9.

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache and feeling drained.

I'd tossed and turned most of the night, and I was so tense with worry, my shoulders and neck ached, as well.

I tried to sleep it off, but I was too wound up. Instead, I got out of bed and went down to the basement where the gym was. I spent an hour on the treadmill and then tapped my hands and put on some boxing gloves.

As I started practicing a few combos and hooks, I let my mind go blank. All tension disappeared and focused solidly on hitting the bag and moving my feet. All thoughts of what was going to happen today left my mind for the next minutes.

Whatever my uncle decided to do today, I knew he was going to need someone's support. I wasn't sure if I was the right person to do it. After all, I wasn't one hundred percent behind his decision to throw caution to the wind and suddenly marry a stranger, but I could give her the benefit of the doubt.

But at the first sign that she wasn't what it seemed, I would bury her to the ground.

I spent another hour hitting the bag, and by the time I was done, I was exhausted but calm.

I quickly went back to my room to shower and get ready for tonight.

It was late afternoon when I finally made my way to the kitchen, and I could hear voices coming from there.

"You're very pretty," I heard Emmett say, and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Like mother, like daughter," said my uncle, and I stopped right outside the kitchen.

They were here; Carlisle's new wife and mother-in-law.

I had been so focused on my workout, I hadn't heard anything, and since no one came looking for me, it meant they must've just arrived. I hesitated for a second before rolling my eyes at myself for being such a pussy. If I was gonna show my uncle he had my support — for now — then I had better get right to it.

Well, nothing like the present…

"I can't wait for you to meet my cousin. He's so cool, and he has this awesome bike!"

I chuckled, walking into the kitchen. "He's right. I'm very coo—"

I stopped short when I saw the woman standing next to my uncle.

Of all the possible scenarios, this was one I wasn't expecting at all.

I didn't expect to see him wrap his arm around that waist, his hands on that hip, his lips on that bare shoulder. I didn't expect those eyes, wide with shock staring back at me. And I certainly didn't expect that voice, calling out my name.

"Edward..."

I didn't expect you.

Thanks to my beta MariahajilE. I truly appreciate your help.

Special thanks to the reviewers! I never thought more than a handful of people would read this, so thank you.

You can find me on twitter: Riv3rBoy84 I post tiny teasers over there.

Thank you for reading.

-JR