I'm sorry if I missed replying to a review. I read and cherish every single one. Thank you for taking the time to read this story and let me know what you liked or didn't. Please know that every favorite, follow, and review makes me smile and want to keep writing. Thank you
There aren't enough thank yous in the world for my prereaders and betas. RTP4ME, MoFlo, Ashley, Kelley, Lovelybrutal, Lellabeth - I never could have finished this without you. I'm forever grateful for your love, support, and time.
Lellabeth beta'd this for me. She writes amazing Avenger fic over on Ao3, if that is your thing.
I don't own Twilight. All mistakes are mine.
BPOV
"I'm telling you, Bella; if you had at least new customers make a down payment to cover materials, you would be able to work on more than one project at once and solve all of your cash flow issues." Alice takes a sip of her water as she rubs her perfectly round belly and goes right back into accountant mode. "Your invoices need to be streamlined and you should be paying all your bills online. Sweetheart, I can easily save you and Rosalie hours a week."
"Seriously? Do I need to hire you in some official way through your company or something?" I should have listened to Edward and talked to Alice about the shop months ago. Instead I've been bitching to him and stressing us both out.
Alice smiles and pats my hand. "You are family, silly. I'll be taking my payment in free babysitting and car tune-ups."
"That I can handle." We both laugh but I can't take advantage of her. "Honestly though, I'd feel better paying you for your time."
She nods and purses her lips together. "I understand and appreciate that. Can I ask you a personal favor though?"
"Sure." I take a drink of my pop and chew on an ice cube so I hopefully don't look too nervous.
"Would you be willing to help me at the baby shower?" I stop chewing and have to grab the ice as it falls out of my mouth.
"What?"
"See, my mom and Esme will be all distracted and oohing and ahhing over everything but not paying very close attention. I need someone to write down who each gift is from so I can send out thank you cards. I've been looking over your files all night and know for certain you're the woman for the job."
I stare at her and realize she has put a lot of thought into this, where as most women probably just hand someone a pen. This is how she operates. Every little detail matters to her.
"I'd be honored, Alice. Truly." We talk some more about plans for the gender-neutral nursery and what she has left to do before the baby arrives.
"You ladies about ready to call it a night?" Edward asks as he and Jasper finally come in from the back yard where they had been looking into the best location for a hot tub. He's convinced we need one even though I think we should wait. Who puts in a hot tub in the winter?
"Yes! Put me to bed before my feet swell any further into footballs." Jasper kisses her cheek and lays his hand against her tummy.
"You heard the lady. Night, you two." He winks and we say our goodbyes.
Warm, strong arms wrap around my waist from behind and I rest my head on Edward's chest. He teasingly sings,"I was right," and kisses my neck.
"Yeah, you were." I wrap my arms around his and pull him to me more tightly. "Sorry I didn't listen to you sooner."
"It's okay. You can make it up to me right now 'cause the hot tub is going in this weekend!" He lets go of me so fast I have to catch my balance.
Rolling my eyes, I follow him outside while listening to him ramble on about the best spot for optimum sunlight to increase the temperature and chemical treatments. How they figured this out in the dark is beyond me but I let it go and tell him I'm getting a shower. He pays me no attention until my sweatshirt lands at his feet.
"Join me?" He nods and follows, adding his clothes to mine as we leave a trail to the bathroom.
.
.
.
"Oh, Bella. This is too much. You really shouldn't have." Alice holds the custom-made mechanic's uniform up. Not everyone understands its significance, but she, Rose, and Esme are in tears. The pocket says I&R Auto as well it being written on the back. Once it's out of the box she sees the little onesies and t-shirts underneath. The familiar green color stands out to me, so I know it does to her.
"You didn't!"
"I sure did. There is one in every size up to youth small. I figured boy or girl, they need to match the rest of us."
Esme stands up to hug me and takes a shirt around to show each table. Maybe I should have given her this when we were alone? I sure as hell wasn't trying to steal anyone's thunder but I figured the family would appreciate it.
Alice is still wiping tears away as I shove a basket in her lap. "This is for you from my mom. She swears you'll never get a stretch mark if you use her lotion."
Alice looks through the basket and the matching robe and slippers for her and the baby. "Come here." She waves me over to her. "Closer. I need to hug you ." I laugh and hug her as ordered.
Hugging I don't mind, but doing it in the sweater-wrap-dress-thing and heels I'm wearing is hard. The last thing I need to do is flash Edward's grandmother. I've been overhearing her very loudly telling Esme how nice and full my hips are - perfect for childbearing, and she keeps winking at me like I'm next. I should throw Rose under the bus. She's been awfully quiet today though and not at all herself. Emmett and her did just get married last month and I'm sure have lots of lost time to make up but she isn't being nearly the kiss-ass I expected.
Rose, in her love of all things lingerie, took Alice maternity and nursing bra shopping in lieu of a shower gift. The two of them had a great day and I was thrilled to be left out of the plans. It's been great as her best friend to see her fall in love and become part of Emmett's family. She's come so far from the hardass girl I knew in school. It's such a strange feeling to be the only one who doesn't have the name Masen. I already feel so much like one of the family but still on the outside somehow, not yet a full fledged member. I blow Edward off when he brings up getting married now. I want him to be honest with his parents first. They expect grandkids and I don't want to be hounded my entire life to have kids and he shouldn't have to be either.
Alice finishes opening all of her gifts and I text Edward so the guys can come load up the truck with all the baby gear she and Jasper received. I'm busy organizing the bags to be manageable when his hand slips around my waist. I turn to face him and he kisses my temple. "You look amazing."
"So do you. You know what that sweater does to me." I bite my lip as I lay my hand on his chest.
"I'm all for more grandbabies but wait until you get home, you two." Esme pats our shoulders and goes back to fussing over Alice.
"Seriously?" I step back as Edward laughs at her. After the third aunt asked when our shower would be, I took off my heels and started carrying gifts myself to avoid any more questions. I said my goodbyes, waved to Edward, and got in my truck.
"What's the rush?" he yells as I shut my door.
He has no idea why I'm upset, which of course only upsets me more. I shake my head and will my tears to stay at bay.
He rounds my cab and jumps in next to me, all smiles. "I was planning on leaving with you, Bella. Are you okay?"
I pull out of the parking lot and shake my head. He tries to wrap his arm around me but I flinch and push him off.
"What the fuck?"
"Are you ever going to talk to your mom?" He starts to shake his head like I'm the irrational crazy bitch girlfriend. "Are you ever going to tell anyone in your life something they don't want to hear? Why won't you stand up for yourself, Edward? Why?"
"Stand up for myself? Really?" His voice has that sarcastic asshole tone that makes me just want to kick him in the balls. "Says the woman who is pissed off that I won't do as she tells me."
"If that's what you think of me, we have bigger problems than I thought." Neither of us say another word the rest of the drive home. I pull into the driveway and wait for him to get out of my truck.
"Are you coming in so we can talk?" he snaps.
"Not yet." I look at him through tear-filled eyes and see nothing but rage. I pull out of the driveway after he slams my door and realize I have nowhere to go. That's the problem with living with your boyfriend, when you fight, you're fucked. I don't want my parents to think less of him, so I can't go there. Rose's and Alice's are off the table. I can't go to work in a damn dress. I finally pull into Cullen's and take a seat at the bar. I ate enough for one day and have absolutely nowhere to go so I might as well have a drink.
"What'll it be?" A very bored older man asks me. Which is good, he won't ask any questions.
"Corona and a shot of whatever bottle you grab first." I lay my charge card on the bar and turn my phone to silent.
Two shots and three beers later, I'm assaulted with the smell of cheap aftershave. Looking next to me, I see none other than bodybuilder-no-dick-Jake. Fuck.
"Hi there. I'd remember you anywhere. That ass should have its own zip code." He lifts his eyebrow like I should be throwing myself at him, not throwing my lunch up on him.
"Ya tryin' to say I have a fat ass, there Romeo? Does that usually work for you?"
The hamster is spinning in that empty head of his, I swear. He stares with blank confused eyes before letting out a deep "Ha Ha".
He doesn't get it at all. "Yeah, so you wanna, like, come out to my car?"
"No! Fuck off." I move down a bar stool without looking first and slam into someone. Someone who smells like home. I look up at Edward as he moves around me and grabs Jake by the shirt.
"Do you see her? Look real close. She's mine, asshole. All fucking mine." Before I can get to my feet he swings and knocks Jake out cold. He hits the bar floor with a thud. The bartender tends to Jake and yells for help to get him outside. And my love, bloody knuckles and all, pulls me to himself and hugs me tight.
"Are you okay? Did he touch you?"
"I'm okay. You hit him before he could." I grab some napkins and the ice out of Jake's abandoned drink to wrap Edward's knuckles."What are you doing here?"
"I've been looking for you. You need me to stop trying to make everyone else happy, right?" I nod and he continues. "Well, I'm starting right now with you. Bella, you don't get to walk out on me, on us. You want a break? Tough shit. Talk to me or at least stay home or let me know where you are."
I try to speak and tell him I'm not his captive. What the hell?
"Shut up and listen to me for once! I love you with every little piece of myself. I know you want what's best for me, you, my family, and you're right. I need to talk to my mom. Today wasn't the right time or place though."
Dammit, he has a point.
"Let me go over one day and talk to her. Alright? I promise it'll be the next rainy day. She has to stop this. It really is none of her business and I get that I have to put an end to it. I should have months ago."
I start to cry again and he hands me a napkin. His hand lingers in mine and he seems to waver before deciding to not let go. "I'm sorry. It was too much. I should have talked to you about it after we got home and I calmed down. But being bombarded and knowing what a disappointment I'll be to them..."
"Stop. You could never be less than the blessing you are to me and my family."
He kisses my forehead and I sigh.
"Thank you for saving me from that pig. That was one hell of a right hook."
"I know. My knuckles may never be the same. Asshole had an iron jaw. Hopefully he got my message." He rubs his hand and looks at me, waiting for my big mouth to comment on what he said.
"So I'm yours, huh?" I try not to smile but I'm too tipsy to stop myself. His arms wrap around my waist holding me close to him.
"Yeah. You're mine. I don't give a fuck if your dad tells me no and my mom gives me shit. I just want us and I'm not waiting for you to tell me when it's the right time anymore." I run my hand through his messy hair and search his eyes. His beard prickles my fingers as I hold his face in my hands and kiss him as hard as I can.
"I'm glad we're finally on the same page. I've wanted to be yours for a long time."
"Oh but Beautiful, you have been. You've been mine as I've been yours since that very first night I saw you here." He leans down to kiss me as his hands move along my sides, but I pull back.
"Hold up. My dad said no? No to what?" The look of oh-shit-I-should-never-have-said-that meets mine of suspicion. Did he really ask Charlie for permission to marry me?
"Um, well. I uh...went to see him a while ago."
"Really?" He nods and fingers the belt on my dress while looking guilty as hell.
"And he told you no to what I think he told you no to?"
Edward steps back and covers his face with both hands and lets out a growl that sounds so frustrated, it hurts me to watch.
He places his hand on my back and walks me over to a table where he sits next to me and holds one of my hands while pulling his hair with the other. He's going to be bald if he keeps this up much longer.
"I wanted to be respectful, even though we live together, and ask Charlie for your hand. It was when we went fishing on that nice day in the fall."
"That was months ago, Edward."
He lifts his eyebrow at me and I giggle. "I know. Anyway, I ask him and he tells me no. He says that if I feel the need to ask him for permission I clearly don't know you at all. Not only do I not have his permission but I don't have his blessing, and I should rethink our relationship." I balk and he continues. "After that he patted me on the shoulder and acted like nothing happened. It threw me to say the least and between you not wanting to talk about it and him..."
He looks down at the table and takes a deep breath before looking at me again with tears in his eyes. "I wasn't sure what to think or how to grow a set and talk to you about it. I mean, how the hell am I supposed to tell you I want to propose and your dad told me no and made me doubt everything I know about us."
"Just like that, hon." I hold his hands in mine and try to explain. "I know he only meant that you needed to ask me, not him. He can't speak on my behalf." Edward looks down again and I dip my head to see him better.
"But I think it's sweet and would have been surprised if you didn't. You're so respectful of family and want to do things the proper way; I adore that about you." He gives me a weak smile so I go on. "I think my dad could see that you were more worried about offending him than me, he knew you had it backwards and needed time to work through it.".
"Fuck. Do you know how long I debated if I should ask him? I wanted to propose the night we met. I would have married you then. I knew you were it for me, but I was too afraid of scaring you off."
"Will you please listen to me?" I grab his face and stare in his eyes. "You're stuck with can't scare me off!" I lower my voice and close my eyes. "I would have said yes."
"You would have run for your beast of a truck and left so fast I'd have only see the dust." He smirks and I know he's right.
"Maybe. But I would have regretted it every single minute since." I lean into his side and kiss him. We kiss until my lips are swollen red from his beard and we're both breathing heavily.
Snuggling into his arms feels so right . So safe and secure. I kiss his chest and and wrap my arms around his waist but don't lean in. "Edward Anthony Masen. Would you do me the honor of making me your wife? Of letting the world know we belong to each other ? Of making me Mrs. Masen?"
He starts to cry and says yes over and over. Cradling my jaw with one hand as he kisses me, he digs into his pocket with his other. He pulls out a velvet bag and then an antique dainty ring. There isn't a diamond like most engagement rings. It's all intricately carved with tiny inset diamonds lining the surface. It's exactly what I would have chosen for myself but never even thought to look for.
He takes my shaking hand and slides it on my finger where it will stay forever. It fits perfectly and I look at him in wonder. "It's titanium. So it's light and you can wear it to work and not worry about it crushing you finger or anything."
I can't take my eyes off it. It's so perfectly simple and gorgeous. "How?" I ask.
"You sleep pretty heavy. A string around your finger was all it took." He tilts my chin up and we smile big full-of-love smiles and wipe each other's tears.
"Take me home." I say and kiss him again.
Thank you so much for reading! Only an epilogue left that I hope to have ready soon.
Love,
J
I haven't been reading a lot lately but here's a couple rec's :
Plowed by Geekchic12 - now complete
A Case of You by Sparrow Notes 24
If you read "real" books (lol) Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is an eye-opening, life-changing experience. Give it a shot.