Twenty Eight

BELLA

"You know, if you want you can stop that," I smile at Rosalie, "I know you sneak him in. If you're moving past before then that's great. I support you both."

Her eyes narrow at me.

For months Rosalie had been sneaking around with Emmett. Despite having caught him leaving countless times on a morning, she refused to acknowledge that I knew.

They still weren't ready to jump into a relationship. They didn't date. It was purely sex. But it was frequent enough that they might as well be in a relationship.

"I have no clue what you mean," she shrugs.

"Emmett does the same thing at my place," Edward says through a mouthful of cereal.

"He snuck out this morning again," I smile at him, "he thinks if he doesn't look at me I won't see him or something."

"Rosalie just struts out," he laughs.

"Both of you shut up," Rosalie stalks out of the room huffing.

"You'd think they'd be in better moods with all the sex they're both getting," I smirk.

"Tell me about it," Edward scoffs, "Emmett is a dick lately. Did you see Alice's scan? She texted it late last night."

"I saw this morning before you woke up," I smile.

She was weeks away from her delivery but it could happen any moment according to her doctors. The rest of us had returned to classes. Jasper was managing to balance both Alice, the hockey team and his degree impressively. The official opening of his bar was the week after graduation in a few weeks. Alice had started up her own small Etsy shop selling jewellery she has made. Some of the pieces left me in awe. She said she'd finish her degree next semester once she had adjusted to the baby.

"I can't wait to cuddle her," I smile.

"Do you want to have kids one day?" He asks.

I look at him, studying his face.

"With you?" I ask.

"I'd hope so," he nods, "I think we'd make beautiful kids."

"So you want to be a dad?" I smile at him happily.

I can't believe we are discussing forever together right now.

"Of course. I've always imagined teaching my kid to skate," he nods, "I would give you foot rubs whenever you wanted when you're pregnant. I'd even play bad cop for you when we need to discipline so you're the favourite."

"Is this a sales pitch?" I laugh.

"Only the product is a lifetime commitment and the actual purchase is fun. Like we get to be naked," he teases.

I laugh loudly, leaning in close to kiss him.

"You think we can go that distance?" I ask.

"Yes," he nods, "you're it for me."

"I think kids would be fun. Besides, Alice's baby will eventually need a cousin," I say standing up.

I move to sit across his lap as he sits at the dining table. His arms immediately wrap around me, mine go around his neck.

"Are you nervous about the game tonight?" I ask.

This week was the semi finals. The game they needed for the finals.

"More anxious. You'll be there right?" He asks.

"Of course I'll be there," I smile, "I'll be the loudest one in there cheering on my superstar hockey boyfriend."

"Then I'll be the luckiest guy on the ice," he smirks, "where'd Rosalie disappear to?"

"Upstairs," I shrug, "why?"

"I need a shower," he leans in to kiss my neck, "you also smell disgusting. You should definitely join me."

"I already showered," I moan quietly.

"It didn't work," he nips at my neck, "I can help you?"

"You don't mean sexually right?" I pull back smiling at the lust in his grin.

"Never," his hand squeezes my ass, "I'm just a concerned boyfriend."

"Oh that's a shame," I lean close to his ear so only he hears my next sentence, "I was really hoping you'd fuck me in the shower."

Months ago I was terrified to even hold this man's hand. I was scared he'd use me and dump me. But I knew his obsession for me only grew. I was confident in his arms. He'd not even glanced at another woman since we started 'fake dating' all those months ago.

I'd helped him score his grade and he'd help me unleash a wild side I'd always struggled with. But that side was just his. Only he got to appreciate it.

"It can be arranged," he grinds my ass down, letting me know he was ready to play.

"Let's go then," I stand laughing as he smacks my ass.

"Come on Jasper," Emmett shouts from beside me.

Rosalie watches him from my other side. Alice sits beside her hand on her round belly. I smile watching her take in the game, probably as confused as me.

"He's got it," Rosalie gasps.

Jasper smacks the puck to Edward, who easily smashes it into the goal.

"Yes!" Rosalie squeals.

I jump up with Emmett cheering loudly. Edward high fives Jasper, before turning to look in my direction. He waves at me and my heart skips a beat.

"Your love is almost disgusting," Emmett laughs, "I've never seen him so tied up by a woman."

"Oh and that's a bad thing?" Rose asks

He studies her as we sit down.

"I'm happy for you Bella," Rosalie shrugs.

"Are you guys fighting again?" I sigh.

"Nope," Emmett shakes his head, "Rosalie is just going to perpetually keep me in the booty call box. I've asked her on dates, asked her to make it official. She keeps refusing."

"Do you forget how much you hurt me?" Rosalie snaps louder than desired.

I hush her, sending an apologetic glance at a group beside us.

"I know how much I hurt you, but I've grovelled for months. I purchased flowers, came late at night for you to rant about school, I've cooked for you, I've cancelled plans for you," he lists, "I have shared deep and dark secrets, I've introduced you to my mother, I held back your hair the other week while you were vomiting. When she was sick I came and took care of you. I missed a game for that. I washed her car, I held her while she cried during Titanic..."

We'd all noticed Emmett's efforts. I was shocked Rosalie was making him work as hard as he has been. I'd have taken him back by now.

"I'm not talking about this here," Rosalie huffs.

"She won't talk about it later either after she calls me to come over," he shakes his head.

"Be patient," I rub Emmett's back, "keep offering your hand."

Soon enough the final buzzer sounds and we all cheer out for our team. We'd won. When Edward sees me he lifts me, excited. I squeal with laughter, feeling the happiest I think I ever had.

"You did it," I kiss him, "you won. And you looked so hot doing it."

"My shower buddy this morning motivated me," he chuckles, "you look incredible."

I was wearing just jeans and a hoodie.

"Let's go back to the bar," Jasper says, "it's needing finishing touches but the alcohol is all there now."

"You guys suck," Alice sighs cuddling into Jasper's side.

"I'll take your shots," Rosalie smiles.

Emmett leans to grab Rose around the waist. For a moment she sinks into him, but then she pulls away. Hurt flashes over his eyes for a moment, but he manages to brush it off.

"Lets go," Jasper clears his throat, "I want my girlfriend off her feet. That baby is heavy cargo."

"She is," Alice huffs rubbing her stomach.

Edward leans down kissing my cheek again.

Together we return to Jasper's bar. We sit out the back in the small courtyard he has converted to an outdoor living space just for him and Alice. There's a BBQ, a seated swing. There's a water feature and a space for the baby to eventually play. He'd turned it into a home ready for memories to be collected.

Rosalie and Emmett refuse to meet each other's eyes. Emmett had even insisted we sit inside. We had no idea what it was about until Rosalie whispered into my ear.

"Emmett and I had sex out here while it was raining," she said.

I turn to look at her in total shock.

"What!" I shout.

The others turn to look at me confused, Emmett stares at Rose as if knowing what she had confessed.

"Nothing," I shake my head quickly.

Once they've returned to what I distract them from Rosalie smiles at me shyly, shrugging.

"Why are you two fighting again?" I ask.

"I'm scared," she admits, "I am in love with him. I'm scared to go back there. What if it happens a third time."

"I think you're overlooking the fact he has worked so hard to prove he is reliable," I say, "he is at your call lately."

"I'm just… I can't do it again," she bites her lip.

"I know," I nod, "do you trust him?"

She looks over at Emmett.

"Yes," she mutters, "I am in love with him. I just want to be with him every second. I just want to count on him. It just feels as if he is the one but it's always the wrong time."

"You can count on him," I say, "I think he learned his lesson. Sex is great, but what about the future? Do you see him in it?"

"I don't know," she shrugs, "because his mind might change."

"You need to make your decision," I pat her hand, "I think either way you will recover. Let him go or let him in."

She nods looking over at him. I knew her mind had been made up. She didn't even need to say it out loud.

"I'm so proud of you," I smile at Edward as he stalks from his ensuite bathroom.

I'd curled up in his bed as he jumped into the shower. He'd offered me to stay at his tonight and I'd pounced at the offer considering I heard Rosalie invite Emmett over to 'chat'.

"Thank you baby," he smiles at me, "I'm so happy there's a chance to leave college on such a high like winning."

"I was thinking about what we said earlier. I was going to wait and tell you later when you won the actual final but you look so cute I can't hold it in," I smile.

"What's that?" He runs a hand through his wet hair, droplets flicking onto his chest, sliding down to the towel tied at his waist.

"Well your father called me last week," I smile, "he said he has a contact who owns a psychiatric practice in Chicago. He lined up a Skype meeting and she really liked me."

Edward's smile widens as each word departs my mouth.

"She offered me an entry level job," I grin, "so I'm going to need somewhere to stay. But we will get to be together. I'm looking at apartments."

"Fuck that. You'll move in with me," he sits beside me on the bed taking my hands.

"Your rent is worth more than I'll be paid," I shake my head.

Edward had already locked in a place. His father has purchased it with the promise of Edward returning him a rent. It was of course luxurious. His gym space was the size of the first floor of my house. It was a bachelor pad fitting for a hockey star.

"You're living with me," he says, "I'll have you dinner on the table when you get home, you'll never go horny for too long and I'll make sure you go to bed cuddled."

"Can you have me on the dinner table too?" I smirk.

"Oh, you're so naughty," he laughs, "I have seriously corrupted you."

"Or maybe I was already corrupt and you were who I needed to ignite it," I smile, "you were the right kind of wrong."

"I love you," he leans down and kisses me but quickly pulls away, "Isabella Swan."

"Yes, Edward Cullen?" I giggle.

"Where are your clothes?" His hand sinks beneath the thick bedspread over me.

"Oh. Wait," I raise an eyebrow feigning confusion, "I have no idea."

"God I have to marry you one day," he laughs cupping one of my breasts, "I need to make sure you're mine forever."

"I will be," I reach up placing a hand on his neck, "forever."

I throw back the covers as he leans down to kiss me. But my phone buzzes from his side table.

He huffs as I glance to it.

"It's Jasper? Why would he call me and not you?" I ask.

He shrugs as I lean over to pick it up and answer it.

"Bella. It's Alice," he sounds panicked.

"Jazz. What is it?" I ask sitting up, covering my body with the bedding.

Edward watches me worried.

"Alice. She's gone into labour," he says, "please come. I'm… I can't do this."

"Can't do what?" I ask.

Edward moves immediately, gathering my clothes, beginning to dress himself.

"Fatherhood, watch her growl out in pain. Bella she's in so much pain," he cries.

"We're coming," I say, "just hang on Jazz. You can do this okay. You're incredible. Edward will call Esme on the way."

"I'm going to be an uncle," Edward bounces excited as I hang up.

He was right. I really needed to make sure he was mine forever.

Thank you so much for reading . Xx