday?" I went to hand the book to him.
He opened his mouth to speak and then pushed the book back to me. "Are you sure you don't want to hang out this weekend?"
I continued to hold out the book. "I have plans Saturday."
He nodded. "Well, Friday…maybe me and you can just…"
"I work Friday night." I pursed my lips. "Notes?" I wiggled the book.
"Lunch on Sunday?"
"Do you want the notes or not?" I asked.
"Early dinner on Monday?"
I shook my head as I placed the book back into my bag.
Roger laughed. "Are there any nights of the week that you might be available?"
"Sorry," I said. "What about Sandy?" I whispered. "You guys are so close…"
He grimaced, making a face that looked similar to Damion's when I try to get him to eat broccoli. "She's like a sister."
"Oh…someone's out there for you—I'm sure of it—but that person isn't me."
"Ouch." He rubbed his chest. "That was brutal."
"Was it?" I scrunched my nose. "You need to toughen up." I patted his bicep.
"Brains, balls, and beauty….you're my kind of woman, Swan." He chuckled.
I chuckled too. "See you later." I waved.
"Seriously?" He raised a brow.
"You're not my type," I said.
"What is your type?" he asked.
Edward! My brain shouted. "Women." I shrugged and wanted to snicker when his fucking eyes lit up.
"Really?" Now he sounded intrigued.
"Goodbye, Roger." I walked into the classroom.
"WAIT!" he shouted, gaining many people's attention. "You're lying aren't you?"
I never replied and took my seat in the third row. Roger waited by the door for another minute, but then the professor came in to close the door on him.
"Did he ask you out?" Sandy whispered.
"Who?" Tascha, another one of their friends, asked.
Sandy leaned into her. "Roger was finally going to ask Bella out today." .
I ignored them while I took out my text and notebook.
"Well, did he?" Sandy asked again.
I nodded. "You know he did."
"What'd you say? If he wasn't one of my best friends I would totally—"
"You want to fuck everyone, slut." Tascha poked Sandy with her pencil.
"And I am not ashamed of that." Sandy turned to stare at me.
"I said no," I whispered.
"He's one of the hottest guys on campus," Sandy scolded. "So what if he's younger than you? I can see how that would be a hang up."
"His peen is pretty nice—not crooked—and he gives decent…uh…cabeza." Tascha laughed.
"Cabeza?" Sandy leaned forward, her eyes widening with interest.
"Head." Tascha mimed a head with her hands and pushed it into her crotch, humping the air to emphasize her point.
"Now, now, ladies…settle down," some guy with glasses and a blowout said.
"Ignore Jordan," Sandy told me.
"I plan on it." I faced the front of the room.
The professor began to write equations on the dry-erase board and speak, oblivious to all the chatter going on around him. Then again, I've only seen a college professor scold a class once. Believe it or not, college is supposed to be different from high school.
"I thought you were into him?" Sandy wouldn't drop the subject.
"You thought wrong. I'm trying to pay attention," I said without looking at her.
"You'll never find a nicer guy than him."
"Pity." I shook my head.
"Damn…you're moody today." She laughed.
When school finally ended, I breathed a sigh of relief. During the last ten minutes of class, my eyelids wanted to close. So it was ironic how as soon as I left that dreadful building, I felt wide-awake.
"Bella!" Roger shouted.
Slightly annoyed, my pace quickened as my feet were carrying me faster toward my car.
"Wait!"
"I gotta go," I shouted back while I used the remote to unlock the doors.
He stopped me from entering by placing his hand on the car's door, keeping it closed. "I'm sorry."
"For?" I asked, taking a look around.
"For…asking you out?" He shook his head. "I'm not really sorry, but I don't want it to be weird with us either. You're a cool chick." He tugged on a strand of my hair.
Smoothing my hair out of his reach, I chuckled. "No worries. I forgot all about it."
"Oh…" He looked to my minivan. "Nice ride…" He stepped back to check it out fully. "I've never even seen a Mercedes-Benz R-Class this close up before."
I shrugged.
"How…" He stared back at me.
"How?" I urged him along. "I'm sorry, but I really have to go."
"How can you afford—you said you have all these menial jobs—"
I nodded, jerking my thumb to it. "This belongs to my boss."
"Oh!" He looked relieved. "My clunker is across the lot…What is it that you do anyway? You work at a tanning salon and…"
"Right—well, take care." I entered the car, slamming the door and starting the ignition in seemingly the same motion.
"We should exchange numbers—" he said loudly through the window.
Slumping my shoulders and staring straight ahead, my finger pressed the window button on the doorframe. The window opened, and I turned to face him. "Roger," I said softly. "You're a nice guy, a buddy, a pal—and you're attractive but, I. Am. Not. Interested. Okay?" I snapped at him and didn't give a fuck. "And what I do for a living does not concern you. Understand?" I raised a brow.
"Sorry," he said. "So…which job are you heading to now?"
I sighed. "The most important one." I closed the window. I had to go pick up my kids.
Luckily for him, he backed away from the car before I reversed out of the spot. I totally would have run over his foot. That was actually the kind of mood I was in.
I barely pulled out of the lot when my phone started ringing, Edward Sr.'s name lighting up the screen. Surprised, I drifted to the curb, answering the call. "Hello?" I asked.
He let out a relieved sigh. "Isabella."
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"Um...well, yeah. Everything is fine."
"Good." I nodded.
"I know I don't usually call. And I didn't mean to call from left field. Um..."
"Ed?" I asked. "I'm kind of in a hurry. I have to pick Kylie up, and then the boys, so..."
"Right, right. I'm calling because Jackie has the day off."
"Jackie is the nanny, right?" I asked, just to make sure. He has a housekeeper named Jackie or Jenny.
"Yes, Jackie is Lizzie's nanny. Jenny is our housekeeper."
"Oh..." I waved my hand or him along. "Ed..."
"I was called away from the firm today. Lizzie..."
"Is everything all right? Is she sick?" I asked.
"She says she's okay...Listen, she got her friend for the first time today."
I was quiet for a minute. My immediate thought was that Lizzie got her period. "Her period?"
"Here, talk to Lizzie." I heard shuffling on the other end. "Hello?" Lizzie asked.
"Hi, it's Bella," I said.
"Daddy...Did you have to tell everyone!" she shouted to her father. "He was just on the phone with Carlisle, like he cares," she told me.
I tried not to giggle. "You remember the talk Esme had with you, right?" I asked, knowing that Esme had sat both Hanna and Lizzie down at the same time to explain the birds and the bees.
"I know. I was surprised, but I knew what to do. I got a pad from the nurse. My stomach was bothering me, so I wanted to come home. Daddy needed to know what was wrong. So I told him...and he freaked out."
I nodded. "Did he take you to get pads?" I asked.
"Yeah. He had to ask the lady at the store which was best." She groaned. "How was I supposed to know? I wanted you to have the best ones." I heard Ed Sr. in the background. "It's just embarrassing," Lizzie sighed.
"It's perfectly natural. Maybe not what your dad did, but you have nothing to be embarrassed about...And, don't be too hard on your father. Daddies don't always know what to do, yet they have good intentions. Do you have any questions?" I checked the time on the dashboard.
"I took two Advil at noon...When can I take more?" she asked.
"Um...why don't you see if Dad has a heating pad. Try that. And if you don't have one, grab a large empty soda bottle. Fill that up with hot water, and place it on your lower stomach. Watch TV with Dad, relax, and if that doesn't help, then you can take two more after dinner," I rushed out.
"Thanks. I remember Esme saying something about being upset over nothing and things sucking more than they usually would?" she asked.
"Ah-huh." I put the phone on speaker and pulled away from the curb.
"Out of nowhere yesterday, I cried for my mom. I haven't...you know, even thought about her in forever," she whispered.
I frowned. "Sweetie, it doesn't matter how little you were. You're always going to miss your mom. Only as time goes by and you get older, it won't hurt as bad. Right?"
"I know. Oh, don't tell Eddie...about my period. I don't want him to look at me differently. Carlisle told me congratulations, and it was weird," she laughed.
I laughed too. "I won't."
"Sonny, too. He probably doesn't know what it is. I don't want him to be weird or tell Aro Jr." She whispered AJ's name.
"I won't tell anyone. How about that?" I asked.
"Thanks, Bella. You guys are coming this Sunday, right?"
"Every Sunday...Go grab the heating pad or the hot water bottle, get undressed, and relax. Okay?" I told her. "I love you."
"I love you too," Lizzie said.
I sighed and threw my phone on the passenger seat. Lauren was going to kill me for being late.
Esme had an appointment today, and then she had to work at the salon. Lauren was watching Kylie, and so I rushed to get to her house. They have a son who's a few months younger than Kylie. They named him after Aro's uncle Giovanni, but everyone calls him "Peto". According to Edward, the word "peto" in Italian means fart, so I have no idea why Aro would nickname his son that. It was his idea. He's the cutest little thing, and is the same size as Kylie.
She actually wasn't as big as her brothers were at birth. She was still a very good weight at 7lbs 9oz, but she wasn't a monster like Sonny and Damion, who were both in the nine-pound range.
I had to laugh when Lauren opened the door for me. She already had her coat on and so did the kids. "In a hurry?" I asked.
Lauren grabbed Peto and her purse, while I bent down to pick up Kylie. "Hi, baby." I kissed her lips.
"Ma…ma." She hugged me.
"That's me," I giggled. "Sorry for the short notice," I said to Lauren. This morning I was running so late, I barely said "goodbye" to Kylie.
"It's no big deal." Lauren yawned.
I grabbed Kylie's diaper bag, and followed Lauren out of the house. "Do you know of any babysitters?" I asked.
Lauren locked the door and adjusted Peto on her hip. "Esme isn't permanent?" she asked.
"She is," I said. "I just hate bothering her. I'd rather just pay someone, but then Edward doesn't trust anyone, and I don't want just anybody watching my kid—I have trust issues too." I shrugged.
"Call like a…nanny service or something. I'm sure there are plenty that won't mind watching Kylie at their houses."
I nodded and followed Lauren down the porch steps. "Where are you headed?"
"There's a retirement dinner at the restaurant tonight—some cop. Get the irony?" she laughed.
I grinned.
"I'm so glad Aro isn't mixed up in the stuff anymore," she said.
I couldn't believe she still believed that shit.
"Right," I said.
"I have to drop little man off with Candace, and then—"
"Who's Candace?" I may have had a fleeting thought about stealing her babysitter.
"She's like Aro's little cousin, only they're not related. She lives in his old building, which is why I gotta run. I have to drive out to Bay Ridge."
"Oh…" I stepped back. "Don't let me keep you."
"She's a sweet girl. She's great with kids…got pregnant young, but makes money off the books by babysitting," she whispered, like anyone could hear or care.
I raised a brow. "Text me her number?" I asked.
"Will do." She strapped Peto into his car seat.
"What do you think about Easter break? Edward wanted me to ask you." I stopped Kylie from eating my necklace.
"Me? I don't give a shit. As long as there's alcohol, and the kids are out of my face…" She sighed and closed the car door. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I like the way your mind works though." I laughed.
"We should just go to Disney." She got into the driver's seat.
I grimaced. Once upon a time, I loved Disney and Universal, but I've just been there too many times. "I don't know."
"Well…call me. We'll figure something out." She blew me a kiss.
I blew one back. "I'll call Esme, too."
"I honestly don't care—whatever you guys decide." She waved and slowly drove away.
I looked to Kylie. "You ready to go get Sonny and Damion?" I asked.
She nodded.
I pouted and gently bit her chubby cheek because I just couldn't help it. "Mommy's going to eat you," I said.
She tried to put her fingers into my mouth, and I smiled while I crossed the street to enter the car. I wondered if she napped for Lauren. I should have asked that. Kylie fell asleep so fast, before we even made it to the school.
"Hey, guys!" I said enthusiastically as they entered the car.
"Mommy—kiss me!" Damion threw himself at me dramatically.
"Don't mind if I do." I gave him a big wet one on his forehead.
"Get the cheek." He turned his head and I complied.
"Okay, we have ten minutes to get you guys to karate." I waited until they were buckled up. "What are we having for dinner?" I asked as I pulled away. I planned to go grocery shopping while they're at the dojo. I don't usually shop in this neighborhood, but we don't have much at the house. I was supposed to go last Friday, and then we got a foot of snow.
Three inches my ass.
We were busy all weekend, so we ate out. Yesterday, I actually had a headache that lasted the whole day. Edward offered to go, but the last time I sent Edward and the boys out to buy groceries, they came back with all junk food.
"I want spuhzsceddys." Damion raised his hand.
"Spa-ghet-ti!" Sonny corrected him. "And I'll have that too."
I nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"I can never say it right." Damion looked down.
"Practice saying it." I wished I never told him that. Damion continued saying the word "spaghetti" the rest of the way to karate. He'd get it right, stammer, and then screw it up again. It was hit or miss, and I wondered if that was a normal word to mispronounce. He's smart and gets good grades, so I shrugged that thought away.
I barely stopped the car when the boys ran out. They love karate, and I love tiring them out.
Kylie was still out cold as I parked the car at the market. She woke up whining, and I placed her in the cart. She didn't want to stay in it and was in moosh-mode, so I carried her while I pushed the cart around. She'd continue to whimper and kept her head buried into my neck.
"Easy." I rubbed her back. All of my children—including Edward—hate being awakened. I hate it too, but if she sleeps too much now, she won't go to bed at eight, and I know she's going to fall out again once we get back into the car.
"Bella…is that you?"
I closed my eyes tightly, leaving the Rice-A-Roni box I was holding on the shelf, and started to push the cart down the aisle. "Stupid. Stupid, Bella," I berated myself in a whisper.
"It's me…Roger." He sprinted to stand next to me.
"Oh…hi," I said.
This is why you don't shop near your school—or better yet—in the neighborhood containing a few people whom you've lied to.
Stupid move.
He smiled wide. "I totally get it now…Why you're private…" He gestured to Kylie.
I gave him a tight-lipped smile. "You work here?" I asked, looking at his Shoprite apron.
"It's close to the school, so yeah…" He plucked at it.
"Ah…" I went back for the San Francisco treat and threw a few boxes into my cart. Sonny loves Rice-A-Roni; the rest of us tolerate it. Then I looked back to Roger.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" He reached to touch Kylie, and I pulled her back.
"Sleeping," I lied.
I knew Kylie just had her face hidden in my hair. If she can't see the world, it doesn't exist, and I totally get it. Little things like that are the reasons why I believe my one-year-old daughter might just be a genius.
"I have to get back to work," he said.
I smiled. "See ya Thursday." I turned.
He placed his hand on my arm. "Just for the record, if you told me you had a kid, I wouldn't have freaked out…I think you're great." He grinned.
I laughed. "This isn't my kid." It broke my heart to lie about this, especially. "This is Kathy, my sister's, baby. She got stuck at work, and my boss is a decent guy. He let me have the night off."
The problem with lies is that after you spit out a few, you have to keep going—to cover your tracks, to keep up with the lies you already told, and I believe it just becomes a habit.
"That's nice of you." He nodded. "Thursday we should try the new coffee shop by the subway," he said.
I nodded. "Definitely. I'm sure Sandy would love that." I gave him a small wave and started down the aisle again.
"I thought you were an only child?" he asked.
I didn't even bother to turn back. "I meant my step-sister." I kept it moving.
"Oh, well say hello to San at the register."
I wanted to hit myself for not inquiring about where these two worked. They ask a million questions, and I'm too busy lying to ask any myself. "I will," I said over my shoulder.
Then I slowly walked until I knew he was out of the area. When he was gone, I abandoned the shopping cart to speedily walk out of the store.
The boys did their homework at the table, while Kylie bounced around in her ExerSaucer. Rocky circled my feet, hoping I'd drop some food, and I quietly cooked dinner.
"Done!" Damion announced.
"Get back here," Sonny demanded.
I mixed the sauce while I grinned and listened to their conversation. Edward came up with a pretty good solution to their bonding issues. Sonny gets to check Damion's homework instead of me. I'm content with that. It gives me less to do.
"This is sloppy," Sonny said.
"No, it's not," Damion argued.
"Just…" Sonny groaned, sounding like Edward. "Erase these three. You rushed to finish, and I don't even know what this says."
"That's 'shelter'… wrote down three times," Damion whined while he pulled his hair.
"Written three times," he corrected. "Spell it." He only asks Damion to spell the words he misspells.
"Shelter," Damion started, and I turned to wink at him.
Sonny snapped his fingers in his little brother's face. "Don't look at Mom. Look at me."
"Mommy's prettier." That little flirt winked at me.
"You!" I pointed, wanting to attack him with kisses. "Spell the word for your brother," I giggled and turned back to the stove.
"S – H – E – L - L - T - E – R," he said slowly. "Shelter."
"Ehhh!" Sonny made a buzzing noise. "Wrong…you have to copy them correctly from the board, or you're going to keep spelling them wrong for your homework. Look—you wrote it wrong to begin with."
"Oh…" Damion whispered.
"This is probably why…" Sonny trailed off. "Mom, did you see this?"
I turned to take the piece of paper out of Sonny's hand. It was a note from Damion's teacher. "What'd you do?" I asked.
"Nothing, Mommy." He bit his lip. "Sister Margaret told me to give that to you, but I forgot."
"It's okay," I replied, reading. The note suggested Damion needed to get his eyes checked. His seat was moved to the front of the classroom. He still continues to squint to try and see, and at the end of the day he walks up to the board to copy down his homework.
Why haven't I noticed this? I thought, as I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"What's wrong?" Damion asked.
I smiled. "Nothing. We just have to make you an appointment to have an eye exam—no worries."
"No!" Damion shouted. "I don't want glasses."
"We don't know if you'll need them yet." I placed the paper down to sign it. "Put this with your homework." I handed it back.
He kept his head down as he took it from me. "They're so mean to AJ because he wears glasses." Damion looked like he was going to cry.
"That's not why they pick on AJ." Sonny laughed.
I checked the time. The water wasn't even bubbling yet for the spaghetti, and it was after six. Edward should be home any minute.
"Where's your math homework?" Sonny asked.
"Here," Damion whispered. When I peeked back to look at him, he was trying not to cry.
"Why isn't this finished?" Sonny asked, showing Damion the worksheet.
"Daddy was helping me tell time." He put his head down on the table. "This is a fun one. I thought we'd do it when he came home."
"Let's do it now—real quick. All you have to do is draw the hands." Sonny stood up to join him on the other side of the table. "Daddy works hard. Do we really want him to come home to do homework?"
Damion sniffled and picked up his pencil. "I guess not." My baby still sounded so down.
In my peripheral, I saw one bubble pop up in the water, so I grabbed the box of macaroni to dump it in.
A few minutes later, the boys were finished with their homework, and Edward arrived. He came in to say a quick hello to all of us, and then went to change. I started to help Sonny pack up his books and things. Damion gets away with doing small things in each subject every night, but Sonny has at least two hour's worth of homework. He usually manages to do some during the down time he has at the end of the school day.
We don't feel the need to check Sonny's homework anymore, simply because he does it. If we didn't check Damion's homework, he wouldn't do it.
"Hello, Wife." Edward wrapped his arms around my waist.
I turned around to hug him tightly.
"I missed you."
I sighed into his chest. "I missed you…something awful." I chuckled and backed away.
"You've been having more bad days than good lately." Edward grabbed the plates to set the table.
I shrugged. "It happens." I turned to mix the tomato sauce into the spaghetti. "I have to take Damion to the mall tomorrow. He needs an eye exam."
"Why? Is he having trouble?" he asked.
I nodded. "He was sent home with a note, urging us to." I leaned into him. "He's really upset about it—he doesn't want glasses."
Edward shrugged. "He'll get over it, if he even needs them—the kid needs to see."
"Yeah," I whispered. "I just feel bad."
Edward chuckled. "Seeing Damion in moosh-mode…is like the saddest thing in the world."
"I know." I pouted. "He's just so happy all the time." I brought the food to the table.
"Is he in his room?" Edward asked.
I went to the fridge. "He's washing up for dinner."
"You know what we can do if he needs them?" He didn't give me a chance to answer. "We'll buy fake glasses, and we'll all wear them, so he doesn't feel different."
Little things like that are the reasons why I know Edward is Mr. Right—my Mr. Right. "I love you." My voice was filled with emotion.
He punched the air, making a lewd sexual gesture. "Remember that later." Edward slapped my ass and then left the kitchen, just as Sonny walked in.
"He's really upset," Sonny said.
"Hmmm." I grabbed a few bottles of water from the fridge and a Mountain Dew for Edward.
"He thinks he's going to get picked on, like I would ever let that happen."
I grinned at Sonny while I placed the drinks down, pausing to stare at him. "Why do they make fun of Aro Jr. anyway?" I asked.
He laughed. "Because they think he's a fag—"
It was instinct, and I didn't even think about it. I smacked his mouth with the back of my hand, then jumped back, shocked. "I'm…Sonny, I'm…" I reached for him, and he ran out of the kitchen. "Shit." I held my forehead and turned to look at Kylie so I wouldn't cry. Even looking at my beautiful, happy daughter couldn't stop me from tearing.
"Dinner ready?"
I jumped again when Edward put his hand on my waist.
"Served." I gestured to the table.
"Hey." Edward palmed my cheek and brought me to him. "What's up?" he asked.
I shook my head and didn't want to tell him because he'll think I'm ridiculous.
"Where's Sonny? He do something stupid?" Edward looked around for him.
"I did," I said, while I gave a wary glance to Damion. He was too busy munching on the end of the Italian bread to notice. "Don't fill up on bread," I whispered to him.
"Babe, what's going on?"
I groaned. "I hit Sonny," I said.
Damion gasped. "No, you did-din't."
"Eat your bread," Edward told him. "What'd he do?" he asked me.
As low as I could—I practically breathed it out—I told Edward what happened. He didn't call me ridiculous since he really didn't look like he gave a fuck.
I leaned away to serve Damion.
"He'll get over it," he mumbled, before he sat down.
"Yeah…" I sighed, and I still felt really fucking bad. "Sonny." I called for him. "Dinner's ready."
"Not hungry!" he shouted back.
Edward groaned as he stood up to walk out of the kitchen. I walked to watch as he let himself into Sonny's room, and then stared as he silently carried Sonny—like a sack of potatoes—over his shoulder. "Sit and eat." He placed Sonny in his chair.
"Bread?" I offered Sonny the basket.
He shook his head and reached for the pasta. "I'm okay." He made eye contact with me, and I knew he wasn't talking about the bread. "Sorry," he whispered.
I smirked at him and nudged his leg under the table. Edward gave my thigh a squeeze as he dug into his food.
"Look at my fork." Damion twirled his noodles with a spoon. "Like a popsicle." He licked it, before he started eating the spaghetti.
I grinned at him.
"How was school?" Edward looked around the table.
"Fine." Sonny and I said in unison.
"Samantha…in my class." Damion started. "She fell, and we all saw her panties."
"That's awesome," Sonny exclaimed. "What color—"
"Sonny!" I warned.
"It's just a question." He looked to Edward. "Right, Dad?"
"They had Bratz on them," Damion gazed at the ceiling pensively. "They were black, pink, and had Bratz. I told her they were nice so she'd stop crying," he giggled madly.
Edward tried not to laugh, his mouth full with food.
"So what happened?" I leaned over to grab Kylie so she could join us.
"A few kids started singing that European song." Damion shrugged.
Edward spit small pieces of spaghetti onto the table.
"Gross, Dad," Sonny scoffed.
"Really, Edward." I grabbed a napkin to wipe Kylie's face off. "The European song?" I asked Damion.
Edward put his head down and banged his fist against the table. Then he laughed so hard I was afraid he'd choke. "I see—"
"London, I see France," Sonny sang.
"I see—" Edward started coughing through his laughter, tears rolling down his face.
I giggled a little too, seeing all three of my boys get a chuckle. Even Kylie joined in, though she had no idea what was going on. She was laughing because they were laughing too.
"I'm going to have that shit stuck in my head all night now." Edward shook his head.
"Catchy tune," Sonny said.
"Anything else happened?" Edward asked.
I shrugged and leaned into Kylie to kiss her hair. I wouldn't even know where to start, and it's not like I can talk about it in front of the boys.
"My friend Steve got one of those new cell phones—the iPhone 6." Sonny looked to his father. "It doesn't even come out for the public for a month, but when it does…hint-hint."
"What does Steve's father do?" Edward asked.
"Works for Apple?" Sonny scrunched his nose.
Edward nodded. "You mean this phone, right?" He pulled out a thinner, smaller iPhone, which looked exactly like the iPhone 5 and 4, only skinnier.
Sonny snatched it out of his hands. "Is this for me?"
"Hell, no." Edward grabbed it back. "I got one for me and your mother." He looked to me. "It was supposed to be a surprise—"
"I don't need a new phone," I said.
Suddenly Sonny was on the floor, holding his hands together like in prayer. "Please!" He clawed at Edward.
"Get up…What are you, a dog? Don't beg," he grumbled.
Sonny stood up. "How'd you even get it?"
Edward shrugged. "I know someone who works at Apple."
"Oh…" He scrunched his nose, looking at me. "So…can I have it?"
I pointed my eyes to Edward, not having an opinion on the matter. The only reason we gave Sonny a phone in the first place, was so that we could get a hold of him. Sonny has some freedom. He's allowed to go to his friends' houses in the neighborhood.
"That phone is for your mom. We'll see how you do. Clean up around here, help Mom out, and behave—and I'll see what I can do." He went back to eating. "You also need to watch your mouth. That word you said earlier?" He looked to Sonny.
"You don't use that word in my house," I spoke up.
"What word?" Damion asked.
We all ignored him. "It's an ugly, horribly offensive word—" I started.
"But…" Sonny looked to Edward. "I've heard you and—"
"Eh!" Edward put his hands up. "Let me stop you there, my son. My friends and me are ugly and horribly offensive. We're also adults, and therefore can say it."
"No one!" I looked to the three of them, "says that word in this house anymore. Understand?"
"Love it when you get all…" Edward squeezed my thigh again.
"What word?" Damion huffed.
"Can I say 'homo'?" Sonny asked.
I thought about that for a minute, because it is short for homosexual, which is the PC term.
"Do you even know what those words mean?" Edward asked. "That other one is, um, derogatory." He looked to Sonny. "And something tells me you'll use the word 'homo' the same way."
Sonny giggled. "Grandpa calls them 'salami smugglers'."
Damion gasped; meanwhile, he's probably as confused as ever. "I like the salami Mommy buys."
"You like hard salami?" Sonny asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Don't say that," Edward ordered, and I kicked him.
"I'd never steal it." Damion went back to his food.
"Why do you consider those words an insult?" I asked. "I've heard you and your friends before." I shook my head at myself, especially since I remembered wanting to talk to him about it. "When something isn't cool, you guys say 'that's gay'. And I don't understand why." I looked to Sonny.
"I don't know. I don't have any beef with gay people," Sonny said.
"Beef." Edward snorted.
"Sonny, there's nothing wrong with being—"
"A salami smuggler." Sonny finished.
I slumped my shoulders.
"You'll never get that phone now," Edward sang, his mouth full
"I'm sorry!" Sonny threw himself at Edward and hugged him around the neck.
Edward was unfazed and continued to eat.
Sonny gave up after a minute. "Besides, what I was telling you before?" He looked back to me. "Is that the other kids say it—those buttheads—and that's why they pick on AJ—they think he's, um, yeah…"
"Is he?" Edward asked.
"How the heck would I know?" Sonny asked.
I stared at Sonny, wondering how much he truly knew about the subject. "Well, why don't you like him?" I asked.
Sonny shrugged. "A bunch of reasons. He's always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong—" Sonny cracked himself up with that one, and some of us didn't get it.
"Oh, shit," Edward laughed when he finally got it. "Don't—just, don't."
"Seriously?" I asked Sonny.
He shrugged. "I don't even remember why I hate him in the first place."
"You don't hate him," I insisted. "If you did, you wouldn't have always defended him against those jerks."
Sonny seemed pensive and looked a lot like Edward as he glanced down at the floor. "No…when it comes down to it? I don't care about AJ. I always stood up for him because it was the right thing to do. I do it out of respect for Dad, Aro, and Katie." He grinned and his face became flushed. "Plus, it's wrong. I know those words are mean and hurtful, and that there's nothing wrong with being gay….It's just…some of those terms are funny. Does it make me wrong for laughing?"
I bit my lip because I honestly didn't know. "As long as it doesn't come from a malicious place…I'll admit some of those oddball phrases are giggle worthy, but at the end of the day, the person they're aimed at is still hurt. If you can't say something nice—"
"Don't say anything at all." Sonny nodded.
"Right," I sighed.
"What's gay?" Damion asked.
I grinned at him.
"Another word for happy." Edward nodded.
"Dad, seriously?" Sonny placed his hand on his hip.
"Everyone shut up and eat." Edward pointed to the table.
"Wait!" Sonny paused. "Don't get mad…but you say stuff like that, and now he's going to run around and tell people he's…happy." Sonny stared at his brother.
"I am happy—gay," Damion giggled, and I did too, because he's just so fucking cute.
"See?" Sonny shrugged.
Groaning, Edward buried his face in his hands. "You're right." He rubbed his temples, looking at Damion. "Not now, okay? Just don't say that word until one of us tells you what it means."
Damion nodded.
"And don't you tell him. God knows what you think it means." Edward shook his head at Sonny. "But…I'm impressed by your reasoning to defend AJ," he admitted and looked to me.
I smiled. "I don't want to learn how to use a new phone and there's nothing wrong with mine."
"All you do is exchange SIM cards…same shit." Edward scooped the sauce off his plate with a piece of bread. "Hmm, this shit was on, baby." He stuffed it into his mouth.
Grinning, I leaned over with my napkin to catch the sauce that fell onto Edward's shirt, and then pointed my eyes to Sonny. What he said was wrong, but I still felt like shit for hitting him. It's not like my kids are spoiled crazy or lazy anyway. They do things when asked.
"I'll see what I can do about getting you one," Edward told Sonny. "But don't step out of line."
"Yes!" Sonny fist pumped the air. "Can I have it before it comes out in stores? Otherwise, it doesn't mean anything."
"You can have mine, and I'll wait for the other one," I said.
"I love you, Mommy." Sonny hugged me while Kylie tried to push him away from me. "She's my mommy too." He kissed Kylie's forehead, and then sat down to eat again.
"Why aren't you eating? I'll hold Kylie—you eat." Edward reached for her.
I shrugged. "I'm not very hungry."
"You have to eat or you'll get sick," Damion said.
Edward nodded and plopped a huge serving of spaghetti onto my plate, and then he took Kylie from me.
"You're correct." I told Damion. For the remainder of the meal, I moved my food around and started to take small bites while they all continued to talk.
/=/=/
Later on that evening, after Damion knew the correct meaning of the word "gay," the kids were in bed, and our shower sex session was over, Edward told me to spill.
So I did.
I told him about my whole day and didn't hold back. I even fastened my big girl panties and told him all about Roger—how he's harmless and crap. I may have left out the part where he hit on me today. Can you blame me? The husband is intense and blows things out of proportion, but I told him everything else.
"What's this Roger's last name again?" Edward asked.
I leaned up to look at his face. "I never said."
Edward raised a brow. "Well—"
"He's just someone Sandy hangs out with. He's a nice guy," I insisted. "He's a little nosy, but not really. I've seen them every Tuesday and Thursday for the past two months. They just ask the basic stuff. I don't believe either has an agenda besides wanting to be my friend."
"I know what I asked you to do…but," Edward pursed his lips, "are you ashamed to say you're married to me?" he asked.
"No!" I chuckled. "That's just it. I'm not." I sat up to hold his hands. "You told me to use my maiden name—keep shit secret. I love you and the kids more than anything, and I did that shit to protect them—keep you all safe because we can't trust outsiders—like you said." I poked his side.
Edward palmed my face. "Fuck 'em. So you lied. Who the hell are those people?"
I shrugged. "No one. It just got so out of hand it was ridiculous, and then running into Roger at the supermarket…"
"Just let it go," Edward whispered.
"Besides withholding the truth—information—I'm not in the habit of lying." I leaned my head on his stomach. "Why do I care?" I whined.
Edward ran his hand through my hair. "I don't know."
I gasped. "No…I care because of that shit Sandy was talking about. It didn't bother me until they talked shit about mobsters—saying they were low-life criminals—which you are not." I pulled on my hair. "I just had to mention Twilight and Midnight Sun." I shook my head.
"Relax," he laughed.
"They spoke about you being on the news. She knew your name and so did Roger," I grumbled. "She said you were hot and that her aunt's cousin's—whatever—slept with you in high school. Apparently, you have a big dick."
Edward rolled his eyes.
"Well…you do." I pursed my lips and stared at his crotch.
He groaned and pulled me into his side. "I'm not negating that." He kissed my hair. "I never thought you'd listen to me and hide who you are." He grinned down at me. "I'm proud of you."
"I'm proud of you and everything you do, even if it scares me." I kissed his cheek. "You work hard to make sure we have everything. It doesn't matter what you do, but you provide for your family…and you're a great dad. That's what pissed me off the most—I couldn't defend you."
"Look at me," he whispered. I did, and he pulled me in for a soft kiss. "You don't need to defend me—thank you for that. As long as you know the truth behind the madness, I don't give a fuck what those two or anyone thinks."
I nodded.
"You make it all worthwhile. You know that, right?" He lifted my chin to kiss along my jaw.
I nodded. "You may have mentioned that before." I was trying to be coy.
His lips trailed from my cheek to my mouth. "Don't worry about those people—you take your wedding bands off at school?" He switched the subject. "'Cause…I'm not cool with that." He slumped back onto the bed.
I shook my head no. "I just wear them on my right hand." I looked to the rings I'd replaced on my left hand.
"Oh…I'm not sure I like that, but you have valid reasons." He stroked his hand through my hair again. "When you're at school, your main concern should be learning, not chatting it up with whoever."
"I know…I just—I didn't have a lot of friends in high school. I never had more than one or two. It was nice meeting new people, even if I lied to them."
He sighed.
"We're all so busy, except Esme. I just wanted to meet new people. It's not important. I can ignore them." I frowned. "I don't even know if I want to stay friends with them after what they said."
"Bella, if they knew who you were or who you were married to, they wouldn't have said any of that shit," he laughed.
"Thank you for being awesome and letting me talk."
"It's part of my job." He winked. "I knew something was bothering you." His brow crinkled.
I nodded and turned to grab my hairbrush off the nightstand. "How are things with you? Still bored?"
Edward sighed as he sat up, taking the brush from me, and I leaned back into his widened legs. "A little." I barely felt his gentle strokes, which always start at the bottom. My husband is so cute. Even the little things—he likes to take care of me whenever the opportunity presents itself.
He stopped to gently tug my hair and pull me in closer. "When I say I'm bored, it's never with you and the kids…Never you, understand? Work—work is just unsatisfying at the moment. It doesn't have the same kick as it used to—with having to be extra, extra careful." He started to work on my hair again and started to hum. "I've seen London. I've seen France. Will Bella let me see her underpants?" He tickled my side.
I giggled. "I'm not wearing any." I grabbed his hand to place it at the crotch of his boxers that I happen to be wearing.
"Always so warm right here." He skimmed his nose along my neck and tightened his hold on my "warmth".
I sighed. "Keep brushing." I closed my eyes because this was so relaxing. "I know you've been to Europe, but we should go," I said.
"We should. They have tours, like thirteen cities in a few weeks. We should wait until Kylie is older."
"Yeah," I whispered.
"Did you talk to Lauren about Easter break?" he asked as he kept brushing. The knots at the bottom were out, and he gently brushed the whole length.
"I did…She wants to go back to Disney. I agree with you, though. If we go to an island, we'll all have a good time," I said. "I'll three-way Lauren and Esme tomorrow. The flights only get more expensive the longer we wait."
"A three-way, huh?" Edward nipped at my ear. "What'd I tell you about that? You're mine."
I shook my head. "A three-way phone call."
"Hot…" He tightened his hold on me. "Me, you, and Kylie are going first class. Last year, I hated being cramped in coach." Edward kissed my cheek. "All done…the boys will likely want to stay with the rest of the kids."
I crawled away to place the brush down and grab my night cream.
"Don't put that goo on," Edward scoffed.
I ignored him and rubbed the wrinkle cream into my face. "It works," I said.
"For two hundred dollars a jar, that shit better." Edward pulled the covers back to get under them.
"I never buy anything for myself—"
"I didn't mean anything by that. I meant—"
"I get it. If it's that expensive, it should work, which it does. Look at my eyes." I dabbed the cream in the corners.
"What about them?" he asked and flicked on the television.
"No crow's feet."
"You never had any to begin with," he sighed.
I grinned and put the cream down. "Sandy said I looked like I could be twenty-seven." I giggled.
"She lied…you look younger than twenty-seven."
"You mean it?" I asked.
He nodded. "Didn't you just get carded for wine two weeks ago?"
I nodded. "But they ask everyone—"
"No, they don't…And we're not fucking ancient. Relax with that shit too." He looked to me. "Besides your recent…slamming fucking bod, your face hasn't changed since the day I met you. Oh, no. It has. You've gotten prettier." He gave me a toothy smile.
I felt my heart swell with a giddiness only Edward could place there. "Damion looks so much like you." I smiled so wide.
"Isn't that awesome? I think it's cool." He looked so happy too.
"And Sonny acts just like you." I got under the covers and leaned into him. He's always so warm.
He winced. "That's—"
"You're a good person," I whispered. "Sometimes it scares me, but…as long as we keep him away from that thing, it'll be fine."
"It will." He nodded. "Kylie looks like you. I'm going to have to teach Sonny and Damion how to use a gun when she becomes a teenager."
"Don't think about that now," I laughed, but more like begged. Last time he went on a tangent about it, he didn't sleep for like two days. "We have years."
Edward dropped his shoulders. "I was talking to the guys today. We all agree that children are maturing faster than when we were young. Can you believe that? When I was a kid…" He frowned. "I just can't imagine them doing what I did. You know? It's scary—they're my babies."
"Awww." I rubbed circles into his chest. "I know what you mean." I bit my lip. Two weeks ago something had happened, and I hadn't wanted to tell Edward. I'd withheld the truth because I was worried that he'd blab. "Promise you won't tell Aro something?" I asked.
He nodded and stared.
"Lauren caught Sonny and Katie—"
Edward waved his hands to stop me. "I don't want to know."
"Okay," I said.
"No…tell me." He gestured for me to continue.
"They were kissing," I said. "Um…like really kissing. There were no hands but—"
"Tongues?" He grimaced.
I nodded and rubbed my stomach. "I didn't tell you because—"
"Look, I'm not really the lunatic everyone thinks I am. If it concerns our children, then we both should know. I won't tell Aro. He'd kill Sonny, and then I'd have to kill that whole family."
"Edward."
"That's a stretch, but you see where it would go?" he asked.
I nodded. "I do."
"Don't worry so much." He pushed my hair away from my eyes. "You're going to give yourself those wrinkles." He smoothed out my brows. "You're so beautiful." He searched my eyes. "You look even prettier than when I met you. I really, really, really," he kissed my lips, "mean that. God's honest truth."
I attacked his mouth and crawled on top of him. "You're a sexy motherfucker too." I ground my hips onto his shit, while I tore off my t-shirt. Then I bit my lip as my hands roamed along his muscular chest. "Damn...I could stare at you all day."
Edward chuckled and reversed our positions. He hovered over me quickly to groan, growl, and roam his hands all along my body.
Tonight, the shower just wasn't enough.
Thank you for reading!
Please leave me your thoughts!
Remember! I'm trying to slowly ease you guys into their new lives—letting you see how they've grown and whatnot.
Updates will be weekly—every Wednesday, God willing. This story is pre-written to chapter 8. **NOTE** There is no such thing as an iPhone 6 yet.
Please check out my new fic.
"A Hard Day's Night" The doctors at this busy, New York hospital all have the same goals; saving lives, setting the on-call rooms on fire, and maybe, falling in love? Grey's Anatomy concept with Twilight character twist. Canon Couples. PRE-WRITTEN AND UPDATED DAILY! DoctorWard/DocBella, well, they're surgeons.
Rated: M - Romance/Humor
www . fanfiction . net/s/7270652/1/A_Hard_Days_Night
