EPOV
"So the harpy will be here tonight?" Emmett asked expelling the smoke from his cigarette.
"Man, you need to quit calling her that," I sighed looking up, blowing a few smoke rings.
"Dude she's formal every time I've seen her."
"That's Bella, she's socially awkward," I shrugged. It wasn't true, but he didn't need to know that.
We were standing out in front of McCarty's Sports Bar. Emmett's parents owned the restaurant chain all over Washington. Every Black Friday since college, all of our friends would get together for dinner. We considered this our Thanksgiving, thankful for the endless supply of sports and beer McCarty's gave us.
"Your baby is going to come out wearing a suit and tie," he snorted.
"And I'm going to kick your ass," I said inhaling more sweet nicotine before Bella arrived with Alice and Jasper. "You better cut this shit out before Bella gets here. I don't understand you, Em. You helped us with the interview, but then you talk your shit."
"I'm not shit talking," he frowned stubbing his cigarette out. "I did the interview for you and the kid."
"You know what? We're done talking about this Em. That's Jazz parking the car so Bella is here, don't be an asshole."
He stuck his hands up in defeat. I turned my attention to Jasper. He helped Alice out first and then Bella. As they walked toward us, Bella kept fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater looking down. She was waddling beside Alice who was happily chirping about something.
Once she was within arms reach, I grabbed her hand. She smiled shyly at me and I caught Emmett rolling his eyes.
"Hi Edward," Alice grinned.
"You're smaller than Isabella," Emmett belted out.
It was true Alice and Bella were probably the shortest woman we had ever met, but he didn't need to be obnoxious about it.
"Fuck you, Shrek," Alice said simply causing Jasper and me to laugh.
"Alice," Bella hissed.
"No, I deserved that," Emmett grinned then introduced himself.
As we made our way to the table, I snuck my hand around to rest on the side of Bella's belly.
"Has he been kicking a lot today?" I asked noticing Xander's little kicks against my palm.
"No, only since Alice picked me up."
We were heading towards the home stretch. Bella was due the second week of January the doctor said she wanted to do a c-section because of the placenta previa. Bella wanted to know the technicalities, me not so much I was fine with being in the same room and taking post by her head. I pretty much didn't want to see anything below the boobs.
"That feels like his actual foot," I said and kind of grabbed at it.
"It is, he's been making imprints," she laughed quietly.
As we approached the table, I noticed Alice and Rose sizing each other up. The other occupants were in friendly conversation with each other. Emmett slid into the huge round booth taking his place by Rosalie. Garrett moved over to let Alice and Jasper in. The others at the table were Sam and his wife Emily and my ex-girlfriend from high school Tanya. After Maggie left, she became my fuck buddy for the first year, when she finally realized I wasn't going to be serious with her we went back to being friends and I became a monk.
"So this is the famous Isabella," Tanya cooed and I glared.
"Hello?" Bella greeted unsure.
"Do you have a shrine for Edward's ginormus cock?" she asked sweetly earning a laugh from the majority of the table.
"Christ, Tanya," I spat running my hand through my hair.
"Yeah I don't need that visual about my cousin," Rose cringed.
"I…I…" Bella sputtered her face turning crimson.
"Hey SweetTart, ignore her, she's a bitch," I murmured kissing the side of her head. "Tan, how bout keeping that flapping mouth of yours shut."
"You have no problem doing that," Tanya winked tapping her tongue against the inside of her cheek.
"Leave the old man alone, you're making a horrible first impression Tawnie," Garrett smiled lazily tugging on her hair.
"Sorry Tony just trying to have some fun with you," she smirked.
Usually I didn't mind bantering with Tanya, but Bella wasn't used to all of us and our inappropriateness. I glanced down to see Jasper and Sam engaged in conversation and Alice eliciting a booming laugh from Em.
I felt Bella fidgeting under my arm. I decided to ignore the rest of my friends and focus on her.
"What did you do today?"
"Me?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"I watched a few games with Charlie we had leftovers from yesterday," she whispered rubbing her belly.
"Is he still kicking?"
"A little, he's on my bladder."
I lifted her hand and begun rubbing where my boy was kicking trying to soothe him so he wasn't taking too much out on Bella.
"Better?" I asked giving her a smile.
She smiled back. "Thank you."
"Sorry I'm late," The Irish accent surrounded me. I looked over to Rose and saw Maggie standing there. Her hair was a little longer than the last time I had seen her, but now she looked like the old Maggie. My Maggie.
"Fuck," I cursed causing Bella's eyes to snap up to mine.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Can I have a cigarette?" Yeah I asked her in front of everyone. If I just up and left for one she would have my balls. "Please?"
"I…" she sighed. "Go."
I watched her for a second as she reached her hand down to the lower side of her belly. He was really kicking tonight and I felt bad that there wasn't much more I could do. She was pissed so the damage was done. I didn't look at the others as I bolted.
I leaned against the side of the building as I lit up and let a huge puff of smoke out. God that felt good.
"Can I have one?" Pixie chirped.
"You smoke?" I asked raising an eyebrow and opening my pack for her.
"Yes, as much as Jasper hates the habit," she giggled.
"Huh," I mused taking another puff.
"I know Iz gives you hell about it."
"I'm assuming Jasper does too."
"But of course," she grinned.
"Bella should have married him then," I suggested with a snort.
"That never would have worked."
"Why?" I asked curiously.
"They're like the same person. Opposites attract," she said arrogantly.
"Is that so?" I ask closing my eyes.
"You of all people should know that, I mean look at Maggie."
Now that caused my eyes to open. I took in the small woman in front of me that I liked regardless of her being Bella's best friend. I felt the same way about her husband; they're good people; different, but good all the same.
"Enlighten me Pix," I said gesturing her to continue with a wave of my hand.
"I only heard a snippet from the crew inside when you bolted, but I can see you loved her at one time. Thought she was the one," she hedged and I nodded to let her know she was right. "She is the kind of girl you saw yourself with."
"Hmm," I said in acknowledgment.
"But Bella came along and proved you wrong," she murmured inhaling and exhaling the smoke. "You love her."
There it was plain and simple. I'd known this for a while now. Maybe it was the bath time we had or the way she bitched me out for shit I did. I acted annoyed, but I kind of loved the fact she called me out.
"Pix, don't go all Tom Cruise couch crazy with declaring that shit."
"Oh Edward you're such a romantic," she said rolling her eyes. "Talk to me."
"I do love her even though she can be a pain in my ass and bossy as hell." And that was the first time I actually admitted that out fucking loud.
"Then the question is what are you going to do about it?" Alice asked dropping her cigarette and grinding it to the ground with her stiletto.
"Alice, have you met her? I say shit like that and she'll waddle as fast as she can in the other direction," I sighed stubbing mine out too. "We've talked about giving it a go once we get settled with the baby."
"I know all about that," she smirked.
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Bella talked to her about me? Was it good or bad?
"What do you do for a living, Pix?"
"Sex therapist," she said with a tinkling laugh.
"You're shitting me," I said slack jawed.
"Don't believe me? Ask Iz," she said lifting a challenging brow. "We better get back and save our girl, Jazz can only be interesting for so long."
I laughed at her joke and followed her back inside. Em, Garrett, Sam, and Emily were sitting at the bar getting their drinks. I looked back at our table seeing Rose and Tanya consoling Maggie? Bella and Jasper looked uncomfortable. Alice was back at the table and I made my way to the others at the bar.
"Why are we over here?"
"Dude you don't want to know," Emmett said shaking his head.
"Trust us on this Edward," Emily piped up from Sam's side.
I felt a hand rest on my lower back. I peeked over my shoulder seeing Bella with a worried look on her face. Alice and Jasper also joined the rest of us at the bar.
"Hi," she murmured.
I lifted my arm for her so she could squeeze in front of my and be part of the group. She didn't want that though because her hand didn't move as she joined me at my side. I let my arm hang loosely around her shoulders.
"Hey," I smiled.
"You smell like smoke," she frowned.
"You smell like strawberries, we can't all be as perfect as you," I teased.
After a few minutes of hearing Emmett talking about his next show and Sam asking me about the new shop, I noticed Bella shifting uncomfortably.
"You need to sit?"
"I don't want to go back over there just yet," she whispered.
Not like I cared why Maggie was crying, but I asked anyway. "What's going on over there?"
"Uh, that woman…Maggie, her husband filed for divorce," Bella said shifting again.
I became a total asshole as soon as the laugh belted out of me. Karma was a funny, funny bitch.
"Man?" Garrett said kind concerned, but amused.
"Edward her husband just left her," Bella hissed not understanding the sweet fucking irony of the situation.
"God," Emmett groaned. "Rosie wants us back at the table."
I quit laughing and gestured for the bartender.
"Can I have a scotch?" he nodded getting my drink.
"You're not driving are you?" Bella asked tightening her grip around my waist.
"Rose is the DD. Tradition is we get shit faced while the ladies stay responsible."
"Are you staying at her apartment?"
"Why?"
"I…well," she paused wringing her hands.
I pried her fingers out of her twisting and lifted her palm to my lips. She let out a small breath. She was nervous about whatever she wanted to say and I didn't like it.
"With Alex kicking a lot… I just didn't want to be alone," she said trailing off.
"You wanna go home with me tonight," I crooned causing her to scowl.
"Edward," she pouted.
I took my drink and her hand leading us back to the table.
"Alice can you drive me and SweetTart back to my house tonight?" I asked sliding into the booth. "You guys can stay in the guestroom."
"Yeah, no problem."
"SweetTart?" Rosalie blurted out giving me a glare nodding toward my ex.
"What? She's sweet and sour," I smirked as I watched Bella turn red.
Maggie wiped at her eyes leaving her gaze down. Bella watched her with curiosity, I was thankful Rose kept her mouth shut. The waitress finally came over to take our order. I could feel the buzz I was getting and it felt good to just relax.
"So only a month and a half to go?" Emily asked with a smile.
"Yes," Bella nodded shyly.
"I bet you're excited."
"We are," I jumped in.
"They're being stubborn and refuse a baby shower," Alice declared.
"That's not me, that's all Bell," I said squeezing her arm.
"Fine, Iz refuses," she corrected.
"I don't want a party for myself," Bella defended.
"She doesn't like the attention," I explained.
She scooted closer to me lightly pinching my side. I looked down at her knowing what I said to Alice was true. I loved this woman. I also knew if I said those words to her, she would claim it was because of Xander. It wasn't though it was because of her. There was just something about her that made her different.
Maggie stood abruptly whispering hushed words with my cousin before she said her goodbyes to Rose and Tanya. Rose frowned at me like I was to blame. I understood that Maggie was still friends with all of these people, but I wasn't going to tiptoe around her with Bella. We were having a good time and we were allowed to.
"We were forced to spend the night in jail," Emmett laughed. "Esme wanted to bail us out, but Masen said we needed to learn a fucking lesson."
"They just left you there?" Bella asked incredulously.
"Yup," I said lazily popping the 'p'.
"It was a lesson until they brought in the prostitutes halfway through the night," Garrett snorted.
"Never a dull moment with these three," Sam boomed.
"How old were you?" Alice giggled.
"Eighteen?" I asked Em and he nodded his head in confirmation.
"I feel like I was sheltered," Jasper quipped.
That's how the rest of the night went. Causal conversation flowed amongst all of us and it felt right.
"We're not carrying you," Alice warned as Jasper and I stumbled to the car.
Bella giggled getting into the passenger side. Alice started up the car and my hands found Bell's shoulders.
"Hello," she said.
"You're tense," I said kneading her muscles.
"I'm being kicked by a very active baby. What do you expect?" she said shrugging under my fingers.
"Mmm," I answered.
Once back at my house, Bella led Alice and Jasper to their room. I stripped off climbing into my bed. I closed my eyes and heard my drawers open and shut.
"You're naked," Bella said carefully.
"Yeah," I said running my hand up her bare thigh. "You're wearing one of my t-shirts."
"At least I have clothes on," she threw back.
"I sleep like this," I shrugged moving closer to her placing my hand on her belly.
"Fine…no funny business," she said.
I nodded my agreement slipping into a peaceful sleep.
A/N: Okay so we kind of get the vibe of Edward and his friends. You can't hate Maggie that's not why she's here. Next chapter we'll meet someone new! My beta is Dolphin62598 she amazing!