Chapter 11

Silicone Jugs and the Lion's Den

"She hung over?"

"That would be a negative."

"Leave it my best friend to fall asleep outside. Usually happens after she's knocked back a few."

"Like I said, no alcohol. I woke up this morning and found her out here."

"Hey! Swan! Wake your boney ass up!"

You know that point when you're in a deep sleep but for some reason, you can hear shit going on around you? Kind of like teetering a line? Well, that's where Bella found herself, teetering the line of unconsciousness and reality, and in two point two seconds she swore that she'd beat the asshole who decided that kicking her in the leg was the best idea.

"Stop it, asshole."

"Fine. I'll stop it when you decide to get up so we can get the hell outta Mayberry."

When Bella finally attempted to open one eye everything around her was fuzzy and a little on the wobbly side as she tried to focus in on the only woman in the vicinity that knew who she was. She blinked several times before zoning in on her best friend's long, bare legs. That woman should've been a model. She had legs for days, and if Bella had never met Rosalie, she'd have sworn the woman had graced a catwalk or two.

"I will pluck your silicon jugs right outta of their skin suits, Rose."

"Try it."

Bella let out a strangled noise as she tossed around on the lounge chair just as the sunrise started to seep through her barely opened eyelids. The voices that trailed around her seemed to only get louder and she moved to sit up. Her head pounded. Another migraine. She'd been fighting the damn things ever since she found out about Riley.

"You were supposed to be here last night," she said as she searched around the lounge for her bag.

"Yeah, well, things popped up, my friend."

"I bet," Bella replied as she snatched up her bag. "When did I come out here?"

"I'm not sure. Woke up and found you out here."

Bella's eyes quickly shot up and zeroed in on Edward. Even in the morning, just fresh from rolling out of bed, the man was beautiful. She'd convinced herself last night that leaving would be for the best because every time she just so happened to catch a glimpse of Edward, invisible lines were being drawn and if she stayed any longer, she was afraid that one of those lines just might be crossed. Regardless of Riley and the relationship she'd had with him, Bella was aware that there was some sort of mutual attraction between she and Edward and even silently admitting that to herself made her sick at her stomach. She had come to Safe Harbor for one reason and one reason only; she was there to say goodbye to Riley.

Pulling out of her thoughts, Bella got to her feet and slung her bag over her shoulder. She needed to get back to the city and take a moment to breathe.

"I'm ready when you are."

Bella didn't wait for Rose to reply as she weaved her way through the house and to the front door but as soon as she reached for the handle, the door flew open.

"Well, hey there!"

Sharp objects, every last one she could think of, sprinted through Bella's mind when she found herself toe-to-toe with Officer McCarty. One, he was supposed to be the law around here, helping people and saving them from themselves and others which he failed to do during their first run-in. Two, knowing who Edward was and not sharing that little bit of information with her, he was sending the lamb into the lion's den when he let her traipse off into the clutches of his cousin, knowing damn well that Edward was the McAsshole she referred to her first day in town.

"Don't hey there me," she replied with a bit of a sneer. "Some officer you are. You couldn't have told me from the get go that you knew Edward? Or at least given me a heads up?"

"Hey, hey, hey," he smiled, holding his hands up in there air. "To be fair, I didn't lie to you about my cousin, I just didn't tell you that I knew who he was. And from the looks of things, he didn't rip your head off. You look intact to me."

"Laugh it up, buddy. I'm guessing that such a small time cop as yourself needs some kind of comic relief to make up for the scarce law breaking in this Podunk town of yours. I have a right mind to write a serious, lengthy letter to your mayor letting him know that you are not part of Safe Harbor's finest. What do you think about that, Officer Mc-I-Don't-Know-How-To-Do-My-Job?"

"They mayor, huh?" A toothy grin spread across Officer McCarty's face before he said, "Well, be sure to tell my dad hello for me."

Great. That's just great.

"Alright, let's go…"

As soon as Rose appeared it felt as though all the air had left the room, and Bella immediately knew that they weren't going anywhere any time soon.

"Well, well, well. The thought of being put in handcuffs never looked so damn good."

Damn.

Until Next Time...

OzellaMarie