I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR IT'S CHARACTERS
RATED M FOR LANGUAGE AND LEMONS
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EPOV
Neil Diamond. The longer I lay here and stare at that goddamn poster, the more I realize that I am jealous of a man with bouffant hair, who wears white polyester slacks and shirts made of fuchsia sequins…Sequins. I bet he never had to deal with a woman denying their feelings for him. Fuck. My membership to pussies anonymous is getting closer to becoming a reality. Is that lip-gloss he's wearing? Did I say that out loud?
Now that I've bonded with my feminine side and confessed my fondness for sequins and lip-gloss, it's time to let my balls drop and become a man again. I cupped my crotch in the palm of my hand just to be sure I still had a set for crying out loud. Not only was I in a garage apartment that looked like the seventies had a binge and purge episode, with beaded curtains on the windows, lave lamps and a tie-dyed velvet comforter on the bed, and a faint smell of hemp lingering just enough to make Shaggy and Scooby proud…What? Aw, come on! You know they were bonging it in the back of the Mystery Machine. Never ending munchies proved that.
Anyway. I had let a woman get the best of me…again. Question is, am I going to screw fuck this up?
Dragging my feet along the white shag carpet…Damn that feels good... I crossed the Love Shack and went into the bathroom. Leaning against the shower wall, I let the hot water stream down my back as I tried to get my thoughts together. Damn. Why did she have to be so stubborn? I'm always up for a good challenge, but this takes the cake. There has to be more to it than a lack of material possessions and shit while she was growing up. I have known some shallow people in my life, and Bella just isn't the type.
I poured the shampoo in the palm of my hand and whispered a thank you that it at least smelled masculine enough for me to go out in public. Closing my eyes, all I can do is picture her face, the tears that she so bravely held back. Why did women always have to cry? That shit gets to me, too. She looked so helpless and damn if she wouldn't open up to me. I never thought I'd have feelings for anyone again after Rebecca, but Bella just…she fucking fascinates me.
I'm a bastard. Why? Because that damn bet with Assper just reared its ugly head. I should have never made it. I never expected to fall this hard for her. But a bet is a bet. Letting out a "damn you , Cullen" sigh, I shut off the water and stepped out. After toweling off and throwing on a very much needed to be replaced Grateful Dead tee and a pair of jeans, I hopped in the car and headed to Jasper's.
Twenty minutes later, I rolled into the driveway at his place. Strolling up into the garage Jasper was chilling back in a chair, feet propped up on the chassis of a bitching vintage Camaro. His acoustic guitar resting on his lap, he beamed me a smile as he strummed the intro to "Stairway to Heaven."
Shaking my head, I leaned back against the right fender and crossed my arms over my chest.
"McFullen, you bastard. You did it, didn't you?"
Damn. For a stoner, he sure is observant.
"Did what?" I shrugged one shoulder and pretended to be clueless.
"Don't bullshit me, you ugly s-o-b. You can't lie worth shit."
"Yeah, I did. And it was good to. Sucks to be you." I gloated a little. Ok…a lot. He stopped his ambush on the guitar strings when I shoved his feet down on my way to the mini-fridge. "Beer ?"
"Yep."
Pulling two cold ones out of the fridge, I gently tossed one over to him. Immediately, he twisted the cap off and took a long sip. He smacked his lips, then angled his face up in my direction.
"Should have know you would have done whatever it took to assure my monk status. And just when I had the balls to hit Alice up for a drink."
I laughed. "That's what you get for challenging me."
"I know. I just thought she was frigid enough to resist the fiery temptation that is Edward Cullen." His disappointed tone complimented the wrinkling of his brow. "Can't you let me at least grab a tit or something? Anything to tide me over?"
Taking a long draw from the beer bottle, I shook my head from side to side. "Hell no. A bet is a bet, Assper. Shit, I figured you would have already tried her out in the backseat of every car you own."
He narrowed his eyes and sent me a warning glance. "Don't talk about her like that. Alice isn't a backseat kinda girl."
What the fuck moment number three. I smirked as I watched him squirm. Never in a million years had I thought he would come to a woman's defense.
"Oh, shit. She's got you by the balls, doesn't she? You got it bad."
He nodded and cast his eyes downward. "Yeah. And by that goofy smile you gave me just a minute ago, I could say the same for you."
I winced. "Me? Never."
"Liar. You got that reverse Edward Cullen glow, which means, you didn't just give her an old fashion, no- strings fuck. And, you would have come and bragged after the first time." I sent him a sideways glance if annoyance. "Don't look at me like that. You're as transparent as cellophane. You got it bad, too, don't deny it."
Sighing, I let my shoulders sag and placed my beer on the roof of the car. He was right. I did have it bad.
"I admit it. She just…I don't know, keeps me on edge I guess. There's something about her man."
A long moment of understood silence passed before Jasper stood in front of me. "So, can we make a compromise or something? Let me talk to Alice and tell her how I feel, tonight. I'll be there for my unplugged gig. I'll let the chips fall where they may, and if we end up horizontal, or not, I'll keep up my end of the bet starting first thing tomorrow."
Poor bastard. He looked so desperate with his big puppy dog eyes and his "daddy please" voice. After thinking about it, I decided to let the house rules of a McFullen-Assper bet slide and grant him his wish.
"Deal. But, you lock Jasper Jr. up and throw away the key for thirty days, asshole, no matter what happens. Starting tomorrow."
He nodded and let out a sigh of relief. A few seconds passed before low laughter filled the garage.
"Look at us, Edward. Who would have thought that we would ever be this pussy-whipped?"
He had a point. And it sucked. Kind of.
Deciding to change the uncomfortable subject, I grabbed my beer, finished it off, then tossed it in the trash.
"I'm staying at James's. You know, The Love Shack?" I gave my hips a slight shimmy and grinned. Jasper shook his head and shuddered.
"The garage apartment? Damn. Is it as bad as people say it is?"
"Nah. Only one poster."
He chuckled. "You should check the second drawer in the bathroom. I believe there is something in it you could use."
The thought of rummaging through anything in that place scared the hell out of me. "What's that?"
Jasper turned and leaned over to tinker with the engine. "Word has it he keeps a penis pump in there. "
I shoved him and laughed, admiring his attempt to diverge the emotional water that was flowing and let it wash under the bridge.
"You got anything pressing to do?" He asked as he glanced over his shoulder.
"Not really. Gotta work later, why?"
"Good. Your ass can hang around here and help me fuck with this carburetor."
"Done."
Several grease filled hours later, we had put the parts back on the engine. Ok…he put the damn thing back together. I may be a good looking and suave son-of-a-bitch, but that doesn't mean I'm mechanically inclined. There's only one hood that I know how to work under …Anyway, he got ready and changed clothes and grabbed all his gear, then followed me back to the apartment. Don' ask me how I endured his heckling about being James's next pimp in training, because I couldn't tell you how I controlled my frequent urges to knock the shit out of him.
We took my car and rode together to the Pocket. I held the door open for him and helped carry in a few things. Jasper went to the stage to set up and I made my way to the bar. I started to fill the napkin dispenser, but stopped when I heard faint voices coming from the back.
"Bella, that's great! Did you say yes?" Rosalie asked. I inched closer to the edge of the hallway that lead to the backroom so I could hear better.
"I haven't said anything yet. It was all so crazy and unexpected. Emmett just came over this morning and asked me to marry him."
What the…? Clenching my fists at my sides, I panicked. Thinking quick, I pulled one of the towels from the drawer and folded it like a blindfold. Storming around the corner, I grabbed Bella by the arm and spun her around.
"Edward, what the hell…" She squawked in protest. Rose just sat there and smiled as she shook her head and gave a low whistle.
"Just hush Bella. Be still, dammitt!" She finally stopped fidgeting and let me tie the towel over her eyes. I glanced at Rose and she raised her eyebrows.
"What the fuck are you looking at it?" I asked her. She shook her head and put her hands up in surrender, then left us alone in the hallway.
I led Bella out the back entrance and fished my keys out of my pocket.
"Damn you! I got a job to do!" I ignored her and opened the car door. Bella huffed a breath when I sat her down in the seat. "Where are you taking me? Answer me!"
"You'll get your answer . Just sit and enjoy the ride."
She sulked like a little girl the entire way to Watchman's Point. The sun was just setting and I wanted to prove something to her. Prove that there was more to life than a fat-walleted jack ass that didn't care about her.
I slowed to a stop and shut off the engine. I smiled as I circled to her side, opened the door and lifted her out by her elbow, then sat her down on the hood of the car.
"What are you doing, god…" She gasped as I took the blindfold off. Her eyes widened, taking in the panoramic view of the different shades of red and orange as they filled the skyline above Forks.
"Take your time, Bella." I leaned closer to hear and brushed my lips across her ear. "This…" I gestured toward the setting sun. "…money can't buy. It's always going to be here. If you marry Emmett, you'll be miserable, and I for one, can't handle that."
She looked away and bit her lip. A few seconds passed before she turned back to me. "It's not your decision to make. Besides, I haven't given him an answer. Why are you doing this?"
I stood in front of her. I could feel my frustration building in my bones. "Why? Because you're going to be making a big mistake if you marry him and I…" I swallowed hard and choked back the lump that had formed in my throat. "I love you, dammitt. I may not be able to give you all the things that money can buy, Bella, but I can sure as hell give you a lot more. I can give you a beautiful sunset, bring you chicken soup when you're sick, be there when you need a shoulder to cry on…"
She held her expression steady as she studied me. I cupped her face with my hands and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. "I'd give you my heart, but you already own it. And you love me, too. I can see it in your eyes. I wish you would tell me what's really going on with you. Don't shut me out."
I leaned in and kissed her. She accepted with ease, but I felt her tremble. Bella broke the kiss and took a breath.
"Jesus, Edward, I don't know what to say. I…I.."
"Just talk to me, babe. Don't deny yourself happiness, not over petty shit, it isn't worth it."
A noticed a familiar hurt in her eyes as she stared at me. I knew there was more to her than what she let me see. She placed her hands over mine and held on to them as she lowered them.
"Fine. Come over after work tonight. I'm just going to warn you, you may not feel the same about me afterward."
I kissed her on the forehead and shook my head. "Give me the benefit of the doubt, huh? There is nothing you could say or do that is going to make me change my mind. "
She gave a faint smile and sighed. We got back into the car and head back to Forks.
My heart felt heavy as I stole quick glances at her on the way back. She had been hurt, and from the lines settling on her forehead, it wasn't pretty bad.
I took a deep breath and stared ahead and accepted the fact that tonight was going to be the longest night of my life.
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A/N; Update as soon as I can.
