Good Morning!
All mistakes are on me!
Chapter Thirty-Four: Edward
November 5, 2022
Cambridge, England
I'm knee deep in a thick 18th century German text when I hear the door of our flat open. I'm concentrating hard, so I don't look up, which ends up being a bad call.
"Hey," I start to say, but then something small and hard is hitting me in the fucking face. "Ow! What the fuck!" I yell, leaning back and rubbing at my forehead. Bella is standing in the doorway, looking furious.
"That's how big Spawn is," she says, pointing at the lime that just hit me in the face. I pick it up, frowning at her.
"Why did you just throw it at my head?"
She huffs.
"Because," she snarls. "Do you know what I can smell right now? Every-fucking-thing. This whole planet smells so gross!"
Self preservation tells me not to laugh, but I can't help the small smirk. Bella's eyes narrow, and she reaches into her shopping bag, pulling out another lime.
"Babe," I say, standing, and holding my hands out to her. "Stop throwing produce at me. What can I do?"
She throws the lime at my chest anyway, and man, she's got an arm on her. I rub the spot where the lime hit as I bend down to pick it up off the floor. "Everything stinks," she says, shaking her head. "And you had olives for lunch!"
Jesus.
"Okay, I'll go brush my teeth."
She scowls at me, and I approach her cautiously. "Babe, why don't you go lay down. I'll put the groceries away."
She's been exhausted lately, and I've been secretly grateful for it. If she's napping, she's less likely to throw shit at me.
Her eyes narrow. "You're trying to get rid of me," she accuses. I bark out a laugh, wrapping my arms around her.
"No, I love you."
She burrows into my chest. "I'm so sick of being pregnant and I'm only 12 weeks in," she whines. I rub a hand down her back, and she groans. Her face turns against me, and suddenly, she's burying her nose into my armpit.
"What are you doing?"
"You smell so good," she moans, sticking her face under my arm.
"I thought I smelled like olives."
"Just your face." Her words are muffled as she tries to burrow into my armpit.
"Babe," I laugh, because it's starting to tickle. She giggles. "Let me put the groceries away and brush my teeth, then you can smell whatever part you want of me," I suggest.
She takes a big whiff, then pulls back, looking up at me.
"That sounds promising," she says, resting her chin on my chest. "But I'll put the food away while you brush. That way we take less time."
I smirk and nod.
I move to the bathroom, grabbing my toothbrush while Bella heads to the kitchen.
Her pregnancy has been exactly as I expected; completely unexpected in every way. I downloaded the same app she had, so that I know what to expect week to week, but that's really only so helpful. Some symptoms Bella hasn't had at all, and some have lasted way longer than they should have.
I go to our small bathroom, reaching for my toothbrush. I've had to switch toothpaste no less than three times this week because according to my wife, nothing has smelled quite right. We've finally settled on a cinnamon she can stand. I'm not really that into it, but she's doesn't complain about it, so I suck it up.
I brush my teeth and rinse my face before heading to our bedroom. Bella is sprawled out on our bed, her phone hovering over her face as she scrolls through something. Not for the first time, I wonder if we should go back to the US. Bella needs the support of our family and I hate that she's having to go through this relatively alone.
"Shut up," she mutters to her phone. I frown. Is she on the phone?
I shift in the doorway, leaning against the frame as I cross my arms over my chest. After a minute she looks up at me. "I didn't say anything," I tell her slowly.
She rolls her eyes. "I can hear you overthinking," she grumbles. I smirk.
"More super senses?"
Bella picks up my pillow and hauls it across the room at me. It's awkward and lands short of it's target.
I stoop down to pick it up and when I look at Bella, she's set her phone down and is sitting up. "You've got that look on your face," she says, eyes narrowing.
"What look is that?" I ask, brushing off my pillow. I toss it back on our bed.
"That look that means you're about to say something stupid."
I laugh. "I have a look?"
She nods, her lips pursing. I sigh, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Babe. I think we should go back to the states. I can keep working with my advisor there, we can figure out something long distance and…"
Before I can finish my sentence Bella's fist is connecting with my shoulder. "Ow!" I grunt, reaching up to rub my shoulder. "Will you stop hitting me?"
Bella huffs. "Only if you stop being an idiot."
I feel one of my eyebrows arch and she rolls her eyes again. "Edward, this opportunity here is something you've been working your ass off for. I've seen you have to finish one degree remote already. I'm not letting you give this up."
I shake my head. "Bella, it means nothing to me if it's at the cost of my family."
She shifts on the bed, crawling into my lap and I have to wrap my arms around her quickly before she slides off the bed. She shifts so that her knees are straddling my hips.
"I love that you're looking out for us," she whispers, her voice wavering ever so slightly. "But I would never forgive myself or Spawn if we let you walk away from this opportunity." She reaches up, her fingers threading through my hair, her forearms resting on my shoulders. "No one back home will be able to do more for me than you do every day here." She tugs my hair lightly. "The girls have their own lives, and it's not like they've really had enough experience with pregnancy to walk me through any of it." She smirks. "My dad's completely out of the question, and I won't even consider Chicago. Your mom would drive me insane three days in."
I laugh, squeezing her gently. "Yeah, she's probably safer an ocean away."
Bella grins. "I call our family when I need them, but all I ever need is you." She tugs my hair again, and I feel her nails scrape lightly against my scalp. Fuck it feels amazing. "We're going to be okay," she whispers.
I crush her to my chest, and she shifts so that her legs can wrap around me. "I feel so fucking guilty," I admit, tears burning my eyes. Bella reaches up and kisses my throat.
"You have nothing to feel guilty about," she whispers. "Who knows, maybe this is the kick in the ass I need to finally grow up."
I smirk, pulling back from her enough to look her in the eye. "I hope you're joking," I say slowly. "You know I love you as you are. Our kid is going to be so fucking lucky to have you as their mom."
Bella's eyes water a little. "Yeah, well…" she sniffs hard. "I am pretty fucking awesome."
I laugh and crush her to me again. It won't be easy, but we'll find a way. We always do.
