Author Note: Thanks for the awesome response to this story! Though once again we prove my theory about lemon chapters…
Seems many of you fondly remember "parking" or car sex from your youth! And most are just happy they kissed and made up.
Thanks again to moosals and NKubie for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.
Chapter 25 — The Parents
Edward's parents finally arrive in Tucson during the last week of October. We drive over to their new house once they've called to let us know they've arrived.
Almost as soon as Edward is out of the car, his mother throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He whispers something to her, but I can't hear it.
Once she's finally let him go, Carlisle gives his son one of those man-hugs and I grin widely. I'm really happy that they're here.
"Hello, Bella," Esme greets me with a quick hug.
"How was your trip?"
"Long," she sighs. "I'm glad we've finally made it."
Edward and I do most of the heavy lifting, helping to empty their rental U-Haul trailer. When we've finished, we drive over with them to drop it off, then they follow us to our apartment. We give his parents a quick tour, ending up back in the living room.
"The grounds look pretty from what I could see so far, and it's a lovely apartment, but it's so small, Edward," his mother laments. "You have the money to afford a bigger place."
"My mom and stepdad are paying for the apartment," I explain. "They don't know about Edward yet. Maybe when our lease is up and they know about him, we could move — if he wants to."
"I spent 18 years in a six-by-nine cell, Mom. Really, this place is fine."
Esme frowns, but nods.
"As long as you're happy," Carlisle says.
Edward smokes a cigarette while we show them the pool area, then the four of us get into our SUV and drive to dinner at the Mexican place that Emmett and Rose took us to. They ask questions about my classes, and appear to be trying not to push Edward too much toward getting a job or some kind of schooling of his own. I don't think he's ready for that yet.
When we get back to our apartment after dinner, Edward steps out onto the balcony for another cigarette.
"How is he really, dear?" Esme asks as soon as he's closed the door.
"He's fine," I nod, giving her a small smile. "He's even made a friend, a 30-year-old guy who lives here with his wife, who's getting her Master's at UA. They go work out together in the fitness center."
"That's wonderful," she smiles. "I'm so glad he has a friend."
"Has he had any… panic attacks?" Carlisle asks.
I'm like a deer in headlights for a moment. What can I tell them that isn't going too far? I don't know what they know — though I guess this means they've witnessed at least one attack of their own.
"Um, a couple," I answer honestly. "He's all right though."
"I feel so bad for my baby," Esme says softly. "I wish I could just take it all away."
"He's dealing. He's seeing his shrink twice a week. Um… how-how much do you know about… about his time in prison?" I try to choose my words carefully and not point out that "things" happened to him, in case they don't know.
"Very little," Carlisle answers. "We knew that he was stabbed by another inmate when he was 21, because someone from the prison called us. Otherwise, I'm not sure we'd even have known that."
"We have some guesses, of course," Esme says carefully. "We used to visit him once a month, and even though we had to be separated by a partition and use a phone to talk to him, we could tell at some point that something had changed. He was even quieter than usual, more withdrawn. He could barely look us in the eye."
I stare down at my hands, not wanting to give anything away.
"You seem good for him, Bella," Carlisle says. "I'm ashamed of the fact that we weren't immediately supportive of your relationship."
"I understood. I know you were just worried about him."
"Do you love him?" Esme asks.
"I do," I reply, unable to control my smile. "Edward is amazing. He's so strong, even if he doesn't realize it." She smiles softly back.
"I do wish he'd at least start to think about the future," Carlisle says. "It's been over six months now since he's been out of prison."
"For 18 years he wondered when he was going to die. He isn't used to having a future to think about," I explain.
"Edward has always responded much better if he makes his own decisions, rather than being pushed," Esme states. Boy, do I know that. "Carlisle tried for years to talk Edward into becoming a doctor, but he didn't decide to go that route until after we gave up."
I smile at how much he hasn't changed, just as the door opens, startling me a bit. I start to feel just a little bit guilty about talking to Edward's parents about him, but I know they're worried — and I know I didn't break his confidence.
Edward comes to sit beside me, taking my hand, and we chat with his parents before they leave to check into their hotel. Esme bought all new furniture online to fit with the Southwest style of their new house; they can't stay there until the furniture is delivered tomorrow. Our second bedroom has only a twin bed, or they would've been welcome to stay with us.
"Did you guys have a nice talk?" Edward asks with a smirk after they've left.
"What-what do you mean?"
"When I went out to smoke, I'm sure you guys used the opportunity to talk about me." He walks back over to the couch, sitting down beside me.
My mouth opens and closes a few times before I can respond. "They just worry about you."
"I'm ok," he shrugs. "Maybe I haven't progressed as much as they'd like to see, but… I'm doing all I can."
"I know you are," I assure him. I climb onto his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. "I'm so proud of you."
"Even after last week?" he asks skeptically.
"Yes! We survived last week. You just need to remember not to shut me out like that. Those two days were not fun."
"It's better that way."
"Not for me," I protest. Is he kidding?
"Better than me saying something I might later regret, Bella," he says softly, wrapping his arms around me. He tugs me closer, and I give him a gentle kiss.
"Take me to bed."
"Now who's being bossy?" he grins.
"I need your help, Alice," I beg, sitting down with her for lunch on the following Tuesday.
"Man troubles again?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"No, no, things with Edward are great." Understatement… he woke me up this morning with his face between my legs. "I need to borrow your car this weekend."
"Don't you guys have a fairly new car? Is it in the shop?"
"No, nothing like that. My mom just called me yesterday to tell me she's coming to visit this weekend. Once she realized that we've both got Monday off for Veterans Day, she figured it was a perfect time for a visit." I nearly went into a panic attack when she called.
"I'm not following how that means you need my car," Alice chuckles.
"Mom doesn't know about Edward yet," I explain. "We were hoping to tell her at Christmas and let her think that I met him here in Tucson. So he'll be staying with his parents for the weekend."
"His parents?!" she interrupts. "Don't they live in Washington?"
I shake my head. "They just moved down here last week, bought a house in Catalina Foothills."
"They followed you here? Are they retired?" Shit, that does sound kind of strange.
"Not yet, though they're in their early 60s, so they'll probably retire soon. His dad is a doctor and got a job at Tucson Medical Center, starting next week. His mom hasn't found a job yet. Edward's parents are super nice." Even though they're like my grandparents' age, I do like them.
"Ok, so… back to your question. Why would Edward take your car with him? Can't you just drop him off at his parents' house? Or they could pick him up?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that," I begin, then take a deep breath. "See, I used to drive a 1950s pick-up that my dad got from a friend of his. Everyone knew it'd never be able to make the drive to Tucson. Edward's SUV is far too nice for something my dad could've gotten me to replace it.
"But I need to have some kind of vehicle. I could just say I take the campus shuttle or the bus everywhere, but Mom knows I drove down here. I need something that looks like a college student should be driving it."
"When is she coming?" Alice asks.
"Friday night after work. And she'll leave Monday afternoon."
"Ok, so you could walk back to my apartment with me after lunch on Thursday and drive my car to your place, then bring it back on Tuesday. I'm sure Jasper and I can manage with just having one car for the weekend."
"Thank you, Alice!" I exclaim gratefully. "Let me double check with Edward first, but I could give you his cell number and he may be able to help you out if you're in a bind with just one car. I'll owe you big time for this — you're a lifesaver. I just really don't want to have to tell Mom the truth."
"So what's so bad about her finding out Edward came from Washington with you?"
I sit back in my chair, sighing as I try to figure out how to explain it. "He's afraid that if my mom finds that out, she might… remember him."
Alice's eyes widen. "They didn't date, did they?"
"What?! No! They didn't date, but they did go to high school together. Sort of."
"Sort of?"
I nod. "Mom was two years ahead of Edward in school."
"So if she remembers him, then she'll know exactly how old he is," Alice deduces. "Yeah, I can see how you might not want that. He's clearly older than you, but it might be better if she doesn't know by how much."
I nod, smiling at the fact that Alice's head went in the wrong direction. Her explanation does make perfect sense.
"What's it like dating a guy that old?" she asks, looking for all the world like a gossipy teenager. "He doesn't need to take Viagra, does he?"
"Jesus, Alice! He's 37, not 67. Although…" I trail off with a grin.
"What?" she asks, leaning forward in her chair.
"Maybe that explains why he has such stamina; he can keep going for hours and hours."
Alice's jaw drops open and I can't help laughing at her. "I'm kidding!"
"You bitch," she chuckles. "So why was that freakin' hot man single and available for you to snatch up? Seriously, I can't believe he wasn't already married to some lucky woman. Or did he get a divorce? Is that why he moved back in with his parents?"
"Something like that," I lie. "But he hasn't been married before, no."
"Do you think he'll propose soon? I mean, you're just a freshman, but he's at that age where he's gotta be thinking about settling down, getting married, having children…"
"I don't think either one of us is ready for anything like that," I tell her honestly.
Mom and I spend the weekend touring around the old part of Tucson and visiting both districts of Saguaro National Park. We even take in the Arizona Wildcats football game together — my first game since I haven't been able to convince Edward to go with me. He's assured me that I can go without him, but I feel bad leaving him at home while I go with some of my classmates.
As soon as Mom leaves, just after dinner on Monday, I text Edward to let him know the coast is clear. Twenty minutes later, the door opens and he walks in, wheeling his overnight bag. He closes the door behind him, then stands in front of it, staring at me.
"You have one minute to get your clothes off before I rip them off," he says, as calmly as if he's telling me about the weather outside.
My eyes widen for a moment, and then he starts counting down from 60.
Holy shit, he's serious! Desire pools between my thighs as I smile widely, standing up off the couch. I quickly strip out of my clothes, while I try to figure out how and where I want him. The couch is always fun… Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Edward pulling his shirt over his head and start unbuttoning his jeans.
The back of our loveseat faces the dining area, and looking at it gives me an idea for something different. I walk around it, then lean my forearms on the back of the loveseat, sticking my ass out and giving it a little wiggle.
I'm fully expecting Edward to pounce on me at any moment, but when that doesn't happen, I peek over my shoulder at him. He's still standing rooted to the same spot with his pants open, staring at me. His brow is furrowed, but then he shakes his head, squeezing his eyes closed and muttering something to himself that I can't quite hear.
And then he finally starts walking toward me. He gently moves all of my hair over my left shoulder, and then wrapping his arms around my torso, he encourages me to stand up straight. He brings his hands up to touch my breasts, gently squeezing and massaging them as he buries his face in my neck. I don't know whether to concentrate on his lips or the way he tugs and tweaks at my nipples with his thumbs and forefingers.
Edward trails his right hand down my stomach, lightly brushing one finger between my legs. "Mmm… you're wet for me."
"Yes," I reply breathily as he softly circles my clit with his long finger. I arch my back, rubbing my backside against his erection.
"Do you want me, baby?" he asks.
"So much," I moan.
"Do you want me to make sweet love to you?" he whispers. "To take my time and worship you? Or do you want to be fucked?"
Oh hell. Where did this man come from?
"Th-the second one." And then maybe the first one later.
"Say it," he whispers, placing a soft kiss right on the pulse point on my neck. "Out loud. Tell me what you want me to do to you."
"I want you to fuck me!" I shout, more turned on than I've ever been in my life.
"As you wish," he growls.
I nearly pout when he removes his hands from me, but perk up when I hear the rustling as he removes his jeans and underwear. I lean forward, resting my forearms on the back of the loveseat again.
"I love you, so much," he whispers, softly sucking my earlobe into his mouth. I feel his hard cock press against my entrance, then try not to moan like a porn star when he pushes inside. He stops once he's buried inside me, letting me adjust, I assume. His hands grab hold of my hips and I hold my breath as he slowly pulls back out.
"Oh, shit!" I yelp at his first hard thrust. And then he delivers on his promise, fucking me until I'm cursing and moaning and so, so ready to come.
Edward brings his right hand around, pressing his fingers against me, and that's all it takes for me to shatter into a million pieces.
"Oh God," he moans, thrusting hard twice more before he comes. He collapses on top of me, panting heavily in my ear.
I slowly turn my face toward him and he kisses me gently. "Up you go," he says, straightening me up as he pulls out. He spins me around and I throw my arms around his neck, kissing him with everything in me.
He lifts me up and I wind my legs around his waist, still kissing him, until finally I need to breathe.
"What brought that on?" I pant.
"I missed you," he shrugs, and a slow smile spreads across my face… though I'm not 100% sure he's telling the truth and that's all there is to it.
"Why did you hesitate before you walked over to me?" I ask curiously.
"I—" He bows his head, looking a bit uncomfortable, so I hurriedly decide to change the subject. I don't want to spoil our reunion.
"I think I'll take option one now; I want to be worshipped."
Edward lifts his head, chuckling. "Gotta give your old boyfriend a chance to recover first."
A/N: Finally, Edward has his parents nearby and even spent the weekend with them. They'd like to see him start to get his life and future in order, but he has other things to deal with first.
Thanks to Alice, Bella managed to spend the weekend with Renee without her finding out about Edward. I imagine she had to hide his things and/or keep her out of their bedroom!
What about Alice wondering if Edward uses Viagra? And what got into Edward? Bella wasn't so sure he just missed her, and then he hesitated before coming to her.
Next update on Tuesday. We'll meet another new character, and I'm so excited! Woot!