On My Way
Chapter 9
It's been three months and Esme has been my rock.
She's help me get rid of the old bed and bedding and get all brand new for my room, we added new doors and locks, plus more security cameras.
Jasper had written me a million letters and my voicemail was filled with messages from him, all unread and unlistened too.
"Bella, you know he's in love with you right?" Carlisle asked one evening over dinner.
"He has a funny way of showing it! One minute he doesn't want anything to do with me and the next he's trying to be all possessive because Edward tried to attack me again. It's ridiculous." I shook my head.
"Are you going to ever forgive him?" Esme asked.
"Yes. But I need time to heal and I wish he could respect that. But he can't. Now if you'll forgive me, I've got an early morning." I excused myself.
Once in my apartment, I showered and headed to bed, ready for a goodnights sleep, 3am came way too early.
After an extremely busy day at work, I headed to the gym, I knew I needed to release some of this stress. I went to kickboxing class.
"Bella, you need to do more to get this anger out of you." Alice said as we were talking on the phone later.
"I know. I'm trying but Jasper has me so worked up." I sighed.
"Just listen to the messages, read the letters, maybe you won't feel as wound up." Alice suggested.
"Alice, I don't know. I'm so conflicted. I care for Jasper, really. But, he's pushing me. Something he said he'd never do."
She told me to follow my heart and she knew it'd work out.
A few weeks went by and this one guy had been coming in over and over, he was always flirtatious and today he came in at the end of lunch rush and asked if I could have coffee with him, I agreed.
We sat in the corner, I learned more than his first name of Stephan, which I knew from his weeks of coming into the shop. He was a Project Manager, and was new to the Seattle area. His company had bought several abandon and rundown apartment buildings and were going to turn them into high end condos.
"So why do you think the condo will go over if the apartments didn't?" I asked.
"Bella, people like to own things. They'll take better care of it and this area is up and coming. Look, you bought here, right? You had a vision." He shrugged.
"Well, yeah." I smiled.
"And I have this vision, and a vision of you going to dinner with me on Friday."
"OK."
"OK?" he asked.
"Yeah. Why not. You only live once. I can't wallow in my self-pity forever."
"Whoever broke your heart was an idiot."
"Yeah well." I sighed.
"Put on your dancing shoes. I'm treating you to a night of fun. I think you deserve it."
"Ok. Sounds good. It can't be late though, I've got an early morning." I warned him.
"OK. We'll start early then. I'll pick you up at say 5pm? Early dinner?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect."
"Where should I pick you up at?" he questioned.
"Right here. That'll be fine."
"Ok. Friday at 5."
He kissed my cheek and I rushed over to the counter to finished help closing. After the guy had the trash taken out and checked the bathrooms to make sure the shop was empty, I sent everyone home and assured them I could finish up. I then set my phone out and listened to Jasper's messages, they were all apologies about being an ass and possessive, about trying to baby me. He wanted me to know he was stationed in Alaska, which I already knew due to his letters and Esme. After listening to them all saying the exact same thing, I decided to call Esme and let her know what was going on.
"Bella, Carlisle is working late. Care for a dinner date?" she asked.
"Sure. I just need to change."
"I'll be there in 20 minutes, pick you up in the back."
I ran upstairs and rinsed off in the shower, pulled my hair up in a messy bun after I'd put some dry shampoo in it, rubbed some lotion in, threw on some black leggings, a long grey and black sweater, my grey ankle boots and grabbed my purse and I was ready. I saw Esme pulling in and ran down the stairs.
"So, what sounds good for dinner?" I asked Esme. "My treat."
"Bella. You don't have too."
"Nonsense. You and Carlisle always trick me. He gets up to go to the bathroom and pays, every single time." I laughed.
"He's a gentleman." She shrugged.
"How about that steakhouse, the one with the good martini's?" she laughed.
"We're driving."
"We'll Uber and Carlisle can bring me back in the morning. I'll Valet." She shrugged.
"Ok. I'm game. I need a few. I finally listened to his messages." I sighed.
"Oh Bella." She squeezed my hand.
We arrived and Valeted.
Esme and I were seated immediately and ordered martini's and told the waiter to keep them coming!
"So, what did you have to tell me?" Esme's eyes sparkled waiting for a juicy secret.
"Well, I told you that I finally listened to his messages, I've been talking to Alice she's told me to follow my heart, and it'll help me make the right choice. I've also been taking these wonderful kickboxing classes… Oh man! They help get my aggression out…"
"Bella?"
"Stephan… Hi!" I smiled up at him. He was built a little broader than Jasper and had a couple inches on him, but I don't think he was as solid. He worked out, but I don't think he was as cut. "And who's this? Your sister?" he asked.
Gah, how to explain Esme? A friend? My rapists mother? The guy who's in love with me mother?
"This is a good friend of mine, Esme Cullen." I smiled.
"Very nice to meet you." He kissed her hand. "Bella, enjoy your evening. Anything you'd like tonight is on the house." He winked and walked away, after kissing my cheek.
"Alright young lady, you've got some explaining to do!" Esme was coming in hot.
"That's what I was calling you for tonight. He's been coming in the shop for weeks flirting, I finally agreed to have coffee with him today. He asked me on a date Friday. I accepted." I sighed.
"How do you think Jasper's going to react?"
"I don't know. We're not together Esme and I need to see if I truly have feelings for him. I went to dinner and stuff with guys during college, but there were no feelings, it could be I was just blocking everyone because of what happened. I need to experience real dating. Jasper's not here for that and when he was here, he never wanted to take me out, he was too busy being a guardian or some shit. I don't need protection, I need love and companionship." I told Esme truthfully.
"I so agree with you Bella."
We ate dinner and drank a lot.
Stephan came over and asked if he could get anything for us and I suggested an Uber, he said he could drive us to my place if that was alright and Esme and I agreed. Esme called Carlisle on the way to pick her up from there.
Carlisle was waiting and helped Esme into his car and asked if I was OK, eyeing Stephan and I nodded I was. Esme blurted we had a date on Friday and Carlisle chuckled before laying her across the back seat and waving goodbye.
Stephan helped me upstairs.
"This is nice." He smiled as he walked to my fridge and handed me a bottle of water.
"Thanks. I had a hand in the design. Esme is a designer as is my best friend. I told them what I wanted and this is the end product. UGH! I'm going to be in so much pain tomorrow." I groaned.
"Call out sick You're the boss."
"Speaking of boss. The steakhouse?" I asked.
"Oh, just something I dabble in. I own a couple restaurants."
"Oh. So, did you come in to my place to look to buy it or are you truly interested in me?" I snapped.
"I first came to look at the building. Last time I'd been to Seattle it was vacant and for sale. I was going to put an offer on it, but I ran out of time because of an emergency at the Steakhouse." He smiled. "I wanted to see who had bought it and what they'd done to it. Once I saw the beauty behind the counter, I couldn't stay away."
"Hmmm, smooth talker." I smiled.
"I try. Seriously. That is the truth."
"Forgiven."
"Take some Advil and drink lots of water, you'll feel better in the morning. And call me. I put my number in your phone." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I'm guessing you need to walk me out. You've got lots of alarms to set."
"Oh, uhhh. Yeah." I blushed.
"Hey, I didn't recognize who you were until you said Esme's last name. I can understand about the security. I'm honored you'd let me into your home." He brushed a piece of hair behind my hair, I flinched, barely. "You've healed well."
"I take kickboxing. His picture is on my bag. It's great incentive."
He nodded as he walked out the door.
Locking everything and settling all alarms, I walked back into my apartment, setting my alarms and climbing into the shower. Feeling at peace for the first time in a long time and looking forward to Friday.
AN:
Yes… This IS a Bella and Jasper story…
She just must make sure her feelings are true…
No, she will not sleep with Stephan…
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