A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews. I read them all, and I truly love hearing from you. Like the last chapter, some think she's an idiot…some think he's an idiot, and everybody hates Jerk…Jake.

IMPORTANT: One thing I want to make sure everyone understands…when Edward was with the few other women he was while in Kentucky, he and Bella were not married. They were already divorced. They divorced right after he let her know he was being deployed right after he got to Kentucky. It was final while he was overseas, and he came home, deploying again three years later. HE DIDN'T CHEAT. I doubt any of you good people would have believed he was celibate for five years, so I didn't write him that way. If it cheeses some of you off, sorry, but he's not an adulterer.

SMeyer owns. I borrow.

Let's see what happens when Sarge meets Jerk…

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Chapter 6. Not-so-veiled Threats

##

I woke up the next morning, Friday, alone in Bella's bed. I hoped to hell she wasn't pissed I'd stayed, considering she was three-sheets to the wind when she issued the invitation…or demand. A better man would have looked at the situation, and after she was snoring, which she did when she'd been drinking, he'd have at least gone to the couch. Nobody was ever going to accuse Edward Cullen of being a better man.

I went to the bathroom and did my business, using her toothbrush to brush my teeth so I didn't kill her when I talked to her. My stomach growling reminded me we hadn't eaten the night before because she was dead set on seeing the bottom of that bottle, so I was in a hurry to get downstairs to see if maybe she was cooking breakfast.

I opened the bedroom door and heard raised voices from below. I looked at my watch and saw it was just after seven, and I wondered who the hell was visiting at such an ungodly hour. I quietly walked to the top of the stairs and listened, not reminding myself I had no business eavesdropping on my ex-wife's conversation.

"Jake, where's your Tahoe? Why are you in your ex's old truck?" I heard Bella ask.

"I've got a better one, Bella. Why the fuck is your ex's Tahoe sitting in your driveway again? Is he giving you trouble? I'll go hunt the fucker down and wave the divorce papers in front of him to remind him." I sneered at the comment. The guy was a fucking douchebag.

"Don't be a jerk. I needed to move furniture last night, so I called him to ask him to help me because JC was at Alice's house, and my boyfriend doesn't have time for me. We drank too much, and we didn't eat, so I wouldn't let him leave. He's still asleep, as a matter of fact," she snapped.

I heard a pounding on the countertop which was a sign of someone getting aggressive, so I slowly started walking down a couple of stairs.

"Goddammit, Bella. I forgave you for lying to me last time because you told me he slept in JC's room, and when I asked JC, he confirmed it. You promised…"

"Whoa! Wait a minute! You're checking up on me with my kid? That's bullshit, Jake. You don't go behind my back and pump my son for information regarding what I do with my life. I don't pump Jared for shit regarding Leah. Edward is JC's dad, and he's back now, so he's going to be around," she yelled.

I heard JC's door open, so I turned around and held up my finger for him to keep his damn mouth shut. He was in his boxers and a wife beater. He quietly walked to where I was standing. "What's going on?" he whispered.

"Trouble in paradise. When are you and Alice getting your place," I teased quietly, knowing damn well it wasn't going to happen.

He rolled his eyes. "We both know you set us up. You were never gonna let that shit happen, so we've resigned ourselves to the fact we'll just have to have sex in the car. Can I borrow your truck tonight?" he whispered sarcastically.

"You wait a damn minute, Bella. He's upstairs in your son's bed, and you're walking around half dressed? Get your ass upstairs and get some clothes on before he gets up. Wake JC because he needs to eat and we need to get to practice. What's for breakfast?"

I looked at my son and cocked an eyebrow as he smiled sarcastically, sweeping his hand toward the kitchen like a damn spokes model. "I'll think about the truck thing. Go get dressed," I told him in my normal voice as I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen seeing the dickhead standing there in a pair of track pants and a t-shirt with the school mascot on the front.

"Too late. He's up. I actually slept in because I'm used to getting up before dawn for PT. So, you're Black?" I asked, praying he fucking recognized me from Riley's garage.

"Uh, yeah. Jake. Pleasure to meet you. JC's a great kid," he offered, his demeanor changing completely when he saw me. Yeah, I wasn't some runt, or even a woman, he could intimidate. I was a grown-ass man, and after I got his ass out of Bella's house, I was damn well going to be asking some questions about his behavior.

I crossed my arms over my chest, ignoring his extended hand, and I turned to look at Bella. "Mornin'. That bed is still pretty damn comfortable." I walked over to the cabinet and pulled down three coffee cups, seeing the coffeemaker had finished.

"Coffee, Black?" I asked as I poured two cups, fixing mine and Bella's the way we both liked it. I handed Bella hers, not missing the cocked eyebrow from her letting me know I might be in the doghouse after he left for my comment about the bed.

She moved over to the fridge after placing her coffee on the table, and she began pulling stuff out for breakfast. "Babe, I'll cook. If I remember, you don't do so well with raw eggs when you're hungover, so why don't you go shower while I fix us something. JC's up, and he's getting ready for practice. Light a fire under his ass because I'm sure the coach, here, runs a tight ship. Wouldn't do to have him being late to practice."

Yeah, I was being a dick by tossing out things I knew about Bella I was damn sure he didn't, but I was going to get my point across to the prick he wasn't welcome in my family.

"Thanks, Edward. You always could make great scrambled eggs," she commented without thought as she headed upstairs with her coffee. Once I heard her bedroom door close, I turned to the asshole standing there seething next to me.

"Sit down, Black." I went to the sink and washed my hands, looking out the window to see a rusted-out Chevy sitting at the curb in front of Bella's house. I dried my hands and started pulling out pans and bowls.

Black cleared his throat. "You seem to have made yourself quite at home here. Just so you know, you had your chance with Bella, and you blew it. She and I are going to get married as soon as I take care of some stuff with my dad." He walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee before he sat down at the table.

As I loaded a skillet with bacon, I noticed his leg was bouncing rapidly. I had him nervous, and I loved it. "Well, you're right on one count. I did fuck things up with Bella, but what I did is going to be nothing compared to what you're doing," I told him cryptically.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've been here for Bella and JC while you were playing Army. I help her with things all the time, and you've been nowhere around," he stated with fake confidence.

I chuckled humorlessly. "Black, you've only been around for eight months. I've got twenty-two years of history with that woman. I've seen her go through shit you'll never see, even if you're lucky enough for her to marry you. I also know things about her you'll never know, and I feel the need to warn you she'll tolerate a lot of shit, but she won't tolerate cheating."

I turned to look at him to see the look of surprise on his face. It was gone a split second later, but it was there when he heard me. "I'd never cheat on Bella. She knows I'm on the up-and-up. She's not so sure you never did, however." That disturbed me, but that was something I'd take up with her when we were alone.

"Where's your Tahoe? Good job on changing the subject, by the way, but if you think she's gonna drop it, you're a fool. She has the patience of a saint when it comes to waiting for the answers she wants." I turned around and took a sip of my coffee, eyeing him carefully.

He took a sip of his coffee and looked at me defiantly. "I don't see where it's any of your goddamn business where my vehicle is. I'll explain it to Bella after you leave. I'm not hiding anything. Bella and I don't have secrets from each other." I'd have to give him one thing…he was a cocky motherfucker. Too bad he'd met another one.

"Yeah, well, Bella and I don't have secrets from each other either. I know she's carrying the note on your truck, and I also know you're hiding it at your ex's house because you don't want Bella to know you wrecked the fucking thing while your whore-on-the-side was blowing you. That won't go over well," I enlightened as I watched his face.

Ah, there it was…fear. "Yeah, I know exactly how the fucker was wrecked. You're not very astute, are you? I was at the garage tuning up Bella's Explorer, not five feet away from where you bragging to Riley, who's going to be my business partner, by the way, about getting a blow job that was so distracting it caused you to back into something. Oh, and I also know my wife is the one holding the note and paying the insurance on that fucker. Like I said, Bella and I don't have secrets from each other either."

Just as he was about to say something, JC came walking in. "How we comin' on those eggs, Pop?"

I chuckled. "Right on it," I told him as I began cracking eggs in the bowl to whisk them up. Just when Bella was coming back downstairs in a denim skirt and a t-shirt, I was emptying them into the skillet. JC was making toast, and Black was sitting at the table, unmoving. I was pretty sure his balls had crawled up into his stomach.

We all sat down and began eating. I looked at JC, and I decided I needed to take a step to make it unnecessary for Black to give him a ride to practice every day. "How much money you got in your car fund?" I asked.

I'd made the same deal with him I'd made with Rosalie. I'd matched her dollar for dollar if she wanted to buy a car. She came up with five grand from working several part-time jobs and babysitting for several years, and I matched it. The car she wanted was twelve grand, so for her birthday in December when she turned sixteen, both sets of grandparents gave her the difference.

I talked Riley into going with her to look at it while I was in Kentucky, and when he told me it was a good car, I called the owner and set it up, actually getting him to drop the price by a grand to help her out with insurance and taxes. The car was in her and Bella's name so Bella got her multi-car discount, but my Rosie-Posy paid her mother monthly for insurance. I was damn proud of my daughter.

JC took a bite of toast and looked at the ceiling for a minute. "Uh, three grand. I'm trying to save more, but Alice likes to go out a lot, so…" he trailed off.

I laughed. "High maintenance, huh? Well, maybe we can work something out. If you don't screw up and do something stupid to jeopardize your scholarship, I'd be willing to let you make a draw from your college fund so you don't have to wait to get a car. You're still on your own for paying for your car insurance, but since you're a boy, it'll cost an assload of money. I could use the multi-car discount, so I'll put you on my policy and you can pay me. I'll call my agent after we eat and get you on it, and you can use my truck to get to practice and work or when you need it for dates as long as you don't wreck it," I told him, glancing at Black who choked on his coffee.

Bella stood up and banged on his back until he held up his hand for her to stop. Once the idiot caught his breath, he looked at JC. "JC, I don't mind giving you rides. I come over to see your mom anyway, so it's stupid for you to inconvenience your dad. I'm sure he's got things to do during the day…like get home to his own house."

"I don't have much going on, and I noticed a loose shutter on the second floor outside JC's room, Bells, so I'll fix it, and then you can give me a ride home. Mom would like to see you, anyway," I told her.

"I, uh, I was gonna fix that shutter tomorrow since we only have one practice. I think it just needs…" he began when Bella and JC both started laughing.

I looked up and saw Bella put her hand on his forearm. "Honey, I'm sorry, but we both know that's not your bailiwick. Edward can do it, and I'll take him home. I need to go school shopping in PA anyway. Come over tonight for dinner," she told him.

He covered her hand with his. "I know I'm not good with fixing things but…"

JC cracked up. "Coach, Mom and me had to fix your dad's ramp so he could leave the house. I think saying you're not good is an understatement. OUCH!"

I looked to see Bella was pissed off at JC's comment, and I didn't want the kid to take any heat because I felt there was a shift in momentum which was going in my favor. "JC, Coach went to college, so I'm sure there are a lot of things he's good at. Your team sounds like it has a lot of promise," I offered. I was smart enough not to try to make him look worse because my girl was a "root for the underdog" kinda girl, and I didn't want to give her any reason to feel sorry for him.

I looked at my son and saw him leaning forward, rubbing his shin. I looked at Bella and saw her giving him the evil eye, so I took a sip of my coffee to keep from laughing.

"Oh, hey Pop, we have an inter-team scrimmage this evening. You able to come? I can swing by Grandma's and pick you up," JC offered.

"I'll be there, but you don't have to pick me up. I'll get there. Just tell me what time," I told him as I squeezed his shoulder.

I could see Black wasn't happy about the fact I was going to be there, which made me determined I'd get there if I had to crawl.

Jake looked up at the clock. "Shit, we need to get going. I've gotta put some gas in Leah's truck before I get to the field, and I don't have time to hit the ATM and go to the gas station. Bella, could I…" he asked. I couldn't fucking believe he was asking her for money right in front of us.

I grabbed my wallet and pulled out two twenties, handing them to him. "Here. You've been hauling JC around, so consider it payment and not a loan. I'd bet that old beater doesn't pass a gas station very often without needing a fill-up, and fifteen bucks doesn't go as far as it used to, does it?" I asked him as I cocked an eyebrow to reinforce I'd heard every-fucking-thing he'd said at the body shop.

"Uh, thanks man. Bella, walk me out?" he asked as he got up from his chair and tossed a napkin on his plate. Bella rose from the table and followed him out as JC and I sat there looking at each other.

Once the front door closed, JC scrambled to the window over the sink and opened it. I got up from my chair and stood next to him, both of us holding the curtains closed so they couldn't see us listening from inside.

"Look, sweetheart, I'm sorry I blew up earlier, but I had a bad day yesterday. I accidentally backed into a pylon at the grocery store and I can't get the truck fixed until Biers gets the parts from Seattle. I should have told you, but I was embarrassed. I was thinking about you instead of paying attention, and I didn't want to upset you, so I borrowed Leah's truck when I dropped Jared off at her place this morning." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, which pissed me the fuck off.

"That's gotta suck," JC whispered.

I smirked. "No shit. So, what was with you calling him out? Did the two of you actually have to fix his father's wheelchair ramp? What the hell is it made of?"

"Wood, and yes. I have no idea how old the fucker was, but it was in shit shape. Mom sent me to the lumberyard to get new wood, and she and I replaced the floor of it. The guy can't saw a piece of fucking wood, and he's afraid of heights, so him getting on a ladder to fix that shutter was never gonna happen. He's not one for physical labor, really," JC stated.

"Wait, I thought you liked the guy. You were all over his corner when I got to town," I reminded.

"Just get your truck back, and don't lie to me in the future. When are you going to quit helping her and let her stand on her own two feet? She's thirty-one, Jake. By then, I was taking care of two kids by myself while Edward was in training in Georgia. I was able to take care of my kids, be active in things on post, and manage the house. That girl can't pour piss out of a cup. Cut the tie, Jake," she issued.

He looked toward the house and JC and I both ducked out of the way so we wouldn't be seen. I damn well wanted to hear his response, so I wasn't budging, but if she saw me, she'd be pissed.

"You, too, Bella. I never made you sit down and have breakfast with Leah. The only time you've been around her is when it was stuff for Jared, and you wanted to be there. I don't hang out with her, okay? You hanging out with Cullen and bitching at me about Leah? That's a little one-sided, isn't it?" Well, the fucker was smart enough to point it out.

She shook her head and took his hand. "You're right. I'll talk to him, Jake. Just because he wants to be more active in JC's life doesn't mean you should have to spend much time with him. I'll, uh, set out some boundaries. Come for dinner after the scrimmage, and stay the night, okay?"

Jasper looked at me. "You're not gonna let that douche get one over on ya, are you?"

"Why do you think he's a douche?" I asked as we both began clearing the table.

"Because, that's not the first time I've heard him talk to her like he did earlier, and while I haven't said anything to Ma about it, I've seen Jared's mom waiting for him after practice more than once. He told me it was because she needed a ride somewhere or some shit like that, but I don't think he's being honest," JC explained.

"Yeah, I think you're right. Get going. I'll clean this up," I told him. He nodded and grabbed his equipment, heading out the door. He kissed Bella on the cheek before he got into my Tahoe and left.

I was loading the dishwasher when she came inside, and the words, "Edward, we need to talk," didn't make me feel too good. For reasons unknown to me, she was giving the fucker some play, and while I didn't want to hurt her by telling her what I'd overheard or what we'd talked about while she was upstairs, I wasn't completely above it. Only time would tell.

##

"You eat this shit up," I complained from the back seat of Charlie's squad car. The metal guard barrier between us always made him laugh.

"Now, I can't have my wife riding through town in the backseat, and as I recall, you like to play with the buttons up here, so I think you're where you need to be," Charlie teased.

One time…one fucking time, and he was never going to let me live it down. We were on our way to PA to get fitted for our suits for my wedding, and some little blue-haired woman decided thirty in a fifty-five was the appropriate speed limit with a cop car trailing her. I hit the button for the siren and cherries, and she pulled over, allowing us to get around her.

Charlie pulled over and said, "Get the hell in the back, you idiot," as he walked back to where the woman was visibly upset. He told her she needed to drive at least forty and sent her on her way. That was the last time I rode in the front seat of the Crown Vic.

"Hey, I was a kid, and I'd never been in a cop car before. It got the old lady out of our way," I reminded. He and Renee laughed as we drove down my parents' driveway on the way to the high school.

I'd rallied the whole family to show up to support JC. Mom and Dad were both coming to the game from different directions, so when I talked to Charlie, he offered me a ride. The day hadn't gone my way as I hoped it would, and I needed to regroup.

After I fixed the shutter and checked the rest of them, Bella took me home. I offered to go shopping with her, but she said no. There was no discussion, and she wasn't going to sway in her decision, so I didn't fight it. Unfortunately, on the ten-mile drive to my parents' house, she laid down the law.

"Look, I know you're trying to be there for JC, but Jake's right. It's not fair for me to demand he distance himself from his ex if I can't offer him the same, so there are rules. I won't be inviting you over anymore if JC isn't home, and don't just drop by unannounced, please. I know what you're trying to do, Edward, but it's over between us. You've got to accept it," she told me, which was contrary to what she'd told me the night before when she was liquored up.

I took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine, Bella. You do understand that part of being there for JC is going to mean we spend time together. I won't come by unless you invite me. I'm going to have JC go apartment hunting with me tomorrow, so we'll be able to spend time together at my place. I'll respect your boundaries. I can see you've moved on, but I haven't, as I told you before. I'll leave you alone, okay?" I sounded like a whiney five-year-old, but I didn't care.

"Don't be a baby about this, okay? Our families are still close, Edward, but until Jake feels comfortable with you being around, we're going to have to step away from each other," she told me.

I didn't like to hear it, but I had to abide by it. When she let me out, I thanked her for the ride and went inside. I called her parents and mine, telling them about the scrimmage, and when Charlie offered me a ride after I told him JC had my truck, I took him up on it. It wouldn't hurt for Black to see me showing up with her parents, I was certain.

We walked up to the bleachers, and Charlie and Renee sat down next to Bella. I went behind them and sat down with my parents, not saying anything until Alice walked up and looked at all of us, not sure where to sit. I scooted my parents down so Dad was behind Bella, and patted the seat next to me. "Little One, have a seat. We need to talk because I'm afraid you don't like me, and contrary to popular opinion, I can be a nice guy."

She sat down, looking nervous. "Don't be so worried about me. I'm really a softie at heart. So, what do you want to do after you graduate?" I asked striking up a conversation with the girl my son was in love with. She really was a sweet kid, and her gushing about her love of all things design-wise, from shoes to clothes to home interior, gave me an idea.

"Say, are you busy tomorrow? I need to find a place to live, and maybe you can give me some ideas about furniture and stuff. The crap I have is pretty bad, but it will be delivered after I have a place to put it. I want JC to spend time at my place as well as his mother's, so I want him to have a say. I'll only have this school year with him before he goes off to college. Where are you planning to go to school?" I asked.

She looked down at her hands which were twitching nervously. "I'm waiting for Jazz to pick his school, and then I'll make my decision. I know you probably don't approve of the two of us trying to be near each other for college, but I love Jasper, Mr. Cullen, uh…sir."

I laughed, seeing Bella turn to look at me out of my periphery. I didn't look back…well, not so she could tell anyway. "Alice, you're not in my unit, so you don't have to call me 'sir' or 'Mr. Cullen'. If you and JC are serious, then I think you need to be more comfortable around me. Call me Edward.

"Regarding school locations, before Bella got pregnant, we were planning to go to school together, so I don't think it's a silly thing. If I'd have gone to Notre Dame like I was planning, she'd have gone to a school nearby. Our future just took another turn. Don't ever worry about me accepting the fact you and JC love each other. I fell in love with Bella in high school, and I've never stopped," I told her.

I heard a little commotion, so I turned to see Charlie holding out his hand in which Renee placed a ten, telling him, "It doesn't count, but you'll mope if I don't." I chuckled remembering about their bet the night we told them Bella was pregnant. Seemed bets in the Swan house didn't have an expiration date.

We watched the scrimmage, cheering for JC's "blue" team the whole time. It wasn't supposed to be full contact, but some of the kids on the "yellow" team didn't seem to understand that, or they were trying to take out the first string so they could start in their place.

"What position did you play?" Alice asked as Jake and his assistant coach talked to each team between quarters.

"I was a tight end. I caught the ball and ran blocks as well. I was pretty big in high school, but I was fast. JC's getting more weight on, and he's faster than I was, so I think he'll do well this season," I told her.

"I can't believe how much muscle Em's put on over the summer," Alice observed. I was in her corner because the kid was bigger every time I saw him. I was pretty sure he wasn't juicing because I was sure they watched shit like that better than they did back when I was playing, but I was definitely going to quiz my son on it. He'd put on some muscle as well, and I damn well wouldn't stand for him taking steroids.

I honestly wondered if that was why Jake had a little dick and wasn't interested in sex. He was a big fucker, and it wouldn't surprise me if he'd juiced in the day and still was, which reminded me of his outburst earlier in the day and worried the shit out of me when I remembered Jasper telling me he'd heard Jake talk to Bella less than respectfully in the past.

She might not want me around all the time, and that was fine, but I was going to follow that motherfucker like a stalker. If he thought I was out of her life for good, he was fucking stupid.

##

"Three bedrooms, two baths, and a full basement downstairs," the realtor, Jessica Newton with whom Bella and I had gone to high school, explained. I didn't really have any use for the bitch, but she was the only game in town, so I had to suck it up and let her show me around.

She'd been after me as long as I could remember in high school, and when I started dating Bella, she was relentless. I made sure she knew I was taken, and when Bella got pregnant senior year, Jessica picked up the banner to make sure every other girl except Angela Weber snubbed her. It was so bad we didn't go to prom, which was something I'd always regret for Bella, but it was her decision and I went along with it.

Instead, that night we went to PA and had a nice dinner and then we went back to my parents' house and danced in the family room downstairs to the radio, both of us lying and saying it was much better than prom. It wasn't, but I tried to make it as good as I could.

"So, where's Mrs. Mallory?" I asked, remembering the house too well. I'd dated Lauren, the daughter, before Bella rolled into town, and she was the girl I'd dumped when I caught sight of my future wife.

"She had a stroke, poor thing. She's only willing to allow a six-month lease because she wants to come back home, but Lauren told me it's not going to be possible. The rent's a thousand, but if you're willing to do some work around here, I can get it down to eight-hundred," Jessica offered.

JC and Alice walked back down the hallway as I stood looking at the lease Jessica had handed me. It was standard, and if JC was okay with the place, I was willing to sign. It was a lot better than an apartment.

"So?" I asked JC.

"Needs a little work, but it's got a lot of promise, or so my girlfriend tells me," he stated with a glowing smile. I looked at Alice, and she nodded with an equally bright smile. It was a one-story, ranch style, and if anyone thought they were climbing in or out of windows, they were crazy.

"Jess, can you give us a minute?" I asked. She nodded and walked out the front door, pulling it closed behind her.

"So, what do you two like about it?" I asked.

Alice began highlighting architectural shit I didn't care about, but I listened about crown molding and hardwood floors so as not to be rude. It needed new kitchen appliances, as she told me, but she said it wouldn't take much to make it livable.

I looked at my son and smirked. "I plan to put in a security system on all the windows, so sneaking out is off the table. What else about the house do you like beside the fact it's a ranch?"

He laughed. "I'm not thinking about that, Pop. The backyard is big enough for us to run patterns, and I get my own bathroom. Plus, the lease is only six months. Maybe at the end of it, you'll have somewhere else to live that doesn't need work," he hinted with a wink.

"JC, your mom is in a serious relationship with…"

"A jackoff. You know it. I know it. Ma just needs to realize it. I talked to Rose about it, and she's on board, Pop. You need to make shit up to Ma, but neither of us wants Coach to move in, so take this house for six months, and let's see just how damn smooth you are," he suggested with a laugh.

With both my kids on board, how could I lose? Well, I hoped I wouldn't lose because there was more shit I needed to rectify with Bella than they knew, but at least with their support, I had a shot…or so I hoped.

JC walked to the porch and asked Jessica to come back inside. She walked in with a bright smile on her face, which made me want to hurl, but I stood at the counter and signed the lease, initialing where she instructed. She'd talked to Lauren, and Lauren had agreed to eight-hundred if I was willing to fix the roof, the gutters, and other minor shit.

After the formalities, Jess looked into her purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it to me. It had my name on the front, and I wasn't sure what the fuck it was. "What's this?" I asked.

"Well, if you remember, I was the class president senior year. Anyway, we're having a reunion after the first home game. It's been twenty years, if you can believe it. Gosh, where did the time go?" she asked.

I looked at her face and knew exactly where it went. Time hadn't been kind to her at all. Bella looked like she was just out of high school, but Jessica…not so much.

"Well, I've got twenty years in the military under my belt, so I know where the time went. Anyway, how's Mike?" I asked. She'd married her high school boyfriend from what I remembered hearing, but I had no idea of the status of their relationship, not that I gave a shit.

"Much like you, we couldn't make it work. He's running his parents' store, and much like you, we try to get along with each other for the sake of the kids. I, uh, I heard Bella's dating the football coach. Are you dating anyone? Mike's bringing someone to the party, and I guess Bella's bringing Coach Black. We could go together," Jessica suggested.

I looked at Jasper and saw him nodding like crazy. I lifted my eyebrow, and Alice began nodding as well. "I'll, uh, give me your card and let me make sure I don't have a conflict. I'll, uh, call you?" my voice lifting at the end. I wasn't sure why the fuck I was offering to go on a goddamn date with that bitchy woman, but if they had an idea, I was willing to listen.

She actually clapped her hands and squealed a bit, which Alice mocked behind her back. JC leaned over and kissed her cheek with a low chuckle.

"Oh, this is so great. We're all going to sit together at the game, so wear your blue and gold. I'll wait to hear from you," she gushed as we left the house. When I opened the door on her Corolla, she kissed my cheek before she got inside.

I walked back to my Tahoe and hopped into the backseat. JC and Alice were in the front, and I didn't mind being chauffeured around too much. "So, can you tell me why I just kind of accepted a date with the woman your mother hates the most in the entire world?" I asked as JC backed out after Jessica left.

He stopped the car and shifted it into park. He and Alice both turned to look at me. "Ma hates her more than anyone. When I get home and tell her how that woman was coming on to you, she's not gonna be happy. Go with her to the game and reunion. Ma got the invitation in the mail, and she wasn't going to deal with it, but if I tell her you're going with Mrs. Newton, I'd bet she'll change her mind," he outlined.

I sighed. "Son, I'm not sure that's going to work. When your mom got pregnant with Rose, Jessica made her life a living hell. She made nasty comments every time your mom and I were around about the fact we were…well, they weren't nice."

"Oh, here's comes the whore and the prince. Eddie, seriously, how'd you let her trap you into this? You're a smart guy," Jessica called as I walked down the hallway with my arm around my pregnant girlfriend.

"Fuck off," I called behind me as I walked Bella to the study hall which had taken place for her P.E. class. I knew it broke her heart every time she heard those comments, and I tried to do anything I could to distract her.

"How about we watch a movie at my house tonight? Mom and Dad have that stupid banquet thing, so it'll be just us," I offered. I reached up and wiped her tears with the tail of my t-shirt.

"That's fine," she whispered. I leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. "Bella, I love you. We only have two weeks, and then this all won't matter," I told her as the first bell rang.

"I know, honey. I'll meet you at the car," she told me as she went inside. I hurried off to my last class, and worried about her, but that night, I made her forget about it by renting her favorite movie and holding her on the couch in my parents' basement while whispering in her ear how much I loved her and how excited I was when we'd have our own place so we could sit on our own couch naked. She finally giggled and told me she didn't want naked ass prints on our couch, and I laughed as well. We got through it together.

Alice clapped and bounced in her seat. "I have a better idea, Mr. C. Take Rosalie as your date. She's coming home for the game, and if you take her instead of Mrs. Newton, it'll send a message, and you can just say it was last minute and you certainly couldn't turn down your daughter," Alice suggested.

I thought about it and saw the perfection of it. "I'll call Jess and tell her I have two dates. Alice, will you be my other date for the game?" I asked.

She giggled. "Mr. C, I'd be honored." I had a plan in my head, and I hoped it worked.

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E/N: At least he was smart enough to dodge that bullet! I know you're all going to have an opinion regarding him not telling Bella, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt for a little bit. He was with her for a long time, and as dense as some of you believe him to be, he does know things about her. How'd I do with the initial meeting of the two men in Bella's life? Can't wait to hear from you.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Till tomorrow…xoxo

(P.S. Someone mentioned in an earlier review they thought I was going to draw out this stuff with Jake. All I'll say is the story is about more than this particular plot point.)