TWELVE
Alice has been staring at the wall for the past hour, biting her nails. Nervous and unsure.
"He'll listen," I say sitting beside her.
"He'll never want to see me again," she shakes her head.
Jasper had turned his phone off since last night. I wanted to hurt him. But he'd turned it back on this morning to let her know he was coming over to talk within the next two hours. Since Alice has retreated into panic mode.
"You don't know that. I think you need to stop blaming yourself. It takes two people to tango," I say, "It's not like you actively set out to have a baby. It just happened. It could be a miracle in disguise. You guys will be amazing parents and I know you'll work it out. I can see how much he loves you. You caught him really off guard and guys tend to shut down when something really emotional hits them."
"If he doesn't want anything to do with the baby, maybe you could marry me? I'll steal you from Edward," she says.
"I mean you'd probably need to soothe him over with some chocolate," I smile, "and the sex with your brother would need to continue, cause I don't think I could go back to living without that."
"Disgusting," she shudders.
"You asked," I shrug, "He does this thing with his ton…"
She smacks me so hard with a cushion on the couch, I think I see Jesus.
"Stop," she groans, "that's my brother. The good one."
"As for the bad one. Did you see Emmett last night? He needs to just give in and ask Rose to try again," I say.
"He did. She said no. I think she's making him work for it," She appreciates the change in topic.
"Seriously?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she nods, "she still loves him so much. I think he just needs to work for it. They both do really."
"Well, I better get to class. I'll cover the bar tonight like I said," I say.
Alice had offered up a mid-week shift after claiming she wasn't up to it. That was fair enough considering her Jasper drama. She promised midweek meant no bar dancing and an earlier finish time. Edward has promised to pick me up after work afterwards, which was honestly the only bit I was excited for.
"Thank you so much for that," she takes my hand, "I just can't be serving drunk fools right now. Not when my life is falling…"
"It is not falling apart, Alice," I say, "You're just going through a storm, but it'll pass eventually. Besides isn't a little bit of you excited? A little baby is going to come into your life and you're going to be able to dress it up and the new baby smell is amazing."
"How are you so positive?" she scoffs.
"What other choice do I have? I can't change the situation so I may as well accept it in the best way possible," I shrug, "you can mope about or you can let yourself be excited. You already said you're keeping it so you might as well start getting a Pinterest board going."
"I already did," she bites her lip nervously, "Don't tell Jasper that."
"You've had longer to sit with this. He had it sprung on him in a really embarrassing way. He has the right to be shocked. Just take it easy," I say.
A buzz on the intercom sends Alice still. I get up to let Jasper into the building and open the door for him when he gets to it. He looks as if he has had no sleep with dark circles under his eyes, his hair a mess.
"Hey Jasper," I say sweetly, "I was just headed out to class. Alice is on the couch."
"Thanks," he nods, "is she okay?"
"She will be when she sees you," I rub his arm, hoping it's somewhat comforting.
"I'm scared," he whispers, looking at me like a deer in headlights.
"So is she," I say, "but you can both be scared together because you have all of us to help you get through it. Just go talk to her and hear her out."
He pulls me into a hug before heading toward the lounge room. I gather my things quickly and rush out the door praying they both find happiness in all of this because it was there to discover.
Finally, it began to die down. The night had been busy, but people had started to clear out. I was dying to rest my feet. I spent the entire shift wondering about Alice, waiting for some text or update. She hadn't responded to me before work, which I took as a sign they're either still talking or had made up completely.
"Bella," a deep voice makes me jump.
I look up from my stacked dishwasher to see a tan man who looks familiar. The guy from the other week.
"Jacob, right?" I smile.
"You remembered? What customer service," he grins at me.
He's more intoxicated tonight than last time. However, there's an air of sadness about him. I can smell the liquor on his breath as he leans across the bar top toward me.
"May I get a beer?" he asks.
"I think you may have had enough," I say, "We're closing in about fifteen minutes anyway."
"I can do a lot in 15 minutes," he shrugs.
The way his eyes drop to my cleavage makes me want to slap him. Fuck the customer being right.
"You part of the private dancer package?" he asks.
"No. I'm not," I narrow my eyes at him.
"I thought all the women here took their clothes off for the right price," he says.
"You can't afford me," I snap, "I think you should step back or I will call security."
"Hey. Let's not be too hasty," he holds his hands up.
"No haste here. I just think it's best you leave with your dignity intact," I look over to the security guard attempting to get his attention with my eyes.
He is too busy checking Rosalie out but. Go figure.
"Baby. Don't be like that. Perhaps we could go somewhere more private? My apartment is a few blocks away," he grabs my arm and tugs me toward him against the bar, "I will make it worth it."
A hand grabs my waist from somewhere behind me, inching me back away from Jacob.
"Her boyfriend very much doubts that," Edward glares at Jacob, "she asked you to leave. Do it. Never set foot in my club again. I'll make sure the bouncers have your face on record, don't you worry."
"You fuck the boss? What a whore," Jacobs's eyebrows dart up, amused.
Before I can stop it Edward is launching over the bar, fists in Jacob's face. I gasp and call out to the security guard. Before the guard can drag Jacob and Edward apart I notice Jacob get a few jabs in. Once he's released Edward I notice bloody running from his nose, his chin. Shit.
The security guard pulls Jacob off - somewhere I couldn't care less honestly. I race around the bar and grab onto him.
"Are you okay?" I ask, shaking slightly as I cup his face.
He nods glaring after Jacob and the security guard. Rosalie races over panicked, checking on Edward before instructing me to take Edward out back and help him clean off his face. I drag him to Alice's office as he holds his nose trying to stop the blood flow.
"You didn't need to fight him," I sit him down in Alice's chair, "Words can't hurt me. Not after everything."
Racing to the bathroom I grab some wet towels. Then I return to pull apart drawers and shelves looking for a first aid kit. He manages to stop his nose bleed with some tissues on Alice's desk while I look.
"It hurt me," he winces, "the first aid kit is in the filing cabinet."
When I find it I fumble inside it until I pull out what I need to help him. I carefully begin to disinfect the wound at his chin, trying my best not to wince at his hisses.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
"You shouldn't be sorry. This isn't your fault," he says.
"Maybe my smile was too much or something. Perhaps he got the wrong idea," I shrug.
"It's not your fault," he says each word like a verbal punch.
"Just relax," I say cleaning his face-off, "I'm safe okay. I'm safe with you."
"If anyone ever speaks to you like that again I'll do it again," he whispers, "I refuse to let anyone hurt you. Not after all you have been through."
"It's okay," I nod gazing into his eyes.
He stops my hand as I attempt to apply more disinfectant.
"We've known each other for weeks. But it feels like months," he declares, "I think… no I know. I'm falling so in love with you and I've considered trying to stop myself knowing you're going home. Knowing you won't be here and I'll be alone. But I can't baby. I love you."
I sink back onto the desk in shock.
"It's okay if you don't love me too," he moves the chair so he's in line with me, his face now clean from blood, "I just need you to know."
Carefully I place the bloody cloth in my hand down. Placing my feet on either side of his lap I lean forward to softly kiss his lips. How could I not love him back? After all he had done for me it would be impossible. My life fell apart and he put it back together without really knowing me.
"I love you," I whisper, "I just need you to know."
He smiles up at me, bright enough to erase the memory of the violence. He grips my hips tugging me toward the end of the desk before pushing me back onto it so I'm lying atop it. Alice's things scatter the desk, but he shoves them aside as he climbs over me.
"Say it again," he demands.
"I love you," I smile, "I lov…"
His lips crash to mine with a force so passionate it knocks the wind out of my lungs. When he pulls away I know for sure my old life had to fall apart, because this was the life I was made for.
Thanks for reading!
L