20

E

When Edward gets to work on Wednesday morning, he's happy to see Emmett and Rosalie in the office going over something. Probably the books because Em's great with numbers, Ro's dyslexia plays tricks on her, and Edward is no help when it comes to the financial aspect of running a business.

He's happy to see them because there are a few rules he wants to go over before tonight.

He turns the ovens on to preheat and pokes his head in the room. "I need to talk to you when you're finished. Both of you."

They nod and go back to whatever it is they're doing.

Edward scrambles around prepping for the first wave of customers. When he has everything in the oven, his sister comes out of the office with a big smile on her face.

"Can I just tell you how fucking excited I am to finally meet your girlfriend? Seriously, I know we've only talked once and that it was over the phone, but I think we're best friends already."

"Stop right there," he tells her and calls for Emmett.

His brother-in-law comes stomping into the room. "What's up?"

Edward turns to his sister. "Ro, just talking like that is going to overwhelm her. You have to be cautious. I need you to be on your best behavior tonight. That goes for both of you."

"We're not children, Edward. We know how to act civilized."

Emmett scoffs.

"No. There's more to it than that with Bella. Don't be offended if she doesn't make eye contact, don't ask her questions about her past, and please, for the love of God, do not touch her," Edward stresses. "If it gets to be too much for her, she's going to ask you to leave, so if that happens, don't let it hurt your feelings. Just go. This is a big deal for her. I'm really proud of her for even attempting this, so don't push."

"Of course, Ed," Rosalie says. "I would never do anything to ruin this for you. I know you love her."

Edward sighs in relief. "Thank you. I just really need this to go well because she said if she can get through dinner tonight she might consider meeting Mom and Dad when they come out. That's a huge deal for me."

"For Mom too. You haven't introduced her to anyone in years. I'll pick up the soda and apps. Is she allergic to anything?"

"We both hate Greek appetizers, but other than that, Bella isn't picky. I'm sure whatever you grab will be great."

The timers start going off, so he gets to work while Rosalie prepares the storefront for the day.

He puts a lot of thought and work into today's special and takes extra time to make the board pretty.

When his sister can't make out what it says, he reads it out loud, and she gives him a big smile.

"She's going to love it."

Edward nods and goes to prep for the second round of the day.

He gets a text around eleven.

Okay. There's no way I can cover these even with a turtleneck. What do I do?

Well, mine are covered by my chef's jacket, so my sister hasn't seen them yet. By the way, who knew your mouth could open that wide? Mine are huge.

You are walking right into multiple ways I can make that sound dirty. Instead, I'll let it slide. I'm calling my sister to see if she can do anything about these bruises. It might take stage makeup. I look like I got attacked.

You did. By me. Your boyfriend. I practically mauled you.

Feel free to maul me anytime. Well, not tonight while your sister and her husband are present ... maybe you could come over early?

As if you have to ask. Don't let your sister cover them up, please. I love you. Let them see that. I gotta get back to work.

See you later.

Edward manages to get through the day. Rosalie wants to know everything there is to know about Bella, but he just tells her that she'll have to find out on her own. Bella will share what she's comfortable sharing when she's ready.

When they leave for the night, Rosalie rushes off to pick up her contribution to dinner, and Edward just rushes home.

Bella's standing on her porch in a thick coat and her boots when he pulls up, and he's just rounding the front of his hood when he sees a flash of red coming at him.

"Oomph," he says as he catches Bella.

They're standing in the street in front of his car.

This is the farthest she's ever gone.

He wants to cry.

"I started falling in love with you when you showed up on my stoop with Chinese food, and I found out that you couldn't use chopsticks to save your life," she says.

"I love that you feed my unhealthy addiction to soda." She kisses him quickly and pulls away.

"I knew I loved you when you tried really hard to eat my vegetarian chili." They both laugh.

"I love that you don't push me, but it's because of you I'm standing in the street, professing my love."

"I love that you make me feel happy, special, and okay to be myself."

"I love that you somehow know when I'm having negative thoughts and send me ridiculous texts or pictures. I love you even though you made me look like a fucking leopard. But most of all, I love you because you take me on my good days and are there for my bad days. I love you, Honey."

And that's when Edward does cry. He's not full on sobbing or anything, but there are tears streaming down his face.

"Happy tears?" Bella asks, wiping them away as quickly as they fall.

"The happiest," he croaks. "I fucking love you so much, Sugar."

She smiles and shivers. "I love you too. Now not because I'm freaking out or anything. I'm actually pretty calm right now. I'm freezing, and I think I pulled a muscle sliding through the snow on the walkway. Can we please go inside now?"

"I have another idea."

"If it involves more hickeys, I really don't think my neck can take much more, Honey. They're literally everywhere." She pulls her collar to the side, and she's right.

There really isn't any room for him to work with. He definitely got carried away last night, the night before, and the one before that.

"Nah, this idea is probably one you never got the chance to experience." He pulls her over to the passenger side of his car and opens the door. When he looks up, he finds Bella frozen in panic.

"I can't leave, Edward. I'm not ready for that. No," she manages to choke out.

"Calm down, Sugar. We aren't going anywhere." He helps her in and runs to the driver side.

Once he has the heater going, he pushes his seat as far back as it'll go and pulls her onto his lap, bulky coats be damned.

"What are we doing?" Bella asks.

"We're going to make out in my car like we're in high school."

Bella starts to giggle, but Edward catches her lips, effectively shutting her up.

At some point, Bella's ass hits the horn, startling them, and they share a laugh.

They have their fun until Bella remembers that she left dinner in the oven. She scrambles off Edward's lap and practically falls out of the car in her haste.

It happens before he can say or do anything.

Edward watches her rush up the walkway and sees the moment her foot steps on a patch of ice. With a surprised squeak her legs give out, and she lands hard.

"Ow," she cries.

Edward decides to walk in the snow beside the icy walkway to get to her as quickly as possible. She's covered her face with her hands and is shaking so badly that he starts to think the worst. That she's backsliding. He needs to get her in the house quickly and call his sister—

"Bella, stop laughing! I thought you really hurt yourself."

"Oh, man. It's lucky I've got a lot of padding back there." She guffaws. "But still. I think I broke my ass."

Edward pulls her to her feet and kisses her cold nose.

"You're a nut. Let's get inside so we can make sure you didn't actually break something."

They walk up the steps together, Bella's still laughing, so it makes it a little difficult seeing as the steps are just as slippery as the path.

"I have a bag of salt at my house. Once I make sure you're okay, I'll throw some on the steps and walkway." He helps Bella out of her coat and smiles when he sees her wearing his favorite sweater dress.

She's wearing tights underneath because it's cold, but he still loves it.

He loves her.

And he's the luckiest motherfucker in the world because she loves him too.

"Seriously, Honey. I think it's going to be hard to sit down for a while." She's still giggling. "I might need a butt rub after you salt the walkway—that's more important. I don't want to see your brother-in-law face plant. That's just a lawsuit waiting to happen."

"I would love to rub your bum until it feels better, Sugar," he quips, pecking her lips and telling her to check dinner while he works on salting the walkway.

He changes out of his work clothes and into some warm ones before grabbing the heavy bag of salt and a scoop.

Bella stands in her doorway, watching him while he focuses on her steps and particularly the spot she slipped on. When he's returned to the porch, he drops the bag and pulls her into his cool arms.

"You're freezing."

"Ice is good for injuries. I think it would be beneficial if you just sat on me while I give you a good rub down."

They're making out, and Edward still has his hands all over Bella's ass, underneath her tights and lace panties, which is something new for them, when someone knocks on the door.

"Ugh, Rosalie has impeccable timing." He gives her one last kiss. "Do you think you can handle opening the door while I try to get rid of my problem?"

"I ... I caused the problem, so I think I can." She climbs off him and nods to herself.

He watches her walk to the door and open it slowly.

"Was Emmett able to make it here without injury?" she asks his sister, who looks dumbstruck.

"Fuck, you're gorgeous," Rosalie says rather bluntly before leaning in and finding Edward. "Why didn't you tell me she was fucking beautiful?"

Bella blushes ten different shades of red.

"Sorry about my wife." Emmett chuckles, hands full of stuff. "She'll never admit it, but I think she's secretly into girls."

Rosalie turns to her husband and playfully glares.

"Yup. That's why I married you. You're so feminine it fills the void in my life."

"It's freezing outside. Please, come in," Bella says, stepping aside and giving them a wide berth to enter.

"I'm so pissed at my brother, Bella. You have no idea," Rosalie tells Bella.

"Um. For what?" she asks.

Edward walks up and slips his arms around her middle, pulling her to his chest. He's so proud of her for opening the door without getting upset.

"Because he's been keeping you from me for all this time, silly."

He can tell his sister really wants to touch Bella, so he sends her a stern look.

But Rosalie never really listens to anyone.

"Ed told me that I need to keep my hands to myself, but I really want to hug you, seeing as you're the one who's put a permanent smile on his face. I know you don't like strangers touching you, but you should also know that I don't hug just anyone." She opens her arms in invitation.

Bella takes a deep breath and steps out of Edward's arms and into his sister's.

Their hug is brief, but they are both smiling when they step away. Bella doesn't exhale until she's back in Edward's embrace, and he smiles into her hair.

"Shit. You're right, Em. I'm totally into girls." Rosalie winks at Bella. "That means we have to get a divorce. I get everything, you get nothing but your medical bills."

Emmett pouts.

"Can't we just have threesomes? I wouldn't mind watching you with another woman."

Edward clears his throat. He doesn't want to hear about his sister's sex life.

"Let's sit down and eat. Bella's been cooking all day, and I'm sure your appetizers are cold by now."

Everyone is settled at the table, and Edward can tell that Bella is at ease by the way she converses with his family.

Their clasped hands are resting on the table as they munch on the pigs in a blanket and mini quiches that Rosalie brought.

His sister spends a lot of time complimenting Bella, but he puts his foot down when she asks his girlfriend what her bra size is.

"Jesus, Ro. Shut the fuck up, why don't you. That's none of your damn business," he grits out.

Bella leans over and kisses his cheek before whispering.

"D, by the way."

"Hey, secrets don't make friends." Rosalie laughs. "And it's not my fault, Ed. She's all tits and ass. Like a walking wet dream."

At some point, Bella starts calling her Rose, which up until this point pissed his sister off. Instead of bitching about it, Rosalie-Rose nicknames his girlfriend Bells.

He knows Alice calls her that sometimes but doesn't say anything.

"So ..." Rosalie starts, her smile growing. "Emmett and I have some news we wanted to share. Considering how serious the two of you are, we wanted to tell you together."

"Okay?" Edward asks.

Bella squeezes his fingers.

Rosalie reaches out for her husbands hand but he holds up his fork and motions for her to continue.

"We're pregnant. Really pregnant this time. There's a fetus up in this bitch." She points to her stomach. "You're going to be an aunt and uncle."

Bella's hand falls out of his and onto her lap. She frowns into her plate. Edward can practically feel her reverting to her insecurities.

"Don't even think about questioning this, Bells," Rosalie tells her, waiting until Bella looks up. "My brother loves you. Fuck, I want to divorce my husband and marry you. You will definitely be in our lives indefinitely, and by association, you will be a part of this baby's life. Don't doubt that for a second."

Bella smiles, but Edward can tell it's not genuine.

"Besides, just think of this. If Ed fucks everything up, I'll be waiting in the wings. Say the word, and I'll drop this loser"—she points to Emmett and snaps her fingers—"like that. We'll get together and raise the baby to love rainbows and shit."

And just like that, Bella's smile grows. She leans into Edward and laughs.

"As flattered as I am, Rose. I'm in love with your brother, and I doubt he could do anything to fuck it up. Thanks for the offer though."

They laugh, and Rosalie's eyes narrow.

"Did Edward tell you that he wanted to teach the baby to say 'fucktastic' as their first word?" she asks.

Bella nods.

"We don't have secrets. He also told me that you got his mouth washed out with soap for saying the very same thing. Don't hate me or anything, but I think it would be justified."

"I don't think I could ever hate you, Bells. You'll fit into our family just fine. I know you have your reservations about meeting our parents. but my mom and dad are super chill. Mom has changed a lot since the days of soap and taking away electronics. She doesn't particularly like our crass language, but she understands that we're adults."

"I'm still on the fence about Christmas. Tonight went well, but I can't do something just because other people want me to. I need to want it. I can't promise you that I will. I can promise that I will sincerely think about it. I know it would mean a lot to Edward."

"Fuck, Edward. Think of me and our love child."

Emmett asks what they have for dessert, so Bella grabs the box Edward brought home from The Bakery.

She opens the box revealing four perfect miniature cakes. On the lid of the box is their name.

She's all mine, molten chocolate cake.

Bella pulls him in for a chaste kiss. But like most of the time, it quickly escalates.

"Come on, Em. Time to go home. We'll stop and get ice cream. I'll try to seduce Bella some other time. Looks like Edward's about to get a handful of the goods."

They break apart long enough to walk the couple to the door and watch them get to their car safely before Bella jumps into Edward's arms.

"My ass is so sore. I think I need another massage."

"I'd be happy to help you out, Sugar."