The next morning, Bella woke with a pit in her stomach, but not because of last night. Even though she was still mad at Edward, she shouldn't have taken it out on Alice.
And to make her feel worse, when Bella awoke that next morning, her door had already been fixed. Apparently Edward had gotten up extra early, patched it in when she wasn't awake. And somehow, Bella hadn't woken up from the noise, or else she would have at least helped him.
Either way, she begrudgingly realized that she was surrounded by caring people. Rose and Emmett had come up by her mother's request without another thought. And even if Alice and Edward were sent by her father, they seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being.
"Hey." Bella offered weakly when Alice opened her door. She had made brownies: her go-to apology offering.
"Hi," Alice answered, opening her door wider, "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine. I just brought over a peace offering," she said. Alice only glanced to the pan in her hands. "Sorry I was so short with you yesterday. I was mad at your brother, not you." Bella apologized.
"You're still mad at Edward?" Alice quirked a brow, but a softness was starting to rest in her eyes.
Bella shrugged, "Not really. But you didn't deserve any of what I said yesterday, and I'm sorry."
"No harm done," Alice finally showed a smile, "Come on in. Who could say no to brownies?"
Bella let out a sigh of relief and followed Alice inside. Her house overlooked the water. Lake Michigan was pure as glass as their sail boat rested peacefully. A perfect view to enjoy the morning in.
"Where's Jasper?" Bella looked around the airy cottage,
"He's out on the boat getting it ready. We might go on a trip for a few days."
Bella nodded, "So, have you always lived up here?"
"My parents used to own a cottage down the way. I guess I fell in love with the town and the water. That's why I offered the location when Charlie wanted to relocate."
"You must have a lot of happy memories, I'm sure," she noted as Alice led them to a back porch. The water looked even calmer as they took a seat on a nearby bench.
"Some good and some bad," was all Alice said after sitting down. Apparently Bella was pushing a not-too-kind subject. But Alice had said her own family was involved with her father yesterday. And she didn't know how to ask without sounding nosy.
"I have to ask, how long have you been working for my father?" Bella asked instead.
"I've been his secretary for almost five years now." Alice answered.
It took a moment to let the words sink in. "You, uh, you were his secretary?" Bella cocked her head.
Alice nodded, knowing exactly what knobs were turning in her head.
"You were the one that called me that night about his accident," Bella realized.
Alice nodded, "I'm sorry about that call. But Charlie wanted me to keep it quick."
"I understand," Bella clenched her teeth together. Another hidden gem they had deftly kept from her. And even if it wasn't a big deal, she suddenly had no qualms about asking what she was itching to.
"Yesterday you told me you have a personal connection to my father's accident." Bella said carefully, "What did you mean by that?"
Alice pursed her lips, "Charlie and his team of private investigators had an inkling as to who illustrated the car accident. The timing was just too coincidental to your father getting Edward released."
Bella tucked the nugget of information away about her father helping Edward with his case, and continued, "So you're telling me you know who tried to hurt my father…who is trying to hurt me?"
Alice nodded, but it was another's voice who answered.
"It's our brother."
She knew that voice too well. Bella spun to see Edward standing behind her. His face wary and his shoulders stiff.
"Your brother?" Bella sputtered.
He nodded, and as she glanced over to Alice, she saw her friend's lip drawn between her teeth. So it was true.
"How do you know?" Bella asked, "I mean, it could have been anyone of the criminals my father has put away."
Edward shook his head, "No, we're sure its Anthony." His eyes rested on Alice, and Bella turned to see her friend's face had turned white.
"Excuse me," Alice said before rushing inside. Edward watched his sister leave before looking to Bella.
"She doesn't like talking about him," he said, "A part of her still sees our family as this perfect little unit, and not ripped apart by greed and ego."
"You're talking about your trial," Bella stared up at him, and Edward nodded.
"When I was charged for embezzlement, I had our family's representation. But it became clear my lawyer was only loyal to my father and older brother."
Bella blinked, and only continued to listen.
"I eventually came to my senses; realizing that my own father had taken sides against me in favor of my brother. I was only the CFO; an easy scape goat."
"But still, I hired your father to represent me behind their backs. But it was too late, Charlie couldn't prove my innocence that late in the trail. The only thing your dad managed to get was my sentence shortened to three to five years."
"But would your family be mad about that? Shouldn't your brother be happy that you're out? You've served your time." as the words came out of her mouth, Bella knew there was a layer she had yet to be told.
"He set me up, Bella," Edward said solemnly. "My own brother set me up to cover the real embezzling. My father knew of his illegal activities, and he still chose Anthony over me. And now that I'm out. My brother is trying to hurt everyone who is helping me uncover the truth."
Bella fell silent. She didn't know if she should say sorry for him having even more of a messed up family than her, or apologize for her anger towards him.
"I had no idea," was all she said, "Edward, I'm so sorry."
He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. But she saw the layer of hurt and anger that rested under his stern face.
"Your father has been helping me prove my brother's illegal activities in the company." Edward explained, "We've been searching for evidence to charge Anthony, and have me cleared. But that's put Charlie and everyone he loves in harm's way."
Edward's face suddenly went hard, "My brother has always been ruthless and cruel, but now that he caught wind of what I'm up to, he will stop at nothing to end it."
Bella swallowed, her throat suddenly thick.
He finally turned to her, "That's why I agreed to come up and keep an eye on things. I know what kind of ilk my brother would hire. And Alice being up here gives us an edge as well. We figured it would be less likely for anything to happen to you, if we were always near you."
Bella felt her head turn light, and she teetered a bit. He was risking his safety in the name of her own. She felt Edward's steady presence beside her as he gently took her hand. Bella dimly looked over to see his eyes ridden with guilt.
"I'm sorry you're mixed into all of this," he said, "But I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."
She allowed herself to look into those green eyes, and she saw how much he meant it. Bella nodded her head and forced herself to answer.
"I'm not angry at you anymore," Bella said quietly.
His eyes melted at her words, but it was then that Alice appeared. Her eyes were a little red, like she had just been crying and was trying to hide it.
But she also held three drinks on a tray, and damn if Bella was going to refuse the numbing of alcohol right about now.
"I hope it's not too early for one of these," Alice said a bit too lightly. And Bella's heart ached for her new friend. She couldn't imagine what it was like to have a brother pitted against the other. And suddenly, Bella was thankful for own distant, but overall sane parents.
"Thanks, Alice," Edward said before smoothly taking a glass. He gave Bella a wary glance as she quickly took the liquid courage and gulped it whole.
"Now, are you two doing anything for the rest of the weekend?" Alice asked.
"No," Bella answered with a sigh.
Edward held up his hand, "I actually—"
"—Good," Alice quickly interrupted Edward. And Bella giggled when he scowled, "Then you two are coming sailing with me and Jasper," Alice announced cheerfully, "It's about time we properly christen it. And what is a better time to leave it all behind, than now?"
Bella was thankful for the lightened atmosphere. Because if she had to hear any more talk of family, she felt as if she was going to choke.
"That sounds great, actually." Bella gave a weak smile, and she looked to Edward expectedly.
"You two really like to forget that some people have to work for a living," He groaned. "I don't know if this is a good idea,"
"Oh please," Alice pshaw-ed with the wave of her hand, "You're always a party pooper. Forget your do-good attitude and take a vacation."
"Alice, I just got out of prison," he grumbled, "I've been on vacation long enough."
Bella let loose a chuckle at the two siblings and turned to Edward, "Are you telling me you're going to abandon me now, after all we've been through," Bella suddenly said.
Edward looked to her as she cocked a brow, "You want me to come?" he asked.
Bella nodded, "It will throw off your brother if we leave. Just let loose for once."
Edward was looking at her like he wondered where the real Bella had gone, "You trust us enough to just leave for three days? You're willing to spend a weekend with the family of the man that tried to kill your father; who is trying to kill you?" his brows were stern, like he wanted to shake Bella for still even talking to them after she had found out the truth.
"Yeah, I trust you," Bella said firmly. And then and there she realized how fully she trusted them both. But it affected Edward more than he liked to let on.
Bella could tell how wary and distant his family's betrayal and prison had made him. And she tried not to get lost in the way his brows lifted and his eyes went molten at her words.
"Alright then," he resigned with a sigh and turned to Alice, "I guess we're going sailing."
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"What do you want us to do again?" Rosalie blinked her perfect blue eyes at Bella from her hotel room. Emmett was beside his wife, the opposite expression on his face.
"I want you to come sailing." Bella said again, "Alice and Jasper invited you both. You remember me telling you about them? I think you guys would hit it off."
"That sounds like fun, babe," Emmett rubbed Rosalie's shoulders, but her best friend looked anything but convinced,
"You're telling me, we would spend three days and two nights sailing up the coast of lake Michigan, hiking through some random forests and sleeping on some cramped boat?" Rosalie sputtered.
Bella smiled, not at all off put by her friend's dreary tone. "Yeah, that's exactly what I'm telling you."
"Where is my best friend and what have you done with her?" Rosalie crossed her arms.
"Well," Bella shrugged, "I changed when I found out the guy I-slept-with's brother is out to kill me in order to stop a trial that my father had secretly helped that same guy with," she stated blankly.
Rosalie blinked, confused, "What now?"
"If you come, I'll explain it all." Bella promised, "Just pack two days of clothes. Alice and Jasper have everything else."
"And you're okay with spending two days close quarters with the same man that lied to you all this time before sleeping with you?" Rosalie quirked a brow.
Bella shrugged, not having been more careless in her entire life. Emmett looked like he was proud of her for doing such an act, even if Rosalie was looking at her like she had lost her mind.
But Bella didn't care anymore.
She was so used to planning everything. Her entire childhood and education had been planned for her. Even down to the internship and job offer, it had all been carefully pathed out. And look where all that had gotten her?
So then and there, Bella decided to stop laying out her life and just let it be.
"Yeah," Bella scoffed, "What could go wrong?"
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"What could go wrong?" Rosalie giggled under her breath as Bella looked at the sleeping quarters. "This is what could go wrong."
There were only three beds on board. One in the separate bedroom Jasper and Alice would take, a second bed in the guest room that they had offered Rosalie and Emmett. And what was left was a measly pull out couch in the tiny living area.
And Bella just knew that she would be sharing it with Edward.
"Yeah, sorry," Alice rolled her eyes as she came below deck with her own bags, " I didn't tell you about sleeping arrangements. But I can always make Jasper bunk with Edward," she chuckled.
"Hear that Eddy Boy?" Bella heard Jasper announced from above deck with a chuckle, "We get to sleep in the same bed!"
"See? It'll be fine," Alice hushed when she saw Bella's face was blank. Rosalie just gave her friend a knowing look, "I know it might be awkward for a bit, but we're all adults, right?" Alice shrugged.
"So Edward told you we slept together?" Bella turned to Alice, and she was silent. Bella then spun to Rosalie; realizing just how big her best friend's mouth was, "You told her, didn't you?"
Rosalie merely shrugged, "Sorry, I thought she already knew. I was just making small talk."
Bella groaned into her hands, "Just kill me now,"
"Look, Bella," Alice rested a hand on her arm, and Bella tried to stop her face from wobbling. Talk about awkward.
Her and Edward's one night stand wasn't something she was particularly proud of. It had obviously been a mistake in both their eyes. But now everyone on the ship knew the history that resided between them both. And that could only lead to something bad.
"I don't care that you slept with my brother," Alice dismissed with her hand. Bella cringed to hear her say it out loud, "To be honest, I would much prefer you over all the other girls he's been with."
Bella let her forehead fall into her hands as Rosalie failed to muffle her laughter.
"Sorry," Alice frowned, "That came out wrong."
"Everything comes out wrong from your mouth," Edward suddenly said, and Bella turned to see him in all his glory deftly fly down the steps from top deck.
A pair of sunglasses rested in his perfect bed head of hair, and he wore a simple t-shirt and board shorts as he carried a pair of bags that were obviously not his. Somehow, he looked even more delicious and tan than the previous time they sailed together. And Bella felt the cabin shrink impossibly smaller.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Alice crossed her arms at her brother when he plopped down the bags on the floor. He just smiled. "I was just telling Bella you're sleeping with Jasper. You two can take the pull out and we'll sleep in the master," Alice smiled back.
Rosalie coughed to cover her snort when she saw how his face fell.
"Stop already, you're sweetening the deal too much," Edward said sarcastically. He gave Bella a glance, "I warn you, she kicks in her sleep," he nodded towards his sister.
Alice rolled her eyes, as Edward gave Rosalie a slow smile, "Good to see you again. And thanks for purposely taking Bella's phone and keys that night at the bar."
Rosalie's brows shot up, "I will admit to nothing. That was an accident." But her smile said as much.
"God, you show your love it the weirdest ways," Bella rolled her eyes at her best friend.
Rosalie feigned innocence, "I came here to sail, not to get accused of first-class match making. But you're welcome."
"I know, wouldn't they make the cutest couple?" Alice chirruped, as her and Rosalie began to chatter incessantly.
"We need to leave before they plan the wedding," Edward chuckled. But his breath washed over her the shell of her ear. Why was he so close all of a sudden?
"Yeah, couldn't agree more," Bella said, trying not to shudder at the way his voice made her core tighten. She glanced up to see a crooked grin spread across his lips.
"After you," he said, gesturing her to go first. But she felt him close behind her as she ascended the steps. And she swore his hand came to steady her waist when the ship teetered. Bella's skin burned where his touch had been, and she longed to feel it again.
This was going to be a long trip.
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A/N This should be fun! Tell me what you think or want to happen! And as always, thanks for reading and reviewing :)
