Three

EPOV

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A Very Important Question

—

"I don't remember the last time I've seen you this happy, Edward." My mom wrapped her arms around me, squeezing tightly. "Come on, I made you lunch." She gestured to the kitchen table.

"I can't remember the last time I felt this happy. She's...there aren't enough words to describe her. She's gorgeous, sweet, and so caring. You know what's funny, Ma?"

She leaned her elbows on the table, cupping her face in her hands. "Tell me, what's funny?" I knew she was teasing me, but her smile was huge.

"It's just that…she's so quiet. She's nothing like anyone I've ever dated before."

"Edward, from how you smile when you talk about her, it's easy to see that you love her. I think… well, we all know you've always been a bit...much." Mom laughed as I glared at her. "Oh please! You have been! I think she's a quiet place for you, and maybe she gets to live a little on the wild side when she's with you."

"I can't wait for you and Dad to meet her. I'm going to marry her."

Mom sat up, gasping and throwing a hand over her mouth. "Oh, Edward! You're already thinking about marrying her?"

I nodded. "There's never going to be anyone else. She's almost done with school, and between work and playing weekend gigs, I have a pretty good amount saved up. I thought I'd take her to look at houses, and when we find one we like, I was going to ask her to marry me there."

A small frown appeared on her face. "Edward, are you sure? A house and marriage...I understand you love her, but it's only been a few months. Your father and I haven't even met her, and after everything with Jessica—"

I stood from my seat, grabbing my keys off the table. "Bella is nothing like Jessica."

"Edward, please don't go. I wasn't trying to say she's like Jessica. It's just so soon. I didn't mean to upset you, I only want you to be sure. It's a big step, sweetheart."

"I've never been more sure about anything. You know how much I love playing with the guys, how my biggest dream is to make it big?" She nodded. "I'd give it all up in a heartbeat for her."

She reached for me, grasping my hand in hers. "Bring her over for dinner on Sunday. I need to get to know my new daughter."

—

I hovered above Bella, peppering kisses to her face as she squealed, pushing at my chest.

"Stop!" She squirmed underneath me. "You're going to give me a beard burn." She laughed.

I growled before nipping at her neck, grinding my now hard cock against her thigh. "Stop squirming unless you're ready to go again."

"No, I'm exhausted. Now get off me!" She pushed at my chest again and I rolled off of her, chuckling.

"Baby, I wanted to talk to you about something. I was at my parents' house the other day, and I was telling my mom about you. She wanted me to invite you to dinner on Sunday."

She was quiet for a while, and her silence had my heart in my throat. "Bella?"

"I've never met anyone's parents before," she whispered. "You know I love you, Edward, and I want to say yes, but…what if they don't like me?"

"That's not going to happen, they're going to love you. But, Bella, even if they didn't, you know that wouldn't matter, right? I love you, and nothing will ever change that."

"You say that now—"

I pulled her on top of me, cupping her face in my hands and kissing her deeply. "I said it because I mean it, I'm not just feeding you empty words. You know I've been in other relationships before, I've even been in love. But I've never felt for anyone what I feel for you, do you understand?"

I knew Bella had a rough time growing up. She hadn't shared everything with me yet, but I hoped with time she would.

Her parents had divorced when she was young, and her mother had custody of her. They had moved from town to town every few months, her mom never content to settle down. Renee had strings of different boyfriends in each town.

Bella had admitted to bouncing around from guy to guy, never letting herself get truly serious about anyone. Not that I could blame her; how could someone be expected to form bonds with people when they weren't taught how?

I was elated that she had chosen me to be the first—and hopefully last—person she gave her heart to.

Bella's only reprieve and sense of normalcy was the couple of weeks that she spent with her dad every summer. Unfortunately, her dad, Charlie, was killed in the line of duty when Bella was a teenager.

My heart ached for her and the childhood that was stolen from her. But I had hope that together we could heal her heart.

She laid down on top of me, resting her head on my chest. Her fingers played with the hair she found there. "I understand."

—

"She's a great girl, very intelligent, too. You did good, Son." My dad stood in the kitchen's doorway with me, watching as my mom and Bella washed the dishes together. They had clicked immediately, and the words "I told you so" were on the tip of my tongue. But I knew better than to speak them.

"Great doesn't even begin to cut it." I leaned in so that only my dad could hear me. "I want to ask her to marry me. I was going to wait until we found a house but—"

Dad grabbed me by the arm, pulling me into the living room. "Now? Are you saying you want to ask her now?"

I pulled the ring box from my pocket that mom had given me the week before. "Is there a reason to wait?"

"You're both so young, there's no need to rush—"

"When you knew Mom was the one, did you want to want to wait?"

He sighed, clapping me on the shoulder. "Do what you think is best, Edward. You know her better than I do."

—

I walked into the kitchen, Bella and my mom still at the sink, but now they were giggling over something.

I moved behind Bella, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her neck. "Mind telling me what's so funny?"

She rested her head on my chest, looking up at me. "Your mom was just telling me all of your embarrassing baby stories. She promised to show me all of your naked baby pictures, too."

"You know firsthand that it's all only gotten better with time," I said, waggling my eyebrows. I laughed as she blushed crimson.

"Edward!" she hissed, glancing over at my mom, whose shoulders were shaking with laughter.

"Are you done here? Can I steal you away for a few minutes, baby? I was hoping to show you the stream out back."

—

We walked hand in hand for a few minutes before we came to the water's edge. "What do you think about marriage?" She looked up at me, eyes wide, and I chuckled.

"Seriously, what do you think of it? Is it a waste of time? Do you think there's any value in it?"

"I, um...I don't think it's a waste of time, I mean, maybe it was for my parents. But a lot of people make it work, so there has to be some value in it, right?"

I hummed in reply. "I think we could make it work, don't you?"

"Edward—"

I dropped to one knee in front of her, pulling out the ring box and taking her hand in mine. "Bella, I love you beyond what words can convey. I know we've only been together for six months, but I can't envision my life without you. Will you marry me?"

She stood there for what felt like forever, just staring down at me. As the minutes ticked by, my nerves got the best of me. Obviously I'd been wrong in thinking now was the right time. I stood up, looking around awkwardly. "Um—"

"Yes."

My eyes widened in shock and I pulled her against me. "Yes? Yes, you'll marry me?"

"Yes, I'll marry you."