Pure of Heart
Disclaimer: You know it by heart.
Ch. 9: Cravings and Sleepless Nights
BPOV
I scented the air as I slipped through the shadows to make sure nobody was following me. To say I was more nervous than a virgin on Prom night was an understatement but so far, so good. No one was around and I quickly ran to my destination. The door to the dingy little apartment in Port Angeles was already unlocked and I made my way inside. The smell of fish and chips made my mouth water as I left the entryway and rounded the corner into the kitchen. Carlisle, his friend Alistair, another nomad – Donovan, and Max from the Seattle Den were already there.
"BELLA," they all greeted me, Max handed me a basket of the pub staple, and cold Newcastle then I plopped down on the couch in front of the tellie with the others.
Contrary to popular belief, vampires could drink alcohol and the three vamps looked like they were already on their third bottle apiece. I exchanged a few pleasantries with my fellow British ex-pats then Carlisle turned hit menu on the DVR then selected a show and everyone got quiet as the season finale of Dr. Who started. Max and I finished our food by the end of the show then we got caught up on season 2 of Being Human before the DVR was turned off and the Doc found a Premiere League footie match between Arsenal and Manchester United on the satellite. After a friendly wager on the outcome, the five of us adjourned to the dinner table for a few hands of poker.
"So, how's domestic bliss going for you," Max asked me and Carlisle just laughed.
"Mum gave birth to Charlie Jr. and the little lad hasn't slept through the night yet. Then of course my LeLe is pregnant and the cravings have already started. Between having to constantly run out to get her stuff and the baby crying, I rarely get more than a couple of hours of sleep a night. To top everything off, I'm stuck going to high school with a bunch of pathetic wankers that thing if they can get into my pants that I'll turn straight. Carlisle nearly has it as bad living in a house full of teenaged vampires and the occasional horny shapeshifter. That's the whole reason we started these gatherings in the first place. I think I would've snapped by now if we hadn't," I explained with a sigh and my second father nodded in agreement.
"And where do your families think you are," Alistair wondered mischievously.
"Esme and the others think that I am pulling a late shift," Carlisle replied with a cheeky grin.
"Leah thinks that I'm out taking my frustration from the week out on the local fauna," I answered a bit smugly.
The others chuckled as Donovan dealt the cards. Arsenal had just scored their third goal and was ahead in the match when there was a knock at the door. I stared at my companions questioningly but they shrugged in confusion. Cautiously, I went of to the door and scented the air. The smells of pizza and cologne confused my nose.
"Who is it," I enquired through the door.
"Pizza delivery for Bella Swan," a gruff male voice answered back.
I opened the door; Charlie was standing there with four large meatlover's pizzas, a six-pack of Vitamin R and a desperate expression.
"Come on Bells, you gotta let me in, those women are driving me nuts," my father begged and the boys chuckled at his harried tone. I stepped aside then he bolted in with a relieved smile. He dropped the pizzas on the kitchen counter then sat down in an extra chair.
I made introductions as I snagged a whole pie for myself and another Newcastle. Dad slapped down $500 in cash from his Fishin' and Golfin' fund and Donnie dealt him in. We settled back into the familiar routine of poker and lost ourselves in the game. Two hours passed, the pizzas were gone and the beer was getting low. I was about to suggest a run to the liquor store when me and the other supernaturals stiffened. Dad noticed but hadn't thought anything about it at first until he noticed me pale as we scented the air.
"RUN," Carlisle commanded in a low hiss. Dad was closest to the front door but pulled up short when he opened it to find a very pissed off Mum on the other side.
I was all for abandoning my father to his fate; the others seemed to mirror my thoughts. We turned for the sliding glass door that led out to a tiny balcony but found the way blocked by an equally pissed Esme and a smirking Rosalie. Alistair muttered something that sounded like, "Nicked," then the two nomads and the lycanthrope wisely distanced themselves from us.
"How'd they bloody find us," I asked the room at large and Rose waved some kind of monitor at me then pointed to her dad.
"We followed Carlisle," Esme seethed and the vampire in question flinched.
"I was helping Sue shop when we heard that slut, Nurse Stanley gossiping about how she saw you and my father coming out of a liquor store then head towards an apartment complex," Rose clarified before I could ask why they followed him.
"Imagine my surprise when I saw my loving husband pull up with pizza and beer a little while after we all arrived," Mum chimed in while she glared at Dad and me. She motioned for Rose to take her spot then stomped into the apartment and snatched the cash from the center of the table.
"CHARLES AND ISABELLA MARIE SWAN, GET DOWN TO THE H3… NOW," she practically screeched as she stormed out the door. My sensitive hearing told me that Carlisle was being scolded at vampire speed. I almost felt sorry for him but we were in the same boat and like Dad, we knew not to argue but go with the flow.
The drive back home was interesting and I learned something about my Dad that I could've gone my whole life without finding out. Mum went off on him and reminded of the fact that he promised to never gamble again after he nearly lost her in a card game to Harry Clearwater just after she divorced his sorry ass. My father, in an attempt to defend himself only dug himself deeper into the hole when he rather stupidly brought up all the times since then that he played poker and won most of the money they used for vacations. That admission only pissed her off more and ended in a twenty-minute bitch out.
I tried to sink lower into the back seat but only succeeded in drawing attention to myself. After laying down a no sex until Hell froze over punishment on him, Mum's ire fell on me. The older woman laid into me with a short rant about under aged drinking then brought out the big guns. She told me how worried Leah was about me because she tried to call my cell earlier and I never answered. Then she went for the kill by reminding me how crazed my mate had been when I was kidnapped my Joham and that she proved her love by carrying our child. I felt like a complete shit by the time she finished. My emotions must have shown because Mum's expression softened.
"I know things have been hectic because of your little brother and the pregnancy. It's understandable that you needed a break from the stress, we all do. My only real issue is that you lied about what you were doing to your Soul Mate. Leah would've probably suggested something along the lines of what you were doing, anyway," Mum admitted then smiled tenderly.
She pulled up to the house long enough to drop me off then pulled back out into the street. I still felt like the biggest ass on the planet as I went inside. Smooth jazz played softly through the house as I made my way up to the bedroom. Leah lay on our bed in a sexy see-through green baby doll with matching g-string.
"I'm sorry baby, I just needed a break from all the stress but I should've been honest with you instead of trying to be sneaky about it. Please forgive me, I'll do anything to see you smile," I told LeLe while I knelt beside her then kissed her lovingly.
"Would you go to Africa and bring back some zebra to eat," she asked hopefully and I stifled a groan then pulled out my cell phone and hit 9 on my speed dial.
"Hey Roger, sorry to wake you but I need six zebra steaks for my pregnant mate, could you express those," I asked when he answered then finalized the order. I told her that Roger was an old friend that dealt in exotic meats for foodies and the order would arrive before two in the afternoon. Then I spent a few hours making love to my beautiful Leah until we fell asleep in each other's arms. A baby's cry forced my eyes to open.