Chapter 14

BPOV

I stood in front of my dresser with a nervous expression glued to my face. I couldn't believe that I was actually going through with this. Sure, I'd been on dates before, I wasn't a total recluse. But it had be years since I'd gone out with Edward Masen, years since we'd just been alone together sharing a private moment.

I sighed again and looked myself over. God, why didn't I own a peie of clothing actually worth wearing?

"C'mon mom, Edward's getting antsy. I don't want him to wear a hole in our floor." I heard Masen say through the door.

"I'm coming. Tell him I just need a few moments to get myself ready." I called back.

"You said that half an hour ago. He's not gonna buy it again, mom."

"Can't you please stall him for me? I have to find something decent to wear." I pleaded with him, taking my hair again.

"I'm sure what you've got on his fine. Just come on, the quicker you two leave, the quicker I can have the house to myself."

"So you can watch your copy of planet earth for the millionth time?" I snapped. I had finally given up on my hair, just letting it fall loose over my shoulders. I could hear Edward outside with Masen, still pacing nervously.

What did he have to be anxious about? I was the ugly duckling here. I took in a deep breath and opened the door.

"Bella!" Edward beamed when he saw me.

"Hey Edward." I waved shyly, regretting that I had turned back into a little girl in high school. Edward took my hand and guided me to the family room. Masen was already there waiting for us.

"Now now kids, be sure to be back before the streetlamp come on."

"Masen, cut it out."

"And remember, sex is a sin. You might end up having another baby like me and that's the last thing we want now isn't it?"

"Masen, I will strangle you if you don't shut up!" I could feel my face heating up.

"Don't worry mom! I know you're the responsible one, just don't let him trick you." he winked and I smacked my forehead.

"Well goodness. Masen, just remember that Edward and I will be back soon-"

"Jasper is next door if I need him, don't burn down the house, don't open the door for anyone, don't have unsafe sex, you'd know a lot about that one wouldn't you Edward? Oh, and yeah, hugs, not drugs."

"Yeah…that about covers it." I sighed deeply.

"You know? I think I'd rather smoke weed than be hugged. Now get along so I can invite my hoes over." He leaned back on the couch and smirked that same old mischievous smirk.

"Goodbye Masen. Don't burn my house down. I pushed Edward out the front door. He was still frozen from the words that had come out of Masen's mouth.

"C'mon Edward," I laughed, pulling him playfully away from the house.

"Did you hear what he-"

"Yes I heard. Now c'mon, this is one of the few times I get to actually have some fun."

Edward smiled broadly and opened the door to his Volvo for me.

"As you wish love. I have a special treat for you."

"Can we split the check?" I asked.

"I'm paying for it Bella, end of discussion." Edward said, he was still smirking at me.

"You're being unreasonable." I leaned back into the smooth leather seat and smiled. The earlier nervousness was slowly starting to disappear, I was with Edward, there was nothing to worry about.

"So what's this about Esme holding a dinner party?" I asked, pushing the now empty bowl of lobster bisque away from me.

"Yeah, it's some big deal and the whole family is required. She insisted that Masen be there as well." He waved his hand as if it were no big deal. "He doesn't have to attend if he doesn't want to of course."

"Of course we'll be attending." I smiled happily at him. Edward however, did not return my glee.

"Bella, you aren't invited." He said bluntly.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Bella, you Esme doesn't want you there." he said quietly.

"Is Jasper going?"

"No….?"

"Then neither is Masen."

"Esme insist."

"I don't give a care, I'm not throwing him to the wolves all by himself." I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"He won't be by himself, I'll be there." Edward smiled as if that were enough.

"Esme will run right over you Edward, she always does." I rolled my eyes and looked away from him.

"She is not going to run over me. God Bella, why don't you trust me? I can look after Masen just as well as you or Jasper. I won't let anything happen to him." Edward persisted.

"I mean it Edward, no. I don't want him anywhere near your mother without me or Jasper."

"So you trust the neighbor but you don't trust me. I'm his father."

"I know that Edward, I just don't think Masen trust you enough-"

"Oh please, you mean you don't trust me enough with our son."

"I do trust you Edward. I'm just really finicky about Masen and his comfort and he won't be comfortable around Esme and Rosalie without me." I tried to explain.

"And he tells me to stop hiding under my mother's skirts." He said sarcastically.

"I'm all Masen has Edward. I'm all he's ever known and I'm sorry that we rely on each other so heavily. That's just the way it happens to be." I wanted to yell at him. I settled for a whisper however, not wanting to make a scene.

"Bella, I'm trying to make this work. This is going to be good for him. Why won't you give me the chance to prove that I can be a good father?" he begged.

"I know you can be a good father Edward. I just don't want Masen there by himself. Excuse me if I don't approve." I watched him nervously, waiting for him to explain.

"Bella please, I really want this. You said it yourself, you want us to spend more time together." he grabbed my hand.

"Yes, not with your mother breathing down your neck, watching and controlling my son's every move. I can't accept that." I wanted him to drop it.

"I understand that but she and Tanya have-"

"Whoa…Tanya's going to be there?" I stopped him immediately.

"Well of course, she and her father are greatly respected within my family, it's only reasonable that she come."

"I thought she would be upset." I said still confused.

"What do you mean? Why would she be upset?" he laughed.

"When you told her you were with me…"

"She doesn't know, no one does." He shrugged, still smiling. I'm almost sure my jaw hit the table.

"I can't believe you!" I wasn't whispering anymore. "You cheating jerk! How dare you! I can't believe that you're trying to make me the other woman. I mean really, how dare you!" I grabbed my purse and stomped out of the building with Edward in hot pursuit. I didn't care, I would rather walk than ride home with him.

"Bella please!" he stopped at the manager's desk and left the money for our brief meal. "Stop Bella! I'm trying to talk to you."

"No, the time for talking is over. Stay away from me Edward. You lied." I shoved him away from me.

"I was going to tell her after the party."

"You should have told her before you asked me out tonight, heck, you should have told her before you decided to kiss me! Edward, Tanya is technically still your fiancée which means technically, you two are in a relationship. Adding me means that I'm the other woman, that I'm stealing her fiancée! No! Edward no!" I wanted to slap him.

"You are not the other woman. You're the only woman. I love you."

"Oh cut the BS Edward. My dad left me his gun. Come near me again and I will shoot you." I waved my hand to hail a taxi down.

"I am not going to let you take a taxi home."

"You aren't going to let me do anything! Stay away from me Edward. I mean it." I jumped in the taxi and slammed the door. I wasn't going to let him see me cry.

JPOV

I rubbed my temples angrily. What the heck was Masen doing? Why was he banging on the door? Finally I jumped up, and opened my front door planning to go next door and tell him to shut up.

"What the-"

"Oh god it's you." Alice Masen was standing on Bella's porch.

"What the heck are you doing here?" I wasn't usually that impolite.

"I need to fit Masen with his tux for mother's gathering. He has to look nice." She said indignantly.

"He isn't going to let you in, it's against Bella's rules to let people in while she isn't home." I informed her.

"Well, looks like I came all the way here for nothing." She said as if it were a big deal.

"That's why you call first. You just can't barge over to people's houses without any warning. Didn't mommy dearest teach you some manners?" now I was just being mean. God, why did she get me so riled up?

"I guess I'll just have to wait until Bella get's home so I can fit him. And for your information, at least I wasn't raised on a stupid farm in the middle of Texas." She sneered. I felt my face grow hot with anger.

"At least I'm not a two foot tall witch." I growled at her. She gasped.

"How dare you-"

"No, how dare you! You come up here thinking you're all high and mighty, insulting where I come from. I wasn't even raised on a farm!"

"Well you sure act like it! Everyone knows you're screwing around with Bella." she said accusingly.

"What? Where the heck did you get that? I've never even been in Bella's bedroom before. Why would I even want to have sex with her? We're just good friends." I was honestly in shock.

"I'm not stupid! I see the way you look at her."

"Bella is my friend. Yeah, I love her, but I don't love her. She's a great person and a great mother, you all just won't give her the chance to show you that." I shrugged my shoulders and went close the door. I didn't want to deal with her anymore.

"Wait!" she grabbed the door.

"What Alice?" I sighed deeply.

"I don't want to wait out here all night. Who knows when Bella will be back?"

"Then get in your car, drive home, and come back tomorrow. That way, she'll be here for sure and you won't miss her. I'll even tell her that you stopped by just so she'll wait." I tried to close the door again.

"No. I need to do this tonight, I have to!" She pushed her way into my house.

I stared at her as if she were crazy.

"What the heck do you think you're doing, I should call the cops."

"But you won't. Now you have an excuse to have a very pretty girl in your house. My guess is you don't get many." She looked around.

"Get the hell out of here. I will not be insulted in my own house." she ignored me and sat down on my couch.

"Do you not understand English, is my accent to thick for ya? GET OUT."

"Don't be so coy Jasper. I won't be here long." She smiled but didn't move. I silently begged for Bella to get home fast.

AN: I know I've been offline lately. Haven't been in the right headspace to write. My Great Aunt, (who I was close to) was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She made it through the first round, but not the second. I haven't even been able to think about this story. I knew I had to update though because I didn't want you mad at me. I hope I get the chance to update soon, after the funeral is over, maybe. It's soon so I should update soon.