Chapter Nineteen
Bella POV:
I walk back into the house and am met with chaos, very chilled chaos, unlike the tornado of nerves that ripped through Charlie's house this morning. I like it over here. Esme and the guys have it so easy: no Alice or Rosalie ordering you how to hold your makeup brush a certain way to get a certain look.
I hope Edward's having a blast over there.
Though, when I left it was pretty calm, so I suppose he's having an easy time too.
I sit down on the couch and wait for them to join me. I close my eyes, just a little bit weary from the lack of sleep. I had crept back over to Charlie's house quite early, hoping to sneak in undetected and maybe even catch an hour or two before Alice and Rose woke up, but to my surprise they were both wide awake and ready to get started for the day.
Thankfully I didn't get any catcalls or shaming for my walk of shame.
A few moments of peace are gained before it is interrupted. "So, Baby sis, how do I look?" Jasper asks.
I open one eye before I open the other. I suck in my breath and bite my lip while I feel that tingle in my nose. "Aw Jazz," I cry jumping up off the couch to hug my brother. I blink a couple of times before so I can remain tear free. "You look all grown up and handsome."
"You think Alice will take me?" he asks nervously playing with his tie.
I swat his hands away and fix his tie. "Yeah, I think she'll still want you." I grin happily as I picture the two of them standing at the altar together.
"How is she?"
"How are you feeling?" I ask in response. There's a nervous, but excited twitch in his eyes before he grins happily. I whisper in his ear as I hug him, "Alice feels the same," but Alice's excitement and nervousness is a lot more vocal.
When Jasper leaves me to go and check on Charlie Emmett comes stomping down the stairs.
"Hey B," he calls, "Don't you scrub up nice."
I don't respond, instead I chose to just stare at him... maybe it's more of a glare. He skips the bottom two steps and lands with a thud. He grins up at me cheekily and begins to walk to the kitchen. His cheeky grin starts to fade in to confusion as he realises that I'm still stare/glaring at him.
"Whatcha looking at?" he asks curiously.
"You," I respond.
"Look, I know I'm looking good and all in this suit, but don't you have a man of your own to drool all over?" he boasts.
"Uh huh," I say, "and don't you have a wife?" is my lame comeback.
In typical Emmett evasion response he laughs loudly and leaves the room while I continue to glare at the doorway which he just exited.
Charlie comes down the stairs moments later and I'm still glaring at the entryway.
"Bells," he greets, "what are you looking at?" he asks, confused, as he fumbles with his tie.
"Hi Dad," I say as I go to him and start to tie it for him. I'm beginning to think that maybe Alice should have schooled all the men on how to do this, like Edward had joked about.
"Thanks," he huffs. "You look... nice." His compliment is a little awkward, but well meant, so I end up blushing anyway.
"Thanks," I reply.
The uncomfortable moment is broken by Jasper and Carlisle coming down the stairs.
"We ready?" Jasper asks and I nod.
"Great," Carlisle responds, "Brace yourselves." My confused eyes meet his and he shrugs apologetically.
Jasper pulls Emmett out of the kitchen and I'm relieved to see no food or drink stains marking his suit. The quick tapping of Esme's heels fills the room. No one is speaking as we stand lined up in front of the staircase.
Esme practically flies down the stairs in her heels while juggling a huge bag filled with goodness knows what. I don't know how she did it without face planting. She stops in front of us looking like the classy woman she is. She's all tucking in and looking neat save for one tiny strand of hair that has come out of her low bun.
"Oh, you all look so handsome!" she coos as she walks past us all.
She begins to perform the motherly duty of running her hands over outfits to smooth out invisible wrinkles and straightening already straight ties on Jasper and Emmett. With Esme preoccupied Carlisle gives me a gentle nudge and slips a piece of paper into my hands.
"Found it on the kitchen floor," he says with a subtle smirk.
I unfold the note and see that it is the one I left Edward this morning with the small declaration on it. I flush red with embarrassment and nod to Carlisle thankful that he returned it and that it was him that found it, if it were someone else who knows what might have happened.
I am startled when Esme stops in front of me for my inspection.
"You're a bit flustered dear," she says and I grin as I take in her. With all her mother's worry she can't see that she too has become a little flustered.
I sweep her loose piece of hair back into the clip and say, "Stop stressing Esme, your hair is coming loose." She smiles in thanks and takes a deep breath. We're ushered out the door and we get into two shiny cars – Emmett, Jasper and I in one and Esme, Carlisle and Charlie in the other.
Just before Emmett drives away Esme calls, "Wait!" He winds down the driver's window and she rushes up and leans through. "Rings?" she asks, frazzled.
"Emmett?" I question.
"Got 'em!" He winks and she breathes a sigh of relief.
We get away quickly after that and arrive at the cute little chapel that Alice chose for her wedding. I can see that in the gardens next door, a large white tent has been erected for the reception.
We wander inside and wait. The wedding is small. Only a few other friends of Alice and Jasper were invited and most of them are already here. Carlisle dashes off to see Alice and Esme and Charlie take their seats at the front. Emmett and I go and loiter up near the altar while Jasper talks to some of the guests.
"You know I know, right?" I ask him suddenly.
He laughs. "Yeah, I kinda got that when you called me on it."
"How are you so chill about your secret coming out?"
He guffaws and brushes it off. "I wasn't going to crash tackle you to the floor Bee." I roll my eyes, because that is exactly what Edward did when Emmett discovered our little secret.
"So why'd you two do it?" Emmett wriggles his eyebrows at my phrasing.
I cross my arms at his immaturity. He turns and looks me dead in the eye and tells me with all honestly and sincerity. "Because we could."
I blink a few times while he stares at me and it all just seems so simple and honest suddenly. It just makes so much sense to me now and all because of those three words he used as his meaning. Now, it doesn't matter that I didn't know or that they kept it a secret. I'm suddenly just happy that it's happened.
Emmett stops looking at me when he sees Jasper running up to us.
"It's time?" he says perplexed. My eyes widen at his sudden confusion.
Emmett thankfully is able to pop that bubble. "Jasper, buddy, you ready man?" He drags Jasper to stand next to me. "Here, stand here and watch those doors, you won't regret it man."
The reverend steps up to the altar and Jasper looks at me with a blank expression. I smile at him and he reaches for my hand, squeezing it. Emmett takes his place next to me and we wait.
The doors open and the bridal procession begins with Edward escorting Rosalie to the front. They take their place when they reach the front and everyone turns to see Alice at the entrance. I squeeze Jasper's hand and let it go.
Alice enters on Carlisle's arm and she's a vision in white. I look at my brother's face and his smile is blinding.
The ceremony starts and I catch Edward looking at me. I try and question him with my eyes but he just answers with a small shake of his head and a slight smile. I don't really hear a word of the ceremony. I do watch though. I catch brief glances of those around me, but my eyes can't stray from Edward's for long. Every time I find Edward's eyes, after looking at Carlisle or Esme gazing at each other or Emmett and Rosalie practically eye fucking each other, he sends me a bigger grin than the last.
By the time Jasper and Alice kiss as a married couple Edward's smile is huge. The married couple make their exit and all eyes are on them. Edward snakes his arm around my waist and leans in to kiss the corner of my lips sneakily.
"Why didn't you kiss me properly?" I asked as we make our way outside.
"You don't realise how big you're smiling, do you?"
I have to touch my lips to confirm his words. I lean up and give him a proper kiss. "I'm happy," I tell him.
There are a few obligatory photos and then we're inside the reception. Inside the tent it looks amazing and simple with thousands of fairy lights, people are mingling around the round tables, and the place cards Edward and I made look pretty good if I do say so myself. The dance floor is empty, but as soon as Jasper and Alice enter they take their first dance.
Eventually Edward drags me onto the dance floor saying, "Don't step on my toes."
I scoff at his comment, but I let him spin me around the dance floor cautiously. He doesn't let me go for several songs, not that I mind much, but when I see Esme I pawn him off to her in desperate need of a rest for my feet.
I head to the bar for a drink but I am stopped before I reach it.
"Bella?" someone calls. I turn slowly in shock wishing that I had kept going and pretended that I'd never heard my name called.
"Mom. Hi," I say for lack of anything better.
"The wedding was lovely," she says.
"It was."
"Alice looks like a nice girl."
"She's amazing."
"I won't say hello, they look very happy."
"They are."
"You look happy too."
"I am," I say grinning for the first time while talking to her.
"I'm glad you found a man that loves you," she tells me and my mouth goes dry. "I'm sorry, I was watching you dance with him."
"I..." I trail off, still lost for words.
"You love him, I understand," there's a quiet pause where she just looks at me. "I'd best be off," she says.
"You're not staying for the meal?" I finally manage to say something.
"Ah, no, I just wanted to see the wedding."
"Oh."
"Bye Bella," she tells me.
"Bye Mom," I respond and in a move surprising both her and me I hug her quickly before she turns and leaves.
I watch her leave with strange emotions.
"Who was that?" Edward asks when he suddenly appears beside me.
"My Mom," I tell him. I move to stand in front of him. "Edward, I want to tell…"
I'm cut off by the announcement for dinner. We go and take our seats and wait to be served. It's not traditional that the best man and woman sit next to each other, but as long as Alice and Jasper are in the centre none of us care.
We get served and the food is as good as I remember from the tasting. There is a quiet hum of conversation surrounding us, but Edward whispers, "Do you want my mushrooms?"
I blush remember the innuendo, but I grin widely at the fact that he remembered that I like mushrooms. Feeling utterly girly I nod my head trying to rid myself of the blush and the smile and accept his mushrooms.
We laugh and fight with our forks throughout the entire dinner. I think I end up eating more of his meal than I do my own.
We both stumble through our speeches and before we know it the cake has been cut.
Edward begins to advance upon me with his cake.
"Don't," I warn.
"And why not?" he asks playfully.
"Because we both know it doesn't end well when we have frosting on our... uh faces," I wink at him and his eyes drop to my chest.
"Bella."
"Edward."
We both speak at the same time.
"Bella."
I groan when Rose calls my name before either of us can respond, "Uh," her eyes flick between the two of us. "I'll come back later," she says and retreats.
I turn back to Edward, but he's filling his mouth with cake. I laugh off the serious moment and grab my slice and eat it too.
I share an awkward dance with Charlie, neither of us being particularly skilled in the field of dance and I am lucky enough to steal Jasper away for a few moments before he and Alice cut out of the party fairly early, eager to leave for their honeymoon.
But the celebration continues. Emmett is a little bit drunk and keeps trying to start up a drinking game with Carlisle. Charlie is sitting with them and is subtly trying to get Carlisle to participate too. Esme and Rose are bouncing around on the dance floor. I even spot Tanya having a quiet moment with a woman who I assume to be Kate.
I can't see Edward though. I wander through the throng of people on the dance floor looking for him. Rose is waving at me, probably wanting me to join her and dance. Before I decide if I want to dance or take pity on my feet and join the drinking game at Charlie's table, Edward appears. From behind me he whispers in my ear, "Boo!"
I spin and he immediately snatches up my hands and we begin to sway despite the energetic number that is being played.
"So, I had a chat with Rosalie earlier, and I'll be willing to tell you the details if you're still willing to sneak away with me," he grins cheekily.
"I don't care about that anymore," I mumble. Emmett had explained it well enough for me.
"So, you don't want to hide away in the coat closet with me?" he asks teasingly.
I look down at my painful, but lovely, shoes. "No," I whisper, my cheeks reddening with my thought and chances of rejection.
"Oh, that's ok," Edward says, and I can hear the hurt in his voice.
I take a step closer to him and mumble into his chest, "I don't want to hide anymore."
"What?" he asks. He stops moving and leans back so he can see my face.
I don't look up at him though and instead focus all my attention on the knot of his purple tie.
"I don't want to hide anymore," I tell him slightly louder.
He chuckles and I fight the urge to bury my face in my hands.
"Babe, I don't really want to get down on the dance floor," he jokes.
I don't think he understands what I'm trying to say.
So I look in him the eyes and spill my thoughts and feelings in an unorganised and rambling kind of way.
"IthinkIkindofloveyou," I spill. "My Mom sort of pointed it out," he looks confused so I continue.
Nerves hit and my words spew out. "She told me that I love you and that you love me. I definitely didn't go confessing anything to her this evening and I don't think you said anything either, right? She could just see our love. How could she see it when I couldn't because quite frankly everything was still quite murky before I had a chat with her." I take a deep breath. "Now it's not so murky, I can see that I love you." I know I should pause and wait for him to respond but I can't so continue talking.
"And that's ok, you know. Well for me it is, I hope it is for you too, but if it's not, that's ok too. I suppose it's like baking. I love baking and I love eating my products, but I don't expect them to love me back. And the food doesn't love me back. It's not like 'hey, we won't go to your ass, 'cause we love you'. Oh God, I'm not making sense, am I?" I say.
Edward goes to open his mouth, but for some reason I continue on before he can get a word out.
"Don't say anything just yet. Please. Especially if you're going to reject me, because I just want to tell you that I don't exactly know what I'm doing here, or we're doing here, I suppose it depends on how you respond to all this. But yeah, I don't want to hide us away anymore, because, well first, everyone pretty much knows, and it's a lot more effort if we're always hiding ourselves, don't you think and..."
Edward's hand covers my mouth and my brain has never been more thankful in its life.
"Breathe Bella," Edward says. I take one deep breath stopping the short, rapid breaths I was breathing unknowingly. "Better?" he asks concerned.
I nod in response, afraid that if I open my mouth I'll say something.
Edward wraps his arms around me and pulls me towards him and holds me tightly. He's grinning down at me, which I assume is a good thing, but does nothing to quell my nerves.
"Say it again," he begs.
My heart rate picks up. "Edward, I said so many things," I mumble and look up into his shining eyes.
He just looks at me with this blissful little grin so I tell him the words I'm hoping he wants to head. "I love you, Edward," I tell him. "And I don't want to hide us anymore."
"Good," he chuckles. Chuckles!
"Edward!" I squeak as he tries to nuzzle my neck. I sock him in the side as he continues to laugh and try to kiss my neck. "I pour my heart out and you say good?"
"Yeah, good." His eyes shine as he says, "Because I love you too."
"Good," I respond with a giggle.
"So, no more hiding?" he asks.
"Well, no exhibitionist sex," I tell him and he mockingly looks disappointed. "It'll be good, we can hold hands and we can do this," I say and give him a quick kiss.
"We should do more of that now," he tries. He begins nibbling on my top lip. Slowly, building we tease each other. Edward's hands cup my face and I start to smile slightly. Edward starts to grin a little too until we're standing there smiling against each other's lips.
"Cullen!" We both freeze. Edward manages to pull back slightly. "That's my daughter," Charlie says.
"Uh yeah," Edward manages. Charlie grunts.
"Hey Dad," I greet awkwardly. I instinctually take a step back from Edward and look around. Rose is watching with a smug look in her eyes. Esme looks gleeful. Carlisle looks pretty much unaffected by our display, he's sitting next to Emmett, and I think he may have caved to the drinking game suggestion. Emmett is making sloppy, obscene gestures.
"So," Charlie says, "Tell me about you two."
"I..." I seem to choke on air. It's quite the opposite of my word vomit earlier, now I'm choking on nothing.
Edward wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side. "We're dating," he says simply.
"Huh, ok," Charlie grunts. He leans in towards me. "You be careful, Bella." I nod and watch him wobble back to his table.
"Well, that was an easy encounter with your Dad, but the open bar might be a factor," Edward jokes.
"So, we're dating?" I ask him.
"Yep!" he grins.
"You never asked me on a date," I hint.
"Bella Swan, will you go out with me?"
"Yes."