Chapter 7:

BPOV

"Oh, Bella it is good to see you!" Billy greets me as I run down the front steps of Charlie's house with an open umbrella. Jake has a warm smile on his face as he stands behind his father's wheelchair. I shield Billy from the heavy rain as we make our way up the sidewalk.

"It's good to see you too! Has Jacob been taking good care of you lately?" I ask just as we're approaching the concrete steps that lead to the front door.

"No complaints," Billy laughs and looks up at his son. Jake is rolling his eyes just as my father appears in the open doorway and hustles down to help him lift the wheelchair into the house.

"Hey there, fellas," Charlie says. "What took you so long; we're already in the bottom of the 2nd inning?"

"That would be my fault," Jake admits. "I wanted to stop off at the B&B to see Angela."

I shake out the umbrella and drop it on the tiled floor. "Why? Isn't she still coming over after her shift?" I ask hoping that my closest girlfriend hasn't changed her plans to join us.

"Yeah, but that's not for another four hours," Jacob replies.

Billy's shoulders shake as he chuckles under his breath. "Oh, Bella. I think it's safe to say that our little Jakey's in love."

"Shut up and watch your baseball game, old man," Jake says shoving Billy's shoulder playfully.

Charlie shakes his head, smiling at the closest thing to family he's got besides me. "Aw, son, give your dad a break. He just likes seeing you happy. We both do."

Between Jake's mom dying when we were young and my mom leaving when I was ten, Charlie, Billy, Jake, and I really created an odd little family together. I know my father considers Jake the son he never had and I'm sure Billy feels the same fatherly love for me. Our dads were not surprised at all when Jake and I started dating in high school and were supportive of our relationship. It was obvious they were disappointed when we called it quits by graduation. Charlie especially loved already knowing everything about the boy his daughter was dating and would have been completely comfortable with Jake someday becoming his son-in-law.

As everyone makes their way into the living room I can't help but wonder if Charlie could ever have the same kind of relationship with Edward. I can't picture him ever calling Edward son but maybe with time. They still don't know each other too well. I had wanted Edward to join me today to celebrate Jake's birthday but he had to work. Jake didn't seem too broken up about it when I told him Edward couldn't come. Theirs is another relationship that's a work in progress.

"So Birthday Boy, I'm making your favorite dinner, chicken cordon bleu. And I baked a cake too," I tell Jacob, tooting my own horn just a tad.

"Niiice," he replies from the Lazy Boy in the corner. "You're the best, Bells."

I smile, thinking how right it feels having the four of us together. "Yeah, I know. So what do you all want to drink? We have water, wine, ice tea, I bought beer..."

"Beer," Jake answers cutting me off mid sentence. Charlie's and Billy's hands go up signaling they want the same. I roll my eyes and head into the kitchen to retrieve the "Vitamin R" from the fridge. My family is so predictable.

The guys enjoy the game for the next hour or so and I keep busy in the kitchen. Angela surprises us all by showing up just as we're sitting down to eat. After giving hugs all around she explains that her mother offered to come into the B&B a little early so she could get over here in time for dinner. She hands Jacob a big gift wrapped box with a shiny bow on top and he plants a big wet kiss on her lips making her laugh. Charlie pulls up another chair to the table as I get a place setting for her.

"So what have I missed?" she asks squeezing in between Jake and Billy.

"Mariners down two runs," Charlie says shaking his head.

"We need to win this one in order to stay over 500," Billy explains. Angela nods her head politely but I can tell she doesn't understand the baseball terminology.

Over dinner we talk and joke around like any close knit family does. There's rumors around town about why my police chief father has been seen making frequent patrols out to the Quileute reservation lately. Everything from rowdy mischief among the teenagers that sometimes hang around with Jake to more outlandish claims that wolves have migrated back into the area and are threatening the town. No one suspects the real reason Charlie's been heading out to the Res more and more lately- he has a girlfriend there named Sue Clearwater.

Charlie informed me of their relationship a few weeks ago but I've yet to see them together. In all the years that have passed since my mother moved out I've never known my dad to go on even one date. It never occurred to me how lonely he's probably been all this time. Imagining my dad flirting with a woman, going on dates, and having sex is something I can't wrap my head around. I'm sure he feels equally squeamish thinking about my relationship with Edward and it gives me even more reason to make sure he never finds out the full extent of our sexual appetite.

The Mariners score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning causing the guys to scurry into the living room to watch the rest of the game. The score is now tied and Angela and I are left to clear the table by ourselves.

"These men," I huff. "Their lives revolve around the MLB schedule, I swear."

Angela chuckles. "Is Edward a sports nut too?"

"Not at all. You should see him trying to talk baseball or football with his dad and cousin. It's so cute. I know more about sports than he does."

Angela stacks the dinner plates and carries them into the kitchen as I start washing dishes. She sets them down on the countertop and then leans against it with a dry towel in hand.

"How are things going with him?" she asks her voice a little softer so the guys can't hear. I know they are totally tuned into the television and not paying the slightest attention to our conversation.

"Everything is really good. Too good actually. Edward's already thinking about us getting married," I reply rolling my eyes dismissively.

"Gee, you seem so excited by that prospect, Bells," Angela jokes.

"You know me, Ang. When have I ever been that girl who dreamed of walking down the aisle in a long flowing white gown?"

"Ha. Never."

"It's not like Edward and I have a traditional relationship either. Everything is more complicated for us because of... you know. That side of our relationship is spectacular; we're both really growing into our roles. Edward doesn't think anything has to change but I don't believe that. Do you think I'm I being unreasonable?"

Angela pats my hand and then takes another plate to dry. "I think you and Edward will be happy together no matter when you make it official. It might just be a piece of paper but it signifies a huge commitment. I understand how Edward must feel because I'm the type of person who needs it in writing too."

I stop washing the plate in my hand and look over at my best girlfriend. She's pressing her lips together in a thin line the way she does when she's said too much. "Angela? Is there something you want to tell me?"

Her brows crinkle together and she sighs in defeat. "I've been dropping hints to Jacob for a month now. I don't know if he's even noticed."

I can't help the giggle that escapes my lips. "You poor thing. Don't you know by now how dense Jake can be? Subtlety will get you nowhere. I suggest you start wearing a wedding dress around the house!"

We both laugh and Angela nods her head. "Maybe I'll give that a try."

The idea of Jake and Angela dating used to make me a little uncomfortable. Angela thought it was because Jacob had been my boyfriend first, but that part didn't bother me. What was more difficult for me to accept was that I already knew how perfect they'd be for each other. I guess it made me feel a little left out, like a third wheel among my two best friends. It also didn't help that for a long time I thought my submissive nature would prevent me from having my own happily ever after. I'd believed it so thoroughly that I hardly ever imagined myself marrying. Angela's news that she wants to marry the closest person I have to a brother now fills me with joy. I wonder if it's strange that I'm more excited about the possibility of their engagement than my own.

Cheering suddenly erupts from the living room and Angela and I both jump at the noise. We peek our heads around the corner to see what's going on in the living room. Jake is in the center of the room doing some sort of victory dance with Charlie. "Walk off, baby! Oh! Oh!" he sings. Charlie gives him a high five.

"Are you sure you want into this family?" I whisper to Ang.

She laughs out loud. "Yes!"

We laugh together and watch the men celebrate the Mariners win a little longer. When the post game coverage starts Jake grabs the remote control and changes the channel over to the local news. Edward's angelic face fills the screen and I drop the last plate back into the sink to join the guys in the living room.

"What are you doing?" I ask Jake pointedly.

"Catching up on current events," he teases.

Billy looks between Jacob and I confused, then understanding lights his eyes. "Oh, is that your young man, Bella?"

"Yes, that's Edward," I answer him. "Jake, why are you watching his broadcast?"

"What's wrong? I thought you'd want us to watch him instead of Channel 3."

Jake smirks knowing how I used to be obsessed with Channel 6's anchorman before I actually knew him. What Jake doesn't know is that I used to masturbate to Edward's newscasts in those days before we got together. I still do rather frequently, and thinking of that makes my cheeks flush.

"I don't know, it's just weird all of us sitting around with my boyfriend on TV," I stutter. Jake looks at me like I have two heads.

"Where did you two meet?" Billy asks making conversation.

"Uh, through a friend. I met his cousin Alice first and we became friends through her."

"I have to admit that I had my reservations about Edward at first," Charlie says. "But he came to me man-to-man with his intentions with Bella here and I respect that. Edward's proved to be a very polite, honorable young man."

Jake lets out a laugh and Angela smirks knowingly. And cue the blush again.

EPOV

"You'll want to take advantage of the clear skies we'll be having tonight, Port Angeles," says Eric Yorkie, Channel 6's weatherman. "Maybe do a little stargazing because the next system of cloud cover will be rolling in overnight. Tomorrow morning we'll be greeted with lower than usual temperatures and heavy rain until at least Saturday."

Fucking fabulous. Sometimes I hate living in this part of the country. Just once I'd love for Eric to have a magnetic sun with big rays of sunshine sticking out on all sides to slap on his stupid five day forecast poster board instead of all those dark rainclouds with the frowny face.

"Back to you, Edward. I hope you have some heavy duty galoshes," Eric says with a cheesy grin. Urgh.

"Thank you, Eric. It sure sounds like I'll need them," I reply cheerily before looking towards the teleprompter and launching into the next news story.

The On Air warning light finally goes off at 9pm and I slump back in my chair. It's been a long day and I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home. I loosen the tie around my neck and retreat to the privacy of my dressing room.

It's going to be a quieter evening than I've had in a long time as Bella won't be home from Forks until morning. I strongly dislike the idea of sleeping without her but she spent the day at her father's house to celebrate Jacob's birthday and I don't want her driving the highway in the middle of the night.

The first thing I do when I'm alone is check my phone. I see there's a voice message from Bella and press the buttons quickly to listen to it. It's clear from the upbeat tone to her voice that she's having a good time with her friends. I can hear them laughing in the background and for the first time I feel a little left out by not being there. I haven't been particularly successful building a friendship with Jacob Black and wasn't disappointed at all to learn I'd miss his birthday party tonight because of work. Now though, I want more than anything to be sitting next to Bella on her father's old worn sofa chatting with her oldest and dearest friends. I want so badly to fit in with the people she loves the most. Bella ends her message by saying she loves me. Now I'm feeling even lonelier than before.

I'm sitting at my dressing room table wiping the camera makeup from my face when someone knocks on the door. "Come in."

"Sup, dude? I know you always say no, but Martin and I are going over to that piano bar near the boardwalk. You know that touristy place. I forget the name," says Zach, the assistant to the producer.

"The Crocodile Rock?" I ask quirking one eye brow. Zach and Martin do ask me to go out after work a lot but it's usually to the cruddy sports bar or the Hooters near the highway.

"Yeah, that's the place. You up for something like that?"

I'm about to shake my head and give him my usual response that I have plans but I remember that I actually don't have plans for once and there's no one waiting for me at home except for the dog. If I go home now I will only sit around missing Bella.

"Who else is going?" I hedge.

Zach smirks, knowing exactly why I'm asking. "Jackie already left. She said something about having a date. It's just me and Martin tonight."

Jackie is the station's coffee girl and one of many women in the building who've flirted shamelessly with me over the years. I've always declined to date any of them for fear of my secret sexual preferences getting out. A lot has changed since I made that pact with myself, and now that I have Bella the point seems moot. For the first time since joining the Channel 6 team I feel secure enough with myself and my life that I wonder if maybe I could afford to have a friend or two from work. As long as Jackie's not going to be joining us it seems safe enough to go out with a couple guys who don't know me from the theater for a change.

I feel myself starting to look forward to it. "What the hell. Yeah, I'll come."

"Really? Alright. Let's go get some piano bar pussy!" he exclaims.

I roll my eyes at him. "I'll meet you outside as soon as I get this shit off my face and change my clothes."

Martin offers to drive and twenty minutes later we're seated in the back of the Crocodile Rock ordering a round of beer. Zach is a few years younger than me, maybe 24 or 25 and also popular with the single ladies at the station. He's much more receptive to their advances. Martin is in his early thirties, slightly overweight, and has a wife who's forever cheating on him.

"Fucking leave her, man. She ain't worth the trouble," Zach demands pointing his finger at Martin's chest. "Back me up here, Edward."

Both men glare at me expectantly. "If my girlfriend cheated on me I'd be devastated, but I think I'd still walk away. If your wife isn't making you happy, you deserve better than that."

Martin nods his head thoughtfully and I suspect I'm not the first person to impart this wisdom on him.

"You got a woman, Edward?" Zach asks.

"Yeah. You seem surprised."

He shrugs. "You just kinda seem like a loner is all."

"There's a bet going at work that you're gay," Martin adds with a snicker.

Zach gives me a quizzical look, obviously not convinced either way. "No, I'm not gay. I have a very serious girlfriend. We live together," I say decisively.

Martin slaps his hand down on the table and laughs. "Fuck, yeah you do! Harold owes me fifty bucks!"

I shake my head incredulously. Even the night time janitor is making bets on my sexual orientation?

"Dude, I gotta say I'm a little surprised. I mean, you haven't hooked up with any of the hotties at the station. Not the weathergirl, or the interns, or Jackie," Zach replies.

I just shrug and take a pull from my beer. Martin chuckles. "Zach, just because you nailed Jackie doesn't mean everyone else wants to."

This is news to me. For some reason Martin finds it especially humorous. "You had sex with Jackie?" I ask.

"She's hot, she came on to me one time last year. No big deal," he defends.

"Does Gary know?" I wonder. Jackie is, after all, the producer's niece.

Zach freezes in the middle of swigging his beer. "Hell no. You're not going to say anything, are you man? I thought we were bro's now," he says gesturing between us with his hands.

Interesting. I've been worried about hanging out with these guys and saying too much about my private life and instead within ten minutes I learn one of their secrets.

"I wouldn't do that," I assured him. "Besides, I know how persistent Jackie's advances can be. I'm sure it was mostly her idea anyway."

Martin nods his head in agreement. "So? What are we looking for tonight? Blondes? Sisters? Let's find some hot sisters," he says to Zach.

"For you we'll need to find the drunkest chick here," Zach retorts.

I laugh as Martin throws a handful of beer nuts at him. "What about them?" I say pointing discreetly at a blonde and brunette across the room waiting for drinks at the bar. "You guys should go over together and offer to pay for their drinks."

"They're cute I guess. But what will you do?" Martin asks.

I smirk and turn my gaze towards the stage. "I've already got my sights set elsewhere."

The guys look at my strangely but follow my advice about the two women seated at the bar. When the next song ends I stand up and approach the stage. "So beautiful," I say getting the attention of a thirty something blonde woman standing alone.

She turns and smiles at me. "She is, isn't she? A 1918 Baby Grand. You gonna play?"

I return the smile and then glance back to the piano on stage. "Do I need to sign up or something?"

"You can play now if you want. Arnesto just went on break. You do know how to play, right?" she asks cautiously.

"My mother made sure of it," I answer confidently.

"Okay then, head on up… I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Edward."

"Okay, Edward. I'm Mary Anne. She's all yours," the woman responds and hands me some sheet music. I won't need it but take it from her anyway.

My fingers dance lightly across the ivory keys as I contemplate what piece to start with. I've never played piano in public before and I feel butterflies in my stomach as I think about what I'm about to do here. I laugh to myself at how absurd my stage fright is. Surely if I can fuck in front of a crowd I can play a little Mozart. After the first few notes I fall easily into the melody and hardly need to think about what I'm doing. The music flows from my fingertips so naturally.

Zach and Martin soon realize where I am and come forward towards the stage. I'm pleased to see the two women from the bar are following them. Another group of women cheer for me and there's at least one who whistles as I begin a more complicated piece by Debussy. I nod my head and smile sheepishly. Yeah, I'm enjoying myself a little too much. I finish the piece and look up to see a man standing to the side of the stage. It can only be Arnesto, waiting for me to stop stealing his thunder. I stand and take a quick bow as the people watching applaud.

"You rock, anchorman!" a man shouts from the back of the bar.

I cringe realizing I've been recognized from television. Even after years on the air I still haven't gotten used to my local celebrity status. I wave politely in the man's direction and quickly hop down from the stage. Zach, Martin, and their new friends are sitting at our table and I make my way back to them through the crowd of people now watching me.

"What the fuck, dude?" Zach accuses. "You're straight… you have a live-in girlfriend… and you play wicked piano? What else don't we know about you?"

"I'm a sex addict?" I joke pulling up a chair to the now crowded little table. Zach and Martin laugh.

"Aren't we all?" Martin says winking at his lady friend. She smiles pacifying him.

"Are you going to introduce me?" I ask.

Martin looks a little reluctant but says, "Edward, this is Amber and Lisa. Ladies, our friend and Channel 6's nightly anchor, Edward Cullen."

"Hi!" Amber greets enthusiastically.

Lisa smiles more shyly and says, "You were great up there."

Zach and Martin both look grave, as if I'm about to steal both girls from them singlehandedly.

"Thank you," I reply. "I usually only play for my girlfriend. It was fun to fill in for Arnesto up there, but I think I overstayed my welcome."

Lisa giggles. "He did kind of give you the stink eye!"

"I'll have to bring Bella here sometime," I add trying to convince my new buddies that I'm happily taken already.

A waitress comes and Martin orders a round of shots. Conversation gets easier after the Cuervo seeps into everyone's systems. The girls' tell us about themselves and Zach describes what it's like behind the scenes at the station. I'm surprised by how much fun it is to be out with these guys. I've been missing a lot, holed up in my house all these years, afraid of living the other half of my life; the side of me that doesn't require bondage and safe words. It's too easy to forget there's more to life than sex clubs when everyone you associate with is into that stuff too.

After a few more rounds Zach starts asking me more about Bella. I'm a little foggy from alcohol which is very unlike me. I've switched to water and my four new friends boo me. Still, I gush about how in love I am, and how much Bella being in my life has changed me.

"Sounds like you're whipped, Eddie my man," Martin says decisively. The others agree jokingly. Oh, if only they knew who really held the whip in mine and Bella's relationship.

I don't make it home until almost two am. The effect of the alcohol has thankfully subsided but I'm still wired from the evening and missing Bella more than I have all day. The empty bed is even harder to lie in than I expected. Maybe I am "whipped" in the more familiar use of the word.

As I lay in bed that night trying to sleep, I idly consider running down to the playroom to get one of the sex tapes Bella and I have made so I can masturbate. I haven't had to whack off in months, not since Bella had the flu last winter. I'd hate to break my streak.

Just as I'm about to give in and head for the basement I hear Beanie barking. I didn't hear anyone knock and last time I checked Bella wasn't due home until morning. Now I'm worried there's an intruder down stairs. For a brief moment I imagine Kinky Catie has broken into my home wielding a gun and a flogger, set on raping me at gunpoint. It isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

I hold my breath for a moment listening for more noises. Beanie is quiet now but I swear I can hear footsteps. Is my intruder petting the dog? That pisses me off even more than the home invasion. I try to think where I keep my baseball bat. Hall closet. I need to act fast and be brave to save Beanie and myself, instead of sitting here in bed like a pussy clenching the bed sheets.

Suddenly the bedroom door swings open and I let out all the air I'd been holding in my lungs when Bella creeps in to our room. I'm instantly calm, realizing we're both safe. "It's you!" I call a little too enthusiastically.

Bella giggles and rushes over to the bed, flopping down beside me. "It's me, who were you expecting," she teases.

"A burglar or something," I admit. "I thought you were staying at your dad's tonight?"

She cuddles up against my body and kisses my nose. "I missed you too much."

I wrap my arm around her slender waist, holding her closer. "I'm glad you didn't tell me you were driving so late by yourself, I would have worried all evening."

She pats my chest in a calming gesture and look up into my eyes. "What did you do here without me?"

"I had a very interesting night actually."

Bella wiggles out of my arms and moves to lie on top of me between my legs. Her arms fold over my bare chest and she rests her chin on them, gazing up to my face. "Tell me," she whispers.

I open my mouth to speak but am distracted by her warm little body pressed against my groin, stomach, and chest. She's watching me innocently, waiting to hear about my day. I want every day to end this way, with Bella lying in bed with me, so close I can feel her warmth, smell the sweet mixture of perfume and shampoo. I don't even need sex tonight. I'll be happy just holding her all through the night.

She kisses my bare chest and grins. "Cat got your tongue?"

I smirk and pull her face close enough for a kiss. I make it tender and lingering so she knows how much I've missed her today. "After work I went to the Crocodile Rock with two guys from the station. Zach and Martin, assistant to the producer and a camera tech."

Bella's eyebrows perk up in genuine surprise. "What is the Crocodile Rock?"

"It's a piano bar on the boardwalk. We drank and hung out. It was fun."

"And did you meet any nice women?" she teases scooting lower to kiss my abdomen. Her tongue darts out to lick the trail of hair that continues south under the waistband of my boxers. My cock stirs even as I chuckle at her question.

"I helped them get girls. I played the piano," I reply closing my eyes. Her mouth feels so good.

"You played for everyone in the bar?" I nod and she continues kissing and licking my stomach and chest. When her mouth reaches my neck she whispers, "I'm really sorry I missed that."

I quietly gasp as she kisses behind my ear. My cock is hard now and I lift my hips against her thigh so she can feel what she does to me. "I got a round of applause," I brag jokingly.

Bella chuckles and moves her face directly in front of mine. "That sounds like it would make for some awesome foreplay, don't you think?"

I smile wide. "I'll take you there sometime, Miss Swan," I whisper and then proceed to kiss her blushing cheeks, her neck, and everywhere else.


A/N: I hope you enjoyed this fun/happy chapter. Get ready, next week is the scene at Jenks' house! Don't forget to review!