Chapter 18 – With or Without You

I think everyone was shocked to see me come in through the back door with Edward's arm wrapped around me. It was pretty clear that I'd spent the night with him, because I was wearing one of his shirts, which was tied in a knot on my hip. Just as I'd expected, Tanya and Rosalie glared at me, and Jasper just looked confused. Angela and Jessica kept looking between Edward and I, like they'd be able to figure out what had happened.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Tanya sneered.

I looked up at Edward, and he kissed my head. "We've had a rough night, and we'd like to keep things to ourselves," Edward answered smoothly. I was honestly shocked at how confident he was suddenly, but if I thought about it, any time it came to defending me, he lost his shy side fast. Tanya and Rose both scoffed, annoyed. I knew it was going to be a hard day. I was glad I had massages booked back to back and spent most of my time hiding in my room.

When it came time for lunch, I peeked into the kitchen to see if the coast was clear. I saw Edward at the table with Tanya. They both wore annoyed expression, and Tanya actually rolled her eyes. "I call bullshit. Women like her pull exactly this kind of crap without a care for how badly they're hurting others. My mom cheated constantly on my dad, who was a total sweetheart and naive like you. They finally divorced, and he remarried a younger woman, only to find out she was the same damn way and the stepmom from hell to me.

"She had my dad wrapped up in her sweet, innocent act, and all the while, she was banging my older brother. My dad had a horrible breakdown because of those two, and he eventually had a heart attack and died from the stress. You sweet, naive men are magnets for whores like her. I'm telling you, Edward, she's playing you for a fool, just like my mom and stepmom, and it kills me to see it happening to someone else who doesn't deserve it. I think her contrite act is just a ploy to get you to forgive her for cheating on you and let her stay rent-free at your house and take care of her."

"Bella's not that way, and she didn't cheat on me," Edward huffed.

"You saw the way she led him on and blew you off, when you tried to protect her from him. I'm not one to take a supposed attacker's side by any means, but come on, Edward, given how she acted, do you really think he 'attacked' her? No normal woman would treat him like she did, if he'd really tried to attack her. You've got to know she's lying to you. That guy's an ass, and you're a catch, of course she's going to realize her mistake and backpedal. You're a nice, sweet guy, but you're so naive, and you don't realize she's taking advantage of you, just like my dad didn't. You need to kick that slut to the curb."

I backed down the hall, not wanting to hear more. There was a loud thump and some mumbling. I couldn't make out the words, but I knew it was Edward talking. My heart was in my throat, terrified that he was going to believe what Tanya had said.

I slipped into my room, covering my mouth to muffle my sobs. I tried to settle myself down, curling into a ball in the back corner out of sight. I texted Jasper and asked him to cancel the rest of my appointments. He wasn't happy with me, but I knew he'd do it. I heard my door open and tried to quiet my crying, but my sniffling gave me away. Jasper peeked over the table at me and frowned. He let out a sigh and said, "Okay," then left the room, not saying another word.

He must have said something to Edward, because he came rushing into the room and scooped me into his arms. "I want to go home," I cried into his shoulder. He stiffened a little. "Your home, our home," I clarified, and he relaxed, holding me tighter.

He picked me up and carried me out the door. I didn't have it in me to be embarrassed about it. Eddie frowned, when he saw Edward bring me inside. "I'll make some tea," he offered. He was gone before I could say he didn't need to.

Edward tucked me into our bed and snuggled up next to me. He glanced at his watch, and I knew he had to leave in a few minutes. I wanted to hide and never go back to that shop with those people again. I hated that they were there and hated me, but I'd made my bed.

I spent the next two days hiding out in our bedroom. Both Edward and Eddie seemed to be getting frustrated. It was very clear that we'd never be able to charge Jake with anything, with the likes of Rose and Tanya's opinions out there.

"I think we should let them go," Edward broke the silence one night. I looked over at him confused. "Tanya and Rose, I don't think we should employ them any longer."

I frowned, knowing that Rose brought in a lot of business with her shear twirling skills. I shook my head no. "We can't afford to lose Rose and her clients."

"Bella, your clients bring in way more money than hers ever did. She needs to go. We need your income. Without you, we'd barely be making the payments."

I knew it was true. I was letting Edward down. I rolled over and hid my face in his chest. "I'll talk to them tomorrow, and once they're gone, you're coming back to work," he said decisively. I didn't want to be there for that conversation.

The next morning, Edward came storming back home. His face was red with anger. He didn't say anything, as he paced the floor and finally flopped back on the bed. I reached forward and ran my fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. "They have a lease," he finally spoke. "They refuse to break it."

I knew he wouldn't be able to get rid of them so easily. "They're not going to be working evenings. That's when you're busiest." He rolled over and looked up at me, silently asking if it was okay.

I nodded yes, and he let out a relieved sigh. He climbed up on the bed and cuddled me for a bit. I knew it was time for him to go, though, when he glanced at his watch for the third time. "I'll be back for lunch," he promised.

Eddie came shuffling in and waved a deck of cards at me. I smiled and motioned for him to come over to my bed. He dealt them quietly, and I wondered when he was going to impart some words of wisdom on me. I could've really used some.

He beat me for the third time and grumped, "You're just as bad as Edward at cards." I giggled, and then he gave me a soft smile. "When are you going to stop hiding, sweetheart?" I looked away, not wanting to admit to anyone that hiding was what I was doing, even though it was obvious. I shrugged one shoulder, and he frowned. "You know, my shoulder is stiff. You mind giving me a go on your table?"

I watched him, as he grabbed his shoulder and rubbed it. I realized that I had let Grandpa Jerry down as well. I had just added him to the list of people who hated me by default.

"Let me get dressed," I sighed, and he nodded with a happy grin and hurried out of the room as fast as a man with a cane could.

He took my arm, like a gentleman escorting a lady, on our way to the shop. He opened the door for me with an encouraging smile. I didn't let my eyes wander and completely ignored the stares, as I rushed to my massage room. Everything was just as I'd left it. I patted the table and asked Eddie to take his shirt off. When I began, I realized he was tight. I frowned, trying to remember how long it had been since his last massage. I did my best to loosen up his shoulder and give him back a little range of motion. I rubbed his head, sure he'd been suffering from headaches, and left him to sleep. I stood by the door, not wanting to go out, but not wanting to disturb Eddie, either.

"Enough!" I heard someone yell. It sounded like Jasper. Raised voices were not good for business. "He's right, Rose. I have to agree with him, you're out. If you treated my fiancée like that, I'd kick you to the curb, too."

"Whatever, this place will be nothing without me!" she countered. I slid down the wall and hid my face in my hands, trying to keep my tears to myself.

"Were you asking for it, Rose? I can only guess you were, since you couldn't get way." My head shot up at Jasper's harsh words.

"How dare you!" she screamed, and I heard a crash and then stomping up the stairs.

"I can't believe you said that to her!" Tanya shouted.

"I'm gonna keep saying it, until she realizes she's treating Bella the same way," Jasper taunted, and I couldn't believe the complete and total mess I had made.

"You bastard, she doesn't deserve your words."

"Neither does Bella. You both need to get your heads out of your bitchy asses and apologize to her."

I was shocked, when I heard Laurant chime in, "Jasper's right. The way you've been acting is completely unreasonable."

"I can't believe you all can forgive her so quickly. Don't you remember the way she treated us, snapping at us and telling us to mind our own business? Well, this is us, not minding her business!" I heard Tanya rant, and then another set of feet stomped up the stairs to the apartments.

I heard a light tap on the door, and Edward poked his head in. He frowned, when he saw I was crying on the floor again. "I guess you're not up to taking a walk-in." The stress on his face was clear, as he nervously ran his hand through his hair. I hated that I was doing that to him.

"I'll take them. I need to get a drink first. Do you mind helping Eddie get up and dressed?"

His smile was huge, and it made my heart hurt. I kissed his lips, feeling guilty that I'd left him to shoulder the burden on his own. When I stepped out of the room, Jasper turned toward the sound. He gave me a genuine smile and held up the clipboard that had my massage questionnaire on it. I nodded yes, and his grin grew wider. He handed it off to my new customer, and I slipped into the kitchen for a glass of wine. I was going to need it.

Eddie came shuffling out of the room and kissed my cheek. He tried to steal a sip of my wine, but Edward snatched it from my hand, wagging a finger at him. Eddie shrugged innocently and shot me a cheeky grin. Edward just shook his head, as he watched his grandpa shuffle out of the shop.

I was in the middle of cleaning my room, when I heard the door open behind me. Angela stepped in, looking nervous. I waited patiently for her to say her piece. "Edward said you were looking to rent out a house in Fork?"

That was the last thing I'd expected her to say, but I was relieved she'd chosen an easy topic. "Yes, it's my father's house. I'm not sure how I'm going to find someone I trust to live in it."

Angela suddenly looked very nervous, and then she cleared her throat. "Would you consider me trustworthy?"

I looked at her shocked. "You do realize that it's in Forks, an hour away, right?" Her reaction was puzzling. She blushed, nodding her head yes. "Why would you want to live so far away, in such a small town?"

"My, um, boyfriend…he lives there."

I pretty much knew everyone who lived in Forks and the surrounding area. "Who is he?"

"You know him," she peeked at me. "Ben Cheney," she offered up my financial adviser's name.

"Really? Wow, he's a nice guy, good for him, and you." I was happy for the both of them.

"Thanks, things are starting to progress in our relationship, and I think it'd be best if I was closer to him, but I'm not ready to move in with him yet."

"Okay, yeah, I understand. I can get you the lease agreement to look over. It's pretty much the same as the apartment one. Are you sure you can afford it? It's two hundred dollars more than your rent here, plus the cost of gas running back and forth."

She smiled widely, blushing. "Ben wants me closer, too. I told him about my idea of moving closer, and then when you put your place up for rent, he insisted I try for it, and he said he'd help me with the cost. I think he really loves me, Bella." She was beaming, and I couldn't blame her.

I pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you, Angela. Thank you for helping me out. I really appreciate it."

"Me, too, and Bella, I'm glad you're back," she said, before she slipped out of the room.

I quickly finished my cleaning and called back my client. Thankfully, Angela had put me in a good mood, and I was able to help them relax. It felt good to be back at my table. Rosalie and Tanya or not, I knew it was time for me to come back to work.