Just a couple more tonight, and back to posting again tomorrow.


Chapter 54

"Do you have to go to class?" I whine trying to pull Bella back to the bed.

"Yes, I do, I've got exams soon," Bella chuckles out moving further away from me.

"I'm working right after I get out of class, so I won't be home until around ten tonight," Bella carries on as she gets her jacket on.

"You do know that you're the boss?" I ask, walking over to her.

"Would you take days off from the gym, for no reason?"

I grin nodding. "If it meant spending the day tangled in my sheets bringing you to heaven, then yes I would."

Bella just chuckles before kissing me. "I'll see you soon."

I pout as she walks out the door. Slowly walking to the window, I see Jasper is already in the car. As soon as Bella's in, he drives off with her, followed by Jake, and Sam. James is just behind them, and I can't help but let out a sigh. "Please, let her be all right, don't let those fucker near her," I whisper closing my eyes.

The last few days have been so good. Bella and I were able to spend so much of it alone, but now I miss her even more. Walking into the bathroom, I turn on the shower to let the water heat up. Taking a quick shower and shaving before I get dressed for work.

Heading into the gym, I see my tail is where he should be. After parking in my spot, I enter the gym.

"Hi, bro," Emmett says sounding nervous. Looking at him I see he's pulling his hair.

"What's wrong?" I ask pulling out the sign-in book to see who all is here right now.

"I need some time off," Emmett sighs.

I look at him and he's looking down at the ground. "Why?" I ask as I pour myself a cup of coffee from the pot.

"I want to ask Rose's grandfather for her hand."

Choking on the sip of coffee I just took while staring at him. After finally clearing my throat and regaining my ability to speak, I raise my brow at him. "I thought Rose didn't speak to her family after she got divorced from Royce?" I can't help but spit out the word family and Royce as if they're nasty words. From my knowledge, her family is as worthless as a whistle on a plow. Only a truly shitty kind of family takes the side of an abusive ex, over their own blood.

"She doesn't talk to her brother, or parents, but she's still close to her grandfather. He's important to her. I wanted not only to ask him for her hand, but to invite him to live here. I thought he could live in Mom and Dad's pool house."

I bite my lip trying to stop the smile from breaking out.

"Have you bought her a ring yet?" He nods taking a small box out of his pocket and shows it to me.

"It's really beautiful," I say looking at the small, white gold ring that has a small rose-colored diamond in the middle.

This is so different from the large ring Royce had on her finger. You could've seen the rock he put on her finger from outer space. This ring Emmett has for her is about love and devotion, not showing off a piece of property. Rose will love the ring, of that I have no doubt.

"She'll love this ring, Emmett, it's so her," I tell him making him nod again.

"So, can I have some time off?"

I sigh rubbing my face. "When are you planning on going?"

"I was thinking about Friday, because Rose said Alice wants to do a girls' night in, you know, painting toenails and all that shit."

"Okay, I'll come with you."

Emmett just looks at me. "You sure, it's six hours round trip, and that's not counting any amount of time talking to him, I do."

"I'm sure; besides, Bella will be with the girls. They'll all be inside and we'll be leaving most of the guards here."

Emmett grins nodding.

"So, when you gonna ask Bella to marry you, for real and not just to have her not approachable?"

I rub my face. This was the best and most hated part of Aro's plan. The whole let's-just-say-you-are-set-to-be-married, it will stop people from approaching her. I love the idea of her being mine, even if I have to take her name—well, Aro's name—but I hate it has sort of taken the mystery and excitement of my proposing away.

"Come on, bro, I know you'll find a way to bring all that sloppy shit to it and sweep her off her feet. It's about you and her, not what or when everyone else believes."

I smile at him giving him a short nod in thanks.

"Hello, brothers of mine," Alice says and Emmett and I turn to see her standing with Maria.

"Hi," Maria says waving.

"I thought Maria could help with medical evaluations on the clients we get. You know, having a nurse check them over, as part of the package?" Alice looks at us with a big smile.

I must admit this is the first Alice idea for the gym she's mentioned that I have liked.

"Well then, Maria, why don't you come into the office and we can talk." I direct my arm toward the office and Alice makes a move to go in. "Alice, you need to get changed and get in the gym to work," I say so she knows she's not invited to come in my office for this process.

Opening the door for her, Maria walks in taking a seat on the front side of my desk.

"You know that was a little unfair, she acts like a spoiled princess because you've always treated her like one. You can't expect her to grow up and mature overnight, it takes time. She's getting there just give her room, and direct her when she slips."

Laughing lightly, but nodding, I agree completely with Maria's assessment of Alice and her behavior.

"Now, as for Jasper, I wouldn't mind if you used a gun to get him into shape. What your sister sees in him, I'll never know," she shakes her head with disgust clear on her face.

This time I outright belly laugh, loudly. "I know, he really is something else, and I'd be more inclined to shoot him if he wasn't Bella's brother. Moving on now to Alice's idea, do you have time, with watching over Aro and all? I mean, doesn't he need around-the-clock care?"

"Not at the moment. However, if he doesn't get a transplant soon, then he more than likely will."

I pull at my hair looking at her. "I'm B+; would I be able to donate?"

Maria shakes her head at me. "You could in theory, but wouldn't last and his body may reject it. We need a good match, and more than just the same blood group."

I nod at her, trying to understand the ins and outs of the situation.

"Bella is a realistic living donor, but she's still only an eight of ten on the charting they use."

"What makes it higher?"

"Different things – background can play a big part of it as well. Aro is Italian, fully since both his parents are from the old country. Bella's only partial because her grandmother and father are of Irish, German and Norwegian decent."

"So, say you had someone who was AB+ and they also had full-blooded Italian parents, would they possibly be a better match?"

"They would still need to have the test done, but there would be a higher probability of a better match. Why do you ask?"

"My mother—" I'm cut off, as my office door opens abruptly and my Mom comes in.

"I'll do the test," she says right away making me just look at her. "Come on, Maria, let's go do this now," my mom carries on when Maria and I fail to speak.

"What?" Maria says looking between the two of us.

"What do you mean what? We need to know and the sooner we get the test done, the better, so let's go," my Mom harps.

Maria just chuckles. "I see now where you get your fire from, Edward. Okay, Esme, I'll call in Aro's doctor, but let's not say anything to him just yet. I think we should wait until we know."

"Mom," I say pulling at my hair. "I was just thinking out loud." I say worried for her, my father and siblings as well as Aro.

"I know, but I was coming here to talk about this Aro business with you anyway. I spoke to your father and already made the choice last night to have myself tested. Your father is supporting my choice and I know all of the risks should I be a match."

I swallow and she just smiles at me.

"It will work out; we both know she needs him to be alive and healthy right now."

"I know she does, but I need you, and she'll need you, too."

"Son, I'm as tough as an old boot, I'll be fine. Besides, this way my boys can wait on me hand and foot, while I recuperate. Now that will be a nice change."

Nodding at her, before placing a kiss on her cheek and whispering I love her.

"Don't say anything to Alice and Emmett, not until they need to know," she says tapping my nose and I nod again agreeing with her.

Maria and my mom walk away and I let out a long breath as I close my eyes. Opening them again and feeling calmer, I set about my workday.


A/N: So maybe Esme can donate and then Bella will not have to. What do you think of Maria helping out at the club?