Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
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While sitting on an old boat in the middle of a deserted lake fishing with Charlie, I question why I thought this was a good idea. Getting on Charlie's good side was the plan, but now the seclusion feels more threatening than anything.
The lake is a mirror reflecting the sun's glints off of the surface. Winter frost covers the grass and the trees that surround us. I don't know when fishing season is, but when I asked Charlie if he wanted to go, he thought on it a minute before he said he knew just the place.
I didn't waste any time finding Bella and me an apartment in Seattle. No matter how many times I asked for her opinion, Bella just said, "You've got this." She assured me that there would be several other decisions to be made that she could take the lead on. Even though I think she lured me into going along with something, we will sign the lease after Christmas.
Bella admitted she didn't tell me about her decision to transfer schools because she feared I wouldn't allow it. I tried to convince her that wasn't true, but in a way she was right. I wouldn't have wanted her to give up anything to be with me even though I was doing the same thing. In the end I was able to admit I wanted to be the one to move, but now, I can see how her plans are far better. I thought this was an isolated incident, but that wasn't the case. Through a lengthy discussion with Alice, I found out that I have an authoritative demeanor. Alice, Emmett, and now Bella all feel they have to tiptoe around me at times because I may not allow them to do something.
Who the hell am I to tell them what to do?
Alice laughed at me and said, "It's about respect. If you tell us you don't approve of something, we're going to listen."
I don't want to get in the way of the things they want to pursue. The whole concept is baffling.
"Get me another worm, will ya?" Charlie asks as he reels in his line.
I pull one out of the dirt-filled Styrofoam cup. It squirms as I hold it between two fingers. After handing Charlie the worm, I wipe my hand off on my pants as he adds it to the shiny dangles he's already using for bait.
He casts his line and stares out at the water with a serene expression on his face. We are surrounded by open space, but this boat shrinks every time I think about telling Charlie that I'm moving in with his daughter.
Emmett flew down to Los Angeles a few days ago to help Rosalie and Bella with their move. Bella sold her car and fixed up her truck for the drive back to Forks. She also confessed to me that she's been saving up for this for a while. I'm hoping this secrecy is a lesson learned. When we move in together, we'll communicate our plans and make decisions together.
Charlie shifts on the bench seat, causing the boat to rock. I wish I had flown down with Emmett. One wrong word and I might be knocked off this boat.
Charlie is the only loose end for my plans to move in with Bella. She didn't want to tell him until after the move, but I don't work that way.
"Are you going to tell me what you're buttering me up for?" He lifts his canvas fishing hat off his head and sets it on his knee.
"Maybe I just felt like fishing." I reel in my line slowly. My fingers are nearly frozen from the early morning winter cold. "What do you think of Bella moving back here?"
He squints when he looks at me as the sun shines in his eyes. "It'll be good to have her closer. I never did like her being down in California." He clears his throat and turns the hat, as if it was a wheel and his knee was its axle. "I'm not really excited about her being in Seattle either."
My clammy fingers slip, and the fishing rod falls to the floor of the boat. I grab it before it can fall into the water.
Charlie pulls his hat back on. "I'm thinkin' she won't be by herself, will she?
A thousand pound weight falls off my shoulders and sinks to the bottom of the lake. "No."
"Good." He turns on the engine that he had claimed was broken when he made me row the boat out here.
I'm not going to say anything about his tactics. I can handle him messing with me if it makes things go this easy.
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Moments of solitude are a luxury I took for granted. I'm hiding out in the guesthouse under the ruse that I'm packing for my move. My parents and sister arrived a few days ago, and while I don't mind helping them set up the main house, their indecisiveness gets on my nerves. My dad has it mastered as he just sits back and waits for instructions, but I get agitated when I'm asked to do the same thing twenty different ways.
Emmett and Rosalie are in no hurry on the drive up from California. Bella has called a few times, stressed out by all of the stops they insist on making.
When there's a knock on the door, I grab a box that's already filled and dump half of the contents out on the bed, so no one will question what I'm doing out here. Shaking off my annoyance at the less than five-minute reprieve I was granted, I open the door to find Jasper's lanky form standing on the other side.
Stepping aside, I say, "Hey, man. Come in."
He walks inside and pushes his blond hair out of his eyes. "So, I'm supposed to talk to you."
His hair falls back in his face. The kid seriously needs a haircut. I catch the thought, realizing Jasper is two years older than Bella, but that's not the same, is it? In my eyes, Jasper has always been a kid, but that doesn't stop me from feeling like a hypocrite.
I close the door behind him. "Yeah, cool. Have a seat. Do you want a beer?"
"Yeah, thanks." Jasper sits down on the couch and kicks his feet up on the coffee table.
I go to the fridge and grab two bottles—one for the kid and one for me. Dammit!
I pop off the lids and sit on the other side of the couch. Cool condensation remains on my hand after I hand the bottle to Jasper. "I know what Alice wants you to talk to me about, but I can't do the best man thing. It's not fair to Emmett."
His eyebrows rise as he nods. "I know, but Alice needs it to be you. Believe me, if it wouldn't ruin her dream of tradition, you'd be her maid of honor."
Squeezing my eyes closed, I consider my options for the first time. I can either disappoint Alice by letting Emmett have his moment, or make Alice happy and crush Emmett.
"Is there a plan, because Emmett isn't going to take this well?"
"Yeah, there is." He nods, pursing his lips. "Um…"
I take a drink and try to be patient with the guy. Whatever Alice told him is most likely more complicated than it needs to be.
Jasper points his finger and whirls it in a circle. "There's a chart." He starts spinning his other hand. "Somehow, we have to make the best option for you to be my best man, Emmett to be yours, and me to be Emmett's. It's not fair to me any other way." He nods, pleased with himself, but also, not very convincing about the unfairness of him being left out of a best man duty.
"Okay, we can try that." I say, giving in and hoping that it's that easy.
"Alice will talk to him. Somehow, it will be his idea, and everyone will be happy in the end." He lifts his beer, and I tap it with mine.
"Cool. So…" Jasper smirks. "When are you getting married?"
I can feel my face blanch and a cold sweat break out all over me. "That's not something I'm thinking about right now." My head falls back on the couch.
"All right, I'll leave you to not think about that." Jasper shoves my knee as he stands.
I chuckle nervously at the ridiculous notion.
It's too soon. We're not even living together yet. Bella wouldn't be ready to get married. It was her idea to move in together though. She may be ready sooner then I'll think she is or have expectations that I'm not aware of. How will I know? How do people do this?
I hear the door close, trapping me with my thoughts. The silence is intimidating. My brain flips around in my head. My face becomes an accordion as it scrunches together.
Deciding to think about one thing at a time, I head outside to catch up with Jasper. The first thing I need to do is figure out this Emmett thing with Alice.
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Rain pelts the roof. Suddenly a bolt of lightning flashes outside, illuminating the dark sky, and thunder vibrates my eardrums.
I'm lying down on the couch, messing around on my laptop while trying to stay awake. The last time I heard from Bella, she said they wouldn't be stopping again until they get here. We've been dealing with the long distance separation for a while, but the closer she gets, the harder it is to be patient.
Hours later, headlights light up the driveway, and I run outside in the rain. The first thing I really want to do is grab Bella and bring her back to the guest house, but I do the right thing and help Emmett with Rosalie's things. Rosalie holds her jacket over her head as she runs to the house, making squeaking sounds the whole way. I should have grabbed an umbrella before I came out here, but the girl is going to have to learn to deal with it. After all, it's just rain.
I stop Bella before she can climb out of her truck. "Stay in here. I'll run some of this stuff inside and come back for you."
She grabs my wet shirt, pulls me halfway in the cab, and kisses me. "Hurry," she says. Her breath is warm against my mouth.
I close the door and lift the tarp that I'm glad they had the foresight to use. After three trips running back and forth with Emmett, I clap him on the back and tell him I'll see him tomorrow.
I help Bella out of the truck and kick the door closed. The rain beats down on us, but Bella pulls me back when I start walking forward. Leaning her head back, she lets the water cover her face. Her smile is so big. I want to allow her this moment, but it's freezing. When the wind blows, the raindrops mix with snow.
I pick her up, holding her back with one arm and under her knees with the other. Her hands intertwine behind my neck. Wet hair sticks to her face.
"Let's go," I say as I walk. "You're going to get sick."
She burrows her cold nose against my neck. We are both soaked by the time we make it inside. As I close the door, hail begins drumming against the roof. Bella squeals and I grab her by the elbow before she is able to run back outside.
"You're no fun," she says, laughing.
I let go of her arm. She pivots her body toward my desk in the corner, and her laughter halts as if a mute button were pressed. "Hey!" She hits my arm.
I rub where she struck. It doesn't hurt, but I'm confused by the sudden assault. "What?"
She walks past me. "I searched all over for this, and you've had it the whole time." When she turns to face me, she's holding her webcam and waving it at me.
"Oh."
She drops it in the metal waste basket and it rattles the tin. "Good thing I don't need it anymore, huh?"
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not." She shakes her head. "I can't believe you." I swear there is a hint of a smile on her face, but she walks away and pulls her wet shirt over her head. It falls to the wood floor with a splat. "I'm taking a shower. Alone."
I pick up her shirt just as she closes the bathroom door. After laying her shirt over the back of a chair, I try to open the bathroom door.
"Bella, let me in," I say when the knob won't turn. I hear the shower start. She's not really mad. This is teasing mad, but the longer I wait, the longer I wonder.
I lean my ear against the door and almost fall forward when she opens it just wide enough to hand me the rest of her clothes. Steam floats out of the bathroom from the shower.
"I'm pressing charges." She closes the door and turns the fan on.
I try the knob, but she locked it again. "Bella, let me in. I miss you."
I get nothing but the wooden door that's in front of my face and the sound of water as it moves over her body.
Defeated, I bang my forehead against the door. How do I get out of this? Should I pick the lock, or find a way to suck up to her? Stupid webcam—the thing has caused me nothing but trouble.
I stumble as the door opens.
Bella stands in front of me naked, not having bothered to grab a towel, and dripping all over the floor. She opens the curtain almost all the way as she steps back into the shower. "Get in here. I don't want you to get hypothermia because of me."
I peel off my drenched clothes. "You're not really mad at me, right?"
"Not really mad." She pulls me into the shower and yanks the curtain a few inches away from being fully closed.
I pull the curtain the rest of the way. "Are you really pressing charges?"
"Maybe." Wrapping her arms around my neck, she presses her body flush against me. With mischievous eyes and a dangerous smile, she leans over and sinks her teeth into my earlobe. "You'll have to convince me not to."
She stands on her toes as she grinds against me, but I push her back. I'm the one who's supposed to be doing the convincing.
We won't be doing this her way.
I follow water droplets down her body with my eyes and then drag my knuckles down their path.
When she tries to grab me, I take her wrist and secure it behind her back. She pouts, but I shake my head, grabbing her other wrist as soon as she moves it. Her fight is not over. She tries to wrap her leg around me, but I only need one hand to hold both of hers. Holding on to her hip, I'm able to keep her off me.
She whines in defeat.
I kiss the corner of her mouth, and she tries to turn her lips to mine, but I move back. Water cascades through her hair, flowing over her shoulder. I squeeze her hip and let it go. After pushing her hair back, I taste the water on her neck.
She whimpers and struggles to free her hands. "Please, I won't press charges."
I drop her hands. They go around my neck as she stretches to get higher and pushes on my shoulders for me to get lower. This time, I don't push her away. Bending my knees, our eyes lock as I push inside of her and make love to her against the shower wall.
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When I bring Bella to her first meal with my family, it's evident that this breakfast might as well have been made for the wedding reception. My mom doesn't know how to do anything halfway. The sound of metal utensils and closing drawers echoes throughout the house as the smell of bacon and blueberries wafts through the air.
As soon as introductions are made, Bella's quick to help my mom in the kitchen.
My dad smiles at me when they are out of the room. "She's a lovely girl. Hang on to that one."
Nodding, I scratch the scruff on my jaw. Bella likes it, but I'll only be able to put off shaving for a couple more days. "Where is everyone else?"
"Sleeping. Let's head into my office for a sec." He leans back on his heels, lifting his toes and clicking his tongue.
I follow his lead, as he closes the door behind me and then motions for me to take a seat.
He sits down on the other side of his large oak desk, pulls his reading glasses out of his shirt pocket, and puts them on so that they are resting at the very tip of his nose. He has his doctor's hat on, and I'm about to be given orders. I know the drill.
"Alice and Jasper are moving into the guest house after you move out, and we've come up with a few renovations." He pulls out a file and flips through it.
I recognize the telltale signs of my mother and sister. Most of the pages are made up of magazine cutouts.
Grumbling, I agree to help, but I don't hide my annoyance at the ridiculous concepts.
Breakfast is served like a buffet, filling the dining room table to a point that we are unable to eat at it.
Alice is, as usual, much too alert for just having woken up. She doesn't stop talking as she fills her plate with bite-sized portions of everything.
"What? You don't eat anymore?" I interrupt her wedding-filled rambling and scoop up a spoonful of potatoes and drop them on her plate.
"Edward!" She pushes the potatoes back into the bowl. "I need to fit into my dress."
"Why would you buy a dress that doesn't fit you?"
"Because it's going to fit me."
"Ahem." Our mom breaks up our argument. "Edward, leave her alone. Alice, please eat." She grabs two muffins and places one on Alice's plate and one on Bella's. "Honey, there's plenty of food."
"Thank you. These look amazing." Bella grabs another muffin and smiles.
My mom is pleased, but everyone else is holding in their laughter.
Alice links her arm with Bella's. "Let's eat in my room and go over our plans."
I take Bella's plate. "Can I at least eat with her first? Rose isn't even up yet." Rose was commandeered into this wedding charade faster than Bella was.
Alice perches her hand on her hip.
"Alice." Our mom says, warning her not to say whatever it is she's about to say. "You can have Bella later."
I lead Bella outside, away from everyone else just as Emmett's loud footsteps beat against the stairs.
It's cold out, but we're both dressed for the lower temperature.
"I wish I had siblings," she says as she takes a seat on the patio.
I hand Bella her plate. "You can have mine. They make everything dramatic."
Bella sighs as she pushes food around her plate and avoids looking at me.
My posture stiffens. "Okay?" I hold my breath. "What's wrong?" Before we came over here, everything was fine.
She looks off into the distance. I don't like it. She shakes her head. "My brain is just so busy lately with the move and the…wedding." Her voice drops an octave lower.
I don't know what it is about this wedding, but it has got to be the most drawn out, dramatic event of my life, and it hasn't even happened yet.
When the back door opens, I kiss Bella and leave her with Rosalie. I need to talk to Alice.
I've only walked two steps in the door and haven't closed it yet, when Emmett whistles at me and points his thumb toward the kitchen. Shaking my head, I follow him.
"Hey." He braces his hand on my shoulder, leaning closer as if this was a huddle. "Are you cool with taking the best man job for this wedding? I've got the next one."
"Okay, if that's what you want to do." I place my plate in the sink and turn on the tap.
"Yeah, it's pretty crazy. There's this chart." His fingers start circling in the air, and I look away. I don't want to know how Alice managed to confuse both him and Jasper so thoroughly. "You get what I mean though, right?"
"Psshh, yeah. Sounds fair."
"I've already got a lot of ideas." He's jittering with excitement. "It's going to be epic. How much time do you think I have left to plan?"
"For what?" Our mom asks as she comes into the room with a stack of dishes. She nudges me out of the way of the sink.
"Edward's bachelor party. I don't think you want the details, Ma."
A plate clatters in the sink. My mom turns to me. "Why didn't you say anything? Have you already proposed?"
"No." I've only recently found out that this is something I should be thinking about. I haven't actually thought about it.
"When do you plan to?" she asks.
"Um…" I let out a long breath. "There are these steps." I point my index fingers in front of me and turn them in opposite directions. This method of confusion has already been proven to work. "So, there's this step." I stop the motion and point. "Once we're here, we can plan for here. I'll let you know at this point. I'll need some help."
She ignores my invisible chart. She never stops looking at my face. "Okay, when will that be?"
This isn't working. I try to redraw it in the air to answer her question but fail.
"Soon, really soon," I say, hearing this decision for the first time myself and not minding how it sounds in my ears.
"Good. It's nice to see you committed." She smiles at me, and I appreciate her approval.
Emmett follows her as she walks out of the room. "What about me?"
"I'll need more time when it comes to you."
An arm wraps around mine. "That was awful," Alice says, leaning into me. "There's a reason I don't use charts with you or Mom."
"No, you just keep me in the dark."
"Sorry," she says looking down.
"It's okay. Do you know what's going on with Bella? I think it's about the wedding."
Alice eyes open wide as she apologizes. "There was no getting out of it. Her whole family is coming. I couldn't ask her not to come."
I put my hands on both her shoulders. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Charlotte. She's coming to the wedding."
Great.
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A/N:
Hi! Thanks for reading. I'm so sorry for the wait. I don't know where the time went. Luckily, the next chapter is done aside from editing.
Thanks so much to everyone who helps me with this story you're suggestions and encouragement are priceless: ttharman, tawelephant, SunflowerFran, and dazzeled eyes22.
I'd love to know your thoughts on the chapter.
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