Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just make them darker.
Here it is, the long awaited fishing with Charlie chapter. Lemons on the horizon, sit tight.
Reagan, you are seven layers of awesomeness, especially when it comes to TMI and lemony freshness...
##
He won the race back from Forks. I let him.
Seriously. I wanted another kiss from him. And I got it.
Compared to Mr. Wonderful's kisses I didn't feel like there was a cobra slithering around my mouth, full of venom and hissing with hidden agendas. Edward's were gentle, playful, sweet.
And stimulating.
##
EPOV
I'm swinging Nessie around the cottage; she's throwing her head back laughing with joy, starts in her belly and travels all the way up to her eyes shining brightly, like a comet. Loving that Daddy isn't sad or looking at her Auntie Sofia with the strangest look in his eyes, like she should have been her Mommy, not the woman who is her Mommy. She's more of a mother to Nessie than Isabella is in more ways than one.
I haven't felt this way in years about anyone. She was right about so many things last night; I feel like there's been a wall broken down between us that shouldn't have existed in the first place...I loved kissing her, she's so amazing, soft and warm and not what she appears to be on the outside.
Not at all...
##
SPOV
One thing I'll give Bella; that old pick up of hers was the bomb. I loved that stupid truck. She had no idea I drove it around, especially when I had to run into town, pick stuff up from the post office or get stuff for Nessie, like human food. I got on him about that, she needed a more varied diet. "Dude, she needs fruit or something, protein other than blood. You know. Balance. Otherwise she's gonna look all pale and depressed like the rest of us." When I drove it I didn't feel as conspicuous as I did driving Baby or that James Bond Sex Machine that Eddie promised he'd teach me to drive on our way home from Forks this morning. I liked flying under the radar; made doing business for the firm much easier, less stressful.
And it made satisfying my hunger that much easier.
Anyhow, that truck was the perfect fishing mobile. Plenty of room in the bed for my rods and tackle box, rain gear, bait. I didn't mind that it wouldn't go past fifty; gave me time to think, enjoy the morning. Not all of us are compelled to drive like bats out of hell.
He helped me get my gear together; I explained the different types of lures, how I'd use chunks of the Crawlers on a bobber for the pan fish, lure them in with the scent of earthy goodness they found irresistible.
"How do you get them in chunks?"
"You're kidding me? You don't know?"
"No. Tell me. How do you do it?" I hope he's teasing me; he cannot be serious.
"Use my teeth or my fingers. Break right off, they still squirm on the hook." He looks appalled.
"Don't tell Nessie that. She'll freak."
"No problem. Our dirty little secret."
Huge laugh from him; Hands me my barn jacket, the ancient Carhartt I use more for holding my pliers and lead sinkers than for warmth. Dig around in the locker some more, find my old Brewers cap, pull my hair back into a pony, plop it on my noggin.
He purses his lips, shakes his head at me.
"What? Now what?"
"You. You look so damned cute. I like your hair pulled back like that. Not crazy about the cap, can't see your eyes, but…" Bends over and gives me another peck on the lips, soft and gentle. I'm melting...stop it, can I have another?
I love this I love this I love this. He thinks I'm cute. Mr. Wonderful never calls me that. He just tells me to bend over Daddy's got a surprise for me…
It's nearly five and I gotta get a move on if I want to meet Charlie at the ramp on time. He never lets me back the boat down anymore. The one time I attempted to didn't end well. He told me he never heard such language from a woman before. I told him that was mild, compared to how I used to be. Just stared at me, believing me until I told him I was kidding him, and yeah, maybe I'll go on the dock, grab the line, hold the boat while he parked the trailer.
"Well, I better get going, Charlie hates to be the last one out. Thinks the fish will have migrated or something if we're not out there right at five." Grab the keys off their hook, featuring their Olympia beer cap opener fob, conspicuous among the keys to the other vehicles we own. Upper East Side verses Mayberry.
Turn to open the cab door, but he's already done that. Get in, close the door, crank down the window. He leans in, rests his arms on the frame. Looks at me, smiling.
"I'm going back home, check on Nessie, shower up. See you later? I'll swing by the house around noon with the baby."
Smile back at him; my face hurts from the copious amount of smiling we've done all night.
"Yeah, I should be back by then. Probably won't smell too good, so don't expect me to look drop-dead gorgeous. Be in the shower for an hour at least." Can you wear jeans today Fia you look so tight and sweet in them love seeing your hips and your…
Okay, sure, only if you wear yours...
Laughs. "Yeah, well, I suppose I smell pretty sour now too." Oh no you don't, you smell freakin' wonderful…earthy and fresh air and mist…
We don't say anything, just look at each other, eyes aglow, not wanting this to end. Turn the key, engine groans to life. Grabs my head with his right hand, reaches in and kisses me again. Deepest kiss yet.
"Thanks Fia. That was the best night I've had in a long time. I, I…"
"Me too Eddie. I, I…gotta go now, Charlie's waiting."
Both gulp. Sigh.
"Later sweetie pie." Pushes back from the truck. Smiling. Looks over to the cottage. The boss is waking up.
"Later gator."
Glance up at my room on the way out. Swore I saw the curtain move, but not sure.
A minute later, the Crackberry comes to life.
##
"Where the fuck have you been all night?"
Great. Busted. Shit shit shit.
"Well good morning sunshine, how was the bible reading, learn any new tricks?"
"Cut the crap Sofia. Where were you all night? I came back upstairs and you weren't here. I'm pissed."
Really? Never would have guessed.
Roll the window up a bit, don't mind the mist but don't like it on my face quite so much.
"I was out digging for Crawlers, then ran to Forks and back." Which is pretty much the truth.
"You dug for Crawlers and then decided to take up long-distance running? Oh really? Who were you with? Emmett?"
Emmett? Oh please. Emmett was occupied all night. Besides, he'd get distracted want to go hunt for bear or something. What is his deal with Emmett anyway? He's scared of him.
Seriously.
Get an idea, decide to run with it, see where it takes me.
"Yeah, I wasn't by myself. I was with someone else."
"I knew it. Who was it Sofia? I know it wasn't one of the girls. Tell me."
Nearly to the ramp, another mile or so, I bet Charlie's got the boat in the water already, waiting on me, he's half way through that mug of coffee of his.
"Ya wanna know? Really?"
"Yes, Sofia, stop this game. I mean it."
'Okay, you want to know who I was with? I'll tell you. I was with Edward."
There. Suck on that, lollipop.
Instead, he sucks in his breath. "You were with Edward? No fucking way not that pansy ass".
Trust me buddy he ain't no pansy ass, not the way he kisses...
"Yup, me and Eddie went digging Crawlers and then raced to Forks and back. It was fun. Too bad you missed it." Bitch. Loving this, having the upper hand. Edward was right. I am stronger than I think.
Suspicious now. "Is that all you did Sofia? Or did you do something more than that?" I can just see him, sitting there seething and getting himself all worked up, eyes turning to narrow slits; he's already made up his mind about last night, truth be damned.
"Well, we did sit and talk a lot, that was nice. He's really not such a smug tight ass as I had thought. It was... fun and I learned a lot about him." There that'll get you going.
Clears his throat. "Is that all you did? Or did you do more? Did you fuck him Sofia? Tell me."
Oh. My. Sweet. Jesus. Tell me he did not just accuse me of that. I take the phone away from my face glare at it with the most disgusted look.
"Yeah, that's it. I fucked him. Twice. Once out on the rock and then in the garage, in the bed of the pickup. Is that what you want to hear asshole?"
"I knew it. I knew you were up to something. You fucking... you fucking whore." He spits that last word out, knowing how it stabs me.
But you know, this time it didn't. Instead, it got me really pissed off at him. This is it, the beginning of the end in dealing with this schmuck. I am so done with him.
"Honey?"
"What, bitch?"
"Drop dead."
Click off. Ignore his angered return call, instead I text Edward, tell him about this little exchange. Texts back pronto:
Good job. Proud of u. Tell Charlie hi Nessie wants 2 spend night w/ him Sue, k? xx E.
Pull into the dirt parking lot; Charlie waits on the dock, ready to roll.
Thx feel better will do xx S
Grab my rods and bait, lock up the truck and head off to deplete the fish population of Forks with Charlie.
##
As I expected, Charlie had already plowed through half his mug of coffee, his first of many that day. By the time we came back to the ramp, he'd be completely wired; I felt for the guys he worked with. Charlie's usually pretty mild-mannered, but when he has huge amounts caffeine rolling through his system, he can be almost unbearable to be around. Short tempered, antsy. Which made me glad I wouldn't be around him that afternoon. God knows what I had waiting for me back at the ranch.
Big smiles as I approach him; he loves having someone to fish with. Bella never wanted to, even as a kid he told me once; never understood that about her. I've been tempted to tell him there's a lot about his daughter he doesn't know about, but I keep my mouth shut. As far as I'm concerned, Charlie's on a need-to-know basis about us.
"'Morning Sofia. Ready to put the hurt on some Blue Gills?" Hugging the boat to the dock with his left foot, takes my tackle box from me, sets it down next to my seat. I take his hand, step into the boat as I settle my rods into the holder. Slip the container of Crawlers into the battered cooler that has seen better days; I bet its older than Bella, by a long shot.
"Yup, let's go. Got some fresh Crawlers last night, so we're set for bait."
I push us away from the dock. He hops in, fires up the Evinrude, and we're off.
Putter out to the first of our spots, the hole that we know has a lot of structure the fish love to hide in. Offer him the bait container; he takes a fatty out, tears it in half, hands me the other. Bait my hook, set the lead weight and bobber depth then cast. He's port I'm starboard.
Just like every other time we've fished together.
We don't say boo for the longest time; that's one thing I love about Charlie. No unnecessary chatter, unlike at the house. Just enjoying the morning and the sounds of the river, the birds flying over, looking for a handout. Watch a Bald Eagle as it soars overhead, searching for breakfast. I've always been fascinated by raptor's patience, their efficiency at capturing their prey. So inspiring...
The hole proves a bust. We reel in our lines after an hour, set out to our second spot, further down the river, under some low hanging pines, which make casting a bit more challenging. I hate getting my line snared; I always just want to cut it but Charlie always makes an effort to untangle it from the branches. He says it gives him something to do, break the monotony of fishing, but I think he likes being the helpful manly man. I don't mind; it's thoughtful and considerate.
Just like...Edward. Sit there bobbing about on the gentle current, think about last night. How much changed between us during those hours. Went from adversaries to something else. Something more, well, more solid. I'm so tired of all the mind games I've endured courtesy of Mr. Wonderful that the thought of having a man in my life that isn't such a prick is intriguing.
Glance over my shoulder at Charlie; he's completely oblivious to me. Sense the muscles in my back and legs begin to tense up; my breathing accelerates mutely. Slowly, softly, I put my rod down between my seat and the tackle box; he never even feels the movement, so subtle, could have been just the gentle rocking of the boat against the current. Shift around, feel my eyes narrow, mouth rich with the intoxicating blend of saliva and poison, pooling around my tongue, coating my teeth, feel as my breath hisses silently between my lips; nostrils twitch, inhaling his scent, his blood smells like the richest, most luscious chocolate, I loved chocolate, the darker the more alluring; eyes down to mere slits now, the blackness grows focus on my prize...
Think how easy this will be. Get your line tangled up in those branches; Charlie to the rescue, as always. Back to me, wouldn't notice as my eyes started to itch and turn amber, then black in an instant. Wouldn't notice as I snatched him by his neck, snapping it, quick and painless. Or just the tiniest tap of my index finger, he'd go right over, into the water, where its deepest, nothing to grab onto, just keep the index finger on him, gently push him down, let his lungs fill up with water, watch his eyes as he realizes too late what happened maybe take the time to enjoy a little snack, bite him where the coroner won't discover it during the autopsy, I know where to make my mark, start to yell act all upset, cover the eyes like I'm crying, yeah, just one little nudge, leave them a message, shot over the bow...
Charlie jerks his line up, but he's too late. Fish grabbed his bait, off to enjoy his half of the Crawler. I come back down, retain my previous position realize what I almost did and grimace. Lick my lips bite the lower one; sense my mouth dry out my eyes return to normal. Patience weed hopper, settle down...
"Dammit" he mutters under his breath. "Wasn't paying attention. Sofia, can you throw me another worm? Thanks."
Pick up the container. Since his back is to me, I use my teeth to tear the critter in half. Edward was right they do taste yucky. I spit out the dirt and guts clinging to my teeth. I am going to brush my teeth for an hour after this, hit the mouthwash maybe pick some up on the way home say a dozen Hail Marys to make up for almost slaughtering him. "Here you go Charlie" handing him the new bait. My breathing slows down, normalizes. Muscles relax, still twitching from the electricity flowing through them. I put my head in my hands attempting to compose myself. He twists himself around, doesn't look at me still shaking his head at the missed opportunity, reaches towards me with his right arm, palm open, waiting.
"Thanks kiddo". Turns away again, baits his hook, casts it settles in the softly rolling waters. Shifts his weight; I can read his thoughts, but just barely; its like there's a film of cotton around them, teasing me. I know he's got something on his mind, let him make the first move.
"Uh, Sofia?" Uncomfortable. Anxious.
"Yeah Charlie?" Curious. Soothing.
"Can I, uh, can I ask you something, uh, kinda personal?"
"Sure Charlie. Shoot." All ears. Tell me what we want to know buddy.
Turns around, looks at me questionably. Waits a beat. "You're, ah, you're like the rest of them, right?"
Give him a puzzled look. Then realize that if this is going in the direction I think it is, my job will be easier than I thought. "Like the rest of the Cullens? Yeah Charlie, I am. Why do you ask?"
Still looking right at me. I'm getting a bit tweaked, trying to figure out where this is leading to; not as cut and dried as I had thought. "Then how come your eyes are blue? Theirs are that weird yellow color. Why is that?"
"Well Charlie, I really don't know. They just, uh stayed that way, when, uh, I changed."
"Do they ever, you know? Become..."
"Yellow? Yes Charlie they do. On occasion." And you don't want to see where they go after that.
"When you're ah, umm..."
"Hungry? Yes. When I'm hungry. Just like the rest." This is just not comfortable this line of questioning. He's a cop, what else would I expect. Just doing his job.
He's silent again. The sun continues to rise, and so does the morning heat; I watch spiders skittering over the surface of the water amazed at their speed, their ability to move without breaking the surface.
Then he starts the interrogation again.
"Is Bella? Like the rest of you?" He's agonizing over this he knows she's not the daughter he remembers.
Deep sigh. This is gonna suck, for both of us, but mainly him. "Yeah Charlie. She is." Stop a moment let that sink in. "Her choice. Not ours." Most certainly not Edward's or mine.
Head pulls back. This isn't the answer he expected. "Her choice? She decided she wanted to, uh" Voice trails off, mulling this over. "...her choice?"
"Yeah Charlie. Her choice. We didn't want her to, but she insisted, and there was the baby to consider." And its been a joyride ever since.
He's stunned. Literally. Cannot believe this; that his baby girl would ever consider throwing away her humanness. That she'll be around long after he and Renee and Sue are gone and forgotten. I feel so badly for him, I want to hug him, try to explain, but I don't. It won't help him, won't make a difference. The truth is hard enough for him to accept without knowing what I am; just add to the sorrow.
He hangs his head, shakes it in disbelief. I feel like such a heel, but he asked and I won't lie to him. He's too good a man. "I'm so sorry Charlie. I really am." I whisper, chest aching.
Head still down, mutters "Its not your fault Sofia. She always did whatever she wanted without considering the consequences..." his voice trails off again.
"Charlie?" I start. "You know she's uh, she's not living with us now, right, you knew that? That what you told me before is still going on?" Bite my lower lip again, pick at that invisible spot of dust on my jacket. He's in so much pain please I don't want to hurt him any more than I need to...
"Yeah, I know that kiddo. She's still running around with Jake. They came over to the house yesterday, made it pretty much official." His eyes are just pools of sorrow. Poor Charlie. He doesn't deserve this. What kind of bitch does this to her dad?
"Really?" I arch my right brow. "What did she tell you? You know Edwards seen a lawyer, talking divorce. He doesn't want Nessie to suffer, its killing him to see her so sad, missing her mama."
Reels in his line, sits for a second, then recasts, thinking. Come on Charlie, clear the cotton away I need to stay a step ahead of you. There's a hitch in his voice now, on the verge of tears.
"I'm so disappointed in her, in both of them. She just leaves her family to run around with, with this kid. Like it's a big game to them. I really don't think she has any intention of going back to Edward. Told her from the start she was too young to be married." Sighs. Stares out over to the other side of the river then back at me. "I underestimated Edward he's been a terrific dad with Nessie, trying to keep it together; he's a good kid." Pauses, takes a deep breath in, looks at me with annoyance and anger in his eyes, but not directed at me. "Bella mentioned something about not leaving without money and, uh, something about you."
"Me? Really? How so?" The money I'm not surprised about. We expected that. But she and Jake can learn to live on food stamps and Spam as far as I'm concerned. Hope her hunting skills improve; she's the sloppiest I've ever encountered. We never come home looking like something the cat dragged in, but she does. Alice and I were appalled at what she did to that Alexander McQueen we dolled her up in, for her awakening. We both loved that dress; it was a one-off piece. I ended up having another one made at no small cost, just to make it up to Alice.
He looks at me, laughs. "She told me yesterday that she's convinced that you and Edward are having a fling." Laughs again. "I told her you were too old for him, were already married, and never impressed me as being a home wrecker, like someone else I could mention." Grins at me, the tension dissipated for a second.
"Wow Charlie, that took some balls. I'm proud of ya buddy. Thanks for sticking up for me. " I'm impressed. He stood up to her. Way to go. Wanna join our team? "Did she say anything else?"
Thinks a moment. "Well, she did tell me that as far as she was concerned she wasn't going to make this easy, that she wanted to drag this out, make Edward suffer, for God knows what reason. I told her to grow up, stop acting like a kid, for her daughter's sake. She didn't like that."
"How about Jake? Does he have any say in this, or does he follow her around, like a, uh, dog? Does whatever she tells him to?" I think we all know the answer to this one. "Are they a party of two or one and a half?"
"One and a half. She has him wrapped around her little finger". Sets his mouth, not happy with that. But the anguish has tampered down he seems more at ease now. Got it off his chest.
"Ummm, not too surprised to hear that. Not one bit." When is her birthday again? September? August? Have to check on that. Might have to wait a bit.
He shifts again. "Uh Sofia? Can I ask you another question?"
"Sure Charlie. What is it?"
"How, uh, how old are you? Do you mind me asking?"
"No. Not at all". Think a minute. How do I answer this? "You mean, how old am I now, or how old was I when I, uh, changed?"
Now he raises his eyebrows. "Both." Waits, he's genuinely interested.
"Well, let's see. I'm four years older than Edward, so that would make me twenty-one. Otherwise, I'll be one hundred and eleven this December. Christmas Day. " Look up at him, gauge his reaction.
His mouth is literally hanging open. He gulps. Shakes his head yet again.
"Well. You look pretty good for your age kiddo."
I smile and laugh. "Thanks Charlie. I age well I guess. Must be the genes."
Smile at each other again, turn around and go back to our lines.
##
An hour later we head back to the ramp. Charlie started the questioning again on the ride there; asked where I was born how I met Carlisle and Edward, gentle questions that I knew had a deeper purpose. Told him what I wanted him to know, general information about growing up in Northern Wisconsin, left out the years in the Levee. Told him I met Carlisle and Edward through a mutual acquaintance; gave me the hairy eyeball at that one until I explained that it wasn't what he thought: "No Charlie, it wasn't through someone like us. You'd never believe me if I told you, so stop asking. How about those Mariners? Do they suck or what?" Switched the tables on him, now I was the Good Cop, asked him about Billy and Sam, their take on the whole Bella/Jacob fiasco. Told me pretty much what I'd hoped to hear; they were angry those two had so flagrantly ignored the agreement between our kind, how their actions threatened to expose all of us to the outside world. "Reckless and selfish" was how Billy described it. I couldn't imagine the pain his son's actions had caused him; he didn't deserve it, such a good man, loved his family and his people, accepting us as allies, not adversaries. I loved spending time with him, he had such wisdom, loved to share it with the right person.
What a bloody mess this may end up becoming.
Helped Charlie get the boat on the trailer, drove it on there with no cussing, which impressed him: "Wow kiddo, nice job. Next time want to try dropping in again?" I grin at him in thanks for his faith in me. Hugs when we turn to leave, feel so much better that I didn't take him out; he's just too important to Nessie. I'd never be able to look at her without giving myself away if I had followed through with my original plan.
Besides, he's the ultimate fishing buddy. Doesn't yap a lot, shares his bait and always refuses my offer of gas money.
##
Ooh, yeh
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Ooh, yeh, baby
Ooh, yeh
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Ooh, yeh, baby
Crue blasting from the sound system in my room; so loud the windows are rattling and the hanging lights are swinging from the ceiling. I'm so blasted happy; don't want to lose this delicious feeling. Proud that I didn't take Charlie out, that I was able to pull myself back from the brink. Would never have done that before the pull was too enormous to ignore. Mike in Seattle served some purpose after all I suppose. Mulling over last night with Eddie, giddy that we finally got through to each other, wondering why it took us so many years of back and forth to realize how much the other meant to us. Maybe once our current spouses are out of the picture, maybe once we're over them, maybemaybemaybe....
You ever see the Kohler ad, the one with the installation guy in that righteous shower, the one with multiple heads? That's my shower; I adore that shower, worth every penny it cost to purchase and install it. When the delivery guys showed up, I had everyone clear the house except Emmett. Just liked having a big guy like him there with me when strangers were in the house. Mr. Wonderful was elsewhere, as usual. Probably down in LA, doing who knows what. The installation guys didn't say much, just stared at the house and my bathroom; said they'd never seen a bathroom so huge, so much marble and the lighting, like a Vegas stage show. Once they left, I hopped in there and played around with the jets and lights and temperature for three hours. Cully finally had to come upstairs and ask me to shut it down, there was no hot water left in the house and did I want to go hunting with him and Esme, there was a herd of Elk with some calves they'd discovered and he knew how much I loved Veal back in the day. I knew it was more about the gas bill than the Elk. But I figured it was a win-win for me either way.
Singing away, happy as a lark I was, there in that monster shower of mine. So entranced with the steam and the warmth and the feel of the water as it flowed over my body that I didn't sense him as he slid open the door, wrapping his arms around me from behind, nuzzling my neck, nipping the flesh there.
"Hey Kitten, how about a little shower action, waddya say? Make up for last night?"
I spin around, cannot believe this guy; calls me a whore accuses me of sleeping around, then wants to fuck me in the shower like it never happened? Is he for real? What the hell?
"What are you doing? Get out of here. Take your hands off of me, jackass". Push him away he goes flying to the other side of the shower, hitting his head on the polished wall stunned by my reaction.
"What the hell Sofia? You love it in the shower, why not?" He's pouting, actually pouting. How old is he anyway? Eighteen? Grow up already.
Feel the anger growing in my throat, rising like sour bile to my mouth, coating my teeth. I am so finished with this guy, what did I ever see in him anyway? I'm such a fool. "Because, idiot boy, you called me a whore this morning and accused me of cheating on you. And you ask me why? Get out and leave me alone. I'm done."
"You're done? With what?" On the defensive now, he hates that, loves to have the upper hand, be in control.
"Oh my God you really are that dense aren't you?" I counter. Shut off the jets, step out of the shower, its claustrophobic in there with him, feels like I'm trapped in a steel box with no way out. Grab a towel stalk off to my room, where the hell is my robe, I am so finished with him. Called me a whore, what a bastard. He's the whore, not me. At least I work for a living, unlike him. "With you. I'm done with you. It's over. I'm tired of your little game and I'm tired of being treated like shit by you." Fold my arms, wait for his response. He's standing naked in the doorway, dripping all over the floor, hands on his hips, not comprehending that the ride he's had for so many years as come to a screeching halt. He's out of tickets, carnival is over carnies are tearing it down.
Takes a step towards me, pointing. "You're done with me? Who do you think you are? All the shit I put up with from you flying all over the world, leaving me behind plus that fucked up head of yours over the years, and you're done with me? Fuck you whore. Fuck. You. "
"Oh Yeah? Well I'm done with you and your bullshit demands" I turn my head, glaring at him, still standing there in a growing puddle of water, don't even notice how incredibly perfect he his, that body of his. Mimic his voice, his inflections "Spread your legs Sofia, get on your knees Sofia, suck me off Sofia, like a good girl." Spitting those last two words out trying to maintain my composure, but it's becoming harder to stay in control. "How much more demeaning could you be, treating me that way?"
"Oh for fuck's sake Sofia, you loved that shit, don't deny it."
"You think so? Guess again." He stares at me. Decides to change tactics.
"What do you want from me? What do you want, another car? Let's go up to Seattle, I'll buy you whatever the hell you want today, come on, stop acting this way."
A car? He thinks he can just buy me something, with my money, our money, and that makes it all better, makes his words vanish? What a fool what a fool, what happened to him?
"I don't want anything. I don't want this, this..."I grab a pair of shoes off the floor, fling them at him, miss his head by an inch. He doesn't even duck, the bastard. "...stuff."
"Then what do you want Sofia? What. Do. You. Want?" screaming at me.
"YOU! US! I want US! Like we were, before, before, before this ridiculous game we've been playing. I want you like you were, like I know you can be."
I just want to cry, I'd feel so much better, why can't we cry, God, why did you take that from us?
I hear Jasper and Emmett pounding up the stairs, they'd love nothing more than to take him down, they hate him, the way he treated me this morning; Edward told them, they're furious. I hear Carlisle yelling at them: "Boys! Boys! No, don't get involved. Emmett, Jasper get back down here. Its not your business!" Shoulders heaving at the door, the hinges bend and groan with the stress. "Sis! Let us in, is he hitting you? Swear to God asshole you touch her we'll kill you!" Emmett is beyond furious Jasper is seething his anger rolls over us like a tsunami. "Sofia, don't let him touch you, I'll fucking tear his head off, burn it on a stake! Edward get up here, he's going to kill her!"
"Yeah, and fuck you two as well. Fuck this whole fucking family! I don't need this crap" he yells at the door, knowing everyone can hear it. Turns back to me, advancing like he's going to pounce on me, but I stand my ground, I can take him, snap his neck like tinder, watch the flame ignite. "You want out Sofia? Fine. I'll leave. But I 'm telling you girl, I won't go easy. I will make this painful and prolonged. You will pay for all the shit I've put up with over the years." Grabs his pants and shirt off the floor, doesn't even bother to dry off, just huffing and throwing his little tantrum, looks for his keys, his wallet, shoves his feet into those boots of his, like he'd ever be confused for a real biker, what a fraud. Opens the window, looks back at me.
"You. Will. Be. So. Sorry you ever fucked with me Sofia. I mean it. I will not go down easy. " Rips his wedding band off his finger, flings it at me. I catch it feel it tear into the palm of my right hand, twists there, taunting me. I glare at him, my chest heaving; just want him to go, leave get out of my life. One last sneer at the door, eyes glazed over with anger and disgust, he leaps down to the lawn, flies over to the garage. Emmett and Jasper break down the door, race over to where I stand, watching as he guns the engine of his Hummer, the one I teased him as being the "extension of your manhood" vehicle, backing into one of the other cars. "Oh shit I hope he didn't hit the Ferrari I have a guy coming over tomorrow to pick it up." I mutter. That would be just like him to do something like that; a final 'fuck you'. How mature.
The three of us stand there, their arms around me, protecting me, as he tears out of the garage, down the drive, and out of our lives. I bury my face in my hands, shaking my head. I'm such a mess I want to die I want to die why can't I cry would feel so much better if I could cry.
My boys encircle me, protecting me from everything but myself.
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A/N: Feel better? She has a moral core after all, at least as far as Charlie is concerned.
If you need a lemon fix, check out this week's chapter of Stripped. Trust me, I beta'd it...
Thanks for the reviews, posting next Friday, have a great week!
