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A/N Thanks for the reviews so far, I hope you guys like the story. The pace will pick up, I have about 4 more chapters written already and I'll post another tomorrow and then it might slow down to once a week as I get to the meat of the story. It's not all baseball and beer unfortunately. Please Review! I need all the help, encouragement I can get.

Chapter 3: Baseball and Beer

BPOV

"Romeo and Juliet's strong love for one another caused them heartache in their lives. And because of this strong love, they both felt as though they needed each other to be whole or to continue living."

Bella had read the same sentence at least six times but she was not really paying attention to the essay in front of her. She was supposed to be grading her junior class' final essays on Romeo and Juliet but all she could think about was the gorgeous handyman inside her home right now. The gorgeous handyman that was her landlord's son. The landlord that was renting a home to her and her husband.

Bella gave up on the idea of soul mates and hearts and flowers a long time ago; a lifetime ago. However, when she stepped into the kitchen and saw a mop of bronze hair, artfully disheveled, next to Carlisle's dignified blond head she felt a tightening in her gut that she didn't quite understand. But as soon as the bronze hair turned around and gave way to the most beautiful man she had ever seen she understood why her body had reacted before she had. He was tall, lean, with a strong jaw, and captivating green eyes. His facial hair was just hitting 5 o'clock and even with his casual white t-shirt and work-out shorts he looked, well, perfect.

After an awkward introduction, Bella quickly excused herself to the patio set on the water to grade papers and get over her ridiculous lust fueled infatuation with the gorgeous man inside. After finally grading the essay in front of her Bella looked back towards the sliding glass door and saw Alice walk towards the kitchen.

I should be safe with Alice acting as a buffer, she thought.

Bella tightened up her ponytail, gathered up her papers and headed in to face….well…..she wasn't sure. As she slid open the door she chanted Jake, Jake, Jake in her head.

EPOV

Edward had walked through the home improvement warehouse in a daze. He had his fair share of transgressions but had always considered himself a moral and upstanding guy. Sure he partied and slept around during college when he and Tanya were on a break but once he hit med school he focused on his goal and his relationship to Tanya. Regardless of the number of women who hit on him on a daily basis he had never contemplated cheating on Tanya and he often silently judged those who did cheat on their significant others. If you're unhappy, then leave, he always thought.

Yet here he was, in the aisle housing pipes, draino, and plungers lusting after his dad's married tenant. She wasn't wearing a wedding ring, he thought….She just got out of the shower, maybe hadn't put it back on yet….he argued back. But she didn't seem happy at all……He finished. And that was the kicker for Edward, the gorgeous woman he met seemed completely unhappy. Not in a dramatic, woe is me, kind of way but in a quiet, resigned, has given up kind of way. And for reasons he couldn't yet comprehend, he wanted to see her happy.

Edward and Carlisle were just tightening the pipe under the sink when he heard Alice walk into the kitchen and smack some part of Carlisle's body.

God I hoped she smacked his big head instead of his ass, Edward thought.

But as he turned around and spied Alice's mock innocent expression and Carlisle's grin he knew he had not been so lucky.

"So, you boys all done in here?" Alice asked.

"Yeah, took longer than we thought but as soon as we test it we're good to go." Carlisle replied.

"Great!" Edward heard Bella's soft voice as she joined them in the kitchen. "Thanks again Carlisle. And Edward." She added.

"No problem, you know if you need anything just to give Esme or myself a call. And Edward too," Carlisle added as he walked towards the bathroom to wash his hands.

Alice, Edward, and Bella were left in the kitchen standing uncomfortably. Well, Edward felt uncomfortable and Bella seemed to be looking anywhere but at him. Alice, on the other hand, hopped up on the counter and was grinning at both of them like some cracked out Chesire cat.

"So, I'm having a barberque at my house tomorrow afternoon. You guys should come, you know watch the game, drink some beers, just hang out." Edward blurted out.

"ummmm" Bella fidgeted.

"That'd be great." Alice interrupted. "What can we bring?"

"Ummm just what you like to drink. We'll have the rest covered. 3:00PM sound good?" Edward said in relief.

"Where do you live?" Alice quickly asked. "Actually just write down your number and I'll have Bella call you tomorrow so we can get your address."

"Alice," Bella quietly hissed at her roommate.

But Edward was already writing down his phone number on a post-it pad left on the counter. He stuck it on the fridge and after testing the sink headed out the door waving good-bye and yelling out a quick "Talk to you tomorrow!" He didn't know where he had summoned up the confidence to extend the invite or force his number on Bella but he wanted to leave before he lost whatever bravado he had mustered. It's just a friendly barbeque, he thought as he loaded up the tools into the Range Rover and ignored Carlisle's grin.

BPOV

"What the hell was that?" Bella seethed as soon as she heard the front door click shut.

"What are you going on about now?" Alice calmly replied as she opened up the fridge to get a water bottle.

"Saying yes to the barbeque and telling him to give me his number! AND SAYING I WOULD CALL HIM!" Bella finished with a shout.

"Again, what are you going on about? He was kind enough to invite us to a barbeque. Beer, barbeque, and sports, what could be better…"

"You don't drink beer, are a vegetarian, and don't know baseball from curling." Bella interrupted.

"Whatever. It's always great to meet new people, we hardly know anyone down here besides the coast guard wives and well yeah I'd rather not know them." Alice primly responded.

"What about Jake and Jasper?"

"What about them? Jasper trusts me and it's not like we are going to an orgy, it's a damn barbeque. There's nothing wrong with making new friends, Bella, even if they are incredibly hot." She smirked.

"I just don't think Jake will like this." Bella mumbled.

"Bella, you have no friends besides me. And what's going to happen when Jasper comes back in two months? You always say you feel like the third wheel with us and I'll be busy moving into a new place. You know that as soon as Jake gets back he'll be deploying after two weeks and I don't want to see you depressed anymore." Alice said as she motioned for Bella to hop back up on the counter with her.

"I'm not depressed." Bella replied.

"Okay, you're right. You aren't depressed you just seem….well….you seem empty. I mean I know we have fun but you never seem really present. You know?"

"And how is going to a barbeque at a complete stranger's house going to make me 'present'?" Bella replied with air quotes and a sarcastic head tilt.

"A) he is not a complete stranger and B) you'll meet new people and get out of the rut you're in. All you do is go to work, run, cook dinner for us, and occasionally humor me with trips to the outlets and a night at the martini bar. You live like your 42 instead of 22!" Alice argued.

"I still don't think Jake is going to like this." Bella replied.

"Bella, Jake does not control you. Yes, you should include that we were invited and planning to go in your email tonight. He is your husband and deserves your honesty and respect but he does not control your life. There is nothing shady about going to a barbeque with multiple people. Besides I'm coming too." Alice stated. "Unless you'd like to do other things with Dr. McHottie Jr. besides drink beer and watch sports I don't see what the problem is." Alice smirked.

"Whatever Alice, but I'm doing this for you. You're more than enough friend for me." Bella said as she hopped off the counter and headed upstairs.

Alice just grinned and went to find her cell phone to call Jazz. She saw the tension and attraction between Bella and Edward the instant they were both in the same room but knew she shouldn't push it too much. She knew Jake and Bella were bad for each other. Jake was overbearing, possessive, and completely dismissive of Bella thoughts and feelings. Bella just let Jake do whatever he wanted and gave up all of her dreams to placate to him out of some sense of obligation. But she knew that goading Bella into an inappropriate relationship with Edward would not help Bella. Bella needed to see for herself that if she found the right person she wouldn't have to work at being happy, she just would be.

EPOV

Edward turned up his radio as he drove away from the hospital. He had to drive down early to fill out some paperwork for human resources and now he was headed to the gym to meet Emmett. He tried to ignore his cell phone that was resting on his thigh and tried even harder to will Bella to call, text, send a carrier pigeon. Something. But she hadn't seemed too interested in his invitation yesterday. Of course not, she's married and should not be accepting invitations from complete strangers, he thought. But he really hoped she would just the same.

Edward almost jerked his car into the median as his cell phone started vibrating. But as he gained control of his car and looked at the screen he saw it was just his brother, Emmett.

"Hi Emmett," Edward answered unenthusiastically.

"Well hi, thanks for the warm greeting." Emmett responded.

"Whatever, I'm about 10 minutes away. I'll meet you in the parking lot?"

"Sure sounds good. Oh hey Rose says to tell you she's making a couple of pitchers of margaritas for this afternoon but you still need to pick up ice, beer, and don't forget the wings. Yeah I think that's it."

"Not the first time I've had people over to my house before, Emmett, and you just remember to tell your lovely fiancée that I have two new friends coming over tonight so try and keep her bitchiness to a minimum." Edward retorted.

"Hey, Rosalie is her own woman. And who are the chicks coming over again?"

"One of Dad's tenants and her roommate."

"Oh I see. So which one are you after?" Emmett asked.

"I'm not after any of them, they're just friends. They're both married. Their husbands are in the Coast Guard and deployed right now. It's just a friendly invite. To friends. That's all." Edward said.

"Say 'friend' one more time and I'll believe you." Emmett replied.

"Fuck off, I'll be pulling into the parking lot in a minute."

"Quit being a bitch," Emmett laughed as Edward hung up.

Edward didn't know why he was being so defensive. Alice was cute but he had absolutely no interest, married or not. And yeah, Bella was without a doubt the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he felt some inexplicable pull towards her while they were in the house, but she was married and he respected that. Maybe he should start dating again. But starting a relationship at the beginning of residency was not the best idea. Whatever, he was devoting way too much thought to a non-issue.

Edward pulled his Volvo up next to Emmett's lifted 4x4 Jeep. He locked up his cell phone and wallet in the glove box and grabbed his ipod and headphones. Edward knew that starting Monday he would need to carry his phone and sometimes a pager with him at all times for work but he was going to utilize his free time while he had it and not bring his cell phone everywhere he went. Regardless of who was supposed to call.

Edward and Emmett ambled out to their cars after an intense workout. Edward held his own but Emmett was pure muscle and always pushed Edward with more reps and just one more mile.

"Alright bro, we'll be over before 3 to start up the grill. Don't forget…."

"Yeah I know, ice, beer and wings. I got it. See you later." Edward muttered. He loved being home again but he had forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by family 24/7.

As Edward pulled out his cell phone and wallet he noticed that he had a new voicemail from a missed call 10 minutes ago.

Probably mom, he thought, or Seth wanting to know what to bring.

But Edward didn't recognize the 619 area code and played the message:

"Hi Edward, umm it's Bella. From yesterday. Your dad's tenant. Anyway I was just calling to see if you were still having the barbeque and how to get to your house. So ummm call me back if you want. 619-244-7884. Okay well bye."

Huh? She sounded kind of nervous. And hot. Edward wanted to call her right back but still felt a bit out of breath and didn't want to sound like a fat ass or a pervert on the phone so he decided to wait until he had caught his breath, showered, and figured out exactly how to talk to Bella without sounding like a complete idiot.

Edward was clean and rested, sitting on his couch, turning his cell phone over and over in his hands. It had been an hour and a half since Bella had called and he still didn't know what to say. Fuck. She was just asking for the address, she was just a friend, this was not a big deal.

Before he could work himself up into a complete stress meltdown Edward dialed Bella's number and waited through two rings before she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi Bella? It's Edward."

"Oh hi. How are you?"

"I'm good thanks. So would you and Alice still like to come this afternoon?"

"Sure. So where do you live?"

Edward gave her his address and directions to his house. He assumed it would be easy to find since he only lived about 5 miles away. Bella seemed a lot more relaxed during the conversation and she even joked with him that she had to rein Alice in from bringing seven different types of dips and four different kinds of beer. Edward hung up feeling less stressed but infinitely more excited about spending time with his new friend.

Edward was flopped on the couch watching the pre-game bullshit when Rosalie waltzed in the door followed by Emmett carrying three pitchers of margaritas and four bags of chips.

"Hey loser, why aren't you getting the house ready for your guests?" Rosalie said.

Edward ignored his soon to be sister-in-law and got up from the couch to help Emmett in the kitchen. He had a love-hate relationship with Rosalie. She and Emmett had been together since high school and Emmett had just proposed six months ago. Rosalie was a knock out but she often excused her judgmental and rude attitude with her reasoning that she was just honest and upfront. Yeah an upfront bitch. But she was good to Emmett and one of the most loyal people he had ever met.

As Emmett and Edward pulled out the alcohol and started cooking the wings Rosalie played hostess and grabbed last minute supplies from their condo next door. Edward had second thoughts about moving in next door to his brother and his fiancée but it was a great condo, close to the hospital, and a smart investment. Plus, he really had missed Emmett.

The kitchen and living room were pretty full with some of their friends from high school, a couple of other residents from the hospital that Edward had met at his interview, and some of Rosalie's friends from work. Edward was having a good time but couldn't help but check his phone until finally the name "Bella" popped up on the screen.

"Hey you here?"

"I think so, we're in a parking lot right next to a lake?"

"Yeah I'll come out and meet you." Edward said. He motioned to Emmett that he'd be right back and weaved his way through his guests to head out to Bella. He saw her as soon as he stepped out the door, she was wearing tiny khaki shorts and a blue t-shirt with the San Diego Padres logo on it. Her legs looked miles long and her hair was loose and hanging down her back. His dick instantly waved hello as he watched her and Alice walk over to him and he willed himself to calm down. This was going to be a long night.

A/N Thanks for reading, seriously I really appreciate it.