Chapter 6
Edward POV
My eyes are wide the fuck open. I lay in my bed, arms wrapped around Bella. She snuggles up against me, deep in dreamland. The meeting with my folks went well, really well, and I'm happy they love her as much as I do.
Yeah, I love her, and that's why I'm lying here like a little punk. It feels like the night before the first day of school. You know how you feel all jittery and shit, wondering if you will make a good impression or not? I'm nervous about meeting Bella's parents. Usually, I wouldn't give a fuck, but this is the woman I want to marry. So I'm up staring at my ceiling, holding my girl close as hell and hoping that her parents like me because the thought of them not liking me scares the shit out of me.
The next day, Bella and I are driving on the 104, and I'm still a nervous wreck about meeting her parents. She tries several times to engage me in conversation, but fuck if this doesn't feel like the biggest interview of my life.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on? You haven't said more than two words to me since we left your apartment."
Bella turns the radio off and turns her body towards me. The seatbelt is squishing up against one of her breast and I find myself unable to focus on anything else.
I take her hand and bring it to my lips. She is staring dreamily at me like I hold the key to the world or maybe just her heart. Damn if I know.
"I'm fine. It's just I've never done shit like this before." After the words come out of my mouth I know I've made a mistake.
Bella takes her hand out of mine, turning her body around to stare straight ahead. I try to take her hand again, but she keeps moving it away from me. I think I'm officially being ignored.
"Baby?"
Nothing. We are very near passing a rest stop, but I quickly turn the truck causing both our bodies to shift and the car to burn rubber a little. Heads turn to stare at the ruckus, but I keep driving to a parking spot. I put the truck in park, take off my seat belt, then hers pulling her over on my lap.
"Are you just going to fucking ignore me?" She's so used to my damn cursing she doesn't even flinch. Most women I've allowed around me usually shrink away from my language, but not my Tiny.
"Yes. I'm going to fucking ignore you, especially when you say crap like 'I've never done shit like this before. I didn't know meeting your girlfriend's parents was considered shit."
She's so cute, trying to cuss and be all hard with her little arms folded over her chest, pushing them out more. Her eyebrows scrunch up, and I just want to kiss the shit out of her, and wipe that frown off of her face. I turn her stubborn chin toward me and peck her pink, pouty lips, pulling the bottom one with my teeth.
"I'm sorry. I just say things harsh. I have to learn to soften my words. Tiny, I just meant I never met a chick's family."
At the word chick she cocks her head at me. I think Jasper was right, I'm a fucking caveman. I start kissing her neck, trying desperately to break the tension. I mean, we have two more hours to get to Forks and I would like to spend them stealing kisses and touches from my girl..
"Baby? Tiny, I've never cared about any other woman to want to meet her family, but with you I care so much I just don't want to fuck it up. I'm fucking nervous here."
She turns around in my lap, and wrap her arms around my neck. "I can't believe my big strong marine is scared to meet my small town parents. They're going to love you as much as I do, and if they don't it won't change how I feel."
She seems to realize what she just said we stare at each other for minutes, maybe hours, looking into each other eyes. I am the first to move, brushing my lips against hers.
"I love you, too. So much, baby." I kiss those lips that belong to me and only me. This beautiful woman has pierced my cold heart and filled it with warmth and love.
Hours later, we reach the sign that says 'The City Of Forks Welcomes You.' We both are all smiles, touching the each other and just so fucking happy because, yeah, we love each other. I don't care if it's barely been a week, it has been the best week of my damn life and for the first time in my life I'm in love.
Damn. I feel so much right now, like I'm going to burst inside with how I feel about this woman.
Pulling up in front of her parents big white house with yellow trim, I don't feel any of my nervousness from early, hell no, my girl loves me, everything else means nothing to me. The yellow front door opens up, and Bella's parents come stand on the porch looking expectantly into the truck.
Bella gets out, and I follow, walking around to her as she waits on me. She entwines her fingers with mine, giving me an encouraging smile as we walk toward her parents. The first thing I notice is that their facial expressions seem to change the closer Bella and I get to them.
Walking on the porch and standing in front of the Swans, the atmosphere seems to have taken a certain turn. Bella hugs each of her parents, and then takes a hold of my hand again.
"Mom and Dad, this is Edward, my boyfriend." Bella giggles like a teenager and looks up at me giving me a glorious smile.
Reaching out my hand to shake her father's first, he takes it, trying to squeeze it showing his dominance. I just squeeze right back.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Swan." I release his hand and then move over to his wife. She gives me a very dainty handshake as if she does not want to touch me. "Mrs. Swan, it's a pleasure. Thanks for having me."
She gives me a tight lipped smile. "Well, come in."
We walk into the front room, taking a seat on the floral pattern sofa. Bella's hands are still clasped in mine, she's visibly nervous now. Something feels off , I can't put my finger on it.
Bella's dad sits down in a large armchair that's seen better days. He gives me a hard stare, expecting me to shrivel up under his gaze. I hold his stare; I'm sure he's a big man in this small town, but this cop shit doesn't work on me. No sir, I'm a proud member of the United States Marines, and this small town scare tactic won't work on me.
"Edward, just how old are you?"
There it is, right out of the mouth of Charlie Swan. The tension I've been feeling since I stepped on that porch.
"Dad, that's not important." Bella says shakily, pleading her father with her eyes to not ruin this visit for her.
"I think your father has a right to ask that question, Isabella. We just saw you last week and suddenly you call saying you met someone and you want us to meet him. Then you come home with this older gentleman."
Renee points at me as if I were a hundred and four and not thirty-four. I watch as Bella tries to compose herself, but the hurt on her beautiful face is obvious.
"I thought you both would be happy I found someone. Edward means everything to me. I really hope you can see past his age and see the man I see."
I rub soothing circles on her back trying to calm my baby down. Her parents are giving me a hard stare as if to say: get your hands off our baby. I take a deep breath in, making eye contact with both of them.
"I know this is a shock to both of you, but believe me it's just as much of a shock to Bella and me. We didn't plan to meet and fall in love, but make no mistake, I love your daughter and nothing is going to change that, but if you must know I'm thirty-four years old."
Charlie stands up and marches over to the couch to stand over me.
"I don't know what game you're trying to play here, going after a vulnerable young girl ten years your junior. Is this the kind of man the Marines are making these days?"
I stand up at that comment, towering over him by a few inches. Our eyes lock on each other; Bella is trying to pull me away.
"You can say a lot of things about me, but don't ever question my manhood or my loyalty to the United States Marine Corps. You can believe what you like, but the truth remains: I love your daughter."
Renee stands up. "I think you should leave. Charlie and I will see that Bella gets home."
Bella stands up as well, staring at both her parents.
"If Edward is leaving so am I."
