2brown-eyes reads!

Mistakes belong to Edward ;)

"How's target practice going?" Angela slurps her triple banana chocolate shake from The Forks Barn. "Jake said Garrett said you're killing it."

"I don't know about that." I huff a laugh, stirring the straw in my simple chocolate shake. "I've been working on moving targets this week."

"Oh, let's set our shakes on the table." I do as she asks, looking at her like she's crazy as she snaps a couple shots of the half-full cups. She shoots me a smile when she's done. "For tomorrow."

"Ugh." I snatch up my shake and take a long draw. "Don't remind me. Jake's been on me to post more on the wedding handle, but ick."

Angela laughs, shaking her head. "I get why you'd be resistant to putting too much information out in the public sphere, but aren't you even a little excited about the wedding?"

"Probably more than I should be." A nervous jitter swarms in my belly. "But I'm not so sure angering my father more is the smartest move."

"Okay," she says, setting her empty cup on the table. "So, let's pretend he's out of the picture. You're not in any danger from anyone. You're marrying Edward because you want to, because you're madly in love." She pauses to gauge my reaction, and I keep my face blank. "If all those things were true, would you want to share your joy with others?"

"I don't know." I sigh, trying to order my thoughts. "Maybe if I hadn't been so sheltered before now, I might, but I can't change who I am."

"No one wants you to, sweets." Angela smiles, grabbing her purse. "Jake's only trying to bring you into the twenty-first century. It's his schtick, and I don't know, maybe he sees you adapting so well to Garrett and Edward's lessons that he feels like a failure because you're resistant to his?"

"Did he say that?" I grab my purse—which has nothing but my phone inside—and follow her to the door.

"Not really." She shoves it open and bright sunlight nearly blinds us. "He just seems overly excited about this page." She shrugs. "Maybe it's the wedding in general that has him so into it."

I sigh, nodding. "I'll try to do better."

"Just set a goal," she says simply. "Maybe one post a day. The wedding is coming on so fast, it'll be here before you know it."

Butterflies flutter in my stomach. "I know, barely ten days left."

In the days since Edward's and my date, I've left the safety of Cullen Corp four more times. Another dinner with Edward and lunch the following day, a trip with Alice to pick her gown for the wedding, and today with Angela, though we're only a half a block down the avenue.

Edward has implemented a couple of rules, but they're easy enough to follow: any trips are to be on impulse—no planning or appointments—and they absolutely one thousand percent must be inside the TBZ—ten block zone. Security is also a priority, but that's already an expectation. I haven't met them yet, but it's hard to miss the large men in dark suits who're discretely hovering when I exit the elevator into the lobby of the building.

"Has Edward told you about the honeymoon yet?" Angela's practically bouncing. "It sounds so romantic."

"We haven't discussed it, no."

It hasn't crossed my mind at all, to be honest. Edward and I mostly spend our time discussing day-to-day things. He peppers me with questions about the wedding arrangements, but it's mostly to be polite. His only change so far has been to add royal purple in addition to the lilac and cream I'd already chosen as colors.

"Oh." She deflates a tiny bit. "Then I won't spoil it." By now, we've arrived at Cullen Corp, and Angela has a yoga class to attend, so she gives me a quick hug. "Today was fun. I'll come by tomorrow afternoon to help you pick a China pattern."

"Thank you," I say, relieved. "They all look very similar."

She giggles. "Right? See ya, babe."

She's off down the sidewalk, and I nod once to Amun as he opens the door. "Thank you."

The ride up the private elevator to the penthouse is quick, and in no time, I'm slipping inside the door. I've only taken three steps into the foyer when the sound of glass shattering causes me to freeze in place, memories of that other time flashing through my mind.

"Goddamnit!" I recognize Edward's roar, and I push forward without thought.

I see him as soon as I enter the great room, a chair from the dining table lifted over his head. He slams it into the credenza causing fancy posed plates to tumble from their holders and crash to the floor. Two of the legs clatter in a heap with the broken dishware. He does it again, this time leaving only the cushioned backrest in his hands.

Rushing forward, I reach for his arm to prevent him from swinging again, and I end up with an elbow to the gut as he rears back. I double over, gasping for air as the loud repetitive banging forces me to step back another couple of feet. He beats the chair into the furniture until it crumbles in his hands.

It isn't until he turns to look for another object to direct his ire that he registers my existence, and it doesn't make any difference. "Go to your room, Bella!"

My eyes burn with tears, but I don't let them fall while I'm still in his presence. I wait until I'm down the hallway, the loud sound of splintering wood reverberating behind me, before they roll freely down my cheeks. I have no idea what's happened to turn Edward into this man I don't recognize, but it's a stiff reminder that I've allowed myself to become too settled, too content.

I throw myself across the bed and scream into my pillow, my anguish raw and unexpected. It's a nasty blow to realize that I've been deluding myself, that nothing has really changed. I'm only valued until the atmosphere shifts, and then I might as well be home with my father.

Sniffling, I grip my phone and open it to the wedding Instagram account. Bitterness festers inside me as I scroll through my text messages from Alice and save the images she'd sent to me for the account. Up until now, I've been hesitant, resistant even, but why should I be? I might as well be back home if this is any indication of my new life.

Right?

I post the first image, a peek at the train of my veil.

Lengthy veil, lengthy marriage?

I huff angrily as I hit post.

Next, I upload the image of a China pattern she'd sent as an option.

I wonder how easily this would break?

My phone vibrates in my hand, but I ignore it and upload the next image. A photograph of the centerpieces for our reception. They're gorgeous. Tall, slender clear vases rise above eye level before sumptuous bouquets of differing shades of purple with pale white accents explode from the small opening. The same flowers surround the wide, circular base with candles on shorter crystal platforms.

Beautiful one day, dead the next.

My phone rings now, and it's Alice's tone, but I ignore her again as I try to decide which image to upload next. The ringing stops and starts right back up, Jake's name flashing on my screen this time. I send him to voicemail and select the next photo. This one is a picture of myself, healthy and smiling.

Blushing bride or mischief maker?

I turn off my phone in the middle of another call from Jake and throw it across the room. It bounces on an armchair and lands unceremoniously on the plush carpet. Pulling my blanket down, I slip beneath it and tug it over my head, tears leaking from my eyes and gathering on my pristine sheet. I don't know how long I lay there lost in zombieland, but at some point, my door opens, and I wince as I brace for the incoming storm.

But it never does.

After only a minute or two, it closes, and his sigh echoes in the darkening room. "I suppose I deserved that."

It's not what I expected but fool me once. "So does my father," I mumble, sniffles still escaping. "Two peas in a pod."

"You don't believe that."

"Don't I?" I snap, raising up and swiveling my head to find him hunkered in a chair in the corner. "I'd almost forgotten my place, but I assure you, that was a swift reminder."

He's up and on the bed, my arms gripped tightly before I can move away. "I'm sorry, Bella. It isn't you I was angry at, but you can't insert yourself into a situation like that and expect to come out unscathed."

"Right." I refuse to meet his eyes. "You did warn me that first day. I shouldn't expect you to be my hero."

"Stop saying that stuff." His voice is hard, and a shiver moves through me. "I'd never intentionally hurt you."

"Lesson learned." I meet his gaze, and it's neither apologetic nor angry. "When a guy who kills people for coughing too loudly gets pissed, everyone in their orbit is fair game."

"Isabella," he snaps, giving me a shake, and that's when I realize I may have crossed a line. But he shows restraint when he releases me and stands. "I'm going to walk away now. We're both angry and I don't want to make things worse."

I turn away and cross my arms. "I'm not sure it can get worse."

He chuckles, and it's this deep, dark sound that sends chills racing up my spine. "It could absolutely be worse."

*Bump*

Gonna load enough chapters to post Mon and Thurs over the next 2 weeks. I've almost finished writing 3 since Monday. I "think" I'm close to the end, so keeping a 2x weeks sched may happen.

We shall see.

Surgery is in the morning. See you Monday with a manbaby update :)