EPOV
The door to the bar swings open, and once again, it isn't Bella. I try not to feel disappointed; it is still pretty early.
I want to see her, though.
Waylon chuckles from his spot next to me, shaking his head.
"You okay, boss?" He raises an eyebrow at me. I learned a long time ago, even though he doesn't say much, he notices everything.
I roll my eyes, but I don't answer him—because I don't know.
Since Bella arrived in Forks, walked into the bar and turned my whole world upside down, I've been asking myself the same question; wondering if I really know anything.
She's a breath of fresh air, something that feels like it has been missing and finally found its way back home.
"Get back to work," I say, trying to sound stern and tossing a dish towel on my shoulder as he chuckles and walks back to the kitchen. He was Dad's best friend, and I still see him as the man who helped me to learn the ins and outs of this place. I owe a lot to him and Charlie because at the time I was just a pissed-off kid.
"Okay, boss."
I huff. He knows how much I hate being called that.
I go back to counting the cash in the drawer when the door to the bar swings open again, but it's the wrong offspring of the Chief.
"Hey, Eddie!" His brown eyes sparkle with mischief. He knows I hate that nickname.
I'm starting to wonder if there's anything here I don't hate.
I flip him off and close the drawer. As long as he's here, I won't be able to concentrate on anything. Not like I was doing a good job anyway before he arrived.
He grabs a menu from the side stand, like he doesn't know what he'll get; like he hasn't been eating here his whole life and hasn't memorized the menu.
One day just to fuck with him, we took all the meat off the menu. He literally called Charlie, demanding he get a cop here.
"Where's Rose?" I ask, still not entirely sure of her reason to distrust Bella. I asked her about it—why she wasn't happy for Charlie and Em. She just said she didn't trust her; she didn't think Bella had gone her whole life not knowing her father was here.
"At the shop," he answers, nonchalantly, with his nose in the menu.
"How's my big sis? Keeping an eye on her cabin?" he asks, not looking up until he's turned the iPad Alice had installed a few weeks ago.
I wouldn't hear the end of it if he knew I'm doing a lot more than that.
"How do you know my code again?" I ask, as he taps away, no doubt ordering his own breakfast.
"You're a simple man, Ed."
I shake my head and realize I'll have to change it and remember it again.
Before I can reply to him, the door swings open, and this time, she does walk through.
I watch her take the place in, her eyes roaming before they settle on Em and me. She notices me watching her—her cheeks reddening—and she gives a tiny wave before walking over to us.
I look away, trying to busy myself and rein in the feeling of happiness now that she's here. It's only been two days, for fuck's sake.
She sits next to Emmett, with a quiet good morning.
They make small talk, and as busy as I make myself, I still listen to every word.
"The service here…it's a little slow." I hear the smile in her voice, causing the corners of my lips to lift. At the same moment, Waylon rings the bell signaling food is up, and it's Em's.
"No kidding. I had to order my own food. I can show you how to do it."
Bella laughs as Em reaches for the iPad and I smack his hands away.
"I can just give this away," I say to Emmett, ready to hand the food to him. Bella laughs, and Em just shakes his head, as I put his plate in front of him.
I hand Bella the menu, only slightly cringing that it's dirty. I make a mental note to ask Seth to clean them when he comes in.
"What can I get you, Doc?" I ask, already grabbing a mug and filling it with coffee. I watch her cheeks redden again, and for a second, I wonder just how far down it goes.
I really need to get a grip, but last night—watching her sleep, probably for too long—it made me feel something I haven't felt in a long time.
Bella spends a few minutes looking over the menu before ordering the same thing Emmett ordered, just less of it.
Em looks proud. "Maybe you really are my sister." His words cause me to shake my head because looking at the both of them now, it's clear they share the same dad.
"What are you up to today?" Em asks, and I'm surprised he's actually not shoveling food in his mouth.
She shrugs. "I figured I'd spend time with Sue, maybe visit Charlie at the station."
"Want a ride to their house? I have to go see mom, anyway."
She gives him a smile. "Sure."
Bella and Emmett leave during the bar's lunch rush—which honestly isn't much in the small town, —but it's enough to keep Waylon and me busy when things get out of hand. I drop a glass and a plate and have to walk outside for a second to catch my breath.
It seems Bella took it with her. I can't get her out of my mind.
Alice comes in just when we have people waiting for a table and no one here to bus the other tables.
"It's almost like you know when I need you most," I say, watching her and knowing it's true. We've always looked out for each other.
"I keep telling you I know the future. Have faith."
She sends me a wink, heading over to the tables to start clearing them.
I shake my head and head back to the bar. I try to stay busy and it works for a while. Once things quiet down, I head back into my office.
I'm working on inventory when my phone snaps me out of it.
Tia
She's a part of my life that I haven't told Bella about, and as much as I want to, it feels complicated—in the way that would make her completely judge me—so I figured I'd wait to tell her about it.
I take a deep breath, and before I answer it, I see the doors open up and Emmett, Rose, Charlie and Bella walk in, laughing. Something Emmett says causes Bella to blush. The fact that Rose is with them is a big deal. She's the one who told me my baggage with Tia would scare Bella off.
With a deep breath, I leave my phone in my office and walk out to meet them.
Emmett holds up a box, and when he sits down, he says, "Hit me, bartender."
"I'll hit him for you," Bella says, shaking her head. I smile, and when I see Rose watching us with a raised eyebrow, I roll my eyes at her.
I watch the two of them, and Bella shakes her head, to brush off whatever's going on between them.
"What's in the box?" I ask, but it's mostly to Bella.
"Mom found old pictures. She said Bella can have them." Emmett reaches for the iPad to order, and I watch as he puts in the old code and receives an error message. I hit his hand away before he locks the whole system, and I enter in the changed code and then turn it to him to input his order. No use in fighting him anymore.
He pumps his fists as he starts ordering.
"Pretty sure she wanted to burn them years ago. I talked her into saving them," Charlie says, sipping the Blue Moon I set in front of him.
Bella gives him a smile. "I'm glad she saved them. I can't wait to see the rest."
I wave as someone tries to flag me at the end of the bar, and before I know it, I get busy.
I make my way over to the person, and immediately wish I had paid closer attention to who it was.
"You're a hard man to get a hold of." His voice has a bitter edge to it.
"Busy," I say with a shrug, taking in the dressy clothes that differ so much from what I'm used to him wearing.
"Yeah well it shows." He gives me a meaningful look, his fingers tapping against the bar top.
I bite back my reply, annoyed and not wanting to do this here. I motion him to my office after asking Alice to look out.
I don't bother to glance in Bella's direction as we walk past, not wanting to see if she's caught sight of my unwelcome visitor. Once the door is shut behind us, I ask, "What can I do for you, Jim?" I let out a sigh as I take a seat on the edge of my desk.
"You're being served. Here are your divorce papers."
