23

Edward laid on the bed until Bella left, then scrambled into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and threw some clothes on. He was on a mission and had no time to lose. Grabbing his phone, he sent Jasper a quick text telling him and Alice to meet him for breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Took less than a minute for him to agree.

Grabbing his wallet and shoving it in the back pocket of his khaki shorts, he set off for the elevator, hardly able to believe what he was about to do. But in his heart, he knew he couldn't waste another second without making Bella his wife. The woman had owned him since he saw her standing on the beach camera in hand and the most amazing smile he had ever seen.

Edward wasn't proud to admit that he had been a bit of a man whore before meeting her. Women tended to throw themselves at him. Just part of the gig when working with PV. Hot beaches equaled hot women in tiny bikinis. But Bella was different. Had been from day one.

Feeling impatience, Edward tapped his nails on the table, took a deep breath, tried to keep from losing his shit entirely. Just as he reached into his pocket for his phone, Jasper and Alice strolled into the restaurant, like they were on the beach. Edward wanted to be annoyed, but how could he? He had never seen his best friend as happy as he had been since Alice came into his life.

"Fucking finally!" Edward grumbled, and stopped them from saying anything. "I don't have time for excuses."

"Wow, this is going to be a great breakfast," Alice quipped, sitting next to him while Jasper snorted and took the chair opposite Edward. "What do you want, Mason? I'm starving to death and need to be at the Pit in two hours for the shoots."

Edward felt his lips tremble as he said, "I need to know her ring size."

Alice's lips slowly turned upward as she smiled. "Her ring size? And what kind of ring are you looking for exactly?"

"The kind you're thinking of," he replied, smiling wider. "I love her, Alice. I love her so fucking much, and I . . . I don't know, I just want to give her everything she deserves."

Alice reached over and placed her hand on his. "But she's dying. You understand that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," he insisted, noticing the way Jasper frowned.

"Do you?" she asked, sadly. "Even if by some miracle she stops being stubborn and asks her mom for help, Emmett's treatment plan may not work, Edward. She'll die, sooner than any of us are ready for."

"Don't you think I know that, Alice?" he asked, falling back in his seat. "I wasn't expecting to fall in love with her. Shit, with anyone. That's not what I do. But I'm drawn to her, I need her. And it scares me, because I didn't need anyone. I can't . . . No, I won't go on without her."

"But what about PV?" Jasper asked, drawing his attention to him. "Tournament is over in a week, Edward. What are you going to do then?"

"I don't know," he admitted, leaning forward. "I love the game, man, I do. You know that."

Jasper nodded. "But you love her more."

Edward grinned. "I do."

"Size six," Alice said, pulling her phone from her bag. "I'm sending you the address of the best jeweler on the island. Keep it simple, Mason. Our Swan is simple."

"Thanks, Alice," he whispered.

Standing up, she leaned over and gave him a hug. "Call me Peanut. All my family does."

—BDBH—

Edward sat in traffic, trying to keep from losing his shit as the cars in front of him didn't budge an inch. His felt nervous, though not because of potentially proposing to Bella, but because of Jasper. Leave it to Whitlock to remind him that he didn't live in Hawaii and that in seven short days, the tournament would be over and he would be expected to move on to the next one. But could he? How could he? With Bella here? No, he wouldn't be able to leave her and she couldn't go with him. Not with the promise of a cure once the tournament was over.

But was Edward ready to quit? To retire? That was something he wasn't prepared to answer, even if his heart was screaming a loud YES!

"Finally!" Edward snarled as the car in front of him started moving.

Five minutes later, he pulled up in from Twilight Jewelers. It was a small shop that unless he was looking for it specifically, he wouldn't have even noticed it. Tucking his helmet under his arm, he pushed the door open and looked around. There were a dozen glass cases inside the small shop, most of them full of gold and silver chains, watches, diamond earrings. He had just stopped at the case in the far back corner that was filled with four dozen engagement rings. Most of them were the standard gold band, big diamond, but none of them said Bella to him.

"Can I help you?"

Edward looked to his right, finding a young man standing behind one of the glass cases. He couldn't have been older than him, tall with long black hair. "Um, I hope so. I'm, um, I'm looking for an engagement ring."

The man smiled and walked toward him. "I might have a few. Know what type of ring you're looking for?"

Edward shook his head as he looked back down at the rings. "Something . . . Something unique, something special."

"Okay," he said, slowly and unlocking the door on the back of the case. "Let's start with the band. Gold? Silver? White gold?"

"Um, gold?" Edward asked, causing the man to laugh. "I don't know. I just. . ." He paused. "Have you ever met someone who just changed the way you look at everything? Someone who made you want to be a better man?"

"Can't say that I have," he admitted. "Tell me about her."

Edward smiled. "She's beautiful and smart and sexy as hell," he groaned, before saying, "Sorry."

The man laughed. "Don't be. Sexy is an important quality to possess."

Nodding, Edward said, "Bella is—"

"Bella Swan?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You know her?"

The man laughed. "I do." He thrust his hand toward Edward, who took it tentatively. ". We used to train together when she was in the circuit. Name's Sam. Sam Uley."

"Oh, I see," Edward said, stiffly.

"So, you want to marry Swan, huh?" Sam chuckled. "Then you are definitely looking at the wrong rings."

"I am?"

He nodded. "I'll be right back."

Edward took a deep breath as he turned and started walking around, waiting for Sam to come back. He should have been jealous. Sam knew her before she blew out her knee, before her dream of professional surfing came to an end. He probably knew her when she laughed carefree, and didn't worry about dying. But Edward wasn't jealous, which surprised him. He would be the man who loved her for the rest of her life, and his, too.

"Okay, here we go," Sam said, drawing Edward's attention back to him. He placed a small black box on the glass top and took a step backward.

Clearing his throat, Edward walked over, his heart racing as he picked up the small box and pried open the lid. The moment he saw it, he knew it was the perfect ring for Bella. A shimmering round of diamonds formed a halo around a South Sea pearl, enhancing its beauty. Additional diamond accented on the shank completed the brilliant appeal of the white gold band.

"It's perfect," Edward murmured, his lips trembling as tears filled his eyes. He looked up at Sam. "How'd you know?"

Sam smiled and took the ring back. "Because Swan is unique, as is every pearl. She's strong and resilient, she radiates a natural beauty."

Edward smiled. "That's pretty accurate."

Sam's smile faded. "I heard she's sick."

Feeling his shoulder's tense, Edward pressed his lips together.

"I'll take that as confirmation," Sam murmured, placing the ring back on the glass top. "It's serious?"

Edward nodded. "Very."

Sam puckered his lips together before reaching under the counter and pulling out a small plastic bag. "Then I really hope she says yes."

"Me too," he murmured.

After Edward paid for the ring, knowing that Sam gave him a huge discount on what the actual cost was, he thanked Sam and headed back out to his bike, stowing the ring in his pocket. The ring easily would have retailed at two grand, and Edward swiped his card and paid half that amount. Bella was worth every penny and then some. She deserved the world, and he would do everything he could to give it to her.

—BDBH—

Edward made a few more stops before heading back to the hotel. When he walked into the lobby, he was surprised to find Emmett sitting on one of the sofas. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he shifted his helmet into his other arm and walked over to him.

"What are you doing here?"

Emmett stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Can't a man come see his brother?"

"Haven't in a year," Edward quipped, cocking an eyebrow.

Emmett grimaced. "Been busy."

"Ah, in that case," Edward grumbled before passing him and heading for the elevator. Emmett, of course, followed.

He didn't say anything as they rode the elevator up, walked down to his room, and entered the room. Not one single word. Edward tossed his helmet on the bed, before turning and facing Emmett, who looked awkward and nervous.

"Talk to the parents lately?" Edward asked.

Emmett scoffed. "They sent me an email about a month back about their trip to Europe and all the amazing sights they saw."

Nodding, Edward wasn't sure what to say. He didn't get such an email, nor had he know they were even out of the country. But then again, he was a disappointment to them, so why would they tell him anything.

"You and Jasper seem to be doing well in the tournament."

Edward sighed. "Are you really going to stand there and make idle chitchat about how me and Whitlock are playing?"

"Guess not," Emmett said with a frown. "I just, um, I just want . . ."

"What?"

"I missed you."

"You missed me?"

Emmett nodded. "Is that so unbelievable?"

"Yeah," Edward snorted and when Emmett frowned, he added, "Not like you've cared before now."

"That's not true," he argued. "I was busy."

"So you said."

"I'm sorry. It's not that I don't care."

Edward shrugged his shoulders. "But you didn't come here for me, anyway. You came for her."

Sighing, Emmett placed his hands on his hips. "Why didn't you call me? Why did Carlisle have to be the one to call? You know the work I do, Edward."

"It wasn't my call to make," he said, shortly before asking, "Can you really save her?"

"I can try."

Edward shook his head, sitting on the side of the bed. He placed his hands on his knees. "Em . . ."

"She's special, isn't she?"

He nodded, blinking back tears as he looked at his brother. "I've never loved anyone the way I love her, Emmett. I can't . . . I need you to save her."

"I can't promise anything, Edward. I just can't."

"I know." Edward dragged his hand through his hair, sniffing back his tears. "Promise that you won't give up. That you'll never give up on her, on . . . on me."

"Never," Emmett whispered, reaching out and pulling Edward into a fierce hug. "Never, Edward."

Taking a deep breath, Edward pulled back and whipped the tears off his face. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Emmett checked his watch. "I should go. Meeting Carlisle in a hour, so . . ."

Edward nodded. "If you talk to the parents, tell them I'm okay. Not that they care."

Emmett frowned, but agreed before he turned and left. Edward pulled the ring of his pocket and placed it on the dresser, before picking sending a text to the one person, he knew he needed to talk to before his date with Bella. With a quick 'yes' as a reply, Edward grabbed the ring box, shoved it into his pocket, hurried out of the room, and down to the elevator.

—BDBH—

Edward walked into Lanikai Juice twenty minutes later, stopping long enough to find Esme sitting at a table in the back. Hurrying over, he pulled the chair across from her out and sat down.

"Hey, thanks for meeting me," he said, quickly.

"No problem," she said, picking up her smoothie and taking a sip. "So, what was so important that I had to rush down here?"

"I, um, I know you don't know me very well. And I know that you have some doubts about me and Bella being together."

"No, I don't," she said, tilting her head to the side. "I see how much you love my sister, Edward. And I see how much she loves you. I just worry."

He nodded. "I get that. I do, but I, um, I just need you to know that I am in this for the long run. I'm . . . I'm not . . . She's not. . ." Pausing, Edward laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm not making much sense, am I?"

"Not really," Esme snickered.

"I want to marry her."

Esme's eyes widened. "Oh."

"I know," he said, placing his hands on the table. "I know it seems fast and kind of crazy and —"

"No, it doesn't," she interrupted.

"It doesn't?" he asked.

Esme shook her head. "She's different with you, Edward. Even before she got sick, she wasn't like this. You make her happy. You make her smile. You love her," Esme whimpered. "Sorry."

"Don't be."

"I'm not ready to lose her, Edward."

"Me either," he whispered, blinking back his own tears for the fiftieth time that day. "I just found her. Losing her. . ." Edward shook his head. "I don't know what's going to happen, Esme, but I know that I will spend the rest of her life making sure she knows she is loved, that she is cherished, that she's worth everything. I will never give up on her."

"Well, let's hope she stops being stubborn and you two have a long and happy life together." Esme smiled and leaned forward. "So, how can I help?"

Edward went on to detail his plans for the evening, knowing that to be successful he would need Esme's help.