Six
It's Christmas.
But I feel like shit.
Standing outside I lean against the porch rail, sipping coffee, as I take in the snow-covered yard. Cuddled in an oversized hoodie, track pants and slippers I feel exhausted. I slept so little.
Conversations replayed in my mind all night.
All of them with Emmett. Both conversations we've had and conversations I want to have.
"Morning," his voice makes me jump.
I turn to look at him. He looks just as exhausted.
"Hey," I mutter.
"Merry Christmas," he moves to sit on a porch swing, pressed up against the wall beneath the front room window.
"You too," I nod.
He watches me, his mind racing behind those deep eyes. He's in a hoodie and sweatpants too. The greys bring out the blue in his eyes. Making the anxiety and worry in them crystal clear.
"How'd you sleep?" he asks.
"Like shit," I roll my eyes, sip my coffee, "the cocoa didn't sit well after all. I was up all night."
Lie.
"Oh," he snickers, "yeah they're great but definitely not designed for more than one."
"Your mother tried to warn me," I roll my eyes.
"Do you need medication? I think there are some pain killers in the kitchen," he says.
"No," I smile at him, remembering how much I loved his compassionate heart.
I mean liked.
"Well make sure you take it easy this morning," he nods.
"You should too. You look like you got hit by a truck," I motion to him.
"It was a b double," he smirks, looking down at his hands as he speaks, "it reversed over me too."
He always looks at his hands when he's nervous.
"Was I driving?" I tease.
"I wouldn't blame you if you were," he glances up at me, "in fact I'd give you the keys and tell you to rev hard."
I move toward him, hold out my cup of coffee for him.
"Have this," I nod, "it might wake you up."
As he takes it I move to sit beside him, the bench swaying slightly beneath the addition of my weight with his.
I can't help but smile at his grimace as he sips it.
"What?" I laugh.
"Sugar," he shakes his head, "your sweet tooth hasn't dimmed."
"It got sweeter," I take back the coffee cup as he holds it toward me.
"You put a whole sugarcane factory into that," he laughs easily, "how you don't have cavities is beyond me."
"My dentist is very happy with my business," I tuck one of my legs up under me to keep warmer.
"Because it's so repeated," he teases me.
I laugh and tuck my hair back, feeling the ease of him as if it was never difficult. This was Emmett's venus fly trap. He pulled me in so easily. I couldn't fight back when he had me in his orbit this way.
"Edward mentioned an art exhibit," he says suddenly, "you deserve it more than anyone."
"That's not true," I shake my head.
"I'm serious," he stresses, "your talent. I wish the whole world had the chance to see it with their own eyes. The way you see colour and shape. It's as if you are speaking your own language with what you're creating."
"I actually painted… never mind," I shake my head, "It's so stupid."
"No tell me," he nudges my arm.
How can a nudge send so much heat? We're both fully clothed. We're meant to be at war right now.
"I painted Italy. A pizzeria," I bite my lip.
He lets out a chuckle so sincere and warm I want to make him do it again. I want to make it my life long mission to make him never stop making that sound.
"With the pineapple?" he looks at me.
"It doesn't belong," I shake my head.
"Can I see it?" he asks.
"It's not finished, I smile at him, "perhaps I'll sell it."
"Only if it's for good money," he winks at me.
Fuck. Why'd he have to go and wink at me?
"Maybe I'll just ask for a pizza without pineapple as payment," I shrug.
He begins to fire back but the front door opens.
"There you are," she steps out.
He stiffens beside me. I try to ignore it, but it's hard not to notice. Shouldn't he be thrilled she's here?
"Hey," he stands, "you're awake."
She walks out and looks at us both, taking me in. Last night she didn't really get a good look at me. Now she is taking in every last inch that she can. If she wanted a real threat I'd lift my shirt - I know how much her fiancé loves them.
"Hi," she smiles at me, "I'm Cassie."
Standing I shoot a glance at Emmett before holding my hand out for her to take. He looks deadly uncomfortable.
"Rosalie," I say as she shakes it, "I'm Emmett's friend. Bella's my roommate."
"She has yet to meet the family," Cassie gives Emmett a look that makes me feel chilly.
Did I ever look at him that way?
Also what's with the third person? What a loser.
I didn't like her at all.
If she was kind and sweet to Emmett maybe I could understand. But his reaction has me suspicious.
'Today," he says simply, "they'll all be up soon. Alice will want her presents."
"Did you get the secret Santa?" I ask.
I was always planning to participate. I'd planned to send my gifts for everyone with Bella. Thankfully they were all here under the tree. I'd been assigned Jasper.
"Yep," he nods.
"I didn't get one," Cassie interrupts.
"You didn't want them to know about you yet," he shrugs, "besides they're usually gag presents. Last year I got Edward a candy g-string."
"They used that," I scrunch my nose up.
"I could have died not knowing that," he shudders.
"You brought it into my life so therefore I'm bringing it back into yours," I shove his arm playfully.
"Well, we better go inside and get warm. You need to introduce me to the actual family," Cassie interrupts awkwardly, "Isn't that right, Emmie."
"Rose is family," he looks at me, "but sure. We'll go see if my parents are awake."
"Good luck, Emmie-poo," I say as he follows her inside.
He glares at me and playfully gives me the finger, before leaving me standing on the patio with a shit-eating grin I can't fight.
Why did it feel simple? When everything about us isn't.
Esme and Carlisle are trying so hard to fight their feelings. Everyone can tell. It's awkward.
I don't think they know about the baby.
I think they wouldn't be fighting their natural response so hard if they did know. I think it would be too much for them.
There's no ring on her finger, but I'm fairly certain his parents are aware there should be. I'm sure Emmett would have given her one. He's the kind of guy that follows tradition. Hence why he's likely in this mess in the first place. He was also incredibly careful. He always had a condom in his wallet.
I find myself staring at them. It's Bella who nudges a present into my hand, cutting me from my day dream.
"For you," she sits beside me, "I worked really hard to keep this a secret."
"It's not barking," I glance at her.
"Then tell your aunt to let us have pets," She laughs.
"Could you image that bitch downstairs," I gasp, "we could burn dog shit on her doorstep."
"You need to stop fighting with Bessie," she rolls her eyes.
"No," I begin to rip into the paper, "she deserves every bit of revenge I take."
"What did Bessie do?" Esme takes the opportunity to lighten the mood.
"She complained to the building owner that Rosalie was too loud," Bella explains, "then told him that she had strange men turning up."
"It was a plumber! Our dishwasher had to be replaced and our shower went while they were working. They had to come back. So she told the building owner I'm a prostitute," I say incredulously, "what ever happened to mind your own business?"
"Rose has declared war," Bella explains, "she walks a little heavier."
"She complained about that too. My aunt keeps getting calls," I laugh, "told me if I didn't fight harder she'd kick me out."
"So that's where you get it?" Emmett pipes up, smiling at me.
Bella stills beside me in shock. That he not only spoke to me but smiled at me. I poke my tongue out at him playfully, causing her to look at me in shock.
"What is it?" Alice motions to the present, oblivious to what's just transpired.
Baby brain.
"Holy shit," I gasp as I pull back the paper, "you didn't!"
Bella watches me push the wrapping away, an excited smile on her face.
"Is this the shirt?" I look at her grinning.
"Yep," she nods.
"Hooters gave you this?" I shake my head in stunning disbelief.
"Well, it's actually the very one you wore," she grins, "I nabbed it before they could take it back."
"Explain," Edward sits on the floor beside his girlfriend, back against her knees.
"We went to Hooters that weekend you had your business trip," I look at Edward, "just us girls. Alice bet I couldn't blend in with the rest of the waiters."
"Shut up," Jasper laughs, "you started working?"
"I paid a waitress 100 to get me a uniform and she did. I earned 400 in tips in an hour," I laugh, "but the manager figured it out and shouted at me. Demanded I change or the cops would come."
"I swiped the shirt back," Bella explains, "the manager put it down on the bar behind him to yell at her and I grabbed it back."
"You are a cheeky devil," I cuddle her to me, "I love this so much."
"It was the most fun you'd had in such a while. I wanted to make sure you had it so when you're feeling low you can remember how happy you were," she explains, "we even signed it."
Turning it over, sure enough, I spot sharpie in both Alice and Bella's handwriting.
"Holy shit," I try to fight back tears.
I loved them both so much it hurt.
"This is the best present I have ever been given," I hold it up to look at it better.
"If the best present ever is a Hooters shirt I think I'm fine," Cassie blurts out.
"Cass," Emmett scolds.
"Rosalie only got fake fired because she made the other girls look bad," Alice defends me, "her tits in that shirt are incredible."
"But come on. It's so degrading," Cassie scoffs.
Emmett gives her a frosty look. Warning her to stop.
"Maybe a Mcdonald's shirt would suit you better Cassie?" I look at her blankly.
She can't out bitch me. She obviously wants to learn the hard way not to cross me.
"Is it degrading?" Bella tilts her head.
"I think it's empowering," I look at her, "women choosing how to use their bodies. Like pole dancing and stripping. Women are there because they want to be."
"Or they lack education," Cassie tries.
"Speaking from experience, Cassie? Is that where you work?" I tilt my head, ignoring Bella's shocked snicker.
"Cassie. They had some fun. I think it's a sweet gift," Emmett looks at me, "Hooters isn't just to check out girls. Have you had the wings?"
"Yeah but-"
"Okay," Carlisle awkwardly coughs, standing up with a clap, "I think Alice should open a present next."
He deposits a present into her lap before trading a look with his wife. Their own secret conversation.
"Is it too early to start drinking?" I look at Bella.
Thanks for reading x