Coming Around Again
A/N: It has been over a month since I have updated but as you all know I was having some issues there toward the end of my pregnancy. As of September 20, I am now the proud Ma Ma of a handsome little man named Jesse Andrew Rice. He was 6 pounds and 12 ounces when he was born and growing more and more every day. I also had surgery after he was born so I have been trying to take it easy for a bit but here I am to give you a quick update and fill you guys in.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or else I would be enjoying being fabulously wealthy and enjoy hanging with the cast…especially Peter Facinelli and Kellan Lutz.
Chapter 8
Bella's POV
It's been a week since the run in with Emmett's little "toy" Irina and thankfully we haven't had any other issues yet. I'm not going to hold me breath though because Jake and the guys invited us to the reservation for a bonfire tonight in our honor before we head out for our "honeymoon" in Hawaii tomorrow. I was excited to get to hang out with the guys in La Push but I knew that Leah Clearwater, as I found out from Jake was the name of the Quileute girl that Emmett used to mess around with, liked to go to the bonfire parties with her girlfriend. I just hoped that nothing got started but right now Emmett and I are having lunch and getting to know each other a bit better. I'll admit that so far our marriage hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be and I am starting to kind of like him but I'd never tell Emmett that and inflate his head even more!
"So, Belle, have you ever been in love? Well I mean before you met me, that it?" Emmett asked cockily and I rolled my eyes.
"Wow! Conceited much?" I asked with a laugh causing Emmett to roll his eyes and chuckle. "But to answer you question, no. I mean I thought I loved Jake at one point in time but I think I mistook family love for the real thing because let's face it, Jake, Embry, Quil and Paul? They are basically the only family I have beside what I just married into."
"So, before me you have never had a boyfriend?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, actually. I mean Jake and I went on a date once, and he was my first kiss when we were like 13 but that ended awkwardly." I giggled, remembering me tripping on the top step at Billy and Jake's house in La Push and falling into Jake. Jake caught me and we laughed for a few minutes before he leaned in to try and kiss me. I accidentally head butted him after he gave me a quick peck. That was the first and last time I kissed Jake. I didn't even kiss him after our date when we were 16. It was just weird after that.
"What's so funny, Belle?" Emmett asked, snapping me out of my memory.
"Just remembering it all. It was actually pretty funny, my first kiss, but it wasn't at the time. I was so embarrassed." I said with a laugh.
"Oh, do tell oh wifey of mine." Emmett joked and I laughed even harder. I told him of my first kiss and the one date I had with Jacob. I was having trouble getting it out because we were laughing so hard.
"So, what about you Em? Have you ever been in love? And I don't mean just sex either, buster!" I said playfully.
"Actually I thought I was in love once. You know, first love and all that? Her name is Rosalie. We are still friends now, and up until a couple of months ago we would occasionally fool around." Emmett admitted.
"Well what made you realize that she wasn't the one?" I asked.
"Honestly, Rosie was my first love, first kiss, first…well, EVERYTHING. We dated all through high school but I guess I just couldn't see myself settling down with someone like her." he said and I raised an eyebrow as if asking him why "Rosie can be a bit of a bitch and she's completely stuck on herself. If you think I'm bad, baby, you should see her!"
"I'll take your word for it." I said with a small laugh.
"So, tell me about your dad. I mean, I haven't really gotten to talk to him since we've been married but he seems a bit intense." Emmett said and I flinched. "Oh, I'm sorry baby. If it's a sore subject, we can talk about something else."
"No, I mean I told you about Phil. Why not tell you about Charlie?" I said quietly, not really wanting to tell Emmett but wanting to finally get it off my chest.
"I told you, baby, if it's hard for you to talk about then you don't have to." he said again.
"I know and it is. I mean who wants to admit that not only didn't their mother's boyfriend rape and molest them on an almost daily basis but their father beat the shit out of them when the other wasn't around. I mean I was getting it every which of way, Emmett." I said quietly, trying to hold back the tears. "I mean, Charlie has shown me he does have a good side in the past but that damn bottle is something he refuses to give up and when he drinks? He has been known to put me in the hospital a time or two. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for Paul sticking up for me and making it seem like Charlie 'fell' when Paul knocked the hell out of him then I may have been dead multiple times."
"So that's why Paul always seems to stand guard like a bodyguard?" Emmett asked and I nodded.
"After he first started working here and he cause Charlie beating the hell out of me when he was drunk, well he appointed himself as my personal bodyguard." I said "Honestly, I don't mind. It makes me feel safer knowing he's there to kick the shit out of someone when I need him to."
"I know you may think I am saying this because we were forced into this whole marriage thing but I can honestly say that I will never let anything happen to you, Belle." Emmett said taking my hand across the table. "There is two things that make me see red more than anything in the world and that's men that think they can force themselves on women and men that think women are punching bags."
"Calm down, Em. I mean, I haven't been hit in a while. I think Charlie is intimidated by both you and Paul since you have both been in the picture." I said.
"He ought to be, I'll kill him if he hurts you again." he said seething.
"I believe you, Emmett, but he IS still my father. I know this sounds awful but even though Charlie hasn't always been the BEST father…I do still love him. I mean YEAH Billy Black is the man I have considered my 'Dad' since I was a kid but I guess I'm just holding out hope that one day Charlie will change his ways and start acting like a real dad to me." I said with a sigh before adding "I guess that's just wishful thinking though."
"I admire that about you, babe. You see the good in everyone, even those who hurt you." Emmett said kissing my hand that he still had in his across the table.
"All right, enough depressing talk…let's go on up to our room and finish packing for out 'honeymoon' and get ready for the bonfire." I said changing the subject.
"I'm game, babe." Emmett said before helping me stand up. With our hands still joined, we made our way upstairs. After finishing packing we took turns taking a shower and getting ready for the bonfire on First Beach in La Push. We got into Emmett's Jeep, yeah I figured he'd have something flashy too, and headed out to the reservation.
When we got to the reservation, the guys were putting the finishing touches to the pyre that would be used for the bonfire and were getting ready to light it. Jake was the first one to see us and dropped what he was doing to run over.
"Hey guys, we were just getting ready to light the fire. The Elders are already here, as are the guys and a few other people from the rez that want to give you two their congratulations." Jake said after giving me a big bear hug. "OH! And Rachel and Becca actually came to town when they heard you got married and that we were having a bonfire as kind of another reception for friends type thing."
"Oh really? Where are they?" I asked, I hadn't seen Jacob's twin older sisters since they both left the area to do their own thing 5 years ago.
"They are over talking to Sam, Emily, Leah and Kim. You should go over. I know Sam and Em wanted to give you their congrats anyway." Jake said and I paled a bit at the mention of Leah. I mean, YEAH, I figured I may bump into her at the bonfire but I had no clue that she was going to be with my…well for all intent and purposes….sisters.
"Come on, babe, it won't be that bad." Emmett whispered in my ear after seeing me cringe visibly when Leah's name was mentioned "Leah won't do or say anything out of the way with Kim here. She doesn't want Kim to know she was cheating on her. The most she'll do is shoot you some death glares, that's about it."
"Well that's reassuring!" I said sarcastically and rolling my eyes "Ugh! I want to see my sisters so let's get this little meet and greet over with so I can catch up with Rach and Becc."
I took Emmett's hand, who intertwined our fingers, and headed over to where Sam Uley, his wife Emily, Leah, Kim, and Jake's sisters were standing and talking among themselves. I saw Leah look up and her tan skin visibly paled at the sight of Emmett and I walking over.
"Rach, Becca! It's been FOREVER!" I said hugging Rachel and Rebecca.
"It has!" Rachel said hugging me back.
"So, who's this sexy man on your arm?" Rebecca said with a wink in my direction. Becca was married but she still liked to kid around.
"Rach, Becca, this is my husband Emmett Cullen. Em, these are the closest things I have to sisters Rachel and Rebecca." I said.
"It's nice to meet you ladies." Emmett said turning the charm on and flashing those sexy dimples of his. I think I actually saw Rachel swoon before she glanced over my shoulder and got a dreamy look in her eye. I looked back and saw she had her eye on Paul and smiled. I'd have to see how long she was staying and maybe hook something up.
"Sam, Emily, how are you doing?" I said to Sam and Emily once I caught up with the twins.
"We are fine, Bella. I have to admit that I was shocked when Jake and the guys told me that you were married. No one here even knew you were dating anyone." Sam said with a chuckle.
"Well Em and I wanted to wait to tell anyone about us until we figured out where we stood, you know?" I said with a smile. Emmett smiled and pulled me closer. I saw Leah shooting daggers out of the corner of my eye but ignored her. "Oh! How rude of me. Sam and Emily Uley, this is my husband Emmett Cullen. Em, these are my friends Sam and Emily Uley. Any I don't think I've caught your names." I said turning to Kim and Leah as to not be rude to them. I mainly focused on Leah.
"I'm Kim and this is my girlfriend and life partner, Leah Clearwater." Kim said with a smile, hugging closer to Leah.
"I'm Bella Cullen and this is my husband Emmett, it's nice to meet the two of you." I said "I hate to rude but I need to go ask Jake a question." I added before grabbing Emmett's hand and retreating and quickly as possible.
"What was that all about, Bells? Lee's shooting daggers at you." Jacob said when Emmett and I came over.
"I know Lee's a bitch but I swear you'd BOTH be dead if looks could kill." Embry said.
"I get it, she's not happy." I said.
"Why does she hate you so much?" Quil asked.
"Because I married Em and she lost her male booty call." I blurted out before quickly throwing my hands over my mouth and shooting Emmett an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Em. It slipped."
"It's ok, babe. Shit happens! Let's go get some food." Emmett said with a low chuckle before pulling me toward the food table. After the awkward meeting with Leah and Kim, we settled in to eat, hang out, the Elders told the legends of the tribe and then people showered us with wedding gifts. Emmett and I hung out for a while longer after the elders left because Jake and the guys had brought liquor and it had been a rough couple of weeks. At the end of the night we headed back to the B and B to crash before having to wake up to get on a 10 am flight to Honolulu. It could have been worse.