Disclaimer: Bella, Jasper, Edward and all things that exist in the Twilight universe belong to Stephenie Meyer. She's just nice enough to let us play with them!
Your heart may long for love that is more near,
So when I'm gone these words will be here,
To ease every fear,
And dry up every tear,
And make it very clear,
I kiss you and I know,
It is love from the first,
Time I pressed my lips against yours,
Thinking, oh, is it love?
-Oh, It Is Love, Hellogoodbye
As much as I hate it, I refrain from going back to Edward's condo after that night. I tried, tried to sleep in his bed that night, but ended up going home in the middle of the night because smelling him, and not being able to touch him, made me cry. And cry I did. I should have been overjoyed by what Jasper let slip, and I'm not going to lie, I am, but I'm so upset with myself for overreacting…again…and that Jasper had to spill the beans just to calm me down. Tanya freaked out and yelled at him, and kept yelling at him, and yelling, and yelling, but I just sat there stunned.
I mean, I kind of knew it was coming — Edward and I and a proposal, that is — but only because we joke around about it so much. That, and the fact that our families won't let up on us about it. Still, to actually have confirmation of the act, actual, informed confirmation… Well, to be honest, I'm incredibly nervous.
What if Edward doesn't propose right away? What if he's waiting for something in particular? Some specific date, or event — like Renee's wedding, or Christmas, since I want him to come to Forks with me for it — to actually propose? Renee's wedding is just under a month away, and Christmas isn't far, but too far for me to carry this knowledge around in secret. I'm a terrible liar, and Edward will know something is up with me. Also, I haven't the slightest clue as to how I'll be able to act surprised when he does actually propose. Terrible liar.
Then there's the issue of where I'll be living. It seems such a minor thing to worry about now. We're talking marriage now. I'm pretty sure that means he wants me to live with him. However, I haven't the slightest clue how to broach the subject still. I've even begun to pack my belongings back into boxes because I know that I won't be living in that apartment anymore, but I'm unsure of where I actually will be living. Tanya offered up her guest room though, just in case Edward doesn't feel right about us living in sin, and I'm only partially sure he won't mind.
I want to live with Edward. I want to come home every single day and make dinner for the two of us. I want to sit next to him on the sofa while he yells at Emmett over the internet. I want Tanya and Jasper, and Angela and Ben, and Esme and Carlisle, and James and Victoria, and Renee and Phil to come by our place for dinner. I want to wake up each morning and wrap myself around Edward while he reads the newspaper and drinks his coffee. I want to watch Jacksonville wake up before my eyes each morning next to Edward. Mostly, I just want to never be away from him.
This week has been a true test of my patience. He's called every day, and I've done my best to not let on that I know where he is. I even went so far as to call Charlie once and make bullshit small talk just to throw Edward off my scent. I tell him I miss him, and I tell him I love him, and I try not to let on that I can hear Charlie's ESPN going in the background. Edward really sucks at this undercover thing. Secret-keeping too.
I don't know how many times he's almost slipped and said either Charlie, Rose, or Emmett's name. I giggle each time, and nonchalantly ask who he's talking about, to which he always responds with, "Uh, my client." So I let him have his little secret, because I have mine as well, and I don't want one ruining the other. It means the world to me that he flew all the way to Washington to ask for my father's permission to marry me, and I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize his good intentions.
Once I'd found my wits at the dinner table with Tanya and Jasper, I calmed her down and turned to him. I asked, "Why did he have to fly all the way to see Charlie? Why couldn't he just ask over the phone?"
Jasper shrugged and grinned as he told me, "Oh he told Charlie what he wanted. Well, asked. Charlie wouldn't give him his blessing."
"What?"
"Damn, Bell, calm the hell down," he scolded me while rolling his eyes.
"But you said — "
"You didn't let me finish. If you had, I would've told you that Charlie wouldn't give Edward his blessing without knowing him better. So they talked and decided that a week spent with one another should be sufficient time for Charlie to come to a conclusion about Edward. Charlie took a vacation week as soon as he could, and Edward had to go when Charlie got the time off. Now, as I understand it, Charlie wasn't supposed to get that vacation for at least another two weeks, which is probably why pretty boy hadn't said anything to you—"
"Jasper," Tanya warned in a low voice.
He rolled his eyes. "—but the station decided to surprise Charlie. Since he hasn't taken a vacation in years…they all got together and decided to make him take a month off. Edward went as soon as he heard. He's only staying a week though, Bell. I don't know what Charlie is gonna do for the rest of the month. You should get him to come visit you, actually."
That was pretty much the extent of the conversation. Tanya ushered Jasper out not long after that, and she looked thoroughly upset the entire way. That was Thursday of last week, and Thursday of next week, Charlie will be here to stay with me for a week. I had to lie my way around it, and I'm surprised it worked…Charlie has always been able to see through my lies. I told him that one of his deputies called me and told me about his vacation, and that Charlie was missing me something fierce. I swear to God, I could feel my father's blush through the phone, but he still agreed to come visit. Now, I just have to decide the best way to tell him I've been spending most nights at Edwards — aside from this past week — and that my apartment is somewhat bare of my clothes because of that reason.
I know Charlie. He's going to check my drawers. Damn Chief of Police.
Oh, and then I have to decide the best way to tell Charlie that I want to live with Edward. Before marriage-like.
First though, I should probably discuss that with Edward. Which is what I'm currently sitting and fretting over. Chewing my fingernails and popping my knuckles, curling my toes and almost losing my flip-flops in the process, bouncing on my toes and bouncing my knee… fidgeting is what I'm doing. All while standing outside of the airport and waiting for Edward's flight to come in. We agreed that I would pick him up and we would be on our way to Angela and Ben's house for dinner. I couldn't bear to go to Esme's tonight — though she offered — because Renee was heading that way tonight, to talk about the wedding. The words 'wedding' and 'Renee' are two things that should never be in the same sentence. Oh, and, I don't want to listen to her bitch at me about when my wedding will take place. No, that's the last thing I need. Especially right now.
Edward's mop of bronze hair enters my line of vision and, for just a moment, all of my previous anxiety is forgotten. A smile a mile-wide forms on my face, and I'm all teeth and thin lips without realizing…but he's smiling at me now, and I don't care. He's running toward me, only he can't really run because of all of his bags; it's more like he's…scooting toward me, trying to run but can't, but he's moving faster than he would be just walking, and so I take mercy on him and meet him halfway.
His bags drop and his arms surround me, and it feels like he's been gone a year, not a week. I missed him more than I realized. My feet leave the ground, and just like in the movies…he spins around in a circle and my feet kick out behind me. Thankfully, I don't kick anyone.
"I missed you so fucking much, angel."
"I missed you, too…"
He breathes in deep and squeezes me tighter still. His lips find my neck and right there, with his lips pressed against my skin, he murmurs, "Love you…can't do that shit again…"
My smile widens even more, if that were possible, and I whisper back, "Don't."
"I won't."
The circles still and there are people moving all around us, all of them with something different to say. Some comment on how in love we look. Some tell us to get a room. Some just excuse themselves and walk on. All of them walk completely around us. No one touches us.
A few minutes later, his lips ghost along my neck and up, until they reach my own. The shock that I always feel when my skin touches Edward's is magnified when our lips come together, and I'm breathless and giddy and overwhelmed. I gasp and he wastes no time pushing his tongue against my own. We kiss and kiss as the observations of the others around us stay the same, but mostly they're just white noise to my ears. All I can see, feel, or hear, is Edward.
I try to breathe only through my nose, but eventually can't stand it anymore, and pull away to breathe. Edward presses his forehead against mine and breathes out a laugh. "Sorry, I've just…dreamt about that all fucking week long."
"Me too."
"Are you ready to go?"
"I'm ready to not be in public with you."
He grins. "We're supposed to have dinner with Ang and Ben tonight though… Right?"
My bottom lip pouts. "Let's cancel."
"She'll kill us. She made my favorite."
"I'll make it up to her."
"Angel…"
This is where I resort to whining. "Edward!"
"Bella, come on…Ang really wanted us to come over."
"But — "
"She made fajitas, Bella."
"Edward — "
"Chicken and beef fajitas, Bella."
"I can make some for you — "
"You know we won't eat if we go home right now."
"We will — "
"No. We won't. Once I get you home…we're going straight to the bedroom. And we're not coming out for at least another week."
"I have work."
"So do I. We'll call in sick."
"I can't do that!"
"Of course you can."
"Edward!"
"Bella, please? My sister really wants us to come over. We'll eat dinner and then leave. Fast, I promise. And then we'll go home. Okay?"
It's the second time he's said that in the course of five minutes. We'll go home. Like we live together. Already. Which totally sobers me up because it reminds me of what I need to discuss with him. Oh, and, it also makes me wonder if he's going to propose. Like tonight. Maybe that's why he's so adamant about going to Ben and Angela's for dinner. The fidgeting immediately commences.
Edward, of course, notices. "What's wrong, angel?"
"Oh, uh…nothing?" Why that had to sound like a question is beyond me.
"Bella."
"No, you're right. We should go over there for dinner."
"Really?" He's smirking; I don't know what that means, or if I should answer his rhetorical question.
"Absolutely."
"You sure changed your tune fast," he says with an eyebrow raised.
I shrug, and hope like hell it doesn't look forced. It probably does anyway. "I just…um…I don't want to be all whiney?"
"Uh-huh."
"No, really! It sounds like you really want to go eat some fajitas…so…um…" My bottom lip snags on my teeth, against my will, and I can't figure out what to say. I'm undoubtedly nervous now, and blushing, and my middle fingernail automatically starts to scrape against the cuticle on my thumb. It's pretty much gone already — I've been picking at it all week long — and I know if I don't stop myself, soon, it'll start bleeding. Then I'll have to explain to Edward why I've suddenly starting picking at my cuticles. I hate doing it, and haven't since high school, but have sunk back into it easily with everything that's been running through my mind this week. I hate it.
Of course Edward notices because my arms are still around him, and his are still around me, and I'm still hanging off of him, feet dangling almost a foot off the ground. The minute I start with the cuticle-picking, my forearms tense up, and Edward's brow furrows as he asks, "What's wrong? And don't say nothing."
I completely suck at lying, so I'm biting my lip harder, trying to keep nonsense from rolling off my tongue before I actually think about what to say. Edward's face grows more and more concerned, and just as he opens his mouth, I'm sure to question my pause, a security guard walks up to the two of us.
"Excuse me, but you two have been standing here for awhile now. Not that that's any problem, but…you're not really watching your bags, sir. Maybe you two should continue this after they're secured…somewhere else?"
I'm sure that's not what the nice security guard wanted to say. I'm sure he wanted to tell us to go make out somewhere else, and to take our bags with us because he doesn't want to have to fill out the paperwork involved in stolen luggage. He was nice though, and because of that, I'll be nice too.
"Sure thing, sir. Sorry about that." Oh, and, he saved me from having to answer a question I really didn't want to.
"Thank you. You two have a nice day." He smiles and walks a few feet away, but lingers there, and I know he's waiting for us to actually move on.
I sort of jiggle my feet; Edward gets the hint and puts me down before grabbing his bags and following me to the parking garage. We're quiet now and that's alright. It's giving me time to think about what I'll say. Not that it will really matter — I've had all week to figure out what I'll say or how I'll act, and I haven't…come up with anything. We reach Edward's car, and I roll my eyes at the grin on his face when I hit the unlock and open trunk buttons. He really likes his stupid Volvo way too fucking much. I'm going to have to do something about that.
"Soccer moms, Edward."
"Huh?" His eyes are running along the paint of his car. I know he's looking for nicks, or proof that I hurt it. I almost want to slap him.
"Soccer moms drive Volvo's."
He rolls his eyes. "Soccer moms have good taste then."
"Not really."
"You drove it."
"You asked me to."
"Only to pick me up."
Really? He thinks I was driving his car while he was gone? Oh. My. God.
"Yep. Which means I'd never drive it because I actually wanted to. And no, I didn't drive your stupid Volvo while you were gone."
He rolls his eyes as a smirk forms on his face. "Yeah, but you gotta admit — this car shits and gets. Does it not?"
I begrudgingly agree.
Angela made entirely too much food. It looks as if she's prepared to feed an entire army. However, I don't mind so much, seeing as I'm actually a little nervous to be around Edward right now. Alone, at least. Plus, it warms my heart to see the smile Angela gives her brother as she welcomes him with a hug. I don't miss the whisper they share in each other's ears either. Or the sparkle in Angela's eye as she slyly glances my way.
They're definitely talking about me.
"Bella!"
I grin at her. "Hey there, Angela, Ben."
Ben nods and grins before pulling Edward along after him into the living room. I follow Edward with my eyes until I can no longer see him, and only stop looking at the spot he disappeared when Angela clears her throat. I turn to her, blushing, and mutter, "What?"
"You've got it bad."
I nod; I completely agree with her. Before I can answer vocally, however, she keeps talking. "Are you two moving in together?"
"Uh…"
"Your lease is up in three weeks."
"Yeah…"
"You haven't thought about it, have you?"
"Actually — "
"Are you afraid to ask him, or do you not want to live with him?"
"Well — "
She squeals. "I knew it! You do want to live with him!"
"Angela!"
"What?"
"I didn't even…how the hell did you know that?"
"I didn't. You just told me!" She's all embarrassing toothy grin now too. I don't feel so bad about looking like a fool while smiling when I see that goofy grin light up her face. "Just let me handle it. 'Kay?"
"Well — "
"Oh, and Tanya called. Told me about Jasper's slip. Honestly, Bella, you need to not freak out so much. Remember… I told you a long time ago. Don't sweat the small stuff. And don't tell Edward you know."
"I wasn't gonna — "
She grabs my arm and starts pulling me into the kitchen behind her, but she talks the whole way. "Boy! You have to let me help plan it! Please? Renee says I've been a huge help planning hers… Did you know that she wants flamingos at her wedding? I don't know why anyone would want flamingos at a wedding. Well, I don't know why anyone would want them at all… Could be worse, I guess. She could want penguins. Still, flamingos. Oh, and she wants the cake to match them. Pink and black. I told her she should just go all out — you know — blush and bashful…"
She's grinning at me. I know what she's doing; she's trying to distract me from myself. I have to admit…it's working. "Pink and pink, Angela?"
"Blush and bashful, Bella. Two shades of pink, one much deeper than the other."
I crack a grin as I ask, "How precious is this weddin' gonna get, I ask you?"
She breathes out slowly, closing her eyes just a bit before popping them back wide open. "There you are," she murmurs, "I was worried about you. Especially after talking to Tan. I knew you'd be freaking out."
"I don't know why though, to be honest. I really do want to marry him. More than you know…"
"It's completely normal, you know."
"It is?"
"Yep!"
I breathe out in relief. "I'm so afraid of slipping up and saying something to Edward that'll alert him to the fact that I know…"
"Yeah… just… don't shut him out, and change the subject often. Should be fine. Trust me."
"Okay."
She nods, once, and then turns her back to me, grabbing up the plates with the fajitas on them. "Help me set the table?"
The boys are already sitting there, and Edward's eyes follow the steaming grilled meat like a hunter following his prey. I'm a little scared. A thought occurs to me from out of the blue. "Does Renee really want flamingos at her wedding?"
Ben starts laughing, and Edward even glances away from the plates to look at me like I'm crazy. Angela giggles as she answers. "Yep! That so wasn't a joke."
"That's so… tacky."
"Bella! That's your mom!"
"I know," I say, sighing. "That's the only reason I'm not laughing my ass off about it — it's completely a Renee thing to do."
"Don't say it's tacky!"
"It is!"
"To each their own!"
I shrug. "That's right. It's my opinion that it's tacky. It's Renee's opinion that it isn't. I think. She could just be asking for it to see if someone will call her on it."
Angela smirks at me. "Just because you wouldn't have them in your wedding — "
She's cut off by Edward, who begins choking and coughing on the rather large bite he's just shoveled into his mouth. Everyone turns and gapes at him, except for Angela, whose smirk widens, and a gleam takes over here eyes. "Too spicy?"
He glares at her and grabs for his water as soon as he's finished swallowing down his food, and his coughing has ceased. "No. It's good."
"Good enough to choke on?" Ben asks, raising his eyebrow.
Edward nods, glances at me, shoots another glare toward Angela, and proceeds to stuff another large bit into his mouth. Angela snickers. "Oh! Bella! Isn't your lease up in, like, three weeks?"
Then I'm choking and coughing, except there's no food in my mouth, and my skin turns red as I look toward first her, then Edward, with wide eyes. "Um…yeah?"
"Are you gonna renew your lease? 'Cause ya know you can only do it for a year, right?"
"Yeah…"
Edward stops throwing food into his eager mouth and turns to me. "Angel?"
"Um…"
"You're not going to renew, are you?"
I turn to him, lip firmly lodged between my teeth, and cheeks a beautiful shade of burgundy. "Um…"
"You guys should just move in together. Edward owns his condo. No pesky leases," Ben offers. Angela turns an adoring smile to him, which he returns, and I just kind of…gawk at him. He shrugs at me. "What?"
"That's a great idea!" Angela interjects, smiling widely at the two of us and blinking innocently. I just sit and stare at her for at least two full minutes before glancing back toward Ben, who motions with his head to Edward before winking at me.
Finally, I turn back to Edward, and I'm blown away by what I see. He's not eating for one, and he's slumped over his plate, definitely pouting. "Edward?"
He raises his head to look at me. "Well, that isn't the way I envisioned it, but…"
"But…?"
Shaking his head and closing his eyes, he asks, "Do you… I mean… Would you…"
"Geez, Eddie," Ben mutters.
"What, dude? You guys just sprung this shit up at the dinner table! Really? And don't think I don't know that you planned this shit, either."
"Damn right I did!" Angela exclaims. "Why do you think I wanted you two at dinner tonight?"
I sigh. "Edward — "
"Bella was in on it," Angela blurts. My jaw drops and my eyes widen, and my cheeks, God, my cheeks grow even darker. "She so was! What do you think we were talking about in the kitchen for so long?"
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Edward turn his head to me. Angela winks, and mouths, "Go on."
"Angel?"
One deep breath and then I ask, "Is that… I mean… Would it be alright — "
"Yes!" Edward shouts before I can even ask properly. "Hell, yes!"
Instantly, I'm grinning. "Really?"
"Fucking…of course! Angel…I gave you a key a long damn time ago. I've wanted you there all along."
I breathe, "Oh, thank God."
We sit and stare at each other, grinning like complete fools until Ben says, "Well, now that's cleared up. Let's eat, dammit."
Angela giggles and I join her. Edward winks, and mouths, "I love you." I mouth it back, and we have the most pleasant, relaxed dinner of my life. Ben and Angela are completely comfortable around me now and it shows. They tell me the funniest stories — at Edward's expense — of things that have happened over the years, having to do with the Cullen family. Edward proceeds to badger Angela about her crush on James when she was younger, and Ben jumps in to defend his wife's honor…but not before getting a little teasing in of his own. I love it, and I feel as if I'm sitting around with my family, or, at least, the way I always imagined sitting around with a family would be.
I would have never had this dinner with Alice, I realize. There was always some lingering resentment to her, though it didn't really start overwhelming me until close to their seven year mark. I tried not to let it, but it eventually wore me down. Jasper, Alice, and I would have never been able to sit around and have this good of a time. Well, maybe it would have looked that way, but underneath, there would have always been my resentment toward Alice, and my secret infatuation with Jasper. Alice would have always held some hate in her heart for me, though for the life of me, I don't know what I ever did back then to warrant that emotion from her, and she would have always wondered about Jasper's real feelings toward me. Jasper would have spent forever trying to find ways to 'take a break' from Alice, and he would have always wondered why he felt the way he did for me. Like I said, this dinner…this completely honest, relaxed, comfortable, amazing dinner…would have never taken place with the three of us.
However, with the people sitting around this dinner table…it's like we've never not done this. It's as if we've known each other forever, and honestly, I feel like I've known them all forever. I love them. They are my family.
Angela whispers in my ear as we're leaving that she'll keep her cell on her, and if I freak out, at all, to call her. I smile gratefully, and then laugh as Ben tells me the same thing. They wave goodbye to us with their arms wrapped around one another, and Edward grins as we pull out.
"What are you smirking at over there?"
"Nothing," he answers.
I roll my eyes. "Yeah — no. I know you better than that. What are you thinking about?"
"You."
"Vague much?"
"You living with me."
I blush. Quietly, I say, "Oh."
"Yeah."
It's quiet for a few, and when we stop at a light, he turns to me. "Was that what you were nervous about? At the airport."
My cheeks flame brighter than they have all night. Maybe brighter than they have all my life. "Um… yeah…"
"Good."
"Good?"
"Well, I was worried it might be — uh — something else."
I look away from him and out the window, biting my lip and smiling wide. He doesn't say anything else until we reach his… er… our condo. In the elevator, he grins and asks, "When do you want to start moving your stuff over?"
"Oh, uh, whenever? The sooner the — shit — what about Charlie?"
His eyes pop wide open and his breathing goes a little choppy. He croaks, "What about Charlie?"
"His visit?"
"Visit?"
I know what he's thinking; he's thinking I'm talking about his visit with Charlie. I'm not. "Yeah, remember I told you? He's coming next week?"
Edward lets out a breath and says, "Ohhh!"
"Yeah…"
He shrugs. "He'll stay with us."
I really like the way that sounds… "Have you met Charlie? His baby girl living with a man is something he's never experienced…"
"Well, then it's time for him to grow up. Don't you think?"
"Um…"
"Speaking of people staying with us. Rose and Emmett are coming for Renee's wedding, right?"
"Yeah?" I wonder if he knows how close he is to giving away his whereabouts this last week right now.
"They should stay with us too." He shrugs, grinning. "No sense in them getting a hotel room, unless, of course, she wants to stay with her brother's girlfriend."
Didn't even think of those two staying with Tanya! "I think they want to stay with me, or, well, us. It was kinda up in the air as to where I'd be when we talked about it."
"Well, you should call her. Tomorrow though. 'Cause right now…" he trails off as his eyes follow the curves of my body. The sexiest fucking grin ever forms on his lips as his tongue traces the bottom one.
"Yeah…" I breathe, and the elevator dings.
We somehow make it to the door, neither taking their eyes off of the other the entire way. I don't even bump into anything. I step in front of him to unlock the door, and he pushes through it right after me. I hear his bags fall to the ground, and no sooner than I have the door locked am I turned around, and my back is up against it.
"I missed you so fucking much," he breathes, moving his face closer to mine slowly. Too slowly. I grab his shirt and jerk him forward. His body collides with mine and our lips find each other effortlessly.
Edward groans when our lower halves meet, and he dips down at the knees as his hands grab handfuls of my ass cheeks and hoist me up. His hardness presses against my warmth and I moan when he moves against me. The moan must set him off because my back feels cool air hit it and I realize he's pulled me away from the door. He's walking while holding me, and for the life of me, I can't stop grinding against him. His step falters, and he almost drops me.
"Fuck, Bella," he moans. My feet hit the ground and he's turning me around, away from him. My breathing stops, and I become worried that my exuberance might have bothered him. That only lasts until he pushes forward on my upper back, and I realize he's leaning me over the couch.
"Oh my God," I whisper. His fingers fumble with the button on my shorts, but only for a second, and then they're sliding down my legs. I step out of them and kick them and my flip-flops to the side, all the while hearing him doing the same to his jeans.
He doesn't have to push me forward again. As soon as I hear him kicking his own pants to the side, I'm leaning forward, and spreading my legs wide for him as I raise myself up onto my tip-toes.
"Fuck, angel…that's so goddamn sexy…"
His right hand runs down my back and his left grasps my hips. Down, down, his hand goes until it ghosts over my lips and inside, spreading the moisture. "So wet," he whispers. "You're ready for me."
I nod desperately. His fingers disappear but just as fast, the head of his cock brushes against my clit, eliciting another loud moan from me. "Edward — "
I don't finish my pleading because he gives me just what I want. In one swift, sure stroke, he's inside of me completely, and we're moving together flawlessly. The condo is filled with the grunts and the moans and the begging and pleading of our love-making, and I want it to always sound this way. I want to always be with Edward, this way, just as we are, right now. Forever and ever.
When we're both exhausted, and our legs are functioning normally, we gather our clothes and make our way to the shower. Inevitably, as always when Edward and I shower together, we come together once again. I'm insatiable when it comes to this man, and I know that won't ever change. I'll always want him. I'll always love him. I'll never tire of him. I'll never want another.
As I lay in bed that night, I come to a decision. It's long after Edward has dozed off beside me, but that's okay. It's not something that I'm going to do straight away, and it will help me to keep the secret of what Jasper let me know last week. I know, for sure, what I want to do.
I'm going to ask Edward to marry me. At Renee's wedding.
Okay, so a couple things...first! Sorry this wasn't out this morning, or late, late last night...had computer technical difficulties, well, that and my free trial ran out and I had to pout a little bit, and figure out how to make the dash in Open Office... second! Next chapter won't be out until next Friday...I know, I'm sorry, can't be helped. My niece, SaraKaye, is graduating from high school, and so we're all heading off to East Texas today to watch her walk the stage tomorrow. I won't have the time to write it, I'm so sorry - but I'll try to get it out sooner than Friday, at least.
Thank you to everyone still reading this, reviewing, and putting up with my craziness! Kisses to my wifey, Beausoir - love you - so happy you like the last chap woman!
Hugs to Les16, for putting up with my flakiness (I swear shit's crazy Les!) Go read The Path We Choose, it's one of the best stories I've ever read, and you'll be in for a treat if you give it a chance. Trust me.
Lastly, I just had to share this, and to say, if you haven't read any of Rochelle Allison's stories, you should go do it. She's amazing, and all of her stories are unique and different and breathtaking. I haven't the slightest clue where to tell you to start, but, I read them in this order: 1. Volition; 2. Boys of Summer; 3. With or Without You; 4. Curtains. And don't be put off by the shortness of With or Without You or Curtains, because I made that mistake and wanted to kick myself after I did read them, and found them to be absolutely amazing.
"Like a flower I open her, petal by petal, just as pretty, just as soft. I won't go slow when she lets me inside, but I can go slow now, knowing after this the then will be over and we'll be forever in the now."
-Chapter 24, Curtains; Rochelle Allison (Probably my favorite line from a fictional story ever, and had to share, so you would see what you're missing. I think that's beautiful.)
Thank you all for still reading! See ya next Friday!