As always a big thanks to my beta, whom has now changed her pen name. A warm round of applause for BoosBoys :D
Also a shout out to my wonderful friend Readingmama AKA Vampmama, just for being her awesome self.

And to Min, who is always so encouraging in her reviews and her FB posts asing me to hurry up and post. On with the show :D

(6)

My hair is up in a loose pony tail, an extra layer of water proof mascara frames my eyes, and my lips are nude, bar a swipe of lip gloss. It's a pool party, but Alice won't tolerate people dressed like slobs.

I'd pick out my most flattering bikini; it's black with silver beads swirling around the cups. It's my favourite.

Cosmo in hand, I make my way to the banana lounge, that surrounds the glimmering pool, and arrange myself artfully along it. I'm thankful that Alice's family are completely loaded—the ground outside is blanketed in snow, but here in the pool house, it's a toasty thirty degrees.

All around me people are laughing, having fun. Alice is wrapped around her newest fashion accessory; a leonine, blonde man with a thick southern accent. She introduces him as Major Jasper Whittlock.

I have to admit, he's very handsome and clearly besotted by her.

"Belly! How goes it, Chica?" Emmett's going through a Mexican faze. Frijoles, Essay, and Holmes, are his new favourite words.

I smile widely at the guy; he really is a loveable giant, and one of the best friends you could ask for.

Jake hates him too.

"Goin' all right, Em," I answer, raising my glass high in the air.

"Good to hear, Bells. We been missin' you around here, girl. You don't come around enough."

There's a reason for that, though I'll never tell him—I don't want to hurt him.

"I'll try harder, Emmett." I laugh as he waves, making a beeline for the beer.

I know exactly when he sits down next to me, not because I'd been watching for him, or because he spoke. But because of the hum that always resonated between us; magnets being pulled together.

"Hey" I mutter, not turning my head.

"Hey yourself, Mrs Black," he spits out. He's hurt; I can hear it in his voice.

There's nothing I can do, not really.

"I can't believe you did it," he mutters so quietly I almost miss it. "Where is your doting husband, Bella?"

"Probably sitting on the couch at home. He didn't want to come," I tell him honestly.

He must have picked up something in my voice, because before I can move, he's in front of me; searching my face.

"Are you okay, baby?" he asks it with such sincerity, my insides hurt.

I want nothing more than to reach out to him, to have him fold me in his arms; just like he would have before all of this. But that's selfish.

"I'm okay, Edward." Maybe if I say it enough, I'll believe it myself.

"Are you happy?" he whispers, tucking a loose strand of hair back behind my ear.

I duck my head, not knowing what to say.

"Sometimes," I eventually choke out. "Most of the time…"

When I'm not thinking about you.

Ep!