I drive frantically, looking at the clock on the dash as I groan out loud, and mutter curses under my breath. I'm pushing my car way faster than the speed limit allows in this area, but I really couldn't care less about that. I can handle a ticket, but I just can't handle the consequences if I'm not home in ten minutes, and I don't have a meal on the table in twenty.
I hated days like this. Days where I had finished reading every book I had at the house, and had to go back to the library to exchange them for new ones. He didn't know that I went to the library sometimes when he was at work, and I know that if he ever found out, I was done for. He had told me time and time again, that I could only go certain places with my car, and I couldn't lie about where I was going. He checked the mileage. Luckily for me, the supermarket was just a couple of blocks away from the library, so I would park there, and then walk the rest of the way.
I pull up to my house, press the button on the remote on my visor, and wait impatiently for the garage door to open. I edge my car in slowly, until I'm sure my car will fit and once I'm sure I'm in all the way, I run out, library books in hand as I jog to the door leading into the kitchen. I hit the button by the door, closing the garage door before running inside the house, and stashing my newly checked out books underneath the sink. I look back at the clock on the wall and see that I have less than 15 minutes to make dinner before he gets home, so I run to the pantry, frantically searching for something quick to make. I push around a couple of things, before my eyes settle on a couple of cans of Campbell's Clam Chowder. I grab 2 cans, and place them on the counter near the stove, as I run over to the cabinets and pull out two soup bowls. I place them in front of me, and open the cans, pour the contents of each can into each bowl and toss them both into the microwave.
As the soup warms, I go to the fridge, pulling out the salad that I had made for lunch, but decided against eating, and place it on the table. I grab the bowls from the microwave, wrapping pot holders around the bottom and walking them each to the table. I look back up at the clock and see I have just a couple of minutes before he gets here, so I grab both empty cans of soup and place them in a dark plastic bag, and push them down to the bottom of the trash can where I know he won't see them.
I spend the next couple of minutes tidying up the kitchen, making sure it looks like I've been cleaning all day. I hear his car pull up, and I quickly grab an air freshener, and spray it into the air, place the can back into its place, and walk up to the door to meet him.
I plaster a fake smile on my face as I hear his key sliding into the lock.
"Hi, Honey. How was work today?" I ask him, holding my hands out for his suitcase, which he drops to the floor like the jackass that he is. I scatter to the ground and grab it, and then make my way to the front closet, settling it inside.
"It was work, but I know you don't know a damn thing about that. Is my food ready?" he says, brushing past me and to the dining room table. His chair scraps noisily against the wood floor as he pulls it out, and then takes his seat.
"How the fuck do you expect me to eat this shit with no spoon?" he says, slamming his fists down on the table. I jog past him and into the kitchen, grabbing two spoons from the drawer and bringing one to him. He snatches it from my hand, and digs it into his soup as I walk around and settle into my chair.
Before I can even dip my spoon into the soup, Jake jumps up from his chair, sends his bowl flying to the ground and starts to yell.
"What the fuck, Bella? That shit tastes horrible." he says, bringing the napkin up to his mouth and wiping the taste of soup from his tongue.
"I'm sorry, would you like me to-" I start to say, but he grabs the table cloth, and pulls it, making everything on the table fall to the floor. He then turns and walks out of the room, shouting that the mess better be cleaned up when he gets back. I hear the door slam and a few seconds later, I hear as he starts up his car and speeds down the road.
This isn't new. I've dealt with this everyday for four years, since I married him. It wasn't until we exchanged vows that he showed this side of himself to me, but by then I was stuck. Jake and I had known each other for years. His father was best friends with my father, and we spent pretty much everyday together. My father, Charlie, was a single dad. He raised me after my mom left shortly after my 5th birthday and although we struggled sometimes, I always felt loved with him. It was always a joke with my dad and Jake's dad that he and I would end up together. Jake was my best friend, first kiss, my first date, my first everything. He showed me just as much love as a girl could expect from a boyfriend, and I fell head over heels in love with him.
Just after my 15th birthday, my father died in a car accident and I found myself alone. That's when Jake's father, Billy, stepped up, taking me in and treating me as if I were his own.
Jake and I were inseparable, never having any time apart from one another, and it was amazing. Then he proposed to me shortly after I turned 18, and we got married soon after that. I was the happiest girl in the world. I had the man of my dreams, his family was my family and I was anxious to continue my life with him… until he turned into the monster he is today.
I clean up the mess on the dining room floor, picking up the broken pieces of the soup bowls, and mopping up the creamy clam chowder from the floor. When I'm positive there is no trace of anything left on the floor, I put everything away, and duck under the counter for one of the books I got today. I walk into the living room, settling on the couch as I start to read.
I'm a couple of chapters in when I hear Jacob's car pull up into the driveway. I get up, shoving the book under the couch and jumping up out of the seat to try my best and look busy. The front door opens, and I hear Jake as he talks to someone. At first I think he's on the phone, but then he walks in, with his friends from work, Emmett and Jasper trailing behind him. Both men are great people, even though they are friends with my husband. Emmett's father owns the company that Jake works for, and he is the president. His brother in law is Jasper, who is Emmett's wife's brother. He doesn't work with the guys, but he owns a club downtown and is a client of Emmett's father's company.
I greet them both with a smile and a wave, and they both walk over, pulling me into tight hugs before taking their seats on the sofa. Jasper and Emmett have been here numerous times, and whenever Jake gets too crazy on me, they always tell him to relax. I've escaped torture numerous times because they were here to stop it. However, when they leave I always get accused of making him look bad in front of his friends.
"Get us a couple of beers, will ya?" Jake says, and I nod, and walk into the kitchen, pulling out 3 beers and walking back over to them. After handing them their beers, I take a seat on the love seat next to Jake.
"We haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing, Bella?" Jasper asks, and I smile up at him and bury my hands into my lap.
"Good. How about you guys?" I say, and they both begin to ramble about what they've been up to. They talk about work, home, and their wives. I've never met their wives, but I've seen plenty of pictures and from what I hear, they are just as great as their husbands. Jake interrupts and tells me to go into the kitchen and grab another beer from the fridge because they are expecting Jasper's brother-in-law soon. I get up, looking over at Jasper and Emmett for a second as a strange look I can't decode comes over their face.
"Yea. Um, Alice's brother just started working with us. He just moved to town with his wife, and I think she's joining us too, so you'll have someone to have a little girl chat with." Emmett says, and I smile as I open the fridge, but before I can reach in and grab one, the doorbell rings. I look back, seeing if maybe hell is freezing over and Jake actually is going to get up and get the door, but of course, the answer to that is 'hell no'. I shut the fridge, and walk through the living room and to the door, pull it open, and come face to face with the most beautiful man I have ever seen.