So, how do we like FighterWard? Isn't he swoon-worthy? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the first chapter and now, we're going to find out more … What happened to our dear FighterWard?
What I own: A lot of anxiety of starting back at school … new position. Kind of freaking out, you know?
What I don't: Twilight
Chapter Nine
"I'm never drinking again," Bella moaned into her pillow. "What the hell was I thinking?" She dragged herself out of her bed, stumbling to the bathroom. Her hair was a tangled knot and she had pillow creases across her face. "Yep, never drinking. I look like I slept on the bar room floor."
She washed her face, scrubbing the nastiness from her skin. Reaching to turn on the shower, she heard her phone from underneath the covers. She turned on the water, going to search for her phone. She found it, crammed in between the wall and the mattress. Sliding her finger across the screen she answered, "Hello?"
"Little Bell, I was getting worried," her father breathed. "I tried calling you and you wouldn't pick up."
"I was sleeping off my hangover," she replied, yawning wildly. "Sorry for not answering sooner."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay," he breathed. "Listen, I know you said you're working remotely to get over what Jacob did to you, but I've got a new fighter joining the family."
"I thought you weren't training anyone new," she said, falling back onto the pillows.
"With Jacob's decision to take drugs, cheat on my little girl and disgrace my gym, I had an opening. So, when I got an email from Carlisle, begging to take this fighter on, I jumped at the chance," Charlie said. She could hear the smile in his voice.
"So, why do you need me?" Bella asked, scrubbing at her eyes.
"He needs to fill out the paperwork and all that jazz. Plus, he's got some legal issues …" Charlie trailed off.
"He sounds like another asshole, like the one you kicked to the curb," Bella grumped.
"Not like that. It's some bullshit his former agent and manager is trying to pull," Charlie explained. "If it's possible, can you come in on Monday to go over all that jazz with him. Also, introduce him to Jasper and Doc Cullen? Jasper can help him with the legalese bullshit and Doc Cullen can help him rehab from an injury."
"Okay," Bella said. "I'll be at the gym by nine on Monday."
"Do you have your real estate agent's number available?" Charlie asked. "He's looking for a new place and he's currently driving to Seattle, but will be camped out in a hotel room until he finds a place. I offered the guest room, but …"
"I'll text it to you," Bella sighed. "Anyhow, I drank way too much, and I've got a hot shower waiting for me. I need to kick this hangover."
"Sounds good, Little Bell. I love you, baby girl," he cooed.
"Love you, too, Dad," she smiled.
Ending the call, she found the name of the real estate agent she'd used to purchase her current home. She sent it to her father before going to shower off the boozy funk.
The rest of the weekend, Bella scoured her home and did boring, but necessary chores. She checked in on Rose and Alice. Alice was still recovering from their girl's night out, having drunk twice as much as Bella and being half Bella's size, she was hurting. Rose was battling morning sickness and pregnancy brain, but she was fine. Happier now that Alice and Bella knew about her pregnancy and that she'd help her bestie get out of her funk.
Monday morning came with clouds and mist. Bella dressed in a pair of dress pants and a pretty sweater, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and sliding into her Audi. Carefully, she drove Bull Dog, parking next to her father's Range Rover. On the other side of her father's SUV, she saw a silver Volvo SUV with Illinois plates.
This must be the new fighter. Moving from Illinois … that's quite a hike, she thought to herself, balancing her work bag and coffee. Locking her car, she went into the gym and saw the usual clientele, using weight machines, punching bags, and sparring in the center ring. A few of the guys bellowed their hellos and Bella raised her coffee in greeting, ducking up the stairs to her office.
She unlocked the door, putting her bag on the couch in her office and tugging out her computer. Once she logged into her computer, her father's voice filtered into her space.
"And, this is my daughter's office. Isabella, she's the brains of the outfit," Charlie quipped. He knocked on the door. "Little Bell?"
"Dad," she huffed. "Really?"
"Sorry, Bella," Charlie chuckled, walking into her office. Behind him, a tall man with reddish, copper hair, fair skin, striking green eyes and muscular body stood in the hallway. He wore a white t-shirt, stretched to its limits, and accented the planes of his stomach. "Bella, this is Edward Masen. Edward, this is my daughter and general manager of the gym, Bella Swan."
He stepped into the office, holding out his right hand. She could see some ink on his pale skin, along with several surgery scars. His voice was honeyed and smooth as he said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Swan."
Bella stood up, shaking Edward's hand and felt a jolt of electricity travel through her body when their palms touched. "I've heard nothing but good things, Mr. Masen. And, please, call me Bella. Not Little Bell," she snickered, shooting her father a baleful glare.
"I'd be interested as to how you got that nickname," Edward said, giving Bella crooked grin, revealing perfectly straight, white teeth.
"Up until I was in high school, I was tiny. Like, taking-me-to-the-doctors tiny," Bella sighed.
Charlie took out his wallet. "This was from her eighth-grade graduation. I'm six foot five. She barely reached my belt," he explained.
"I looked like a first grader," Bella groaned. "But, I was slow to go through puberty. When I did, the summer between freshman and sophomore year, I shot up to my height now, minus the curves. I was confused for a boy for so long. High school was hell."
"I agree with that," Edward said, scrunching his face and shaking his head slowly. "High school being hell."
"Well, I'll let you two get acquainted. I've got a training session with Emmett," Charlie said, shaking Edward's hand. "I'm looking forward to working with you. Once you get the all-clear from Dr. Cullen, we can begin the hard work."
"I have to get some medical testing at a nearby hospital. He wants someone to come with me in case of side effects of the dye or whatever. You two are the only people I know in Seattle, besides Dr. Cullen, but I've only spoken to him on the phone," Edward blushed.
"How serious is your injury?" Bella asked.
"I had a severe concussion and I've been on the concussion protocol since I was released from the hospital about six months ago. For the most part, I'm fine, but when I start doing any sort of sparring, I feel like my head is about to explode," Edward shrugged. "If I'm too much of a hassle …"
"You're not, Edward. The fact that your previous representation didn't take your injury into account is bullshit," Charlie soothed. "We'll get you back to where you're supposed to be."
"I can go to the hospital with you," Bella offered. "The nice thing is my job is flexible. I can work remotely, unless my dad needs to me to act as representation for our fighters. We've got a couple of months before our next fight. So, I'm just working the books and signing you to our gym."
"Great, thank you," Edward breathed, giving Bella a warm, crooked smile.
From deep within her chest, her heart gave a happy little flip at his grin. Bella felt her cheeks heat as she walked over to her desk, opening up a drawer. "Dad, go have fun with Emmett. I'll get Edward settled." Charlie left the office, leaving Edward standing awkwardly in the doorway. "Please, come in, Edward. I am also a fighter, but even with scrambled brains, you could kick my ass."
"I'd never hit a woman," Edward said quietly, sitting down on the couch. "Though, I wanted to with my ex-girlfriend."
"Bad breakup?" Bella asked.
"You have no idea. It still rubs me the wrong way," he sighed.
"I won't talk about it, then," Bella said, flashing an understanding smile.
Edward shifted, looking at the beautiful woman at her feminine desk. "Maybe not now, but in time … the past six months have been chaotic, ripping me to shreds."
"Dr. Cullen's wife is a therapist," Bella offered. "If you want to talk …"
"I don't need therapy. I need friends. Everyone who I ever trusted has screwed me in the ass. The only reason I'm here was because my last ally helped me get out of a shitty situation," Edward shrugged.
"You're in the right spot, Edward. We're a big family here at Bull Dog," Bella grinned. "Now, let's get you set up to train, Mr. Masen."
A/N: They've met! We're going to find out a little bit about what happened from his breakup with Vict-whore-ia and landing in Seattle at Bull Dog.
A few pictures from this chapter are on my blog. You can find a link for that on my profile. I'm also on FB: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. I'm on twitter, too: tufano79.
Up next will go over Edward's move from Chicago to Seattle, deciding on Bull Dog … a bit of a back track, but we'll get to this moment, along with the growing 'friendship' between Edward and Bella. Leave me some lovin' and thank you for reading!