A/N:
Thanks to Project Team Beta and my twilighted validation beta jajo!
In this chapter:
Shellfish, champagne and a little innocent banter. xo!
Also, I added to the story notes that this contains underage drinking, drug use and lemonade in later chapters. You've been warned!
Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine. Never was. Never will be.
Chapter 4: Annie Hall
Bella
Alice, Rose and I are spending the late afternoon doing beauty treatments. Jasper seemed relieved to be given a reprieve from beauty time and went back to Emmett and Edward's to watch a game.
"So what's up with you and Edward? And don't leave out details," Rose asks while smearing blue goo all over her face.
"Not a damn thing. He told me, while I was naked and standing next to him, that I was beautiful but not his type."
"What? That's crazy talk. He was staring at you. Like, staring at you." Alice interjects, her brow furrowing.
She's painting my toenails day-glo fuchsia.
I blush deeply and admit, "That's what I thought, but…no. Believe me, it's not for lack of wanting it."
I'm feeling stupid but know that if there's anywhere I can admit this it's here and now, to these two.
"So, in light of all that, I hope it's not a problem that we invited them to dinner," Alice says lightly.
They both look a tiny bit guilty, but only the tiniest bit. They mostly look happy.
Rude.
"Oh whatever. I think we're going to have to learn to get along…or we'll torture each other all summer. And at this point that's looking to be a distinct possibility. I mean, you should hear some of the shit he says! He's got to be the biggest dick I've ever…"
"He's got to have the biggest dick. That must be what you meant, Bella." He's leaning in the doorway, laptop in hand.
He is not only a cocky fucker but a sneaky fucker too. I smile sweetly and sarcastically at him, my head tilted to the side. I can hear the girls chuckling. I'm really glad I don't have a blue face mask on.
"What's up, Edward?" Rose calls pleasantly to him. "Come in!"
He steps in and surveys the room, giving my bare legs a long look. I'm lying on the floor with them propped on the coffee table, finishing the crossword I was too hung over to navigate this morning.
"New York Times crossword. Frankly, I'm impressed."
"Gee, thanks. Not used to girls with more brain power than it takes to give a blow job?"
He looks around the cabin, walking past the long mantle full of family photos, not answering.
God, he's irritating.
"What can we do for you, Edward?"
I look around for the rest of the "we" and realize that Alice and Rose left the room. I can hear them murmuring in the bathroom. Thanks, friends.
"Our wireless still isn't working, so I was hoping I could use yours to check my email. I normally wouldn't ask…" and he looks like he doesn't want to now.
"It's fine. The password is 'umami'." He looks up, a question on his face.
I spell it out and explain, "It's the fifth taste sensation, sweet, salty, bitter, sour and … umami. It has Japanese roots. The taste is supposed to be subtle and savory."
He stands there, a slow smile spreading across his face as I talk, and types. I'm surprised that this conversation is so civil. I was expecting a snide remark.
I pull myself up off the floor and walk to the fridge, careful not to smudge the toenail polish. I grab a beer and then another, looking to see if he wants one. He nods and reaches across the bar to grab it from my hand.
"Glass?" I ask, and he cocks an eyebrow at me, shaking his head before taking a big swig. I shrug and try to remember where the pint glasses are.
I find them on a high shelf and stretch on my tip-toes but I'm an inch too short to get them. He's suddenly behind me with his hand on my waist pressing me up against the counter. The back of my neck is on fire. He reaches up and grabs a glass for me, releasing my waist and going back to the other side of the bar.
Oh, he's good. He pours my beer slowly and sets it down across rom me. Nice head on that beer.
Hee. Head.
My mind is firmly entrenched in the gutter today.
His hair is in disarray. Casual, sexy disarray. He's wearing a slightly tight grey t-shirt and thin jeans. He is frowning at his laptop, typing intermittently.
"So, what's for dinner?" He catches me staring at his left bicep with my lips slightly parted.
I clear my throat and he smirks.
"You'll have to ask Rose. I don't really cook. I bake. Cookies and cakes…and stuff." I'm flustered, and take a sip of beer.
His next words startle me.
"About last night …" and for a brief second he actually looks sincere.
I interrupt, raising a hand. "No harm, no foul, Cullen. I think you're overestimating your appeal," I lie, and blush a traitorous blush.
Shit.
"Oh, really?" He smiles the crooked smile, and I fume.
Who does he think he is?
He's playing me hot and cold, and doing it intentionally. I'm questioning his motivation. It's quiet then except for his typing.
Where the hell are Alice and Rose?
I look at the time and decide to go change.
"I'm going to change for dinner. Be back in a minute." He nods distractedly and continues looking at his screen.
Walking to my cabin, I wonder why I'm so annoyed.
I change into a short, simple, blue dress and pair it with flip-flops. I hope it looks casual, but I have a feeling that my face is revealing way more than I want it to, regardless of what I put on my body. I look around the cabin as I leave, thinking back to a few days ago, when everything here felt comfortable and nothing induced butterflies in my stomach. Everything is different.
But better, maybe?
When I return, Rose is throwing lobsters in a pot of boiling water, and Alice is upset about the squealing noise they make as the water escapes their shells.
"They're screaming! You murderer!" she laughs, her hands covering her ears.
Jasper is pulling out a bottle of French champagne to put on ice as a chilled one sits ready to be opened. Emmett is teasing Rose with one of the live lobsters, and she shrieks and wiggles in his grip, trying to get away from its pinching claws. No one has noticed me yet. I wonder where Edward is.
"Nice dress, Swan."
I feel a hand on my lower back as he pushes me into the living room. I feel blood rush into my face. If he would quit touching me, this would be a whole lot easier. I can smell faint cigarette smoke surrounding him, and I'm the teeniest, tiniest bit giddy that he remembers my last name.
"Thanks." I don't meet his eye, but walk up to the bar, waiting for J to finish pouring the champagne.
Dinner is heaven, lobster and butter, with mushroom risotto and green beans. Rose and Emmett are at one side of the table and Alice and Jasper are on the other. Edward and I are at the heads of the table. Emmett is straight stuffing his face and looking at Rose like she's a goddess. Jasper and Alice are whispering, and I see him feed her a piece of lobster.
Sigh.
Edward stares at me throughout most of the meal. He and Emmett tell stories about Texas, and when he does I hear a southern accent, I bite my lip, imagining Edward in jeans and a cowboy hat a la Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise. Hot.
We drink 4 bottles of champagne, and I'm relaxed and happy. We laugh a lot.
After dinner, I go out on the deck to look at the moon, holding a half-empty glass and leaning on the wooden railing.
I jump when I hear the flick of a lighter next to me.
"Christ, Cullen. You've gotta quit sneaking up on me," I say, my hand over my chest.
"Sorry," he says simply and unapologetically.
We look out at the lake and I listen to him smoke. Inhale. Exhale. I reach my hand over and grasp his cigarette. He lets it go and watches me take a drag. I look down at it while I exhale.
"I haven't had one in forever. My mom died of cancer, so I shouldn't smoke. But every now and then..." I say, not sure why I'm sharing this pain. I hand it back to him.
"I'm sorry." This time he looks sorry. He looks back out at the lake.
"So...why did your mom choose California?"
"She grew up here. It's not likely that she'll be up here much, but when she is she seems really happy. She's had a rough couple of years." I nod, wondering why but not asking.
"It's my favorite place in the world," I say, swallowing the rest of my champagne, which is getting me bubbly-drunk. "And I've been everywhere."
After my mom died my dad took me on trips with him to Europe, Asia, South America, Africa. But here is where I'm happiest.
Laughter pours out of the cabin's windows and I turn around, seeing everyone in the kitchen.
Why do we always end up in there?
It looks like they've switched to cocktails. I turn to look at Edward and he's looking in as well.
"Emmett and Rose...I hope he's hitting that," he flashes a shit-eating grin.
"God, you really are a prick." I call him a prick for the second time today, shaking my head but smiling despite myself.
I feel like he's moving closer to me. I look over again and this time his eyes are fixed on me.
"Hi," I say stupidly. Dumbass.
"Hi," he says back, not smiling.
He reaches over and smoothes a hair from my forehead.
I want to ask him what the fuck he's doing, but I don't. I just close my eyes.