Good morning, darlings!

I love how many of you are split on Bella. This is not sweet, demure Bella. She's crass, sassy, and grumpy as hell.

Thank you so much to my beta, Fran S. Sunflower as well as my pre-reader, DaniDarlingxx.

Day 5: March 17, 2020

Jasper

12:13 PDT

Los Angeles, California

My truck and Emmett's SUV are loaded. Somehow, between the four of us, we've been able to clear out the house we've been renting for almost two years. Though we've been living with both Felix and Seth for years now, our goodbyes are both short and sweet. I appreciate they don't linger and draw it out.

On my way to her … I mean our place, I stop by the store to pick up beer, per Alice's request. I'm practically giddy thinking about officially moving in with her.

I haven't told my family, mostly because my ultra-conservative mother would likely try to shame me from Texas, and really, I don't want to deal with it. I get enough shit from everyone back home because I moved to California for school. Like I wasn't going to take my chance to get out of Texas.

Briefly, I take a minute to appreciate that at least Ali's family likes me. It's a relief because I plan on marrying her, and we need someone's family to be on board. Not that my parents hate Alice. It's near impossible not to love Alice, but I know my family pokes fun at her behind my back. She's too city for them, not country enough.

It had been a combination of student loans and working a near full-time job that had allowed me to come out to California in the first place. My family had been willing to help me if I'd gone to school in Texas, but as soon as I went west, they dropped me like an old fish. It had been a tough as hell four years, but Alice made it all worth it. That's not to say my education wasn't worth it, I knew it was, or I wouldn't have sacrificed as I did for it, but meeting Alice is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I wish it were as easy for my family to see that.

I stop for the beer, and the store is insane, which makes me irritated. I grab a few cases, hoping to tide us over, so we don't have to make a trip again soon.

A guy in head-to-toe green holds his hand out for a high five when he sees me at the checkout. It's only now I realize it's Saint Patrick's Day. Idly, I wonder what parties are happening tonight and if I should grab more beer.

Beer, I'm told went almost as fast as toilet paper. I don't drink a lot (almost never) so I didn't know this, but I guess I could have assumed. lol.

Quick little random bit. I post daily photos for these chapters (did you know?) and I'm now exclusively posting them on to my group. If you are interested in seeing those, head on over (link in profile). I'm also posting exclusive content from other WIPs as well as teasers for a new story I have coming next week, Vengeance.

See you loves tomorrow!