Finally school was over for the summer, and I was really looking forward to the coming weeks. Bella and I were planning on redecorating the living room, this wasn't something I had any experience with but it felt homey, domestic, plus it was kind of funny to see Bella's face when I said I wanted to paint the room puce.
Living with Bella was the best thing that had happened to me so far in my life, for the first time I felt I was actually sharing my life with someone in everyway. I was secretly wondering when we would have out first fight because although sometimes Bella would scrunch her nose at me, usually when she caught me picking up her clothes, life was pretty much idyllic.
My cast had been removed a couple of weeks ago and Bella's wrist was fine again, so I found myself stood in our house opening tins of paint and awaiting Bella's instructions.
Bella was busy stirring the paint while I was busy watching her ass as she bent over. 'You like this colour right?'
'Huh?' My mind was too busy thinking about how much I would like to press myself against her to fully comprehend the question.
'The colour – you like it right?' Bella stood up straight and was looking at me over her shoulder.
'I love the colour, it's cheery and it reminds me of your eyes.' Bella's brow crinkled and she frowned at me.
'My eyes are brown, Edward.'
'I know but there have these little flecks of gold around the iris.' Bella's eyes lighten and she smiled at me. Does she really think I don't know every nuance, every freckle, and every little detail about her? Because I do, I have them memorised, indelibly printed on my brain.
Bella hands me a roller and my own tray before carefully pouring a small amount of paint out for me, she raises her eyebrows and then turns to carefully apply the first coat of bright mellow gold to the wall.
I've never done this before and I gingerly press my own roller to the wall before rolling it across the wall, mimicking Bella's movements. Soon I begin to get into the rhythm and I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment I feel when we stand back to admire our work.
'Looks good,' Bella says, a wide smile curving her lips. Tiny flecks of yellow are splattered all across her face; she's looks so young and carefree and just goddamned beautiful.
Her grin becomes mischievous and she turns to look at me, 'Edward you are covered in paint.' Bella's words may have seemed innocent but her expression and the way her hands had started roaming down my chest and are now tugging on my belt, are anything but.
'Ness is not coming home until later, she's attending another 'thank god school has ended for the summer' party.' Bella's teeth nip my earlobe and it's not as if I even want to protest so we rush upstairs giggling and shredding our clothes.
Bella makes sure I get clean, very clean, I'm pretty sure there isn't a bit of me that hasn't received her undivided attention by the time we climb out.
We make dinner together, laughing and kissing at regular intervals. When Seth and Ness arrive back they oooo and ah over our decorating skills, although Ness can't help but say 'you missed a bit,' smirking at Seth and trying to keep a straight face.
While laying in bed that night I run over in my mind the thought that has been nagging at me since we saw Emmett at the diner nearly a month ago. His joke about wedding bells struck a cord with me and somehow I couldn't get the idea out of mind.
Part of me thought it was too soon, we had barely been together six months, but I also knew that nothing would ever seem right if Bella wasn't there, so really what was I waiting for?
Tomorrow I would be meeting my father for lunch; I don't know if he knew what was on my mind but he seemed to understand that I wanted to see him alone.
'What's on your mind son?' We were sat in a small restaurant in Port Angeles and I was shredding my napkin in my hands wondering if I should just blurt everything out.
'I love Bella and I know I'll never love anyone else the way I love her, but is it too soon to ask her to merry me? I guess there's no rush but I really don't see the need to wait.' Blurting won the day and my father sat back looking at me with an amused expression on his face.
'Okay,' he drew the word out slowly. 'It seems you've pretty much made up your mind Edward, I really don't see what you need me for.'
'That's just it I want your opinion. Is it too soon? Do I risk ruining everything if I ask Bella to marry me now? Dad I don't want to screw things up and let's face it I don't have the best track record in the world where not screwing things up is concerned.'
My father steeples his fingers under his chin and looks thoughtful for a moment.
'You love Bella and I'm pretty certain she loves you too, you don't think you'll ever find anyone who matching up to her. Have I got it right so far?' I nod at my father and he leans forward, placing his hand on my shoulder. 'When any man makes this decision it's always the same, that fear of rejection we face, but you've already answered the most important question so really everything else is moot.'
Looking up at my father I tilt my head and frown, 'what question is that?'
'You know that no one else will ever compare to Bella, and although to some people it might seem that things have progressed quickly, the chances are if you feel ready she will too. I remember how nervous I was proposing to your mother, she was feisty and always so self-assured that I couldn't comprehend her wanting someone as quiet and shy as I was. But she did, I think my knees almost gave out when she said yes I was so relieved. You know we hadn't been together for much longer than you and Bella had when I asked you mother to marry me? I guess us Cullen men fall hard and fast.'
'Yeah I guess we do.' I smiled at my father and he returned it, the same lopsided grin crossing his face. 'I had a feeling when you sad you wanted to meet up alone so I brought this.' Reaching into his pocket my dad withdrew a small black, velvet box. 'This was Esme's mother's engagement ring, when she left it to her we always said it would be yours when the time came.' My father passed me the box and opening it I looked at the simple old gold band with the sparkling solitaire diamond in the centre, it was simple and perfect, exactly like my Bella.
'Of course you may want to pick your own ring..'
'No. Looking up interrupting him, 'I think this is perfect.'
My father stood to leave and he gave me a hug as we parted in the doorway. 'Everything will be fine Edward, and don't screw this up.' I rolled my eyes while he laughed, always with the helpful advice.
Climbing in my car I went through different scenarios and which would be the best way to ask Bella to marry me. I always cringed when people asked someone to marry them in front of a lot of people, it always made me wonder if they only said yes because it was impossible not to. So a public proposal was out of the question. I guess the best way would be a romantic meal; dancing and when Bella was all pliant and happy pop the question.
Oh god my stomach roiled with nerves and that was when I was only thinking about proposing. I hoped to god I didn't puke before I could ask Bella to marry me.
I was so going to screw this up.
When I arrived home Bella had just got back from work, she smiled and jogged over to me to plant a loving kiss on my lips.
'Hey handsome. Nice lunch with Carlisle?'
'Very nice. How about we just order something in tonight you look beat.' I stroke my hand over her face, Bella did look a little tired and I know she will have been on her feet all day.
'Sounds good to me.'
Ness is sat at the dining room table, she has a stack of college applications laid out in front of her, busy perusing each one in detail.
'You know I just don't know what you'll do without me when I leave for college,' she grins but I look at Bella and see her swallow. This is such a huge thing for her, her child leaving home, being on her own in the world. I wrap my arm around her in a comforting gesture and she squeezes my hand.
'I don't either, but I have one or two ideas. In fact I have plans to turn your bedroom into my hot tub room.'
'Hey I'll be coming back you know,' Ness protests indignantly. I know Bella's words are light because she doesn't want her daughter to know just how hard it will be to see her go.
'You say that now but once you go off to college your poor old mom will be forgotten.' Ness laughs and wrinkles her nose, making her look incredibly like her mom in that moment.
'Don't pretend that the moment I'm out of her you won't be indulging in some of your injury inducing sexathons.' I feel my ears begin to burn and Bella looks equally mortified much to Ness's delight.
'Jesus!' Bella mutters, 'Ness please.'
'Sorry, I'll pretend I'm ignorant of the sex from now on.' That girl delights in her ability to bring mortification on people; unfortunately Bella and I are easy targets.
Dinner is fun, Ness tells a ridiculous joke about where one legged waitresses work – I Hop in case you were wondering, and I find the smile never leaves my face.
As I shower that evening I know the longer I think about this proposal and the longer I put it off the more I will worry and work myself up into a state. I need to do this soon, hopefully before I expire from nerves.
When I enter our bedroom I find Bella sat on the bed, she looks a little dazed and I immediately wonder what could have happened to her.
'Bella?' She doesn't response to my calling her name, so I approach her to find her clutching something in her hands.
My heart lurches as I recognise the ring box, I look over to my jacket on the chair then back towards where Bella is holding her engagement ring.
'Bella?'
She looks up at me with wide eyes and I start to panic a little.
Bella looks between me and the box held delicately in her hand. 'Is this..?' she doesn't finish the sentence and I would give anything at this moment to know what she is thinking because I really can't tell anything from her body language.
'I picked up your jacket, it had fallen on the floor and this dropped out,' Bella sounds a little detached and my heart sinks to my toes. This obviously isn't want she wants.
'I'm sorry Bella; I understand it's too soon. I'm sorry, I was stupid I should have known you wouldn't even consider marrying me yet.' My hands tremble at my sides, I feel like the perfect world I have been living in is coming crashing down around my ears and I have no way to stop it.
Bella remains quiet and I sink to my knees trying to see her face. 'Bella, please,' I beg.
'Jesus Christ I always ruin everything, it's me that should be sorry Edward not you. You get me this beautiful ring and I spoil it.'
'Spoil it?' I'm really confused now.
'Yes.' She looks up at me, her lips trembling. 'I've ruined your proposal, I've deprived you of the chance to do things how you wanted to do them.'
'Actually Bella I couldn't be more grateful. I've been fretting so much about how to do this.' Bella looks me in the eye and I can see she still doesn't quite believe my words.
'It's true, you're a scary woman to propose to,' Bella cracks a smile now and my fingers find her soft cheek. 'But seeing as I'm on my knees now I may as well go ahead and do this.' I hear Bella catch her breath a little and her hand shakes a little in mine.
'Bella Swan, I love everything about you, your smart mouth, your beautiful heart, but most of all how you've changed my life, made me so incredibly happy that I never want to be without you.' There's a soft sob from her mouth and her teeth dig into her bottom lip as I continue. 'We haven't known each other long but I know there will never be anyone else for me – so will you marry me?'
The second it takes for Bella to inhale and give me her answer feels like forever. I'm holding my breath; my whole future rests on the words that will come out of her mouth.
'G.. Ugh.. Ack.' What comes out of Bella's mouth is unintelligible gobbledygook.
I scrunch my face up and say 'what?'
Bella breathing becomes more hyperventilating and I'm starting to worry about her.
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' she gasps. 'It's just I can't believe you want to marry me. It's like unfricking believable.'
'Why?'
'Because you are this incredibly sexy, beautiful man and I'm this single mom with a 17 year old daughter. I feel like I've just fallen into a fairytale, things like this just don't happen to me.'
'Well this is happening to you and you still haven't answered my question,' I remind her gently, running my fingers along her neck and collarbone.
'My answer is yes Edward. Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes again.' She laughingly throws her arms around my neck and I stand up with Bella dangling from my body.
'Thank god for that.' I whirl Bella around in my arms; we both collapse dizzy and euphoric on the bed, smiles still curving our lips.
'I'm sorry I ruined your proposal,' Bella says again and I shake my head to stop her.
'I told you I should be thanking you, after all you saved me having to shell out for a romantic dinner and dancing.' I dodge the slap she aims at my arm with a grin. My heart feels full and so light inside me that I could float.
'Seriously you have made me the happiest man in the world.' Bella doesn't look mad any longer; instead her face turns soft and vulnerable.
'Not as happy as you have made me,' she whispers.
'Believe me Bella no one is as happy as me right now.'
'I bet I can make you happier,' a sly smile covers her face and my mind turns to mush
There was no point denying it – Bella is the woman of my dreams.