34

The Hunk

Edward watches Bella stumble out of the room and waits for the faint sound of the bedroom door shutting before turning to Alice.

He's angry. "How could you just drop a bomb like that without contacting me first?"

"Edward—"

He cuts her off. "I could have at least tried to prepare her for this."

"I'm sorry—"

He scoffs. "She's been doing so well, Alice. You might have just ruined all the progress she's made."

Jasper wraps his arm around his fiancée. "My mother is in a bad way, but she won't leave San Antonio. She needs us."

"Bella needs you," Edward snaps.

"She has you," Alice whispers.

He has to take a few calming breaths before he replies, and still, his voice is laced with venom. "You're stupid if you think I can replace you."

Jasper warns him to cool it.

"No. I won't. Bella has been doing so well because she knew you were eventually coming back." He stands up. "I think it's time for you to go now."

"But—"

"I don't know what I'm going to find up there. I do know that she isn't going to come back down if you're still here."

He walks the couple out, and Alice stops him before he can close the door.

"I am sorry, Edward. I've been trying to tell her for weeks, but I kept putting it off. This isn't easy for me, and I didn't want to upset her."

Upset her? "You could have gone about this in an entirely different way. If she's up to it, I'll have her call you tomorrow."

"Thank you."

"I'm not promising anything, Alice." He shuts the door in her face and takes a moment to prepare for what he's going to find but can't seem to make it up the stairs. Edward chooses to give Bella some space while he cleans up their dinner.

He's loading the dishwasher when she resurfaces.

Her damp hair hangs loosely down her back, and she's smiling but it doesn't reach her bloodshot eyes. In her hands are the clothes she was wearing before they were both completely blindsided by her sister's news. They're waterlogged and dripping on the floor.

Edward knows he has to approach cautiously. He closes the dishwasher and turns to her with a playful scowl. "You showered without me."

"I'm sorry." She drops the soggy clothes in the sink and wraps her arms around his neck. "I didn't know what else to do."

Edward rubs her back and peppers her face with kisses. "I guess you'll have to make it up to me." He takes in her jeans and sweater. "Why aren't you dressed for bed?"

"Because we have plans tonight. I'm not going to Walmart in my pajamas, no matter how late it is."

Edward squeezes her. "We can do that another night."

Bella shakes her head and steps out of his embrace. "We've been planning this for days. I want to go now."

"Sugar—"

"I want to go now," she stresses. "Move it, or I'm going to call Rose and see if she wants to take me."

He knows she wouldn't actually call his sister. Rosalie is great, but Bella hasn't left the house without him.

Apprehensively, Edward watches her bundle up and follows her out the door.

o.O. .o.O.o

If she's upset about her sister leaving, Bella doesn't show it. It's unnerving how blase she is on the subject. She's like a kid in a candy store as she walks the aisles, tossing random items in the cart.

"Won't Kat look so cute in this onesie?" she asks. "I'm going to get it in two sizes so she can grow into the other one."

He chuckles as she pilfers through the racks, pouting when she can't find a duplicate in a bigger size.

"They restock at night, so we'll have to come back and check."

"Ooh. Look at these little booties. They have butterflies on them."

The pack of booties joins the mountain of baby clothes she's picked out along with the new bath towels and coffee maker Edward didn't know they needed. He can't find it in him to argue that their Mr. Coffee is practically brand new and barely used because he loves the excited smile plastered on her face. He'll happily allow Bella to have her crazy shopping spree if it means she isn't wallowing about her sister's impending move.

Edward is still pissed at Alice's approach and more so after hearing that she and Jasper have known about it for weeks. Deep down he knows they've got a lot going on but his allegiance is with Bella.

Always.

"Edward?"

"Yeah, Sugar?"

"I think I'm ready to go home. We've got work tomorrow, and it's getting late."

He nods and leads the way to the cash registers.

The drive home is quiet and Bella doesn't talk until he's turned off the engine.

"We didn't get anything perishable, so we can wait until tomorrow to bring everything inside." Bella yawns. "I need to get that massive order for the pharmacy retirement party started, and I haven't even made the cookie cutters yet."

Because she was so excited for her sister's return, she couldn't focus on anything else.

Swallowing the anger, he follows her up the stairs.

"We'll go in early, and I'll help you." He kisses her softly. "I'm going to hop in the shower. I won't be long. Try to get some sleep."

Bella nods.

Edward lets the hot water soothe his aching muscles and can feel the stress of the day slowly melt away.

He's rubbing his head with a towel as he walks into the bedroom and finds Bella under the covers and sound asleep, so he quietly slides into bed and reaches for her. His hand meets bare skin, and his beautiful girl turns until they're facing each other. "Sugar, why are you naked?"

"You told me I owed you one for showering without you, and my trip to Walmart was a success. I'd like my reward now."

He chuckles and lets her push his boxers down. Edward groans as she wraps her hand around him. "How would you like your reward?" he questions.

She hums thoughtfully for a second, her hand never stilling, stroking him at a slow pace that drives him insane with need. "You on top. Hard and fast, so we can actually get some sleep."

With a laugh, Edward rolls until he's nestled between her thighs. "I think I can handle that." He grabs her hands and places them on the headboard. "You better hold on."

Bella's giggles are cut short by a long, drawn-out moan when he thrusts inside her as deep as he can with just the right amount of power.

"Honey," she cries.

When Bella deems herself thoroughly rewarded, and Edward is spent, he wraps her up in his arms.

"I love you, Sugar."

She whispers her love for him.

Edward wakes up in the middle of the night to find the spot next to him cold and empty. After checking the bathroom, he heads downstairs in search of Bella, stopping short when he finds her on the couch, sobbing into a throw pillow in an effort to keep quiet.

"Bella," he whispers.

"Why does everyone leave?"