They say good things come in threes, so here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 3

EM POV

The light peeking in through the window woke me up the next morning. It was mid January in Chicago, so it was more of a dull gray morning light than a warm yellow ray of sunshine. I felt something tickling my nose and scrunched it up slightly, moving my hand to flick it away. But as I went to lift my hand, I found it was buried in something soft. I froze and peeled my head off my pillow, looking down at the goddess sprawled on top of my body. Looks like Bella and Kate really do have a lot in common.

Her right leg was thrown around my left hip, right hand tucked under my ribs above it, and her head was rested right below my pecs. I had one hand buried in her soft hair and the other was…on her hip. Shit. Think, think Emmett. Mom and Dad, Garrett, Edward. I had to stave off my body's natural reaction to her, and well, my usual morning rise. I bent my head down and breathed in, smelling her strawberry shampoo that I always got small wafts of as she walked by me or would great me with a brief but friendly hug at gatherings.

Now that I could smell her up close, I also got a dose of Bella; beneath her strawberry shampoo scent was another smell that was uniquely her. Like peaches and cinnamon; sweet and spicy. I felt her shifting as though she were waking up and settled my head back into the pillow.

Well, might as well see what she thinks of this predicament…

I evened out my breathing as I felt her stirring again, then her leg brushed my newly deflated morning wood, and she groaned as she stretched. All of which had me clenching my jaw trying to stave off another boner before she freaked.

I felt her hand drift up from under my ribcage and skate across my bare chest. Then her fingers danced along my abs and god it felt so fucking good. Her wandering fingers froze, and her whole hand smacked down lightly on my stomach, patting around my abs like someone searching for their glasses. Then to my absolute fucking surprise, her hand shot down and palmed my dick making her gasp and sit up, pushing off my chest and causing my hands to slide off her body.

"Oh. My. God. Oh shit. What? How? Jesus fuck Bella why did you have to go for the junk? And how…? Oh my god. Oh…oh my god." She jerked her leg off me like it'd been burned and scurried to the foot of the bed.

Well okay that's definitely not the reaction I wanted.

"Where is my onesie? Oh no, okay, it's okay Bella. You're still dressed. You know Emmett, nothing happened, everyone knows you're an unpredictable sleeper. No one got hurt. Shit. How do I explain this to Edward." She continued rambling, making me feel like shit, so I decided to 'wake up' and reassure her.

I inhaled and stretched, turning on my side and then looked at her while I rubbed an eye.

"Woah there. Hey Bells? Slow your role there girl." She looked up at me from the foot of the bed, knees pulled up to her chest as she sat there with panic in her eyes, and a little bit of something else as they drifted along my exposed torso then down to the comforter. Likes what she sees.

"Hey?" I tried again, and she looked back up at me, "sorry about this, totally my bad. We came back early after I accidentally clipped Garrett at the gym. I couldn't drive home because we had a few drinks. You and Kate were passed out on the couch, and I couldn't let you sleep out there and take the bed, and I couldn't remember where the spare blankets were, lie, so I just crashed here. Nothing happened, so you don't have to worry." I flashed her a half smile, hitting her with a dimple. She bit her lip, and then all of a sudden, her eyes went wide again.

"Umm so when you got here was there any—I mean did you see anything…we left out in the living room?" she asked with bated breath.

Now Edward may be my brother but honestly after reading that list and waiting all this time, it was like I just couldn't pretend anymore.

"You mean something like the Pros and Con Board coming out of retirement?" I asked quirking an eyebrow as I shifted down the bed, just close enough to touch her.

"Shit." She said, looking down and nervously fiddling with the duvet. "I'm so sorry. We just—we had a lot to drink and…don't tell Edward. I'm going to talk to him about everything as soon as I get home. If I don't you have full permission to tell him yourself" she glanced around still nervous.

I studied her for a moment, trying to decide my next move. Nervous, adorable, irresistible Bella Swan. I couldn't help it, I had to touch her, had to let her know.

"Oh Bella," I sighed, grasping her ankles and slowly reeling her in until her legs straightened and the rest of her body was dragged into mine. "I read your list" I continued as I let my hands drift up her toned legs, round hips, slim waist where my hands settled and dragged her some more until she was lying prone under my hulking body, "and I couldn't help but notice there are some things that you need that you apparently haven't been getting." I emphasized the words with a slow squeeze of her waist, drawing her left leg up and over my hip. "It would be such a shame" I brought my lips to her ear "if you were denied the most basic needs" I sucked on the spot just behind her ear, pulling a moan from those delicious lips and the sound went straight to my groin.

I wasn't finished with her yet, I needed her to know, to feel how much I wanted her before she talked herself out of whatever she and Kate had decided on last night.

"Just know," I started again, releasing her skin and trailing my lips down her neck, "if you ever need anything from me" I placed an open mouthed kiss just under her jaw, nipping lightly at the soft skin "I would be more than willing" I ground my hips into her a little, letting her feel my renewed excitement, "to give it to you". With one more slow grind and a lingering kiss just about her frantic heart, I pulled away from her luscious body, biting down hard on my own lip as I took in her flushed and aroused appearance before rising from the bed, grabbing my gym bag, and heading for a shower.

B POV

Holy. Fucking. Shit. That did not just happen. Not only did Emmett see the freaking pros and cons list, he was what? Admitting that he wanted me? I heard the guest shower turn on, and scurried around the room, snatching up my stuff and barreling down the stairs.

When I first woke up I thought Edward had finally given in and actually cuddled with me, he usually says I run too warm and thwarts my snuggly advances. That was until I felt the hard muscles under my fingers, knowing even at his fittest, Edward was never built like this. Then without thinking, my handed drifted down to his dick. Even soft I could tell this was not the package I had ordered.

Despite my utter humiliation, Emmett's admission had flipped my world upside down and not to mention turned me on more than anyone, including Edward, ever had. Feeling his body pressing into mine and his dark delicious words hissed into my skin was the single most erotic experience of my life.

As I had that thought I paused on my way to my car in the parking garage and shook my head, trying to clear it of all things Emmett Cullen, at least for now. Did this mean Emmett was saying he wanted me if I broke up with his brother? Or that he wanted to fuck me? Was it some kind of test? Get a grip Bella this is Em we're talking about just go talk to your boyfriend and stop obsessing over his brother. But it was also Em and not my boyfriend who made my scrap of lace underwear a mess, and my skin flush so bad it was still tinged pink as I unlocked my car door.

Reaching over for my water bottle I dabbed some cool water on my neck and face to help calm down before pulling out and driving home. To Edward. Dear lord.

I parked my car and headed up to our apartment. We'd gotten the place two years ago, our lease was coming up in a couple weeks and we'd been looking into upgrading, but surprise surprise, Edward couldn't make up his mind about where he wanted us to live and got agitated whenever I pressured him about it. Thinking about the apartment brought back all the other things on the cons list. Pulling out my phone I looked at my pictures, zooming in on the cons and ignoring Kate's ridiculous expression.

I figure now was a good time as any. "Just rip the band aid off Bella, you need this." I unlocked the door and walked in, keeping my keys in my pocket just in case things went south and I wanted a quick get away. Not that Edward was an angry guy, but we had had a couple fights where he'd said some fairly shitty things. We both had, but his words had really cut deep and were said with enough conviction to make our make up seem like a blanket treaty.

I found him where I thought he'd be; in his 'office' one hand wrapped around a mug of coffee, the other scrolling away on his laptop while he watched video after video. I rolled my eyes thinking of all the times he'd be doing this exact thing, turning down my offers and pleas for him to come have brunch, drinks, watch a movie, anything that involved romance or quality time.

"Edward...mind if—" he held his hand out.

"Bella not right now, come one you know this is my work time. Can't we talk about this later, I'm really not in the mood to be nagged or hear you go on about Kate's new gossip." He hadn't even turned his head to acknowledge me as he spoke, too intent on watching another random video.

"I mean," I hedged, "you are just watching videos it's not really—" now I got his attention.

"Bella. No, alright? You know this is my me time. You know I like to sit down with my coffee and have some time to myself and watch my videos to relax before working." He said as if explaining to a two year old why daddy can't come play outside.

Maybe it was imagining him saying that to our future kids over and over again, or the fact that he'd said these very things to me countless times as if he never got time to himself. Either way, I finally snapped.

"I can't do this anymore!" I said throwing up my hands. I started pacing then turned back to his shocked expression that was beginning to morph into one of exhaustion as if I were another woman having a breakdown. "No. Okay? No. No more telling me how it is and how we'll spend our time. It's done, I'm done. We are over. You can't commit to anything, and you don't even touch me anymore without me practically throwing myself at you. So enjoy your alone time, because until you find someone new to put up with your shit, you'll be having a lot of it." At his now distraught expression, I deflated a little. "Look Edward, it's just not working anymore. I love you but I'm not in love with you anymore. I feel like at some point you started to feel the same and then I started trying to love hard enough for the both of us. I know there's someone out there for you, and maybe you're just not ready for the commitment, but that person isn't me. I'm sorry."

"Woah, woah, woah hold on Bella. Is this about my work time? Because you know I can move things around, okay baby? Come on what's this really about?"

He looked a little frantic, but his words only made me huff, my anger rising again, "This is really about me not being able to love you anymore. So I'm going. I'll go stay with Kate or Alice until I can find a place of my own. I can come get my stuff tomorrow when you're not in at home 'office hours'. I'm sorry, okay? I just can't do this anymore and honestly; I don't think you can either. Goodbye Edward, I really do wish you the best."

I ignored his groveling and headed out the door. He didn't chase me, didn't try to stop me from getting in my car and driving away. I also didn't expect him to, I feel like despite his protests he knew this wasn't going anywhere anymore either. Maybe we were both just afraid of being lonely, hanging on to each other to escape those feelings, and it had finally caught up with us. Either way, as I pulled into my favourite brunch restaurant and asked for a table for one, I felt lighter than I had in years.

EM POV

I'd stuck around at Garrett and Kate's, I'd gotten up first, so I made breakfast for the three of us, saying it was payment for the purpled discoloration now covering the right side of Gar's jaw as he made he way into the kitchen with Kate tucked into his side.

"Bellzy?" Kate questioned while rubbing her eyes.

I scratched my neck nervously under her sleepy stare, "She, uh, she left about an hour ago" I said.

Garrett locked eyes with me, and I raised my eyebrows at him, letting him know there'd been more.

"Did you guys see the board?" She asked, eyes narrowing as she glanced between Garrett and I.

"N-no" he replied, at the same time I said "yes."

"Well?" Kate demanded, socked foot tapping on the kitchen floor, "did you or did you not see it?"

Garrett looked to me, confusion written on his face, "Yeah Kate, we saw it" I started tentatively.

"Shit. Does Bella—" she got her answer from my expression, then looked over into the living room and back at me.

"Huh" she said, looking around the coaches for something.

"What babe?" Garrett asked, grabbing a plate and some bacon from the tray I'd laid it out on.

"Funny. There're no spare blankets out, and you" she pointed to Garrett, "mentioned bringing both of us upstairs, and you," her gaze now shifted back to me, "definitely did not sleep down here".

Kate opened her mouth to say something else when her phone rang from the counter. "I'm not finished with you" she said pointing at me while scarfing down a slice of bacon and answering her phone.

"Hellooooooo" she said after checking the caller ID with a big grin on her face.

"Oh my god. You did it? Bells are you okay!?" My attention snapped to her, then to Garrett who looked equally as alarmed.

Kate notice and made a zip your lips or I'll fucking kill you sign before putting her cell on speaker.

"Yeah, Kay, I did it. It was hard, but honestly I showed up there set on talking things through but then he pulled the same god damned shit he always does and I just thought this is what my life is going to be like and I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. I can tell he might try and hash things out or patch things up in a few days but I told him I'm done. And I am. God it's so freeing—thank you, yes that's perfect. Sorry, I'm out at Saje's diner getting brunch. Felt like a suitable choice after the morning I had." Then she gasped down the line.

"What? Bells what is it?" Kate asked, brows puling together in worry.

"Oh my god I need to tell you about this morning! You'd never believe it Kate! I woke up not with, but on top of the wrong Cullen." I tried not to cringe when she dubbed me as the wrong Cullen.

Kate glanced at me, debating whether or not to take the phone off speaker. I shot her a pleading look and after narrowing her gaze in warning, she left it.

"No way, Bells, what happened…did anything happen?" she asked tentatively.

"Ummm…I mean…okay. So, you know how I said all that stuff about feeling that weird connection to Emmett?" she started slowly, making my brows raise.

"Oh yeah and that stuff about how he looks?" Kate added, giving me a smirk.

My eyes widened at that. I knew she was ogling the goods this morning, but damn all this time?

Bella huffed, "Yes, Kate, yes. His stupidly good looks and all that jazz as well. Focus." She sighed before continuing, "anyways, this morning I woke up freaking draped across him like a monkey. I thought he was Edward but then I kind of sort of felt him up…like all of him. Definitely got some different genes. Jesus…" she trailed off and for the first time since I was twelve, I found myself blushing as Garrett mimed giving me a high five and Kate stifled a giggle.

Bella kept going, "so when I'd realized what I'd done, I scrambled away, only to have Emmett say they saw the lists. Kate he—" she paused, her breath hitching as if remembering this morning, and I couldn't help but bite my lip as I remembered her lying prone and flustered beneath me.

"What did he do, Bellzy, come on, you can't leave a girl hanging?!"

"He pulled me underneath him and he—well, he propositioned me, Kate. I—I didn't even know what to say, honestly, I was so turned on, and then he left to go shower before I could even fully grasp what was happening. So, I grabbed my shit and fled. On my way home I decided to hash things out with Edward and now we've come full circle." She finished, and we could hear the faint sound of her gulping down some water at the restaurant, as if remembering this morning had gotten her all hot and bothered again.

Me too baby, me too.

"Bells? Do you know where you're gonna live? You're more than welcome to come stay with me and Gar until you figure everything out!" She offered at Garrett's encouragement.

"Oh, Kate, really? I don't want to impose, and I have my stuff and—"

"Bella really it's fine, we haven't even touched our storage locker yet, just rent a truck and we'll come loaded with coffee and the energy to get it over with."

Bella sighed, "you know sometimes I think the best thing I ever got out of dating Edward is meeting you. Love you Kay, I'll see you tonight."

"You too Bellzy boo!" Kate hung up.

Silence hung in the air, Garrett and Kate both turned to me and rested their chins on lace fingers, completely in sync.

"Sooooo Emmy bear? Care to explain?" Kate asked and Garrett echoed with a "yeah explain!" that got an answering eye roll from me.

Look, Kate, Garrett kind of already knows some of it, but ever since I met Bella, I haven't been able to get her out of my head. She's—she's incredible. And after last night, seeing the things my brother—her boyfriend—wasn't giving her, knowing she deserves the world, I just couldn't not make my feelings known. At least to some extent." I finished with a shrug.

Kate squealed, running around their kitchen island, climbing onto the couch, and launching herself at me. I caught her as Garrett yelled out, "watch those hands, Cullen!"

"Oh shut up, Gar, think how awesome this could be! Emmett and Bella, and us! It's like finding out your parents are taking you to Disney times one hundred." Kate cried, giving me a big sloppy kiss on the cheek before letting me go and skipping back over to Garrett and giving him the same Kate special.

We both locked eyes as we wipe our cheeks, causing Kate to clap and grin.

"Okay! Operation Bellette starts tonight!" I looked at her in alarm. She put her hands on her hips and gave me a challenging look, "Em, you're still going to New York tomorrow to get things started at the new office. It's not like you can actually start anything for four months. That gives you plenty of time to get to know each other differently, build a good foundation, annnnnd have her all hot and bothered for your return. You can't backout now, I've already given you a couple name." She finished with an eyebrow wiggle, while finally sitting at the breakfast table to eat her food.

"I mean…" I started, nervously scratching my neck. "I guess it couldn't hurt. I just—I only get one shot at this, ya know Kate? I want to be sure I'm not some rebound or second choice or something, because I just don't know how I'll handle the disappointment."

Her gaze softened and she put down her fork, "Emmett, you're an amazing man. We know that, and so does Bella. Just give it time, be yourself, and everything will workout how it should." She smiled knowingly and went back to eating.

I sighed, running my finger through my hair, thinking about what this could possibly mean. A slow smile spread across my face. Finally.

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Looks like things are looking up for Emmett!