Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Beta'd by HollettLA.

Higher

Chapter Thirty: Cake

Carlisle followed me out to the van, and then we emptied the cargo space, knowing we'd be driving everyone back to the house. We placed all of it in his work van. He actually seemed better—better than when I got there, better after getting some shit off his chest. Maybe Dad couldn't recognize me when I got home, but I know that man very well.

I doubt he'll be going home with some tramp from a bar, but at least I'd show him a good time tonight.

We'd just entered Bay Ridge when Dad turned to face me. "What'd you get Bella?"

"I told you. A ring." I tapped the other one I'd stuffed in my pocket. "Like you suggested?"

He nodded. "That's nice."

I frowned, remembering how heartbroken she looked last night. "First, all she saw was the box—kept shouting 'Yes!', and I thought she was just excited. She thought I was proposing…" I stopped a red light.

"Ouch," he whispered. "But she was saying yes?"

"I felt terrible…but she does love the ring. I told her it was a I-promise-you'll-get-the-real-thing-soon ring." I belched, hitting my chest, all gassy 'cause I'm starving. "She was fine after that, though."

Luckily, I'd hit a green light streak, and I stepped on the gas while I had an errant thought.

"Listen…when you see Bella…Like I said, I got carried away. I…gave her this huge hickey that looks like a bruise…Again, I did not hurt her. She came as soon as I bit down—"

"Edward, please."

"I'm sayin', though. She put this makeup shit on it, and now it looks even more like a welt—like I bopped her on the neck. I just don't want you thinking I hurt her...Christ. I wonder if Renee thinks I . . ." I winced.

Carlisle didn't care to comment on that, asking me, "What kind of cake did you get? I love birthday cake." He rubbed his stomach.

I furrowed my brow. "Um…"

"You did get her a cake, right?"

My shoulders slumped as my head whipped around, looking for a bakery.

"Didn't she get you a cake?" he asked.

"She put a candle in a cupcake." I smiled. "We hadn't been together that long, and Emmett spilled the beans. She didn't know it was my birthday because I didn't think it important…to tell her. You know I don't care for my birthday."

Actually, I just haven't had a reason to celebrate my date of birth for the past ten years. In the pen, it was just another fucking day—another year locked up. What did I care?

"Even so, you have to get one—look, there's a place." He pointed. "We can eat it at the restaurant or back at your house."

I agreed as I pulled over.

Having always loved the smell of bakeries, I kept inhaling deeply through my nose as I gazed at all the cakes.

"Can I help you?" this chick asked.

I nodded. "I need a birthday cake—one that'll feed like ten people?"

"Well, most you see here feed ten." She gestured to some round shits. "The strawberry shortcake is popular." Knowing Bella wasn't a fan of strawberries I scrunched my nose.

Then I turned when Dad joined me.

"What do I get?" I asked him.

He smiled at me. "I think you're cute—how whipped you are, and I don't mean it as a bad thing." He patted my back. "I think it's fantastic."

I didn't comment.

"Good evening." He smiled at the chick behind the counter, and she grinned right back. Pop can front, but he has game—with that gentleman shit. "We need a birthday cake—make it half a sheet cake, the real whipped cream frosting, half golden butter, the yellow cake, half chocolate, with chocolate pudding filling."

She smiled even wider. "You must know your way around cakes, huh?"

"It's a been a while, but my wife used to have birthday parties for this one." He placed his arm around me, and he ruined it, talking about Mom again like she's just at home, waiting for us.

I truly felt for my father, knowing how confused he must be. But it sounded like he had a great thing with Esme. What's the big deal? Getting married and having another kid at his age? I bet it'd be so easy for him. Carlisle already has a house that he owns. He's settled with his business, and he makes a decent living. Dad raised me. Despite the dumb shit I've done, he's a great father, so he knows what he's doing in that respect.

What would be the big deal? Move Esme in, knock her up, and they live happily ever after? He'd never be lonely again, I thought.

Homegirl cleared her throat and started writing shit down. "We happen to have one all ready. Did you want something written?"

Dad looked to me.

"Uh…Happy Birthday." I nodded. "Bella…Happy Birthday Bella."

Now she was smiling me at me.

Dad must have caught that. "It's for his fiancée." He added.

She nodded, walking into the back.

I turned to my father. "Who are you? All talkative and shit…?"

He chuckled. "I'm trying to…relax." He leaned into me. "That one seems desperate, and you—she seemed to be checking you out."

"Not me," I said.

"I trust you, Edward," he whispered. "I just…I'll always look out for you." Now, he was confusing me even more.

"Yeah, whatever…How much you think that'll cost?" I took out my wad of cash, wanting to count it out. He stared at my hands wide-eyed, and I knew why. "I brought a lot—thought Bella might wanna shop for her birthday, too. But she goes nuts for Salvation Army clothes." I grimaced. "She's gets excited if she finds a steal at two bucks."

Carlisle sighed. "Now, you like your name brands, but as a boy, you grew up wearing my old clothes. Your mother would shop there, too. Nothing wrong with it."

I didn't say anything, as that chick had worked fast.

Surprised, because of the color of the lettering, I smiled, thinking it was perfect.

Red is Bella's favorite color.

The cake was large, too—looked like it could feed around twenty or more, but with Dad, Jazz, Emmett, me, and the girls—I had no doubt it wouldn't go to waste. It also didn't cost as much as I thought it would.

Dad turned to me before entering the van. "I'll hide it in the back. We'll have it at your house."

"Sounds good." I hopped into the driver's side, quick to start the engine.

/=/=/=/

When we pulled up to Alice's, they were waiting outside, and Bella wondered what took so long.

And she was wearing these spandex pants.

I thought shorts were bad, but spandex is going to be the death of me.

This time around, though, I wasn't as focused on the attention she'd get. I just kept staring at her thighs. My baby didn't look bummy; she looked cute—very happy. Her hair was up in that messy bun she rocks when she wants her hair to be curly later on—she told me that. She wore these large hoop earrings, sunglasses, and her pink lip shit with this semi-long fitted tee. It was actually a Teddy Ruxpin tee, while her outfit looked like something they'd rock back in the '80s.

Broads were wearing funky shit like that before I'd gone away.

I'm way too obsessed with her clothes . . .

She sat in the back with Alice, but her cake was hidden way in the back, which was cool.

We got to the restaurant in no time, and we quickly got a table. As soon as our drinks arrived, Jasper and Emmett came through. We were fast to order, and all we got were two large pies with different toppings, and a couple orders of garlic knots.

I was disappointed, as I wanted to go somewhere classier for Bella's birthday.

But she was happy…

And that's all that mattered.

Alice was dressed for tonight, so she was coming back to the crib, too.

Before we arrived at the apartment, Dad suggested I make a stop. He needed something. We waited, patiently, and I curiously, since he'd gone into a liquor store. Then he came out with a bag before entering the Hallmark store next to it.

Bella couldn't see him, because she was in the back giggling with Alice about something, but I bet he stopped in for a card.

That made me smile, that he cared enough.

Dad came back to whisper that he'd bought some champagne to go with the cake, a card, and a little something for Bella. Now, I peeped a gift bag, too.

Everyone was fast to pile out once we'd pulled into the driveway. Jasper actually missed Alice so much, he tossed her little ass over his shoulder, and he didn't stop until they reached his bedroom.

As much as I tried to shield it from her, Bella spied the cake box before I could sneak it into the kitchen. She just smiled, otherwise pretending she hadn't seen it.

Carlisle gave Bella her gift.

Her face blazed red as she kissed Dad's cheek and thanked him very much—told him he didn't have to, all shy and shit.

"I wanted to." Dad held her face, just placing a hand under her jaw, like I do.

I smirked at them, their exchange warming my heart or some shit.

Bella smiled wide up to him before peeking into the bag.

"It's really nothing big." Dad sat on the couch. "You can…open it whenever." He winked.

"Huh?" Bella giggled.

"You seem embarrassed," he whispered, but Emmett and I still heard him. "You don't receive gifts or compliments too often, do you?"

I was taken aback, wondering where the fuck that came from. "She gets plenty of compliments from me." I poked my chest.

Bella covered her smiling mouth, and my father never replied.

"I compliment my woman. She knows she's beautiful." I placed a smooch on her cheek.

"I believe you." Dad chuckled. "But…it was just a general assessment." He looked to Bella. "It's not a big deal. Pay this old man no attention."

"Old…" She scoffed and shook her head—like I did—while she sat on the recliner to dig the card out. She read it to herself, getting a little choked up in the process. "That's so sweet." She tackled him with a hug again, and he laughed, and I knew it'd only taken him thirty seconds to fill it out. I was there. "Read it." She handed it to me.

I actually placed it back into the envelope. While I'm always nosy and curious when it comes to anything Bella, I didn't want to make Dad feel weird. "It's nice." Still, I'd glanced at it.

"You didn't even—" She stopped talking and took a white cardboard box out. Bella furrowed her brow, looking between Carlisle and me as she opened it.

Inside, there was a jewelry box. It was porcelain, and it had Cinderella and a few mice on it—and it played music.

Needless to say, Bella went bananas over it. She hugged it to her chest, telling my father it was beautiful, thanking him again before running into the room to put her jewelry in it.

Adorable.

Dad got comfortable in the living room with Emmett, set to watch television until we were all ready.

I offered the shower to Bella first, but she actually declined. She was clean, her hair was cool, and I didn't even ask questions. I wasn't even curious until she said she couldn't shower until tomorrow. Then she went on about how she's not so sure about taking the X tonight. She liked the idea of us all staying local and checking out a bar.

Knowing I'd get her liquored up, too, she said she'd be fine with having drinks and taking a bong hit.

That…I thought that was really cool. Sure, all week she couldn't shut up about Tunnel, rollin' with me again, but this change was cool, too.

Although I wasn't going to stop her, I wasn't going to encourage her to take that shit either.

It was her choice, her birthday, and I knew I'd keep her safe no matter what we ended up doing.

When she was through with her rambled rant, I sat back on the bed to hold her waist. "You sure you didn't do anything? Baby, you seem…jittery and—"

"I'm happy? I'm not allowed?"

"Of course you are." I rested my chin to her stomach, my hands palming her ass.

"Easy." She winced, squeezing my shoulders, like I hurt her.

I eased up, fearful. "What—"

She cut me off. "Um—"

"Bella!" Emmett shouted for her.

I stopped her from turning to him. "What's wrong wit' your ass?"

"Nothing," she said.

"Yo!" Emmett again.

Our door was open, and so we just peeked out.

"Your friend's still coming? Have her come here." Emmett seemed…hopeful?

"What's that about?" I looked to Bella.

"Oh," she giggled, closing the door and turning to face me. "Alice's neighbor—the one we went to school with?"

I raised a brow. "The one who ran her mouth because of what Rose said?"

"No...the one Rose ran her mouth to. Leah's really nice. She's funny, great personality—"

I knew Bella might want to deck me, but I had to ask. "She's either ugly or extremely overweight."

"No! She's pretty, kinda tall, but shorter than Emmett." Bella went to the mirror to take her earrings off.

I sat there, watching her. "What'd you do today? I know something's up."

Her cheeks flushed, and she wouldn't meet my gaze. "I was never at my mom's—"

"What?" I made to stand, but Bella kept me sitting.

"Lemme finish." She was nervous. "Alice paged me this morning because I had something planned. My mother's gonna take me to a late lunch or something Monday—when we're both done with school." She stuck her tongue out. "I told Renee you might come—"

"Bella…why'd you lie?" I didn't want to get upset. Nope. Nope. Nope. "Why—I mean, what'd you do today? That you had to lie? Or, felt you had to lie?"

She put her palms up, ready to plead or something. "I didn't—it wasn't a real lie." She bargained through a whisper.

I chuckled. "Yeah, it was…You said you were at Renee's, but you were…?" I cocked a brow. "You know what?" Remembering what Dad said before, I wanted to play it cool. "You're an adult…Um, but don't lie to me. I can't stop you from going anywhere, but don't lie." The thought of trusting her and then—

"Edward, please…let me finish. Don't get upset." She pecked my lips.

I hummed which was more of a groan. "Okay." Again, I had to slow my roll.

"You might think I'm crazy, but I don't care." She stood between my thighs, leaning into me.

I cringed, wishing she'd get to the fucking point already. "Bella—"

"The other day, you gave me some cash. Remember? So, I could get an outfit for my birthday? Well, I only spent ten bucks, which you know because I told you—"

"Bella…" I chuckled.

She continued to speak over me. "I had all that money left over that you told me to keep. But I wasn't going to spend a cent. I put it in your top drawer because I didn't want anything else, but…then I wanted this, so I stole the money back. But you didn't even know I'd put it in there, so it wasn't really stealing—"

"Just stop," I said, staring up to her. "Take a breath. Be easy."

Bella munched on her bottom lip, a nervous fucking wreck, like she was on the hot seat—being interrogated or some shit, and I'd knock her around if she'd said the wrong thing.

Seeing her in such a state actually calmed me down. Well, my anger disappeared, curiosity and anxiety taking over. I was worried and confused.

"Baby, relax." I slumped my shoulders, taking her hands into mine. "Relax…" I wiggled her from side to side. "Just…talk to me."

Bella blew out a breath, her cheeks still red. "I'm not crazy." Her lip quivered but then she stopped herself from crying. "I didn't lie…like bad lying. I'd never…and I'm telling you now."

"What is it? What'd you do?" I asked, the suspense killing me at this point, too.

She turned around. Her ass was in my face, and then she slightly pulled her pants down.

My eyes almost popped out of my head, my heart skipped a beat. "You—" I couldn't talk. "Um…" I didn't want to touch it, but…fuck me. I didn't know what to think either.

At the small of Bella's back, she had a tattoo. It was a two-inch X with a smaller E and a B on each side. I knew what it meant—our initials and what brought us together, the Ecstasy that remains a joke between us both. "You—"

"I have a lot of faith and trust in you—that what you say is true. I can feel your love. I know we're not together long, but…I'm marked as yours…forever," she whispered all that out with quiet tears falling down her cheeks. "I needed…to…I wanted to more than anything. I had you in mind, but it's just as much for me . . . Say something."

All I wanted to do was lay her down, so I could marvel at it for a while. My cock was instantly hard, too, thinking the tattoo itself hot.

She wiped under her eyes, wearing a hint of a smile. "It's sore now…and it hurt, too."

"Tattoos…hurt," was my dumbass reply. "Especially the first…I wish you'd'a let me go with you. I could'a held your hand—" My breath caught when I stared into her eyes. "Bella, Bella, baby…" I palmed her cheeks. "You love me like that?" My heart swelled, and I was so fucking happy. "You—" My words were stuck, too.

"Like that." She placed her hands over mine. "With all the losers my mother's gone through…Last year, I would have laughed if someone told me I'd have what we do now. But I found you." She sounded so sweet, tears in her eyes again, but these were different—happier.

"And I found you." I nodded, staring up at her. "There's a tatt parlor two blocks from here…I'll get your name." I went to stand.

She pushed me down, giggling. "I didn't do it so you would—"

I cut her off with my lips, kissing her deeply, hungrily, but I stopped my hands from wandering too far south. "You start getting ready. I'll be back."

"Edward—"

My mouth crashed to hers again—kissing her sloppily, wanting nothing more than to make the sweetest, most passionate love to her—but I stopped myself once more.

I needed to do something else first.

Bella still had her eyes closed, her lips puckered when I leaned away. "I'll—" I cleared my throat.

She opened her eyes, lust shining in them. "Um…It's not that-that sore. We can—" She started walking backward, gripping my tee and taking me with her. "Fuck me, now—"

I growled, adjusting my cock. "Baby, I gotta go."

She shook her head.

I pried her fingers from my shirt. "Get ready to go. I only need fifteen minutes—twenty the most." Before she could say more or catch me, I left the bedroom—tearing through the apartment. "I gotta run to the store—don't do cake 'til I come back," I told my father and Emmett.

I didn't wait for a reply and stomped down the stairs.

"Edward!" Bella called for me.

"I love you!" I hollered back, on cloud fucking nine.

Rapidly, I walked up the block, and that's when I heard, "I love you, too!" shouted from our window.

I chuckled, picking up the pace of my stride even more.

I felt like—if I enjoyed my birthday—that was the best gift I could ever receive.

Never so sure of anything in my life, I entered the tattoo shop that was luckily pretty empty.

Actually, the dude who took me into a backroom works with Jasper during the week. I didn't remember his name, but he knew me—was nice and polite, and he got his gun ready as I took off my shirt and explained what I wanted.

It'd go between two of my other tats, but I wanted Bella's name on my heart—my left pec—in cursive.

The gun truly felt nice as it started. Already a fan of ink, it didn't hurt at all. And he was done pretty fast because it wasn't that complex. The one I have of my mother's name on my right side and pretty far up near my shoulder; I did that shit at home when I was a kid. That's why it's all funky. The crazy fuck that I am carved out her name with a box cutter, and I went deep before smearing ink into it.

Since I was already here, I had this dude redo it. He knew me, only charged me fifty bucks in total.

Both spots were red rimmed and greasy from the bacitracin ointment, so I didn't bother putting my tee back on.

I wanted the world to see Bella's name there.

Proud, and oh-so fucking thrilled, I walked back to the apartment.

Between talking to Dad and the wild shit Bella did…I felt as though I acted a fool yesterday, doubting Bella, doubting myself and feeling less than.

Bella has faith in me; she trusts me, loves me…she is my future.

I believed that with my whole heart now.