I have no excuse except life's been busy...oh yeah, and it's Baseball season. I promise I have tons of prewritten chapters for you all, and they're even edited! Yay! Now back to some of my favorite baseball players...
Chapter 8- Bella
"You make me wanna make a margarita, You make me wanna put on my shades, You take me on a trip around the world, Don't need to hop on a plane, When I'm with you girl it's like I'm on vaca, I guess what I'm trying to say is, You make every day like a holiday." Holiday- Chris Young
Edward and Carlisle showed up at our door about 35 minutes later. Esme and I were both ready, we opted for sunscreen instead of make up, pony tail and bathing suits so we were prepared for fun.
We grabbed breakfast burritos and left the resort on mopeds. Obviously I chose to ride with my man, so that leaves Esme to hold on tightly to Carlisle as we zip around people as we make our way to the markets.
Edward is wearing a pair of board shorts but he's pulled his t-shirt off as we drive. He says he didn't want a farmer's tan, but I think it's so I could put my hands right on his skin, instead of holding on through his shirt. I won't lie, I'm not sad that his incredible set of abs are on display for my eyes to feast on and my hands to rest on.
Apparently the few hours of sleep I got was not enough, because on our ride to the market I rested my head on Edward's warm shoulder and looked out at the lush green scenery. Every so often his head would tilt back and kiss me, or his arms would flex and hold my arms closer for a few seconds. I loved that he was okay with physical affection, I was and always had been a touchy feely person.
My parents were that way, always hugging, kissing or holding hands. Nothing graphic but you definitely knew they were in love with each other. A forever kind of love. I knew from a small age as I watched my dad take care of and love my mom with all his heart that I would marry a man who was comfortable enough with affection. At the time I didn't know that's what it amounted to but now I do.
We haven't talked much about families when we're together, but I get the feeling that he's close with his family. There is an ease about him that screams that he came from a well adjusted, loving home. I feel so at odds with this concept, because for so many years I had that picture of perfection, and then my world was ripped apart. It was like the first half of my life was erased and I had a new reality. Both sides feel at home and yet foreign in my memories. It makes me more determined to find a man who is dead set on getting and staying married. Providing a stable home life for my kids so they have one set of memories instead of two.
"Hey, where'd you go?" Edward asks over his shoulder.
I kiss his warm skin, and smile. Even without eye contact he could feel my distance. How does he do that in such a short amount of time?
"I'm here, just thinking." My lips ghost across his skin, slowly. I feel his shiver as it runs up his spine.
"Good things?" His smile is devious. Well, I'm definitely thinking 'good things' now.
"Well now I am." He chuckles deeply that I feel against my chest. Every single thing he does just continues to turn the heat up between us. Bit by bit, eventually it's going to devour us, I just know it. The problem is not the devouring part, it's in knowing I'm okay with it.
"We're almost there." He tilts his chin as I see the street widen and open up to a large outdoor market. It's not crowded but it certainly has more people than our little resort does. There seems to be all sorts of items from handmade crafts to food. I can't wait to get off the scooter and look around.
When we come to a stop I pull my hair brush out and run it through my hair, I pass it to Esme when I'm done. Carlisle and Edward are running their fingers through theirs. So I pass along the brush to them, as well. We set off shopping.
Edward reaches over and holds my hand while we walk. Esme and Carlisle are a little more hesitant but they are definitely walking closer than two people who don't like each other would. Her eyes are lit up and conversation has flowed between them almost constantly since we left the resort. I couldn't hear what was said as we drove here but I could definitely tell that they talked incessantly. I'm so happy for Esme, she's had to work so hard and focus on her career that she hasn't really had time to focus on her social life, much less her love life. I know she's ready to settle down and start a family. I just pray that it happens for her, she deserves the life she's dreamed of and so much more.
"Cute, huh?" His hip bumps my hip as he tilts his chin in Carlisle and Esme's direction.
"Yeah, I hope she has a good time, she's worked so hard and she deserves a good time where she can focus on just her." I don't want to give away too many of Esme's secrets but she deserves it for sure.
"Carlisle too. He's coming out of a dark place, I think she'll be good for him, if he'll just relax and allow her to lead him." I glance at Carlisle and take in his face. He has kind eyes and an infectious smile, but at the edges you can see the pain and hurt etched. In between the jokes and laughter, the hard edges show. Esme is perfect for him, she never allows anyone to focus on negativity. She can see the bright side of anything and laughs her way till she gets to the bright side.
"What about you, any dark places in your past?" I ask as I pick up a handmade doll and buy a couple for my younger sister. He waits for me to finish my transaction and place the dolls in my big purse before he talks.
"Nothing really. A few sad times when I've lost friends, but over all a normal life." He takes my hand and pulls me close. "Wanna talk about yours?" He asks. We touched on my dad some last night at dinner.
"I mean, how do you even talk about such a life altering thing? There's so many emotions, and thoughts that you go through, even now. I think of things that will happen, my college graduation, and getting married, and my kids coming along and all those will happen without my dad. I don't know how to feel about that, you know?" I don't want to bring the mood down but I don't want to brush off his question like it means nothing either.
"My sister, Alice, is a sports psychologist. And I've heard her say many times that we have to focus on the good times when they were with us, and remember that they are still with us so whatever we go through they are still here going through it with us."
"That's a good way to look at it, I never thought of that." My watery smile grows as I think about my dad always being with me. "He did used to say, 'no matter what, Slugger, no matter how old you get, I'll always be here'." Edward's smile is a mixture of sweet and sadness. "Tell your sister thanks for me, that helps."
"I will." We walk in silence, each of us picking up items and looking around. Carlisle and Esme are still talking up a storm. I can't help but smile every time I hear their laughter behind us.
When we reach the end of the market, my purse is loaded down with souvenirs for everyone. Some fresh fruit for us and a few sweets for Edward and I to share later. Edward, Esme and Carlisle each have a bag stuffed full of souvenirs as well.
Carlisle told us about his three kids as he showed us what he bought for them. Esme's eyes lit up at the mention of kids. We move on when he whips out his phone and starts with the pictures and videos. I can almost hear Esme's ovaries screaming from this far away. I don't know Carlisle's story but I sure do see the check marks appearing on Esme's bucket list for a man. He might just have them all, well that is until we see his feet. Esme has a weird thing of not dating men with ugly feet. There's a story there but I can't remember it all so I tune it out. I just listen and hand over the ice cream when she comes over crying about breaking up with them for foot reasons.
"Dear Lord, What smells so good?" I lift my nose and sniff the air. "It smells like fresh donuts, I want one." I drag Edward with me. For several blocks I follow my nose until we find a cafe with pastries, donuts and coffee. I take our bags and find a table while Edward goes to order us some donuts and coffee.
We sit and people watch until Carlisle and Esme find us.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let's head to our next destination." Carlisle says as we gather our trash and head back to the scooters. "Emmett and Rosalie will be waiting for us at our next stop."
"I was going to ask where he was." I reply. When Esme climbs on the moped behind Carlisle, I take notice that she scoots as close as she can to him.
"Rosalie works at the resort and she had to cover a partial shift for someone so he waited for her and they'll meet us in a few minutes." Edward explains. "I swear he's ready to marry her, she's Blonde, she plays Fortnite, which he's obsessed with, and she cooks. We might have to be witnesses for them." We all laughed but I couldn't help but wonder, could it be that easy?
I was quiet the entire ride to our next stop. Edward was as well, maybe we were both in our heads, who knew. I certainly wasn't going to ask him what he was thinking because I didn't want to have the question turned back on me. I was saved from answering anything because the moped slowed and turned down a tree lined drive. Emmett and Rosalie wait for us on a wide front porch beside a blue door that reads, 'Maldives Animal Preserve'.
We spend several hours walking from animal to animal, we see sting rays, turtles, and every color of fish in the rainbow. We decided not to swim out and look at the coral reef a few hundred feet off shore.
The three couples got along well, and Rosalie's sass sure fit in well with mine and Esme's. She had a temper, but she loved to joke around so it only came out once or twice to reign Emmett in some.
The sun was beginning to set when we drove away from the Animal Preserve. Carlisle pulled up beside us and shouted over to Edward. "We're gonna head over to the beach to watch the sunset." He tilted his chin towards the right. We could see a small slice of the beach between the dunes.
"Okay, we'll meet you back at the resort later then?" Carlisle nodded.
Esme's smile was massive and her arms seemed to adjust just a bit tighter around Carlisle's waist. He veered off and Emmett's moped took his place.
"What's up with them?" Emmett called out.
"They're going to watch the sunset at that beach, I'm thinking that's not a bad idea. Wanna come?" Emmett peeked over his shoulder at Rosalie. She just shrugged.
"Okay, let's do it."
We ditched our shoes on our blanket and walked down to the edge of the water. Even this late in the evening it was still so warm on our toes. I turn to face Edward, he's so much taller than I am, that even on my tip-toes he has to bend down slightly to allow me to kiss him. He turns me in his arms and runs his nose along my shoulder blade. "So this is the infamous tattoo, huh?" It takes me a minute to remember our conversation at the restaurant.
"Yeah, that's it." He pulls away a little and runs his finger down then back up my spine as he traces it.
"I like it, it's sexy." He kisses at the very top of the tattoo, and pulls me close to him again. Neither of us wanted to get wet so we trailed back up to the beach and sat on the still warm sand. I wrapped a blanket around our shoulders and we leaned in close together. The silence laid between us like a well loved pet, comforting and understanding. The time we had together, watching the sunset and on the island, were fleeting and it felt good to know that we didn't have to fill it with wasted words just to make ourselves feel better.
"You ready to head out?" The break in silence is almost jarring, even though the words were barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, I want to get some sand from the beach to take home with me, though." I stand and walk toward the edge of the water where the small waves broke.
I pull a glass bottle out and scoop enough sand into it to take home and to remember the trip by.
"Hey, where'd you get that?" Edward asks.
"I bought a set of them today at the market, when you and Carlisle were talking about fishing, why?" I add a little more sand and push the cork topper back on it.
"You have another one?" He reaches to the slight bulge in my pocket where the extra bottle rested.
"Yeah, why, you want it?" I ask.
"I do." His hand extends and I place the bottle in it. I like the fact that somewhere in the world will be a bottle of sand that matches mine. Forever tied together, even though they are miles apart.
Edward bends and scoops up some sand for his bottle as well, he packs it full and stands to face me. "Now, we have matching bottles." His smile is infectious, and his sentiment is perfect.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." I lean towards him. He draws me closer and wraps an arm around my shoulders, placing a kiss on my temple.
"See, we've been together long enough we're even starting to think alike." I burst out laughing and smack his stomach with the back of my hand.
"You've had too much sun exposure, you're delirious now. Let's get you indoors." We lace our fingers together and quietly climb back up the dunes to the moped.
Our plans were to go back to the resort to all have dinner together, but I noticed that Emmett and Carlisle's mopeds were gone. Looks like we are on our own for the evening, and I wasn't sad about it.
Being with Edward felt so natural. He had a calm ease about him that made you feel like you knew him your whole life, but his fun loving nature would rival any comedian for sure. And don't even get me started on that sweet southern drawl or those beautiful deep green eyes that seemed to have a direct path to my soul. Touching, oh my gosh, the touching. I loved a man who was touchy freely, and a good hugger. It showed a vulnerability when someone is comfortable drawing you in to their personal space. Plus there was something about the roughened skin on his fingers that sent shivers running up and down my spine when he touched me.
Edward was definitely a catch and I was glad he liked my bait!
LMWM—-LMWM
Songs- Holiday- Chris Young