The next day I wake up to the feeling of way too much sleep. My phone says 7:23 am, minutes before I'm supposed to be at Edward's car to go to school. I pop out of bed, run down that stairs to find mom making coffee.
"I overslept!" I yell-panic. "Can you drop me off?"
I don't even wait for her response before running back up the stairs, sending a quick text to Edward, and hopping in the shower.
There's no time to look presentable, or do my hair, or pick out a super cute outfit. So, today, I settle on dark denim, University of Washington sweatshirt, and a pair of Uggs. My hair is wet, and as I let it air dry, I grab a banana and meet mom at the car.
"Sorry!" I tell her. "I must not have set my alarm."
Mom waves me off.
"I have to go to the store, anyways," she tells me after a big sip of coffee.
At school, I just barely make it to first period on time. Angela gives me a what the hell happened to you look. This is not my usual attire. Everyone's used to seeing me in cute, girly outfits with lashes to the heavens and glossy-pink lips. My shoes are usually sparkly, and my hair is always done. Today, everyone thinks I have the flu or that Edward and I broke up.
I hear Mike telling Ben, "I heard he fucked around on her," during English.
The next period, Ben tells Mike, "word is Bella's the one who fucked around onhim."
I roll my eyes so hard it hurts. I catch Alice out of the corner of my eye as she turns around gives them the worst stink I've ever seen. She doesn't say anything, but Alice doesn't have to. She's scary-crazy and don't fuck with me terrifying. No one crosses Alice for a reason.
I smile slightly, catching myself before her eyes fall on me. I glance at my paper and act like I didn't see my ex-girl sticking up for me silently. My belly warms all the way up to my throat and the butterflies of hope make my belly ache in the best way. I feel the burn of her eyes on my hair and my sweatshirt and the pimple on my chin uncovered from my lack of makeup. She's taking me in, wondering how last night affected me. I pull the edges of my sweatshirt down my palms, rest my head against my hand, and finish the worksheet in front of me.
It's not until lunch that everyone's gossip dissipates. Edward decides to show his face at our table today and I wonder if he's heard the rumors, too. I park myself next to him, everyone's eyes are on us, and kiss his lips gently but with purpose.
"These fucking losers," Edward says loudly, shaking his head in irritation. "As if we'd ever break up."
I laugh softly and offer him a piece of my pretzel which he takes. He pushes his tray towards me, and I grab some French fries.
Jasper and Alice sit farther away from us, but she's talking to more than just Jasper and I can hear her voice today. Paul sits next to Jasper. A long, white bandage covers the bridge of his nose, and he has bruises under his eyes. It doesn't look bad bad, just bad.
All of lunch, Paul doesn't look at me once.
Edward, Jasper, and Alice act like everything is peachy, like last night wasn't the most intense night of our lives. And then I realize it wasn't… for them. Edward's words from the night before hit me.
The shit that happens in this house when you aren't around…
I lean over so just he can hear. "I need to talk to you."
He looks at me with a mouth full of carbs and nods over a dry swallow.
"My house or…?"
"Maybe somewhere a little more private?" I glance at his housemates on my last word.
He nods in understanding.
"Come over after practice."
He holds my hand and guides me through the crowd after lunch. Edward is tall, much taller than our peers, and he's well liked. Most guys give him a fist bump or a head nod or a "yo, Cullen" on our short walk to Art. It's not just the boys, though.
Senior girls, way prettier than I am, give him a sly smile and a gentle "hi, Edward" as he steps out of the way of their wandering hands. Other girls, nerdy girls, give him the eyes. I should be used to all the attention given to him, it's been weeks since we've been "out", but I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it.
The last half the day is easier than the first half. No one stares in wonder. No one spreads rumors and misinformation. No one really looks at me and I'm able to blend into the background finally.
I'm packing up at the end of the day as the weekend-excitement buzzes around. Outside, rain chills the tops of my exposed feet and matts down my hair. It's not enough to be considered rain, but it's enough to be considered annoying. The clouds above are stormy gray and I can almost smell that threat of thunder.
I beat Alice today.
I take the time alone to kiss my boyfriend and his beautifully supple, rich lips. I let the stubbly hairs on his face scratch against my cheeks. I breathe in the smell of cologne on his shirt and shampoo in his hair.
He doesn't give me his tongue. This kiss isn't about that. This kiss is I cherish you and you're the best part of me and I love the way rain smells on you. This kiss is secret for us… until Alice pulls the back door open and plops in.
"Ugh!," she says loudly. I glance at the clock. It's 3:07. "Mike fucking Newton tried me, and I had to—" she stops short. "Never mind. Sorry I'm late."
Edward puts the car into gear and we peel out. "It's cool," he says smoothly.
I wonder if they talked, patched things up, made amends.
After last night, the things that were said, I can't imagine it would be that easy for either of them. Each of them has something against the other, and it's sowed so deep into their core that simply plucking the weed won't do anything for the root. It'll continue to fester and grow, populating other colonies of irritation until their bodies are over run and their relationship is totally gone.
I need to stop it before it gets there.
"Can we talk?" I ask Alice, turning to her slightly.
She sees my bare face and hair that dried wet atop my head. She sees my plea but also my confidence. I'm not the sad Bella from weeks ago, crying myself to sleep at night because Alice won't talk to me. I've moved passed that.
I'm Bella, Edward's girlfriend, Jasper's sister, Alice's estranged girl. In that order.
"Okay." Her mild tone plays weakly on my ears. She's nervous.
"I'll come over after dinner," I tell her, glancing at Edward who gives me a curious look.
His support never wanes. I've always been his number one. He's put me first since he slipped something dirty in my locker and snuck me Blow Pops when no one was watching.
He squeezes my leg as Alice hops out of the car and leans over to kiss me suddenly, magically, like a 17-year-old boy kisses a girl he's in love with.
"See you tonight, Pretty B," he tells me, gripping my neck.
I walk-run to my house and shake the steady rain from my hair and clothes before walking inside. Mom's cooking an early dinner, listening to music, swaying around to the beat as I drop my backpack onto the table.
"How was school, honey?"
I give her a shrug and offer to help. Mom lets it go because she was a teenager once, and she hands me the ladle instructing me to keep stirring. We talk about thanksgiving and the weather and when we should tell dad about Edward.
"He'll be mad," I tell mom.
"Yes." She's always very honest. I appreciate it.
"How should we do it?"
Mom takes a breath and sighs. "I don't think it matters how, Bella. His reaction will be the same. But, if you plan it out, it might go over a little smoother. Have a plan. Be honest."
I nod, thinking through her words. "What happens when he tells me I can't see Edward anymore?" Tears prick the corners of my eyes. Irritation stings my throat. Panic floats around in my belly.
Mom doesn't have a good answer for me, but she gives me a smile and a look that says we're in it together.
Dad's at work until late tonight, so it's just us for dinner. Mom sets the table while I change into black leggings and a gray, long sleeved shirt. Mom makes spaghetti and meatballs, and I ask her to start writing down some recipes so I can have them.
"Okay, honey," she says with a surprised smile.
I'm not a bad cook, I just don't really do it often and I want to change that soon.
After dinner, I help mom clean up. We wash the dishes, dry, and put them away before she tells me she's going to do work in the basement.
"I think I'm going to go next door then," I tell mom.
"Is Edward back from practice already?" she asks.
"No, I'm going to talk to Alice."
"Oh," she says in surprise, "okay. Call me if you need anything, baby."
I give her a nod, a smile, and a hug before slipping out of the house.
As I walk over to my boy's house to talk to Alice, nervousness eats at my marrow and I'm tense. I trudge up the steps onto their porch and hug my arms around my middle. Normally, I'd just walk in. Today, I don't feel as welcome. I lift my fingers and rap my knuckles three times against the solid door.
Moments later, it's Mrs. Cullen's smile that welcomes me in. She's warm and sweet and like apple pie in winter. She's honest and calm. She's cheerful to see me.
"Edward's still at practice, sweetie," she says, checking the watch on her wrist and looks at me with confusion. "He won't be home for a while, actually. You can wait in the—"
"She's here for me," Alice says from behind her mom. Her quiet voice is strong.
"Oh," Mrs. Cullen says surprised. "Oh!" And she moves back to the kitchen with a smile.
We sit in the formal living room off the foyer as neutral ground. Her room is a huge no, and the basement has too many good memories to taint it with this conversation.
I sit cross legged on the sofa while her legs tie up Indian style on the ottoman across from me. There's plenty of space, but I can still feel apprehension and confusion and betrayal dripping off the ends of her faded-to-blonde hair.
"I have questions." It's a statement she makes as she picks at her nails.
"Me too," I agree, "but can we set some ground rules?"
She looks at me for the first time and cocks a brow.
"Let's agree not to yell or fight. We've had weeks of that, and I'm so over it."
Alice nods in agreement.
"So, you love him?" she asks.
I have to sort of choke out a laugh because she comes out guns blazing.
"Yes," I tell her with a smile.
"How? When? Why?" she stammers off. Alice clearly has so many questions but no real way of wording them, but I get it.
I take a deep breath and tell her everything.
I tell her about her thirteenth birthday when he pulled me into his room to make her that card. I tell her about truth or dare. I tell her about gentle touches, lingering looks, hidden smiles that no one noticed. I tell her about the time he opened up to me about what happened in Arizona and why they moved here. I tell her about the way my skin feels when he touches me and the swell in my chest, like it might just explode, when he lets me wear his hat, and how I wanted to die the day he hurt his ankle last summer. I tell her about the log he gave me my first kiss on, and that he waited so long, forever, until I was ready, to touch me in any way. I tell her about the love in my heart and under my fingernails, and weaved into every scar on my body. And, when I'm done, Alice just stares at me.
For a beat or two, things are quiet, tense, heavy. I watch as Alice's nostrils flare with every inhale. Her chest rises higher with each breath. We don't blink.
"Ask me something," she says suddenly, strangled by my confessions.
"Oh. Uh, uhm, wh-what did you have for din—"
"About me. About me and Jasper," she corrects.
I glance at her white knuckled fingers as they tensely hold her kneecaps. Her jaw grinds back and forth anxiously. Her glassy eyes stare into me.
My fingers find each other nervously and I look at the pale pink polish of my fingernails as I ask, "are you okay?"
She gives one big sigh and then we're quiet.
It's awkward.
Like really awkward.
I can feel her eyes on my bare toes and I curse myself for never wearing socks. I wonder if she can feel my eyes on her bitten-short nails and the way her fingers now grip the skin above her knee. I try to think of other questions I could ask. I had a whole list before I came over, but now I can't even remember my last name. Blood pounds in my ears and I might faint.
I can hear Mrs. Cullen as she pulls dishes from the dishwasher and clanks them around the cupboards. I wonder if she's being purposefully loud or if it just seems loud given the quietness of our conversation.
"I'm fine," Alice answers. Before I can nod, or say anything, she interjects. "You know everything now, and the only thing you can ask is if I'm ok?"
She's looking into me again, studying. I nod. I gulp. I straighten.
"I never stopped caring," I tell her. "You found out about me and Edward and disappeared, but I never stopped. I watched you for weeks, Alice. I had no freaking idea about you and Jasper doing that stuff… together."
"Just like I didn't know about you and my brother…"
"Right," I agree. "We were both surprised, I guess."
"Yeah."
And we're back at square one.
I'm beginning to get upset. I take a breath, re-cross my legs, and lean forward. I'm tired of keeping my feelings to myself for fear of losing any more of her.
"But the way we reacted was totally different."
"What do you mean?" she asks, eyes narrowed.
"The way you reacted when you found out about me and Edward and the way I reacted when I found out about you and Jas were totally different. You shut me out. You were mean. You were unforgiving, unrelenting, unrealistic. I missed you. I missed my friend, my girl. I understand why you reacted that way… mostly, but it still hurt, Alice. And when I found out about you and Jas, I was the one who made the first move. I asked you to sit with me and talk. I wanted to clear the air. I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I know!" Alice raises her voice. "I know, okay? I was a stubborn bitch, but that's the only way I knew how to deal with you and Edward without crying or screaming or throwing up! I felt stupid for not realizing it. I mean, how the fuck didn't I realize it? Looking back, the way he looked at you, always wanting to sit near you, inviting you to all his games… everything was so obvious. I thought it was because you were like his little sister, like me, but I was obviously way wrong."
I can't help but laugh because yeah, she is way wrong.
I feel better when Alice laughs too.
And then the front door opens and slams shut. Four feet and two voices fill the empty foyer. Edward runs past, drops his gym bag by the laundry door, and yells to his mom, "I'll get that! B's going to be here any minute!" and then he rushes up the stairs.
Jas walks by us slower, looking and smiling gently. He stops by the laundry room and I hear him empty their bags in the washer and start it before walking into the kitchen and talking to Mrs. Cullen.
"I guess you have to go," she says with a small smile.
"Yeah, I guess so," I agree.
I stand, straightening my clothes, and when I reach the archway into the foyer, Alice asks, "do you maybe want to hang out sometime?"
She stands, too, only she's heading into the kitchen from the dinning room.
I smile and nod. "Yeah, I'd like that."
We don't resolve a lot, but I feel better. I'm sure more questions will come up, and we're at a place now where we're comfortable, confident answering them for each other. My cheeks tingle from the first smile she's given me in months. Hope is a dangerous, exciting thing.
I wait for Edward in the kitchen next to Mrs. Cullen as she rearranges the contents of the pantry. Boxes of cake, tubs of icing, and cans of vegetables line the island as she's on her hands and knees, scrubbing the wood.
"We have an away game next Thursday," Jas says, marking it on the calendar on the fridge. "We probably won't be home until late."
Jas looks at me as he takes his seat on the stool. No ride home from Edward that day I guess.
"I'll have to remember to ask my mom to pick me up that day."
"If I had my own car, I could take us home," Alice says pointedly, speaking to her mom. I square my shoulders, excited at the idea that she used the word us in this hypothetical situation.
Mrs. Cullen doesn't miss a beat. "If you could keep your room clean and show some responsibility around here, you could earn one."
"Hey, Pretty," Edward says, walking up behind me to kiss my shoulder. "When'd you get here?" I don't have to turn around to see the smile lighting up his face, but I do anyways.
I'm right. His teeth are Colgate sparkly and fresh. He's in joggers, a white and gray striped shirt, and zipped up hoodie. He looks relaxed but still so incredibly good. God, my boyfriend is so freaking hot.
"Awhile, actually," I tell him honestly. "Alice and I were talking."
"Yeah?" he asks, brows raised, glancing from his girl to his sister. He's excited for me. He knows what this means.
"Yep," Alice says, settling in next to Jasper on a stool.
"Cool," Edward says with a nod and smile. "I think we're going to drive down to the beach." He stops to look at me, then to the couple in front of us. "Want to join?"
He looks from Jas to Alice.
Alice looks form Jas to me.
I smile in invitation. I guess we'll get to hang out a lot sooner than we thought.
"Okay," she shrugs.
Nervousness swims in my blood and sinks into my marrow. What if we're boring? What if we have nothing to talk about? What if we're not us anymore? What if too much time has passed? What if she—
"Be safe," Mrs. Cullen calls, interrupting my anxiety.
Edward hands the keys to Jasper as he walks by. "We'll be there in a minute."
Edward shuts the front door as they walk out, checks to make sure his mom is preoccupied, then backs me against the wall in the foyer.
"Baby," he whispers against my neck. "Baby, baby, B," he calls, placing his lips across my collar bone, up my neck, to my ear, then my jaw.
Our hips are separated, on purpose, but I want the friction, so I try to rub myself against his thigh, his knee, his anything.
He laughs against my cheek and kisses me softly. He plays with my lips, gives me his tongue and his spit, and then pulls back. He's definitely swollen in his joggers, and I wish he hadn't invited them with us. We could have tried what he's whispered in my ear, over the phone, late at night so many times—me on top in his backseat.
Edward takes my hand and leads me to his car.
"If I didn't do that now, it'd be the only thing I was thinking of tonight," he explains.
"Mhm," I tell him.
Jas and Alice are in the back, and when we get in, Jasper says, "see, Al, they weren't fucking."
Alice hits Jasper's arm, I shake my head, and Edward barks out a laugh.
"Fuck no. I'm not a minute man," Edward says proudly.
"Just drive!" Alice yells from the back.
We laugh and it almost feels like it used to.
At the beach, we park as close as we can to sand so we can hear the crash of the water with our windows up. We're all silent for a very long time. Edward's hand rests atop of thigh, and I hold it there.
There are two other cars parked next to each other. Edward and Jas know the guys in them from a traveling basketball team in the off season. After some time, both cars drive off, and we're totally alone and secluded.
He kills the engine and Jas lights up in the back.
He takes a hit and passes it to Alice. She takes two before passing it to me. I inhale slightly and pass it to back to Alice, but Edward grabs my wrist and pulls the joint to his lips. He's looking at me so intensely it makes my fingerprints tingle.
"Aren't they doing drug tests?" I breathe. He told me he and Jas had to cut back on smoking due to random drug tests for basketball.
"Turns out coach was bending the truth." He inhales deeply again before passing it back to Jasper. "They almost never drug test in high school and they only do it for suspected steroid use."
He looks right at me as he blows smoke my way. The smoke is warm and skunky, but I inhale whatever he gives me because it came from him.
We share one another round, and this time I inhale deeper, watching him watch me. His smirk says careful and my lungful of smoke says always.
It doesn't take long for Edward's eyes to hood and lazy laughs escape us all. Jas and Alice cuddle in the back, her back to his chest. Edward's leaned against the console so I can rest my head against is shoulder.
He reaches forward to turn up the volume of the music that Jasper controls from his phone. It's dark and raspy but moves in sync with the water in front of us somehow.
"I want to taste your skin when we get home," he whispers.
"Okay," I tell him softly.
"Your knees, the bend of your elbow, between your toes—"
"No, Edward, ew. Not there."
He straightens and looks at me. "Yes. Everywhere."
I roll my eyes, give me an exasperated chuckle, and settle back on his shoulder. "Ok, whatever."
"Your fingernails, the back of your neck, under your chin…"
He goes on to name random places he wants to put his tongue. I take the joint from Jasper, it's nearly gone now, and inhale deepest yet as he places his mouth to my ear and says, "your clit."
I don't choke in surprise, but I shiver gently and circle my hips. I know he waited until I had a lungful of smoke to give me those words, but it was worth it.
We spend the rest of our night at the beach listening to music, talking about our future, discussing when Rose and Em will break up again.
"They won't," I defend.
"You're on crack," Alice argues. "Those two are complete nut bags."
"Yeah, they're literally perfect for each other."
Edward shakes his head. "They are for sure."
"They'll be married by twenty," I venture.
"Because she'll be knocked up," Alice adds.
We all laugh because it's probably true, but I meant what I said about those two being perfect for each other. They're the right mix of vain and kind with a dash of crazy. Okay, a heaping cup of crazy.
On the way home, I make Edward stop and grab snacks from the gas station. He rarely denies me, and tonight is no different as I pile candy bars, chips, and two giant red slushies onto the counter. The employee pops her gum and gives us a knowing look. Edward pays without a word and kisses me silly as he opens my door. I throw the bag at Jasper and hand Alice a slushy.
Her eyes light up. She's not nearly as sleepy as she usually is when she's high… and then I realize it's because it wasn't just weed she was doing then.
Alice is alive and giggly and loud. She dives into her slushy and sucks it down before we make it home.
In the basement, Alice puts something on the TV, but I'm too busy reveling in the fact that I can sit in the basement with my friends and my boyfriend without hiding anymore. Maybe it's the fact that Alice is high and happy, but she doesn't say anything when she turns around to see my back against Edward's chest as we cuddle in the corner.
"Snickers?" she asks.
I nod and she tosses it to me as she takes a bite of her Cheetos. Jasper sits on the floor behind her, back against the couch, watching as she bounces around to find him a snack.
Edward tosses a blanket over us and wraps his arm around my chest.
"Hi, Baby," he whispers, kissing the nape of my neck, his fingers tickle the side of my breast.
I nuzzle into him and relax, enjoying a blissful moment with my guy, Jas, and Al.
~!~
The next day at home, I help mom with the grocery list for Thanksgiving. Dad's off, so mom wants to cook a huge dinner.
"We could invite the Cullen's," she offers.
I think about it before shaking my head. "I think it'll be nice if it's just us."
Plus, I don't want the stress of dad maybe finding out about me and Edward.
Mom shrugs and nods. "Maybe we'll invite grandma and grandpa."
I give mom a questioning look. It's not that mom doesn't like her in-laws, they're nothing but nice and doting and usually bring me a present every time they visit. But they always have an opinion about something.
"Maybe," she says again.
~!~
It's the night before Thanksgiving, and I'm bored out of my mind. We had off of school today, and I helped mom with some prep for tomorrow. She did invite grandma and grandpa, and they're coming in tomorrow morning.
Dad's home, sleeping off the nightshift he worked last night. He and mom occupy the living room. I watch movies with them in between doing some reading and texting my boyfriend.
Come over.
Can't. I'd miss mom sketching and dad snoring on the couch.
I need you.
What's wrong?
I just need you.
Are you okay?
?
He never responds. Thirty-three minutes later, I make an excuse to go up to my room and call him.
"Hi, B," he whisper-yawns.
"What's wrong?" I ask, panic slowly subsiding as I realize he was asleep.
"Nothing, what's wrong with you?"
"You said you needed me."
"Always need you, B."
"What did you mean?"
I hear him yawn and stretch and sigh contently. "My dick was hard. I needed you."
I shake my head and sit on my bed. I give him a frustrated groan.
"Was? Needed?"
"Mhm."
"So you…?"
"I what?"
"Edward!"
He chuckles lowly in my ear, knowing full well what he does to me.
"What?"
I lean back into my pillows and sigh.
"Did you want to join me, Pretty B?"
"Maybe."
"Well, shit. Keep talking. I can get it up again."
My giggle fills the phone. "Edward," I say in a soft moan, mostly teasing.
"Bella," he sighs back.
"I wish you were here."
"Me too. What would we be doing?"
I smirk as I stand, shut and lock my door, and lay back on my bed.
"Well, my parents are downstairs, so you'd have to sneak in. Maybe you could climb the lattice under my window, but you have to be quiet. My dad has an ear for kinky boys trying to get in his innocent daughter's room."
He's quiet for a moment too long.
"Edward?"
And then my phone vibrates. I pull it back and see the last thing I'd ever expect just as he says, "I've jerked off to that scenario since I could see up your fucking pajama shorts, Bella. Hearing you say… knowing that you think that too… that's what you do to me."
I gape at the picture on my bright screen. It's Edward's very hard, very long, very thick cock. His fist wraps around what he can grasp.
I can't form the words I want to say like I want to put that cock in my mouth right now and remember what it feels like inside my pussy? so I just don't say anything. But I stare. Boy, do I stare.
"Was that too much? Fuck, I'm sorry. I should have… I should have asked before I sent that, B."
"No," I interrupt, "no." I breathe heavily. "I, uh, I like it."
"Yeah?"
"Like, really like it."
I slip my fingers into my sweats and touch the smooth skin of my center. When my middle finger slips between my lips, I whimper gently.
"Wh-what are you doing?" he whispers.
"Touching myself."
He grunts and breaths. I can't hear him grasp himself or work his fist up and down, but I know the sounds he makes when I do it, and if I close my eyes, I can picture him laying on his bed doing exactly what he sent me. And then I have a thought.
"When you imagine me touching myself, what do you picture?" I ask softly, curiously.
"A lot," he admits. "Your fingers on your clit rubbing circles, your fingers pushed in as far as they'll go, imagining it's my cock, your pointer and middle finger spreading your lips so I can see that pink pussy."
I squeeze my lips together and muffle the moans. "Keep going," I urge as I strip from the waist down.
He continues talking about how he pictures me, what he sees when he pleasures himself, everything that turns him on. I take my phone and do one of the poses he told me before. Legs spread, fingers pulling lips apart, and snap a picture of my wet, pink center. I send it before I back out.
"I love you," I breathe out, going back to rubbing myself faster. He can tell I'm close by the breathiness of my words, and he urges me to come, to allow myself to feel whatever I need to, to open up and explode with small, tight circles around my clit. And I do. I press my lips together and breathe slowly, harshly through my intense, quiet orgasm.
I come down and laugh gently.
Edward laughs with me.
"Did you get it?" I ask.
"Get what, B?"
I'm shy and embarrassed now that I'm off the ledge and maybe I should have never sent that picture. He didn't ask for it, so maybe he doesn't want it. Maybe he'll think it's disgusting. Maybe he—
"Holy. Fuck."
Now I can hear the slam of his fast on his groin. Now I can hear the breaths he pulls in, the struggle not to grip my hair and force my mouth down, the rigidity of his muscles as he imagines my mouth then my pussy wrapped around him.
"Jesus fucking Christ," he grunts out harshly. His breath is static filled, and I know it's because his mouth is right by the microphone as he has the phone pulled away from his ear to look at me.
"Fuck," he drawls and grunts and shivers.
His breathing slows. He takes deeper lungfuls. He whispers love.
"Get your ass over here now, Bella."
I hang up, clean up, and smile gently at what I have the ability to do to him.
I brush my hair, curling the ends, and slip into black jeans and light pink sweater. My lips are swollen red from biting back moans, so I put on some gloss.
Alice texts wanna sleep over? I'm gonna invite Rose too. I think we need a girls night… or whatever the hell you girls call it.
I send her back a wink and a heart emoji.
I'm on cloud infinity and when I walk downstairs to find dad snoring on the couch, I know it'll be easy to get away.
"Going to the Cullens?" mom asks, looking up from her sketch book. He fingertips are graphite grey and shiny.
"Alice wants to have a girl's night. Is that ok?"
Mom smiles with a nod. "Be home early tomorrow, okay honey? Your grandparents will want to spend as much time with you as they can."
I nod, lean over and kiss her cheek. "Thanks, mom."
~!~
When I run into my second home, Mr. Cullen wraps a blue silk tie around his collar and Mrs. Cullen stabs a diamond into her ear. She's draped in a gold, sequin dress that trails on the floor and she never once falls as she slips into her heels.
Impressive.
"Bella," Mr. Cullen smiles. "You really do have my son smitten," he laughs and shakes his head.
"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.
"If that boy isn't talking to you, he's talking about you."
His smile never falls. He looks at me in the mirror as he ties the fabric with ease. His smile turns to a smirk as he glances behind me to the stairs and I see where his son gets it from. I turn to find Edward.
"Can you really blame me, dad?"
Mr. Cullen's smirk stays in place and he shakes his head.
Alice takes the steps two at time and yanks me by the wrist.
"I need you. Right now."
"Alice Cullen, be good tonight," her dad calls.
"She's my girlfriend!" Edward yells as I'm yanked passed him.
I throw him my best I'm sorry face and follow Al upstairs and into her room. She slams the door, locks it, and turns to me with wide, frightened eyes.
"I'm fucking pregnant."