Thank you to my beta SimplyDazzling!
"Nuh uh, nope. Sorry, not happening," I protested profusely.
Edward was standing on the driveway, holding out his hands in question, a lazy, amused grin on his face. He happened to be standing next to his freshly imported black, glossy motorcycle. Normally I would have been noticing how attractive he looked in his snug white t-shirt and jeans, but right now I was staring down the death trap. It had just arrived yesterday and Edward had just about peed his pants. And then called Emmett like he was in second grade; they squealed in excitement together.
Well maybe not squealing, but it had been pretty damn close.
"It's perfectly safe, Bella," he assured me, letting his hands fall as he took a step toward me. I just tilted my head forward and raised an eyebrow at the bike, continuing to assess it.
"That's what the makers of the motorcycle want you to think! So you'll buy one." I argued, talking like I would to a stubborn three year old, still not bringing myself to look away.
"If I crash, I give you permission to kick my ass," Edward promised with a crooked grin.
"If you crashed I would not wait for your permission," I promised in return, crossing my arms. Finally I looked up at Edward away from the bike. For some reason he was amused by my resistance to get on the motorcycle.
"Come on, drama queen," Edward rolled his eyes and turned to go over to his baby. He swung onto the leather and looked over at me, my feet planted firmly on the cement. "Before the next ice age please."
"Fine," I grudgingly caved in. Only because I still felt bad for ignoring him on Monday. It was now Wednesday, and this was the last time I would agree to do something out of remorse.
Edward grinned at me and held out the helmet. It was a huge helmet that looked really heavy. And stylish. It was all shiny black with a tinted visor attached to it. I grabbed it from his outstretched hand with two hands. I pushed my hair behind my shoulders and pulled the helmet on over my head.
"Cute," Edward smiled in approval. I rolled my eyes. "It makes you look really tough," he added with a sure nod.
"Don't push it, buddy," I warned him. He chuckled and slid forward in the seat.
Without anything but my life to lose, I swung my leg over the one side and sat down on the seat behind him. There was a reason I didn't like motorcycles. And one of them was the fact that there was nothing but a narrow strip of seat to hang onto. I was a little more willing to give it a shot now that I had a U.S. soldier to hang on to. But I still wasn't thrilled about it.
"You might want to hang on," Edward warned. I couldn't see him as he was turning the monster on, but I heard an undeniable smile in his voice. I rolled my eyes exasperatedly.
The engine roared to life and Edward slowly rolled out of the driveway. I place my hands lightly on each of his sides, just like I would if I was riding on a jet-ski. The explosion of movement caught me by surprise as Edward ripped out onto the street. Without a second thought I wrapped my arms as far around his torso as I could, crushing his back to my chest. I heard his musical laughter through the wind and I wanted to kick him. I would have had I not thought it would kill us both. Jackass.
I had no idea where we were going. I knew it was around lunch time, but that didn't really mean anything to me. It only took a few minutes before Edward was turning out to the highway. I raised two eyebrows even if he couldn't see them. I wasn't expecting how much faster the bike could go. He accelerated when we rolled out onto the highway. My thighs squeezed around him involuntarily due to the unexpected burst of speed. If he said anything about it I would kick him, despite the possible dire consequences.
We weren't on the highway for long – thank God – before Edward turned off to an exit. He continued to slow down as he turned on several different roads as if he knew area like the back of his hand. We seemed to be traveling up a hill. When he finally stopped, it was at the end of the road and I knew where we were. Rosalie and I had hiked up this road a couple years back. You could see a good half of the city from up here, surrounded by the various trees.
There was patchy grass growing in through the dirt. In a certain area, under the protection of a giant maple tree, was a blanket laid on the ground in the grassiest area of the spot. On that blanket was a simple picnic basket that I was pretty convinced came from somewhere in my house.
I stared at the beautiful and romantic setting. Edward had done this for me; even after I had been so rude to him, after he opened up to me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and I felt so cared for by the man I was currently clutching; even after he killed the engine. I removed one arm from him and pulled the bulky helmet off of my head, lightly setting it on the ground. Then I wrapped the arm back around him, hugging him purely because that's what I wanted to do.
"Thank you," I whispered against his t-shirt. He put his hands on my thighs and ran them up and down comfortingly. I shivered at the feeling of our bare skin brushing against one another.
I hugged him for another minute. It was one of those perfect moments. You know, the kind where you see in movies with a violin playing in the background? Or in a Nicholas Sparks novel? It was strange, yet amazing having one of those moments to yourself.
"Hungry?" Edward asked quietly, not daring to break the spell of the moment by raising his voice.
I nodded against his shirt and he chuckled. Regrettably I released my arms from around him and slid off the side of the motorcycle, Edward following suit. I started to walk towards the blanket when Edward snatched my hand and laced his fingers through mine. I smiled shyly at the ground as we walked slowly.
Edward took a seat against the trunk of the tree and I laid down on my stomach across the blanket. I wasn't aware that from the angle I was at, Edward could get quite a good view down my shirt. If I had been I would have noticed the way Edward adverted his eyes from anywhere other than my face.
I watched with growing amusement as Edward pulled out two foil wrapped sandwiches with a logo from the local deli. He pulled out two bottles of Snapple and a plastic container full of various fruit. And a box of Girl Scout cookies! Well I was positive I just fell in love.
"Where did you snag a box of those in June?" I asked curiously, picking the box up to examine it.
"I didn't snag it. It was forced upon me; by a little demon Girl Scout outside of the deli. I'm quite certain I paid much more than expected for it," he reported with irritation. I laughed. Edward looked up and smiled at me.
"I love that sound; your laugh." I blushed while unthinkingly tucking my stray hair behind my ear. I looked down as Edward chuckled softly. He unwrapped the foil of one sub and handed it to me with a grin.
We ate leisurely in light conversation. And while I liked the easy aspect of that, I felt like Edward had a little more on his mind than Alice and Jasper's arrival tomorrow. And I was anxious to do so as well. I wanted to explain to an extent of what my dilemma had been. But I would wait for him to bring it up.
After we had both consumed more than our fair share of food, Edward leaned back against the tree. I had sat up by this point and was watching him curiously.
"Come here," he requested softly, opening up his arms for me. Without hesitation I shuffled over and adjusted my body so that I was leaning against his chest. After I was settled, he wrapped his arms around me lightly and rested them on my stomach. I brought my own hands up and put them on his as my head rested over the spot where his heart was.
"I don't want to assume, but I think you know what I'm asking about," Edward said lightly. There wasn't judgment or accusation in his voice, just a quiet need to understand.
"You mean when I blatantly ignored you?" I guessed, turning my head up to look at him. His lips formed the hint of a smile at my phrasing and he nodded, looking down at me. I settled back against him.
"Yeah. . .sorry about that," I said sheepishly, not knowing how the hell I was going to explain what had been running through my head.
"Don't. I understand. But I would honestly like to know if I did anything to upset you."
"No, it wasn't you. Definitely not you," I assured him certainly. Edward waited as I mulled over what to add to that. Turns out Edward wasn't exactly that patient.
"Was it someone else? Did Emmett say something about me? Because believe me, I have a ton of stories to tell about his ass." I giggled under my breath at his accusation.
"No, Emmett didn't do anything. . .this time. I just panicked, and I didn't exactly deal with it as well as I should have. It's a sad day when it's Rosalie Hale who has to knock sense into you." Now it was Edward who laughed.
"What freaked you out?" I resisted the urge to shiver as his head bent closer to mine and his voice came from closer to my ear.
"You," I sighed. I wiggled my toes due to his proximity.
"No need for flattery," Edward teased sarcastically. I was relieved at how well this was going. I was extremely impressed with Edward's patience.
"I got freaked out about the thought of you being here one day, and gone for another year."
Edward took this in silently. His arms tightened the tiniest bit around me, so small that I doubt he even noticed he was doing it. I resisted the need to see his face, and see how he was taking this.
"Remember when I told you that everything changed when I saw you?" Edward asked, his voice unreadable. "Well I still hold on to that statement. It will be exceedingly difficult for me to get back on a plane to Iraq. But I understand if you don't want this," he gave me a little squeeze, "to happen just yet. I'll do my best to keep my feelings in check better."
I was about to nod – wait. What? I ran over his choice of words, and then mine before. Oh.
I rushed to explain. "No, no, no! I want this. I want to be with you. But I was avoiding you because I wasn't sure what I wanted. I thought about all the reasons we shouldn't be together right now, and I realized how much better for both of us it would be if we didn't do anything until your tour is completed. The cons outweighed the pros by a lot. But I didn't give a shit; I want to throw logic out the freaking window and be with you. Right now," I emphasized. I turned to look up at him after I finished my little rant. I watched his jaw shift back and forth and his eyes stare out over the landscape. He nodded and smiled down at me brilliantly
"Wait. . .what did you mean 'in check better'?" I asked curiously.
"Hasn't it been obvious? I started liking you the minute I heard you speak. It was really fucking hard to try and downplay all the shit I was feeling for you. I mean, when you got Ares for me. . .God, I just wanted to spin you around and kiss you. Instead I believe I said thanks and smiled at you. Nice, huh?"
Well this was news to me! I beamed at him, the hint of teasing in my voice. "The minute I spoke?"
"The very minute," he said with a cocky, crooked grin. I moved so that I was kneeling in between his legs. I leaned forward; surprised by the confidence I had gotten with his compliment. I pressed my lips softly against his first and then pulled back, looking into his eyes.
"Hmm, enticing, who would have guessed?" he breathed against my lips, his own forming back into a grin. Before I could respond to that remark, his lips came crashing against mine. I adjusted myself while our lips moved in sync so that I was kneeling at an angle slightly above him.
My hands found their way up his chest until they were resting on his shoulders. I moved them up farther as my mind surrendered. They rested below his jaw on his neck. This happened while Edward placed his hands firmly on my hips, pulling me closer to him.
That position didn't hold for long. Edward roughly, yet still carefully, guided me down against the blanket, all the while continuing to kiss me. I straightened my legs out as he pressed against my body, covering it with his own. I bit lightly down on his lower lip and ran my tongue over it. A low moan came from his throat and he responded with even more rigorousness.
It didn't last long because soon we were both so out of breath that it wasn't even funny. Edward shifted the portion of his weight that had been resting on me away when he rolled to my side. I opened my mouth and gasped for air like a fish flopping around on a boat. It took longer than it should have, getting my breath back that is.
"I thought you were in shape," I commented with a smirk as soon as I was able to breathe through my nose again.
"I've worked out like twice in the time I've been here. I've been too busy with you. Training is going to kick my ass in a couple weeks." He had gotten his breathing under control, and now he was facing me, propping his head up on his hand. "What about you? Shouldn't you be in better in shape?"
"You just wait until September rolls around; I can run 10 miles without stopping to catch my breath." Well, maybe like one actually. But did a little over-exaggerating ever hurt anyone?
"Oh I'm sure," he agreed sarcastically. I smirked and rolled my eyes.
I laid still there, closing my eyes as I listened to Edward's breathing next to me. "Hey Bella?" I left my eyes closed and smiled.
"Hey what?"
"Remember last week at the cabin? When I sorta snapped at you over the whole umm. . .sex thing?" I nodded, raising an eyebrow at where he was going, "I wasn't mad because you were asking me. I wasn't mad at you about your answer. I was mad at myself for the reaction of your answer."
I thought back for a second, than I looked back over at him, "What do you mean?"
"When you first answered you know, not appli-whatever, I was so fucking relieved. But within seconds I was just pissed at myself for even going down that train of thought. I didn't what to complicate our amazing friendship as it was. I'm sorry I yelled at you." I couldn't lie and say I wasn't relieved at this revelation. I was so glad everything was cleared up now.
"Relieved. . .?" I trailed off and our eyes locked. His were inviting with lust lurking behind that. I leaned down and our lips continued their battle for dominance.
My life was starting to sound dangerously close to a novel.
"Alice liked you a lot I think," Edward commented offhandedly next to me. It was July 3rd and the whole gang was going up to the cabin for the summer celebration.
Emmett and Edward had convinced Alice and Jasper to come up with us and I was pretty excited about that. Seeing how they were twenty minutes away from where we lived, Edward and I drove off to meet them at Jasper's dad's house.
"Yeah, I liked her," I smiled, my mind drifting back to the meeting that took place a half hour ago.
Edward had been driving and someway or another he knew his way to the house. It was a cute house; it was painted light yellow and reminded me of my great grandparent's house. There was a silver truck that looked to be a couple years old sitting in the driveway. A tall blond man was loading a cooler into the bed of the truck with ease when Edward parked the car.
I assumed it was Jasper, and when I glanced over at a grinning Edward I confirmed my own suspicion. I smiled at Edward's happiness and unbuckled my seat belt. Edward was out of his side before my hand was even on the door handle. I rolled my eyes and hopped out into the sunshine.
Jasper was wearing a pair of navy swim trunks and a gray t-shirt from the local high school. He was as ripped as both Edward and Emmett. He was fairly attractive as well. Edward greeted him with a "man hug" while I looked on.
A woman about as short as me exited the front door of the house and stepped into the beating sun, a spring in her step. She had short hair that went just past her ears and flipped up. She had on a white wife beater with a white spaghetti tank top on under that and a pair of short jean shorts.
"Bella!" She called excitedly after she put a hand to her face to block the sun and looked closely at me. I grinned and waved as she came jogging excitedly towards me.
"Hey Alice," I greeted her as she gave me a dainty hug. I was aware of Edward and Jasper now watching us.
"It's so good to finally meet you!" Alice exclaimed and then let out a large breath before smiling brilliantly again.
"You too! I'm so glad you guys can come to the lake!"
"We wouldn't miss it! I mean with Emmett leaving in a few days, this is the only time we can all get together without our uniforms on."
"I think it'll be a good time," I grinned. Edward placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close. I smiled up at him, and even with the other two watching he placed a quick kiss on my lips that lingered even after I was looking back at Alice.
"Bella, I would like you to meet Jasper Whitlock," Edward said after a few moments pause where Jasper took his respective place next to Alice.
"Pleasure to meet you," Jasper grinned lazily, his southern accent drawling out as we shook hands. I shared a secretive smile with Alice; that was one hell of a nice accent enough to make me swoon. . .and probably Esme.
"The pleasure's all mine," I replied, smiling at him instead of Alice. Alice had given me the slight inclination of an eyebrow as if to say, yeah; tell me about it.
That was the thing I loved about being of the all X chromosome. All of us shared a silent language that men didn't take place in. Even if you just met a woman, she could give you a small lip twitch or widening of her eyes that would mean so many things that guys wouldn't ever even notice.
"It's such a beautiful day; I'm ready to dive into a lake. We should probably get going," Edward suggested. I looked up to see the smirk on his face. I wasn't sure what amused him but Jasper looked like he had the hint of a smirk as well. I didn't even have time to raise an eyebrow at his amusement.
"Yeah, we're all ready. Right, Als?" Jasper looked down at Alice and she smiled and nodded. Their height difference was staggering. Edward was about ten inches taller than me. Jasper was about sixteen taller than Alice. "Alright, lead the way!" Jasper gestured to my truck and we nodded.
"Why were you smirking?" I asked curiously after we were in our respective cars. Edward had laughed.
"Jazz has yet to meet a woman who doesn't make that face when they first here him talk."
"What face?" I asked defensively, covering up my immediate embarrassment of being caught.
"The one you made when you realized he had an accent."
I turned so that I was facing the windshield so he wouldn't see my reddening cheeks. "I didn't even realize he had one," I sniffed indignantly. This only made him laugh more.
And that brought us back to the present. We had arrived at the lake shortly after Rose, Emmett, Carlisle and Esme had.
Edward only tried to hit two animals.
"Oh my God, I love this," Alice said appreciatively after she hopped out of the truck. She took in the green trees, standing still as a rock with the sunshine fluttering through them. Then she walked in the direction of the glittering lake and sandy but small beach.
"Yeah, it's not too shabby," I agreed, appreciating it myself. I loved this place so much. And I loved when other people came and fell in love as well.
"Neither are you," Edward said with a smile as he snuck up on me. I jumped, startled as his arms snaked around my waist. I smiled without looking up at him.
Edward and I had become a couple in the past few days. I mean, we hadn't been on like eight dates or anything. But we had spent almost every waking moment together in the past couple of weeks, which was more than a bunch of other, normal couples could say.
So far it was going great.
"Well I'm glad you think so. Remember that while you are sleeping on the bunk beds tonight."
I felt his shoulder sag around me. I laughed and turned in his arms. He loosened his grip so that I had room to rest my arms around his neck. I smirked as he pouted at that piece of information.
"Or you can go ask Carlisle what he thinks about us getting our own bedroom," I said sarcastically.
I watched in horror as the idea fluttered through Edward's mind. He was actually considering it. What the hell, man?
"Maybe I will."
"He has a gun cabinet here too."
Edward's face fell.
"Well maybe if–" Edward started to reason some dumbass idea when Emmett interrupted him as Emmett only can.
"You're going down, bro!" Emmett yelled in a challenging tone as he walked past us, carrying one of our circular inflated tubes over his head.
"Well. There you have it," Rosalie said lightly as she walked after him, opting to roll the identical tube instead of use her upper body strength.
"Isn't it a little early in the day for tubing?" I asked after Emmett had thrown the tube into the water where it was currently floating.
"Oh Bella. Tubing is like drinking. It's never too early," he grinned as he walked back past us.
"Can't argue with that logic," Edward agreed with a smirk. I rolled my eyes.
"Well I guess that means I better put a swimsuit on."
"There won't be any hard feelings when I knock you off of your tube, right?" Edward asked with his cockiness as we broke apart. I shook my head with a smirk and started to walk off.
"I don't know, you tell me." And with that note of my own cockiness, I went in and changed.
Carlisle was as anxious to be out on the water as the rest of us. He was getting the boat ready for some extreme tubing and Esme already had a cooler full of drinks and a stack of towels ready.
"Welcome to Totally-Epic-Battle-of-the-Tubes," Emmett said, buzzing with energy as everyone reported to the dock with swimsuits on. Rosalie was wearing a light blue and white striped bikini and Alice was wearing a simple all teal, but really cute bikini of her own.
"Once you are knocked off or you fall, you're out. No chance for victory. A loser. It makes you a failure. Got that, Bella?" I sighed exasperatedly as Emmett insulted me yet again.
"Should we just get this done right now, Bella?" Emmett smirked and crossed his arms at me. "Then you can just chill in the boat and watch me win."
I was starting to learn that Emmett was a little competitive.
"Nah, I think you and Rose should go first," I crossed my own arms and raised a daring eyebrow at him.
We both looked over at Rose as she spoke with a shrug as she tied her hair into a messy pony tail. "Let's go. Knock me off and you will be sharing Ares' bed." Emmett's confident face fell off his face and he frowned, close to a pout really. We all were smirking at him but it was Edward who actually let out a laugh.
"See that's the difference between us. Bella knows I'll push her off; she accepts it and she's fine with it," Edward laughed delightedly as he swung his arm around my shoulders. Rosalie and Esme stopped smirking and made amused faces at each other as I turned slowly to Edward with a lethal eyebrow raised.
"I was going to be nice and let you think you made it farther than the others but, guess who's going to be the first to go?" I pushed a life jacket into his sculpted chest and grabbed my own.
"The first tube ride either makes or breaks a relationship," Jasper, who had just been standing back commented, chuckling at a confused Edward. Edward gave him a look with narrowed eyes as he put his arms through the vest.
I had to give Edward credit. Seeing as how he hadn't even been on a tube before he was able to hold his own fairly well with Carlisle's insane driving. I tried to flip him off of it several times and he did the same for me. After about ten minutes of neither Edward nor I touching the water, Carlisle stopped the boat.
"Can I go now?" Emmett complained loudly enough so Edward and I could hear. "You two can continue to go at it and try to get each other off later," he added.
Oh Emmett.
Before someone could make a comment about Emmett's dumbass innuendo, I slid out of my life jacket and dove into the cool, refreshing water. Edward was still smirking by the time we were both into the boat.
Unfortunately, and somewhat miraculously, Emmett managed to kick Rosalie's tube out from her, thus knocking her into the water. This happened only after much whooping, hollering and I think some type of battle cry?
Alice decided to take on the overly testosterone running Emmett after a dripping Rose got back into the boat. Alice might have been small, but she was much stronger than she looked. Emmett wasn't even the one who made her fall off; Carlisle drove in a really tight circle and ran through the waves he had made. Alice was too focused on trying to kick Emmett's tube that she wiped out very dramatically.
Edward wanted to put an end to Emmett's rein and decided to take him on. Emmett played dirty and tipped his tube over when Edward was in the vulnerable spot between the wake from the boat and the flat water. I can't say I didn't smirk when this happened.
I beat Jasper after like a half hour before it was down to just me and Emmett. In the back of my mind I knew I was having a great time with everyone and I didn't want it to be over. But all I was thinking about at the time was kicking Emmett's sorry ass all the way to Mexico.
Much to my dismay this did not happen. Carlisle called it quits after about twenty minutes and called it a tie. Rose and Alice who were hanging out in the front of the boat with their hair drying out were very disappointed with this result. And so was I. Even though neither of us fell off, in Emmett's mind he had totally and completely won.
"Get ready for round two, Swan. Tomorrow. Be there." Emmett pointed tauntingly at me as he hung a colorful beach towel around his neck. I rolled my eyes as I hopped off of the boat and wrapped a towel around my body.
I found it almost interesting that Emmett and Jasper had the bodies of Abercrombie models and I wasn't even the least bit attracted to either. Edward, who was also Fitch worthy, was the one I was having trouble keepings my eyes off of. That damn eight pack. . .
It was a good thing that I found Edward the. . .sexy one for lack of a better word. Because he was my boyfriend. I smiled just at the thought as he fell into place next to me walking off the dock.
"Did I tell you I love the swimsuit?" Edward asked with a lazy smile. I rolled my eyes and wrapped my right arm around his side. Instantly his left arm went around my shoulders.
"Thanks for coming," I told him softly after we reached the grass. Involuntarily I snuggled in closer to his chest.
Edward knew I wasn't just talking about the cabin. He pulled me closer to him. "Best fucking decision I've ever made."
"I gotta admit, I thought it was just small and long at first," Alice said conversationally.
"Yeah I know," I agreed, "but it's actually pretty big."
"Exactly! I mean, not going to lie, I didn't think it was much; no offense."
"Oh, none taken. That's exactly what Rose thought, but than she got to look closer at it and she fell in love too."
"Are most that long?" Alice inquired curiously.
"No, not at all. But there is definitely a fair share of them."
"I like it; its classic."
"Oh I love it. It's one of a kind to me. I don't want anything else."
"I wouldn't want any other cabin either," Alice agreed as we continued to paddle our way steadily across the lake. Our paddles were dipping into the water in synchronization and making the canoe glide across the water effortlessly.
We continued to glide across the sparkly sun reflecting lake for a moment or so before I decided I didn't like silence with Alice. She wouldn't be here forever, why spends ages contemplating the significance of a tree when I could be actually talking with her?
"So how do like being here? In the states, I mean."
Alice didn't have to hesitate to answer. "God, I fucking love it," she breathed. I laughed and she turned back to face me with a conspiring grin. Even though I couldn't see her eyes behind her large sunglasses, I had a feeling they were pleased.
"Jasper and I have to hide everything when we're overseas. He's not my rank and dating fellow soldiers is really discouraged, I mean really. Now I can jump him whenever the hell I want to. And I have been."
I rolled my eyes but grinned at Alice's giddiness.
"Please try not to christen the entire cabin," I requested jokingly…okay, I really wasn't joking about that; I slept in those beds.
"I'll try…" Alice promised and even though she laughed and agreed I knew she would actually have to try.
"I'm glad you and Edward finally got together," Alice said after a moment as we stroked through the cattails. We were already a fair distance away from the cabin and I liked being able to talk to Alice, especially about Edward who she knew pretty well.
"Well not. . .together together," I informed her after I smiled. I was glad we did too.
"Really? I couldn't tell. You both have been extreme happy since I saw you this morning. I assumed it was some type of glow." Before I could respond, even though she didn't really ask me anything, she continued on with a second thought. "Oh! Are you one of those people who are always happy? Because I gotta be honest; I don't think that is something I can handle."
I snorted in hilarity. "Always happy? Ha. No. But I've just been appreciating Edward more in the last couple days. . ." I trailed off cryptically.
"Well I mean. . .you're turning 18 in a few days. . .so it won't be illegal after that!" The way she said it, so cheerily, it just confused me. In my mind I heard something along the lines of, Hey! You and Edward can bone really soon, and he won't be charged with rape for it!
"I have brought that into consideration," I admitted. I wanted to share with someone why I was so confused about having sex with Edward. I had no idea what to make of our new relationship and let's be honest, I was befuddled as hell. But I decided Alice would be able to help me, or in the very least let me vent.
And vent did I. I told Alice almost everything about my fears, desires and curiosities. I had no clue how she was responding to anything I was saying because I was in the back steering and all I could see was her back.
After I was done Alice pulled her paddle out of the water and sat it on her lap before turning to face me. I stopped stroking the water and looked at her questioningly.
"I know Edward will be leaving soon, and I know that's going to suck so much. But honestly, I think you should go for it. I spend every day with Edward and I've never seen him like this before. He's all in on this thing with you. And a year will fly by, and then when it's over, you'll have Edward and you'll be glad you took that leap the summer before."
"I can relate to you. I want to be with Jasper so much, all the time. But I can't, not the way I want to." Alice took a breath before continuing in her soft yet wise voice.
"But at night, even after a month between one of our meetings, I'll feel his arms around me, and I'll feel his soft breath tickling my neck, and it seems almost bearable. It makes the reality easier to deal with. And knowing that you're his, and he's yours, it makes it worth it, because you know, you know he'll be reliving the first night, and the look in your eyes, just like you will be. That alone is why I would take a chance and trust Edward; trust him to care and honor you in every way he humanly can."
Alice let her works sink in. After I thought about what she said and ran it over through my head I looked back from the lake up at her. "Is that really what you would do if you were me?"
"I did it with Jasper, didn't I?" Alice smiled at me, smiled knowingly because we were in the same boat. Literally.
I silently chucked. Damn I was funny.
"Everything will work out in the end. It always does. Otherwise, don't hold your breath, because it's not the end," Alice couldn't resist adding.
"How did you become so deep?" I was again jokingly asking but still fairly serious and curious.
Alice, who had raised her sunglasses and rested them on the top of her head, grinned at me. And then she winked, "Listening to Edward talk."
After my enlightening discussion with Alice I was watching Edward more closely. I realized that I was extraordinarily lucky to have a man like him in my life. And well this was new to me, extremely uncharted waters –we're talking like off the map uncharted- I was excited. I was excited to do this with Edward.
Carlisle built his usual campfire for the night, just delighted. Normally he was up here with just Esme and me. But now he had three other guys to share his pyromania with.
I changed into a sweatshirt from a few years ago with the front torn in a triangle and put on jeans as well, my usual campfire attire. It got really cold when the sun went down and the breeze started to pick up.
By the time I was presentable, I slipped outside with a hesitant Ares. I was the last one out apparently and there were only six chairs, because, well we normally only needed three, maybe four, not eight. Carlisle and Esme, well they were great hosts knew when to draw the line and they were seated comfortably in the best lawn chairs. Next to Esme was Rose, and then Emmett and then Alice. Jasper was sitting right by the fire with his head rested on Alice's knees while she ran her hands through his hair.
And finally, right between Alice and Carlisle, was the man who occupied way too many of my thoughts. Edward looked up when he heard the door squeak. His gaze locked with mine as the crooked grin that still managed to take away my breath spread across his face.
I tentatively walked over to the fire until I reached their circle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward sit up straighter in his chair. With everyone's eyes on me with curiosity, I stepped over to Edward and carefully sat down at an angle on Edward's lap.
Edward's arms immediately went around my waist as my head fell next to his against the back of the chair. If I hadn't been so fucking short I would have sat taller than him, but right now, it was working. I felt the heat rise to my face, and even though we were sitting next to a roaring fire, that wasn't the cause.
I didn't need to look around the circle to see everyone's faces, but I did against my better judgment. Rosalie raised an eyebrow but otherwise was as indifferent as only Rose can be. Emmett looked vaguely amused. Alice was smiling knowingly. Jasper was distracted by the sparking fire. Carlisle had a calm mask on his face which I chose not to read into. And Esme looked relatively…joyful? That couldn't be right…no, joyful seemed strangely accurate.
Thankfully Rosalie and Esme hopped right back in their conversation about summer weddings and Emmett and Jasper proceeded to discuss some NBL team with Carlisle while Alice listened to both conversations quietly.
"You're not wearing any makeup," Edward accused lightly into my ear. I gave him a small, yet somewhat self conscious smile.
"I forgot my water proof stuff," I explained, wondering how he felt about me going all natural.
"Good. I like it," Edward smiled making it impossible to not return it. To seal his statement he placed a lingering, tender kiss on the side of my temple.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" Edward asked rhetorically, nuzzling his nose lightly against the side of my face. "If I was the only man in the world and there were three billion women, I'd always name you the most stunning, especially in jeans and a sweatshirt."
"I don't want you to go back Edward," I managed quietly after a minute of silence. "I want you to stay here with me, all summer, right here." I knew I sounded awful, I knew this was a sore subject for him, but this was something Alice couldn't help me with. I needed to know it would be okay when he was gone.
"I know baby, believe me I know. If I could freeze this moment I would. You don't know how much I hate reality." Edward was a tough guy, and when he showed his vulnerability, if only for a brief moment, just to me, well it made me…it made me feel so much more connected with him.
"But-" I started to protest softly but Edward stopped me by placing a soft kiss on my lips and then looking at me, his gaze burning.
"But right now it's just me and you Bella. You and I." Edward said firmly, with utmost conviction. I started to speak up, not entirely sure what I was going to say but knowing I should say something but he interrupted me before I could even start. "And that's all it'll ever be."
Something's in the air tonight
The sky's alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something's about to break
And I found myself in a bitter fight
While I've held your hand through the darkest night
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
Nothing Left to Lose, Matt Kearney
-No, whining and calling Bella a bitch will not usually get you over 7k worth of chapter. It was just a happy coincidence. Do we trust me now that you gotten your fluff? I'm sorry last chapter wasn't what you guys were hoping for. I hope this one is up to your standards(:
-Next chapter is the 4th of July! I'll see you in a week, as of now, I am so done with people and am going to hide under a rock for the next week. Wooh! Spring break!
-I'd like to say welcome to all my new readers! Glad to have you aboard! And guess what...I broke 2000 reviews last chapter! Granted most of you were complaining about Bella...but I still love you all nevertheless! (:
-As always I am on Twitter at 2carm2carm2, follow me for spoilers!