Chapter 8 – Where to Go From Here

"I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you" – Roy Croft

"I thought you would be too busy trying to win that fight to pay attention to what I was saying." I said bashfully.

"You don't have to be afraid to say that you love me Bells. I've known that I loved you since I left high school. I always wanted to tell you but I didn't know how you were going to take it and then you were still with Edward and I didn't want to cause problems."

I didn't say anything else as I finished cleaning his face. He has a black eye and few cuts but overall, he was fine.

I sent him downstairs for the ice pack to put on his eye while I took a quick shower. I wanted to wash the last remaining scent and touch of Jacob from my body.

When I finished, I got out of the shower and cleaned my face before applying my night cream. I heard a slight noise outside of the door.

"I was thinking I better get going. It's getting a bit late." Emmett called out.

I opened the door and asked if he would like to spend the night.

"I mean, Jake and his friends could still be waiting for you. They could be parked up the road waiting to follow you."

Emmett smirked. "I guess you're right. I do have to watch out for my safety and all."

He then finally caught sight of me in my robe and blushed furiously before looking everywhere but at me.

I finished up in the bathroom and slid past him into my bedroom, purposefully leaving my door open. When he didn't get the hint, I said, "You don't have to be nervous around me Emmy. You can come in here while I'm changing."

He finally looked at me and gave me a small chuckle.

"I just don't want to overstep my boundaries here. After all we just did have our first official date." He pointed out.

I let out a sigh. If we were going to do this, I didn't need to be in my bathrobe and we most certainly didn't need to be in the bedroom.

"Yeah, but you and I have been wanting each other for a while now. Isn't this what you wanted?" I asked while walking towards my closet.

When I finished, I walked out and pulled him to his feet. My small hand looked so weird joined with his but it felt right still.

He turned me around and looked right at me. "You have no idea how long I've want this. I'm just too afraid of doing something to mess it up or you're going to change your mind. I haven't exactly had the best of luck with women."

He had a point. We were trying to take things slow but we couldn't lie and say that our feelings for each other surpassed the current stage of relationship. But why should I keep thinking that the worst is going to happen with Emmett and me. I spent my entire collegiate career recreating myself and on my fresh start which didn't include overthinking the decisions of my personal life like I use to do.

"You're right. But would rather spend an eternity doubting yourself or would you rather live in the now and just relax, let things progress on their own?" I smiled.

Emmett thought about what I said and agreed I was right, happiness was written all over his face.

*Emmett*

And after spending so many years just going through the motions and sort of existing when it came to my relationships, I was finally with a woman who could make my heart skip a beat. I knew it wasn't possible but it was how I felt. When I was with Bella I felt more alive than I ever have. She brought out my emotional side, something I thought I suppressed a long time ago.

These thoughts stayed with me the entire night and all through the morning until Bella's insanely shrill alarm broke the silence.

She rolled over and slammed her hand down on it, shutting it off. She let out a groan and stretched before rolling back over to face me.

"Now this is a sight I could get used to." I smirked.

"Why are you so cheerful? How long have you been up?"

"Since 5. I was going to wake up but I decided against it so I grabbed my gym clothes from the Jeep and went for a run. I've never really needed a lot of sleep."

"Yeah, well unlike you I need at least 9-10 hours of sleep. If not then I can't function." She moaned before throwing back the covers to get out of the bed.

"So what are your plans for today?" I asked when she finally woke up.

"I usually spend my Sundays lounging around the house." She stretched and padded her way to the bathroom saying something about wanting clean herself up.

I headed downstairs and plopped down on the couch. It groaned a little under my weight while I got comfortable. I grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels before settling on ESPN.

Not long after the sports anchor finished his report on the NFL training camps, I heard the shower turn off. I shut the TV off and headed back upstairs just as Bella was heading into her bedroom. I thought about turning around and heading back downstairs but changed my mind. If I was going to be in a relationship with Bella, then I would have to get used to being with her during the most private moments.

"You know you don't have to be a perfect gentleman." She told me once I entered.

"I know. I'm still trying to get use to all this." I smiled sheepishly as she dropped her towel. My eyes raked over her small frame, stopping when I spied a tattoo of a bird, red and orange in color, rising out of a fire below on her shoulder.

"When did you get this?" I asked moving closer to run my hand over it.

"The summer before my freshman year of college. Angela and I spent a couple weeks in Jacksonville with Renee and Phil. I was finally feeling like things were getting back to normal. That I was finally done healing and I was ready to really live. To be reborn. So I got it to signify that moment."

I stared at it a bit longer, enjoying the woman before me. To me it showed her strength, the struggle she went through to get here. I leaned down and placed a trail of small kisses along her shoulder and collar bone. She tilted her head to the side and let a small moan escape her lips. I snaked my left arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me. I let my nose run along her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. I was slowly losing it but I didn't want to stop. I love the feeling of her damp, clammy skin under my own warm hands.

All of a sudden Bella turned around and grabbed my right hand, bringing it up to rest over her heart. It appeared to be beating at a fast and slow pace.

"You're the only guy who's made my heart react this way."

*Bella*

I looked up into Emmett's face to see his reaction. It was full of love and admiration for me.

"Bella, I know without a doubt my heart beats for you and you alone." he whispered.

I smiled and kissed him once more, this time with conviction. It wasn't heated or passionate but it said everything we were afraid to say at this moment in our relationship.

He broke off the kiss first but didn't let go right away. He just stood there, holding me in his arms.

After a bit, I began filling a bit cold. Emmett must have noticing me shivering and let me go, smiling that signature grin of his as he did.

"I'll uh I'll let you get dressed." He sat on the edge of the bed and put his hands over his eyes so he couldn't see anything. I slapped him playfully on the arm and headed into my closet to find something to wear.

I slipped on a pair of lounge pants and a simple t-shirt that was a bit faded from years of wear.

After cancelling any plans he may have had, Emmett and I settled in and spent the entire Sunday cuddling and canoodling on the couch, enjoying the beginning honeymoon stage of our relationship.