Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended. Beta'd by HollettLA
Tribute
Chapter Forty-Five
When Riley called my cell, I jumped to grab it, hoping I'd get to it before it woke up Bella.
No dice.
She stirred and yawned, her eyelids fluttering open while I answered the phone.
"Yo!" he said.
"What's up?" I cleared my throat.
"I'll be by your crib in thirty. Be ready."
"All right." The night before I was instructed to bring a change of clothes, maybe a bar of soap if I was inclined.
Ending the call, I turned to Bella. "You gonna be okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah…I think so."
I narrowed my eyes, studying her.
"Honest, Edward, I feel better already."
"Good." I kept my tone hushed. "You call me if you need anything—if anything comes up. Even if you just wanna say hi. Okay?"
"I will," she promised.
I touched her chin with my knuckle before I went to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and getting dressed, I grabbed my toothbrush and another pair of jeans and a shirt to throw into a shopping bag.
Seeing as Jake's nine was fully loaded, I threw that shit into the bag, too, keeping mine at my waist and placing the silencer in my pocket.
Bella watched me as I moved about the room.
"What?" I asked.
She shook her head, a shy grin on her face. "Nothing…I have a knapsack you can borrow. It's in the coat closet."
I nodded. "Thanks…I should go wait downstairs."
"Oh…I didn't set the pot." She went to get up.
"It's okay," I laughed, stopping her. "I'll see you in a few days."
She fisted my shirt. "Please, be careful."
"I promise," I said, bending to place a kiss on her forehead and again in her hair. And I hope she doesn't mind, since it's been a challenge to keep my lips to myself. "I'll call you."
Bella made to get up, but I stopped her once more.
"Just stay in here." I threw the blanket over her head.
"Edward!" She slapped it away, a smile in her tone.
"I gotta make sure you don't get away." I chuckled.
She giggled as I proceeded to tuck her back in—making sure she couldn't escape.
"You're all set," I whispered. "You're a Bella Burrito."
She beamed at me.
And I . . . I smiled back, finally feeling warm inside, like I was home, like I finally had a home . . . a place in this world.
Maybe that's why I had to come back? Maybe I was meant to take care of Bella? Be with Bella?
I used to be jealous of all the guys in my unit who had girls waiting for them at home...
Who knew I had one all along?
I wasn't sure, but that's what it felt like.
And it felt so good to be here…at her side.
I fucking hated to leave.
Of all times...
But everything was going to be okay . . . in time.
"Be good." I pushed her hair away from her face. "You got nothing to worry about. You hear me?"
Even in the dim light, I saw the color leave her face. "Okay." She rasped. "Good."
"Hmm?" I hummed, staring at her.
"I'm fine." She nodded. "You got to, to him first? You, um, you killed him?" she whispered.
I hated that I couldn't tell her, verbally confirm. "You have nothing to worry about. You'll never see Jake again."
"Good." If she was hiding, wearing a brave mask, I couldn't tell. Her face remained stoic while I waited for tears, shock, or…maybe a smile.
"Never again," I repeated.
Bella let out a slow breath, tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I'm free." She said it so low, I didn't catch it.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Nothing." She squeezed my hand. "Go…you shouldn't keep Riley waiting."
I didn't want to fucking leave, but I heaved myself off the bed. "You call me."
"I will." She wiped her eyes. "Thank you. Edward, I—" She reached for me.
I sat down next to her again. "Talk to me."
Her eyes trailed away from me. "I'll be fine. I promise."
"Okay." With one final kiss to her cheek, I left the bedroom to switch bags before leaving the house . . .
Bella neglected to tell me that her backpack was purple, but I used it anyway.
True to his word, Riley pulled up to the curb, and I hopped into his whip.
You can also find Tribute at:
.
Where you can also follow to receive update/email alerts
