Three
Paint covers my arms. I've dedicated my morning to painting, knowing I had nothing else to really do. Going out seemed like a horrific idea just a few days before Christmas. So I didn't.
"My god," Edward steps into my makeshift studio smiling, "this is incredible."
His eyes take in the canvases I have around the spare bedroom Bella had let me turn into an art room. She had refused my offer to turn it into an office space for her too, claiming she didn't want to impact my artistic flow. She's such a cutie.
"What are you doing here? Your flight?," I raise an eyebrow.
"Got delayed. There's fog over the airport. Bella went shopping with Alice. We're trying the airport again tomorrow, but I'm working on a backup because if we wait too long we'll have nothing. Christmas Eve at the airport sounds disastrous to begin with," he moves to study a painting and looks back at me, "do you paint people or just places?"
"I like landscapes. Nature and the world around me is a fun muse. I grew up on land so I like to paint what was around me," I watch him take in the water lily painting that had taken me weeks to perfect.
"I would pay for these," he says, "my dining space could use the colour."
"You can take one," I shrug, "plenty more where it came from."
"No way. You deserve to be paid for your talent and time," he shakes his head.
"If you say so. What are you doing here?" I put down my brush and look at him.
"I need you to reconsider spending Christmas with us," he says, "I'm going to push to drive upstate instead and I want you to be there, because she'll want to see you there when I do it."
"Do what?" I already know.
He's pulling a small box out of his pocket, opening it to show me a stunning sapphire ring, diamonds around the oval cut. The silver band is dainty. It's Bella in a ring.
"Holy fuck," I cover my mouth in shock, "you're proposing?"
"I want you to help me," he closes the box, "I know it'll be awkward, but I figured I could entice you."
"How?" I tilt my head, intrigued.
"I'll arrange for a space to show your art," he motions around the room to my work, "I'll invite people I know who will buy, I'll have my mother invite designers. I know art critics that do and don't write for my company. I might not be able to put you on the map but I think I could get you fairly close to one."
Edward owned a major world wide publishing house. He'd have the pull. Almost as much as the owner of my gallery.
"I know money wouldn't win you over. I can't hire you like a bridesmaid. But help me propose and I'll help you get your art to the eyes that need to see it," he says.
"And your brother?" I put my brush down and look at him considering it.
"I'll take care of that," he smirks, "Bella's happiness and my future with her is more important than my brother."
"I want a good Christmas present too," I say.
"Done," he nods.
Stepping forward I hold out my hand to seal the deal. But he doesn't move.
"I don't want paint on my hand," he says.
"You're a baby," I roll my eyes.
Sucking up being around his brother seemed impossible. But for Bella it would have to become possible. To see her start a chapter like this with the man she loved was worth a few days of discomfort.
"I'll have a car come and get you," he turns to leave the room.
"When?" I ask.
"Tomorrow morning. I gotta convince my parents to agree to change plans without telling them why. Keep this between us, please?" He throws over his shoulder.
"Grinch is the word," I smirk.
"I've already packed the DVD," he shoots me a cheeky grin as he exits the room.
The car arrives and when I get in I immediately try to get back out.
"Stop," he grabs my arm, "please."
"He said a car. He never said you would be behind the wheel of it," I snap.
"The driver he hired was in an accident. We live in New York. People here can't drive for shit," he explains, "especially when the weather is like this."
"Clearly the drivers are shit too," I reach for the door again.
"Rose," he grabs for my arm again, tugging me back, "please. It's an hour. I will sit in total silence if you need me to. Edward said sorry for not texting, but he was busy fixing last minute details with the accommodation. He didn't have time to organise a second driver so he sent me."
I glance back at Emmett Cullen. Hating the sweet, softness of his brown eyes. Wishing I could cover them to take them off me. He's so attractive and I hate that he holds that power over me still.
"Where's your fiancé?" I frown at him.
"She's coming this evening. A work thing," he shrugs.
"I didn't even know you had one," I reached for my belt realising I had little choice.
Fuck paying for a taxi when the city was already in Christmas chaos. I'd be paying top dollar.
"It's a long story," he turns the car on, "one I need to get straight in the next hour so my mother doesn't rip my head off."
"I'll hold you down for her," I mutter, sitting back into the chair.
Then I'll kill Edward.
"Look," he huffs, "we best get it out of the way because I don't want this destroying anyone's Christmas."
Watching him indicate and pull away from the curb, I sit in silence. I'm not going to encourage him to open up.
"We had a one night stand after you refused to text me back. I got all in my feelings and hurt so I went out with a work friend. She spotted me at the bar, and we went home. You can gather the rest," he explains, "she kept coming back for more and I felt like I had nothing else going for me. So we kept seeing each other."
"So it's my fault?" I scoff.
"Not at all. I didn't mean it like that," he sighs, "no matter what I say it comes out wrong. I just meant to say I turned to her to get over you. Then I started to actually like her. She's cool."
"Oh well I'm so glad I led you to the one," I shake my head staring out the window.
I'd survive a tuck and roll. He's not going that fast.
"Rosalie," he shakes his head, "what else was I meant to do? I want to be a good man. I tried to be a good man for you and you didn't want it. I've grown up in Edward's fucking shadow my whole life. Regardless of what choice I make it's always fucking wrong."
Stunned I turn to look at him.
"If I hit you right now is it assault of an officer?" I glare.
"Yes," he nods.
"Lucky you," I snap, "because fuck you. Fuck you. You have no idea. You caught me off guard and expected me to just roll over. To accept something I never wanted from the start. Then when I told you I needed space you used it as a reason to shove me aside."
"How could I be sure?" He shouts.
I jump in my seat. He's speaking with such passion, such intensity. I've never seen him this way. A year of pent up emotion pouring from him.
"How could I be sure you had changed your mind? You didn't look all too convincing when you turned up that day," he grips the wheel, "you looked as if I was forcing your hand. Like trying something more was for my benefit. What if I agreed only for you to turn around and hurt me down the track."
"I told you I wanted to try. That should have been enough," I cross my arms.
"It wasn't. Your words were right but you weren't ready," he shakes his head, "you were lying to save face. You didn't want to hurt me but you did it anyway by pretending this was what you wanted. How long was I meant to wait? Was I meant to pretend you wanted me?l
"How? I meant it. I did want you," I threw my hands up.
"No you didn't. Not how I wanted you," he snaps, "I'd spent weeks memorising your face. I knew it wasn't genuine. You didn't want me like that."
I stare at him.
Was he right?
For a moment I consider hitting him would be worth the jail time. Then I grab up my handbag and undo my belt.
"What are you doing? Put your belt on," he demands.
"Let me out," I snap, "I will get a fucking bus."
"There are none," he says, "just put your belt back on."
"Then I'll fucking walk. Let me out," I smack the dash, "let me out, Emmet."
"Rose stop," he growls out frustrated, "this car is Edward's."
"You are fucking insane. You tell me you fucked another girl to get over me and then propose? Like I led you to her because I was telling you what you exactly what you wanted from me? Let me out," I growl out.
"I had to propose," he brings the car to a stop at a light, "I wanted to do the right fucking thing. I had no idea what else to do. I fucked up and I can't go back now. There's no hand manual on what to do when you fuck someone and knock her up."
I'm still, mouth open, heart racing.
"I have to do this. I have to do the right thing by more than just her," he is distressed, "it felt like the only thing I could do was this. I couldn't turn to my family because they'd be ashamed. I had to guess. I was abandoned and I don't want that for any child of mine. Even if it's welcomed into this world in a way I wasn't anticipating."
"Well… I'm sure you'll be very happy," I rip open the door, grabbing up my things, "all marriages that start because of children have a great success rate."
"Where are you going?" He tries to grab me but I'm quicker.
"To get you a gift, daddy," I slam his door shut and move away from the car as fast as my legs will carry me.
Thanks for reading x