Thanks to my team. I lied - you get two more EPOVs before we mark this complete. Enjoy!
EPOV
You got a minute?
I press send on the text and sit behind the wheel of my Jeep for a moment, giving myself a bit to digest what I'm about to do.
I know it's the right thing, telling one of my childhood friends about the situation with Bella and her husband; I just wish it didn't have to be this way.
According to Rose, this is the best way to do it - without Bella knowing. It doesn't sit well with me for a number of reasons, but I have to step back and admit Rose may have more experience in handling Bella at her worst than I do.
It never takes long for Mike to answer me back, so when his text comes through a few minutes later telling me to head down to the station, I sigh and reverse out of Mrs. Cope's driveway. Why the woman insists on keeping her car that breaks down if you look at it the wrong way is beyond me, but she's given me consistent work over the years, so I can't complain too much. Her house isn't too far from the Forks' Police Station, so I begin to make my way there and try not to feel too guilty for keeping this trip from Bella.
Rose had called me a few days ago, filling me in on what she's been up to back in Rhode Island in terms of creating a paper trail of documentation against Bella's husband. While keeping Bella completely out of the situation looks bleak, it's not something Rose feels we should alarm her with.
Yet.
"I don't want this to set her back," Rose had told me over the phone a few days ago when I was working in town. "And things are still quiet over here for now. Nothing's changed."
"He's not acting suspiciously at all?" I had asked her.
"From what we've seen, no."
"That's suspicious enough for me," I had snarled and sighed loudly into the phone. "Send me his picture, and I'll take care of the rest."
Walking into the police station, I text Mike to let him know I'm here. He's been on the force for years now, and he's usually around the station long enough for me to stop in real quick to shoot the shit. I don't plan on being here long, as being here without Bella knowing has made me feel like a horrible boyfriend, so I don't bother to take off my jacket as I wait for Mike to meet me. Sighing, I know Rose is right; Bella has been in such a great place, physically and mentally, and the last thing I want is for her to lose any of the progress she's made over the last few months.
"Edward," Mike's bellow across the station breaks me out of my thoughts. "What's goin' on, man?"
I watch as my childhood friend makes his way over to where I stand in the lobby, the smile on his face reminding me of all the shit we got into when we were kids. He greets me with a joking slap and a shake of my hand.
"Nothing much; how've you been?"
"Good, good. Jess is pregnant," he shares, still smiling despite the chaos that runs rampant in his house.
"Again? Congrats, man."
"Thanks," he nods appreciatively, and then points back towards the general direction of his office. "You wanna head back?"
"No, no. I won't be here long. Just had to ask you a quick favor, if you could," I say, pulling out a picture of Bella's husband Rose had sent me a few days ago. "Let me know if you see this guy come anywhere near this town."
Mike studies the picture hard for a moment before looking up at me. "You know him?"
"Not personally," I shake my head, "but I'm going to kill him if I see him before you do."
"For the record, I have to ask you not to do that," Mike chuckles, running a hand over his brow as he digests the seriousness of my words. "But I'll have my guys keep a lookout. Unofficially."
"Thanks, man."
I don't need to tell him too many details, just enough to make me comfortable enough to leave, knowing more people are doing what they can to keep Bella safe.
If he ever comes to Forks, Bella and I won't be the only ones ready for him.
See you tomorrow!