Disclaimer: Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for the non-stop support. I'd like to apologize for the diminishing updates these last few weeks; there's no grand reason behind it—just life and school. But I'm doing my best to make sure that Sunday updates presume from here on out. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! :)
Edward POV
"What the fuck, dude? Golf? Really?"
"Yes, Emmett," Jasper replied, smiling smugly. "Really."
Emmett groaned and threw his head back as I just shook my head and chuckled, steering the golf cart to the proper location as Emmett sat in the back and continued complaining.
"It's your bachelor party," he reasoned. "And you want to golf? What ever happened to keeping it classy? Strippers, trashy bars, beer?"
"Oh yea, Emmett. That's real classy," Jasper quipped, causing me to laugh even louder.
"Shut up and drive, Edward!" Emmett shot at me.
"Hey, I love that song," Jasper joked.
I shook my head again and parked the golf cart near the next hole. I hopped out and grabbed a club from the bag beside Emmett as he shot me a glare.
"Dude, help me," Emmett pleaded.
I chuckled again. "Come on, man. It's Jasper's bachelor party. And this is what he wants to do. You got to do your thing on your day, alright? So stop being so selfish."
"You know what? I don't need your little philosophical bull crap, Edward, okay? All I want is for my soon to be brother-in-law to get fucking wasted…and have girls rubbing all up on him…" he trailed off, getting a little too excited and flinging his arms around as bystanders nearby started to stare at him. His voice grew increasingly louder with each word.
"I don't think Alice would approve," I bit back, trying hard to fight the smile threatening to form on my lips.
Emmett sighed, exasperated, just as Jasper walked over to us, holding his own golf club in hand.
"Come on, Em. Why go to a dirty, sweaty strip club when we get to spend all day out in the open? And then later tonight we get to go see our girls," Jasper said.
Emmett's faced brightened immensely. "We get to go see the girls later? I thought that was, like…forbidden or some shit."
"No you idiot," I retorted. "You're thinking about the fact that the groom can't see the bride before the wedding. The wedding's four days away. Plus, we can see our girls anytime we want. We're already married to them."
Emmett looked at me for a few seconds as what I just said sunk in. He simply shook his head and shrugged. "Whatever. As long as I get to see my Rosalie tonight, I'm good."
I patted Emmett on the back and handed him a club. "That's the spirit," I teased. "You're up, big bro. Good luck."
"Luck is for losers, dude. I am all skill," he said, flexing his arms and then kissing his biceps.
"He needs help," Jasper said to me in a low voice as Emmett walked a few feet away from us.
I exhaled a heavy breath and shook my head. "He told me Rosalie's time of month just passed, so he hasn't gotten laid in about a week."
"He told you that?" Jasper asked, looking a little disgusted.
I nodded, glancing at him. "Yea, Emmett's verbal filter is non-existent when he isn't getting any."
Jasper chuckled and shook his head. "You know what? That explains a lot."
"You guys, it went in!" Emmett yelled at us triumphantly, pointing to the hole that the golf ball had just rolled into.
And because I was that immature, and because being with Emmett and Jasper made me nostalgic for our old high school days, I just had to mumble, "That's what she said."
But what surprised me the most—it really shouldn't have—was that Jasper and I said it at the exact same time and then shared a shocked glance before bursting out into laughter.
"Nothing ever changes, huh?" Jasper gasped between breaths, wiping the tears away from his eyes.
"Fortunately, no," I replied, my laughter finally subsiding.
"You guys, look at that squirrel! It's huge!" Emmett suddenly called.
Jasper and I both watched, amused, as Emmett followed a particularly large squirrel as it roamed around the golf course.
"And Emmett will forever be…"
"Emmett," I finished for him, nodding my affirmation.
We walked over to Emmett and finally got his attention off of the animal long enough to finish our rounds. We went to the bar that they had at the country club and had a few beers, just so Emmett wouldn't harbor any hard feelings.
Around four, we headed back home to get ready for the cruise later that night. I took a shower, tamed my hair the best I could, and then got dressed—black slacks with a dark grey dress shirt rolled up to my elbows. I wanted to look my best for Bella tonight.
There was a knock on the door and after I called out for whomever it was to enter, Esme walked in.
"Hey," I smiled, surprised. "You're home early." I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her in a tight huge.
"It wasn't a very busy day," she replied, squeezing me gently before I finally pulled away.
She smiled up at me and straightened the collar of my shirt before brushing my hair back gently with her hand, much like she did when I was a child. My eyes drifted closed of their own volition.
"Have fun tonight," she murmured after a few moments.
I opened my eyes and looked at her. "You sure you and Dad don't want to come?" I asked.
She smiled at me wistfully. "No, you all go have fun. Your father has something planned for me tonight anyways."
I smiled wider and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Alright, Mom. I love you," I said softly, leaning in to hug her again. In that moment, I understood what Bella had meant—my mother's eyes held so much love and strength and truth…it was just wrong to lie to her. We would definitely have to figure out a way to tell them everything that had happened between us these last few months.
"I love you too, sweetheart," she whispered, pulling away and placing her hand on the side of my face. "Go on now. You don't want to be late."
I nodded and kissed the side of her head before walking out of the bedroom and down the stairs where Jasper and Emmett were putting on their shoes.
"Be good tonight, gentleman," Esme called from the upstairs railing.
"I don't know, Mom. All sense of gentlemanly conduct disappears when I see Rosalie in a tight little dress," Emmett responded, smiling his wide, dimple-faced smile.
Jasper and I could hardly contain our laughter when Esme's smile turned into a full on glare.
"I'll watch him, Mom, I promise," I chimed in, not sure what would happen if nobody intervened.
"Kiss ass," Emmett grumbled, earning another scowl from Esme.
Emmett apologized profusely and managed to put the smile back on Esme's face before we headed out to his hummer. The cruise began at seven p.m. and it was a quarter to six when we pulled up to the parking lot near the ocean. We all hopped out and walked over to the dock until we reached the correct ship at the very end. It was pretty large for a nightly cruise ship, but hardly big enough for more than fifty people.
The three of us gave our names to the man waiting out front with a list before we boarded the ship. Emmett got out his phone and texted Rosalie to let her know we had arrived so they could bring Alice to the front of the boat right when it set sail.
Fifteen minutes later, we were pulling away from the docks and leaning against the railing at the front of the boat, watching the water beneath us become rippled from the ship.
"I don't get why you guys are so adamant about looking over the railing. We could fall in," we suddenly heard Alice warn as footsteps approached us from behind.
I smirked and glanced at Jasper, who was also smiling and looking down at the ocean.
"Besides, look, these people are already here," Alice continued, obviously referring to us.
"We don't mind if you join us, little lady," Jasper drawled, making his accent heavier than usual. He didn't look away from the water, but he chuckled softly.
"Jasper?" Alice called out disbelievingly.
"You don't recognize him from behind, Alice?" I teased.
"Odd," Emmett added playfully.
"What are you guys doing here?" she gushed as the three of us finally turned around.
"Surprise, sweetheart," Jasper said as Alice ran to him and leaped into his arms, peppering his face with kisses and causing Emmett and I to groan in disgust.
"Bella and I wanted to surprise you, Alice," Rosalie explained. "You didn't really think we'd be spending five hours on this ship together, just the three of us, did you?" she asked incredulously.
Alice hugged Jasper tighter and laughed. "Yes, but thank God we aren't. I can't even stand five minutes with you, Rosalie," she answered, causing Rosalie's face to fall immensely.
"I'm kidding," Alice laughed, running over to Bella and Rosalie and hugging them both tightly. "Thank you. You guys are the best." She squeezed them tighter and then let go and hurried back to Jasper's side.
"Go, enjoy the night," Bella instructed, shooing them away playfully.
"See you guys at midnight," Jasper said to us, grabbing Alice's hand and leading her down the stairs to where the little bar was on the ship.
"Are you hungry, Em?" Rosalie asked him.
Emmett smiled hugely and nodded. "Baby, you know me so well," he said, walking over to her and wrapping his arm around her waist. They said 'goodbye' to us before disappearing to the lower level where the restaurant was also located.
I finally looked at Bella and saw that she was watching me. I smiled slightly.
"Would you like to come look at the ocean with me?" I asked her softly,
"Baby, you know me so well," she teased, mimicking Emmett's words and smiling as she walked over and stood beside me at the railing.
I chuckled and shifted so that I was standing behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her hair. We both watched the ocean beneath us and the stars above us, seemingly lost in thought.
"It's beautiful tonight," she murmured, leaning back against me and resting her head on my shoulder.
"It is," I agreed, looking down at her and noticing the sexy as hell black cocktail dress she had on. "You're such a little tease," I accused her playfully.
"How am I a tease?" she demanded, laughing.
"Please. Don't tell me you don't know how sexy you look in that dress right now."
She laughed again and leaned further into me, pressing her back against me. I knew she could feel how excited I was and I immediately grasped her hips tighter and pulled her back into me firmer. She moaned quietly and let out a small sigh.
Wordlessly, I trailed my hand down her thigh and under her dress until it reached her wet panties. I pushed them aside quickly and pressed my fingers to her center.
"Edward," she gasped, grabbing my forearm to stop my movements. "Not here. People will see."
I chuckled and looked around. It was deserted out here since it was dinner time and most people were down on the lower level eating.
"Relax, love, there's no one here," I whispered, pressing my lips just below her ear as one of my fingers entered her.
She gasped again, but this time in pleasure, as my finger began moving in and out of her at a quick pace. I made sure that my thumb rubbed against her clit firmly so that she would reach her climax fast and hard.
Bella had yet to release my forearm. In fact, she held onto it even tighter as I continued my ministrations. I was finally rewarded a few minutes later when she let out a breathy moan and came on my fingers. I slowed my movements until I knew she was spent and then I retracted my hand from under her dress.
She turned around and leaned back against the railing, smiling lazily at me, as I smoothed down the bottom of her dress.
"That was nice," she murmured, obviously still in a post-orgasmic haze. "Thank you."
"Anytime," I whispered, leaning in to press my lips gently to hers. Bella deepened the kiss, placing her hand on the back of my neck and pulling me closer. I was thinking about different places on the ship where we could go for some alone time, when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
Bella pulled back and looked at me, but I simply shook my head and leaned back into her as the vibrating persisted. She pulled away again.
"Edward, you're phone," she said.
I sighed, not wanting to be interrupted by anything right now. "It's probably just Emmett or something, calling to tell us that he saw dolphins in the water or some shit. I don't need that. I just need you," I murmured, pressing my lips to hers once more.
She laughed breathlessly and kissed me back as the vibrating finally subsided. Our lips continued moving against one another's and less than a minute later, my phone beeped, signifying a new voicemail message. I decided that whoever it was, I could call back later. It could always be someone from work, but I had told them before I left to allow me at least twenty four hours to return any messages. Right now, all I wanted was to be with Bella.
Our frantic kisses slowed down to gentle pecks as the opening of a familiar song began playing from the speakers that were located all along the ship.
I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day
When it's cold outside
I've got the month of May…
I pulled away from Bella and smiled down at her. She smiled back, but when she realized what I wanted from her, her smile fell and she shook her head.
"No," she stated firmly. "I'm not dancing with you."
Sometimes it scared me how she knew me so well.
"Come on, it's our song," I reasoned.
"Since when is 'My Girl' our song?" she asked incredulously.
"Since every time I hear it, I think of you," I replied softly.
Her eyes widened slightly and she stared at me for a few seconds before finally taking my hand and allowing me to lead her to the center of the boat.
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
"You're blushing," I said, stroking her cheek with my thumb and smiling softly as we continued swaying to the music.
"It's nothing new," she whispered.
I've got so much honey
The bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
"You know, even when we were kids, I had the biggest crush on you," I admitted.
"You did?" Bella asked, shocked.
I nodded, my hands on her waist tightening ever so slightly as her hands worked their way into my hair and began massaging gently.
"Yea. You were just so…perfect. Smart…and beautiful…and funny," I listed off quietly. "I never thought you'd want me."
"I always want you," she said quietly.
I stared intensely into her eyes and finally nodded. "I always want you, too," I whispered, pressing my lips to hers once more.
I don't need no money
Fortune or fame
I've got all the riches, baby
One man can claim
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
My girl
Once the song came to a close, Bella and I stood there, arms around each other, kissing like a couple of teenagers until our stomachs growled, reminding us that we were both extremely hungry. We joined Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper in the restaurant for dinner and drinks and spent the rest of the evening with them, having light and easy-going conversation.
Finally, at midnight, the ship returned to the dock and we were all dead on our feet as we walked to our respective vehicles. Alice and Jasper decided to drive the car the girls had come in while Bella, Emmett, Rosalie, and I rode back in the car that the guys had taken.
I carried Bella into the house—despite her protests—because I could tell she was slowly falling asleep. When I sat her on the bed, I helped her take her dress off and changed her into her pajamas since she was so tired. Once I had her tucked in, I changed into my own pajamas, brushed my teeth, and then climbed into bed beside my angel and wrapped my arm around her, holding her close to me.
XxXxX
I awoke early the next morning, my throat dying of thirst. I headed downstairs into the kitchen for a glass of water as everyone was finishing up breakfast and heading to work. Alice was the only one staying home since Rosalie offered to watch the store for her so she could rest. Jasper would have stayed home as well, but he was teaching summer school at the university and it was finals week.
After talking to my family for a bit and then seeing them out, I headed back upstairs and climbed into bed. I was wide awake by that point and thankfully Bella awoke less an hour later. I couldn't stop myself from making love to her when she woke up because Bella always looked so beautiful in the mornings. After our morning session, we decided to get dressed and go out for the day since Alice always slept in when she went to bed so late the previous night.
We decided to walk around the busy streets of Seattle and spent most of the day window shopping and enjoying each other's company. When lunchtime rolled around, we headed to a nice little restaurant and called Alice to see if she wanted to join us. However, she didn't answer when we called the lake house and her cell phone was off.
"Damn, that girl is really sleeping in today," Bella said, shaking her head and placing her phone back in her purse. "Maybe Jasper kept her up all night," she added, opening her menu and looking over the choices.
I looked up at her from my own menu and glared. "Did you really just say that?" I asked, tired of hearing about my little sister's sexual escapades.
She looked up at me, feigning innocence. "Oh, was that weird to say?"
I shook my head and chuckled darkly, returning my attention back to my menu. "Touché, Swan. We'll see who has the last laugh."
"Is that a challenge?" she asked flirtatiously. Suddenly, I felt her foot slide up my calf and I looked up at her, somewhat surprised by her forwardness.
"You're a bad girl," I said, my voice low as I reached under the table and grabbed her foot, causing her to giggle softly.
My phone vibrated in my jacket pocket and I let out a heavy breath, deciding I might as well answer it. It might have been Alice.
I looked at Bella and smiled apologetically, but she simply waved me off before looking back down at her menu and retracting her foot.
I looked down at my phone and saw that it was one of my colleagues calling me. With another sigh, I answered the phone and greeted him. He was one of the assistant paralegals who had a question about one of our newer cases. Thankfully, the conversation only lasted a few moments and I got him the information he needed just before our waiter arrived.
After we ordered our food and gave the waiter our menus, I looked down at my phone again and decided I might as well check my voicemail from last night since I still hadn't tended to it. First, I looked at my missed calls and saw that the call last night had come from Felix. I swallowed hard and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I dialed my voicemail and waited.
"You have one unheard message," my voicemail said.
I pressed one.
"First unheard message."
Beep.
"Hey, Edward, it's Felix. Sorry for calling so late, I just wanted to give you and Bella a heads up. I mailed the divorce papers shortly after our last conversation and asked the post office in Seattle to let me know when they arrived. I got the call in today, and the papers should arrive at the house sometime tomorrow afternoon. Call me if you have any questions. I'll talk to you soon. Take care."
Beep.
"To delete this message, press seven, to save it, press—"
I quickly cut off my voicemail and pressed seven—probably a little too hard—before looking down at my phone, somewhat stunned. I hadn't completely forgotten about the divorce papers, but after everything that had happened between us, it became completely impossible to even fathom the idea that Bella and I were ever getting a divorce. I subconsciously blocked it from my mind.
At first I hadn't told Bella about the divorce papers coming in simply because I wanted to see where things went with us. But then things changed—we changed—and divorce papers…divorce in general…were completely wiped from my mind.
But Felix had said tomorrow afternoon, which meant we still had another day. I could tell Bella today and then…
Oh fuck.
Tomorrow afternoon was today. Felix had called last night. And I had been dumb enough to ignore the call.
Shit.
"Edward?"
I looked up as Bella's worried voice snapped me back to the present. She was watching me with a confused expression on her face.
I had to tell her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yea," I lied. "I'm fine."
After lunch. I would tell her after lunch.
She didn't seem to buy my lie, but thankfully she let it go. Shortly after, our food arrived and we engaged in easy conversation. After paying the bill, we left the restaurant and decided to head home since it was close to three and we had been out all day.
The ride home was extremely quiet. I was going through the conversation we would have in my mind and in every scenario, Bella was pissed. Very, very pissed.
She had every right.
I pulled Carlisle's car into the garage—as he told me to do whenever he leant us his car—and I led Bella into the lake house, still gearing myself up for the conversation ahead.
"Alice?" Bella called out.
Yes, let's talk to Alice. Buy me some more time.
We walked into the kitchen and saw Alice sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter, sipping from a cup of what looked like hot tea and staring blankly ahead at nothing in particular.
"Hey, where have you been all day?" Bella asked, walking over to stand beside her. "We called to invite you to lunch."
"I was busy," Alice replied quietly, almost robotically, as she continued staring ahead of her, not blinking.
"You okay, Alice?" I asked her worriedly, going to stand across from her on the other side of the counter. She continued to stare right past me.
"Yes," she replied curtly. "I'm just tired." She hopped off the barstool and walked over to the sink, placing her cup in there and lingering a little longer than necessary with her back to us.
"Alice, are you sure you're okay?" Bella asked.
Alice finally turned around and smiled at us. It seemed forced.
"Yea," she replied. "I'm just going to go take a nap."
Bella and I nodded, both equally confused, as Alice walked past us and toward the living room.
"Oh!" she suddenly gasped, whirling around and walking over to the kitchen table where there was a huge stack of magazines and envelopes scattered about.
Bella and I watched as Alice swiftly began throwing magazines and envelopes onto the floor, only to reveal a large manila folder underneath the mess. She finally looked up at us and smiled mockingly. "You're divorce papers came today," she said, picking up the folder and shoving it into Bella's chest before walking out of the kitchen.
My jaw went slack as I stared at Bella, who was staring intently at the folder in her hands. I walked around the kitchen counter and stood in front of her, watching for any sort of reaction. After a few moments, she finally looked up from the folder, her eyes wide.
"Edward?" she rasped out.
I shook my head, completely at a loss of what to say or do. "Bella…I…"
"Alice knows," she whispered, looking back down at the folder with a look of horror on her face. I swallowed hard and nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
And in that moment I realized it didn't matter that Bella and I weren't getting a divorce anymore, because somehow Alice had seen the papers and now she knew.
Alice knew.
Author's Note: Okay, so I brought the angst back. It had to happen eventually, but at least now those divorce papers—that we have all been anxiously awaiting—have finally arrived. Next chapter will begin in Alice's POV so some things get cleared up. Thanks so much for reading!