So I'm back from the greatest trip ever. Thanks for all the well wishes. It was seriously so fab.
Onward! This chapter (as is the usually these days) got way to flippin' long so I decided to split it.
The good news: There are now two chappies after this, plus an epi.
The bad news: This is a pretty big cliffie.
More good news: I should post again tomorrow.
THANK YOU FOR READING! Seriously, all the response to this little story of mine is humbling. Again, thank you.
Also, Twilight does not belong to me.
August 4, 2011
"Edward Anthony." Bella is trying to reprimand me, but she is kinda failing being as she is all giggly and blushy. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm nibbling on her neck and tickling her sides, keeping her from moving by trapping her against my car. "We're late enough already. We have to go in."
"I don't want to go in," I whisper in her ear, pushing her more firmly against the side of the Volvo. She whimpers slightly as I kiss that sensitive spot on her jaw before she half-heartedly shoves me away.
"We have to go in," she repeats, straightening my already perfectly straight tie.
"But I don't want to," I whine, barely resisting to stomp my foot like a child.
"It's going to be fine," she says, poking at my bottom lip until I can't help but smile.
"Shouldn't you be the one dreading this?" I ask because the longer I can keep her talking, the less time we have to spent with all the people gathered in my parent's home.
"Maybe," Bella, replies shrugging. Although she appears the picture of calm, I know that she is stressed about seeing my extended family again. And I don't blame her. They were far from welcoming last time she met them at Alice and Jasper's wedding. But Bella is putting on a brave face, even if it took her twice as long as it normally does to get ready. Normally, I take longer to dress because my ridiculous need for every crease of my clothes to be ironed just so. Today, Bella beat me. But her dressing carefully is the only indication of her nerves.
The extra time certainly paid off. She looks stunning and classy and like a grown up in her full-length halter sundress. She even straightened her hair, a lengthy endeavor. As much as I like her usual wild style, I love it when she straightens it because I can run my fingers through it without worry about them snagging on a knot and inadvertently hurting her.
Bella says she bought the dress because the color matches my eyes. I didn't notice but I'm glad she did.
She is also wearing her Birkenstocks and this makes me smile too.
I glance toward my parent's large mountain home. They ended up purchasing quite a bit of land up the canyon. It is slightly amusing and a bit embarrassing to see them embrace their view of Colorado life so thoroughly. Carlisle has even bought a horse.
The property is lovely, but right now it is filled with people I should like being as I am related to a good chunk of them. I just find their snobbishness so exhausting.
Esme has lectured the grandparents about being kind to Bella, but I certainly have my doubts. I will not tolerate cruelty toward my love.
"Edward," she says, tilting my face towards her with her fingers on my chin. "It's just for the next couple of days, okay? I can handle your family. I don't particularly care what they have to say about me."
"But last time—"
"I don't know if you've noticed," she says with a chuckle, "but I've done some changing since the last time I saw them."
"I noticed," I murmur with an answering grin.
"I'm not that insecure little child I was back then," she continues. "My self worth is not dependent on the opinions of your ridiculously stuck up extended family."
"Okay. Good. Great."
"Edward, I want you to ignore them. I mean it. None of your oh so gallant, somewhat misguided, over fucking protective white knight shit, okay? That will just make it worse. Ignore them. I intended to."
I mutter something without actually promising to do what she says, but it is good enough for Bella because she kisses me quickly before dragging me up the stone walk way.
When we enter the front door, the house is shockingly silent, but upon further inspection it is clear that this pre-wedding family barbeque is in full swing on the back deck. Through the large glass doors, I spot Grandpa Cullen instructing Dad at the grill while Uncle Marcus looks on in boredom. Grandma Cullen is sitting in the shade with a glass of wine in her hand. She is flanked by Alice, my mom, Mrs. Hale, and my cousin Heidi, all of who are chatting animatedly. Probably about the wedding. In the large grassy back yard beyond, Emmett and Jasper play two hand touch with Heidi's three sons, as well as Mr. Hale and Rose and a bunch of other people I don't recognize. Quite a few other people and kids I don't know are milling about, and I assume these are Rosalie's relatives.
They look perfectly happy and perfectly normal, but in reality they are a dangerous bunch.
Bella rolls her eyes at my hesitation before opening the doors herself and stepping into that bright Colorado sunshine.
"Hello!" Her voice is perky and completely un-Bellaish. Feeling rather grouchy, I follow her.
My mom stands to hug her first, followed by Alice. They move to me next before I move to stand closer to Bella.
"Hey, Mrs. Hale," Bella says, greeting Rosalie's mother. I forgot until this moment that Bella has quite the little history with the Hale's as well. She never got along with Rose's mother. But Rose barely gets along with Rose's mother so I guess this isn't that surprising.
"Hello, Bella," she replies in a clipped, icy tone that makes my eye twitch slightly. "You are looking well."
"Thanks, Mrs. H," Bella says with a grin. "Feelin' well, too. Hi, Mrs. Cullen."
"Hello," my grandmother replies. I can tell by her voice that she is pretty drunk already, despite the early hour. As usual. "Do I know you, my dear? What silly looking shoes."
Bella giggles and I manage to not roll my eyes. "Grandma, you remember my girlfriend, Bella? You met when Alice got married."
"She was a bridesmaid," Alice puts in helpfully.
"Ah, yes," Grandma Cullen says with a little hiccup. "The gold-digger. I thought you'd died."
My fist clench at my sides as I remind myself that this is a harmless, drunk old bitty.
"Naw, bre," Bella says. She doesn't seem even a little bit offended by the comment. "I'm with him for his abilities in the bedroom, not his money."
I choke a little on nothing and turn bright red. Alice laughs like a loon and my mother cracks a smile, but Grandma Cullen nods thoughtfully.
"Ah yes," agrees the matriarch of the family. "Of course Edward has impressive sexual stamina. All Cullen men do. Richard is a beast in the bedroom."
Oh. Dear. God.
"As is Carlisle."
Just kill me. A single bullet between the eyes will do. Alice turns to look at me in horror, and I'm glad that at least big twin is rightfully disgusted by this talk.
"Alec too," muses Heidi, standing to great Bella and I now. "Why do you think we have so many children?"
All the woman folk laugh, but I'm far too disturbed to do anything other than stand there with my mouth agape. Bella bonding with my stogy grandmother over my sexual tendencies is not how I envisioned this afternoon going.
Bella moves away from me to shake my cousin-in-law's extended hand.
"Hi, I'm Heidi. I'm married to Marcus and Chelsea's sole heir."
I like how Heidi talks. Despite being from a fairly well do to Chicago family, she finds her in laws and the rest of our family pretty fucking ridiculous.
"Bella," my love greets. "Nice to meet you."
"Hi, Heidi," I say, hugging her quickly. "Where is my cousin?"
"He had to work," she explains, tossing her auburn hair over her shoulder. "As usual. Some last minute crisis had him flying to New York. But he'll be here for the wedding on Saturday."
"Looking forward to seeing him," I say, still recovering form all the gross shit discussed a moment before. "It's been a long time."
"Yes, it has!" she replies, lightly smacking my arm. "You have been a stranger the last couple years."
This is the truth. I pretty much avoided my family while Bella was gone. I was too busy wallowing in self-pity and being surrounded by people in relationships made it worse.
My grandmother makes another comment about her sex life, Bella pulls up a chair, and I run off, muttering something about getting a drink. I thought I was going need to protect Bella, to stick close to her side.
She seems to be doing just fine.
We eat dispersed throughout my parent's large backyard sitting area. I've met about a zillion new people in the last few hours that will soon make up Emmett's extended family. Who knew there were so many Hales? I wonder how many of them I will actually see in the future.
I vaguely listen to some of Rose's male cousins talk stock market with my father and his father and Rose's father, but really I just watch Bella chat animatedly with Grandma Cullen of all people. I'm not sure how she's managed it. I've never shared much more than a few pleasantries with the woman. She was never the fuzzy, backing cookies type grandma, so the fact that Bella has cracked the old nut is truly astonishing.
I shudder when I think of what creates the foundation of their newfound friendship.
Bella sends me a shy little smile as Grandma Cullen continues to talk her ear off, gesturing somewhat wildly. I shake my head, smirking slightly, in response.
Here she is, craving out her own little niche in my crazy family. Her wonders never cease to amaze.
August 6, 2011
"The wedding was lovely, Mrs. Cullen," says Tia, polite as ever.
"I agree," replies my mother, taking a sip of wine. "I'm glad you could make it. Edward has told us so much about you and it's good to finally meet you."
Tia beams at my mother. "I feel the same. It was so nice of them to invite me. I don't really know Rosalie that well at all."
"The more the merrier," replies my mom. "Rosalie just looks gorgeous, doesn't she? And I am tearing up just thinking about how Emmett cried at the alter."
"Bawled like a baby," I agree with a smirk, taking a sip of my own drink and never taking my eyes off Bella on the dance floor where she is jumping around with Tyler. And I'm not even jealous. Mostly. I just like to look at her when she is so happy.
"Edward Anthony," says my mother, smacking my arm lightly with the back of her hand. "I know for certain that you will shed many a tear when you and Bella finally get married."
I like that she says "when" instead of "if."
"Probably," I reply. Bella throws her head back in laugher as Tyler does a disco move and then almost falls over, taking Jake and Leah with her, as she tries to copy him. "Definitely," I amend, grinning.
Esme abruptly throws her arms around my neck, squeezing me to her for a moment. I blink down at her in confusion when she pulls away and I see tears in her eyes.
"Mom?" I ask in concern.
"I am just so happy that all my children are finally happy," she says with a sniff. "Damn, my make-up is probably all over the place. Again. Excuse me, Edward. Tia, it was really wonderful to meet you."
She takes off towards the bathroom, face in her hands and shoulders shaking.
"Shouldn't you go comfort her?" Tia asks in alarm.
"No, she'll be fine," I reply, shifting my body to stare once again at the dance floor. "She has been spontaneously busting into tears all week. At this point it's just annoying."
"I think it's nice. She obviously loves you and is happy that you are happy," Tia says.
"Yup. I suppose it has been a long time coming. For all of us to finally be with who we want to be with," I reply.
"Well, I wouldn't say all of us," Tia mutters, turning to the bartender and ordering another drink.
"Sorry, T," I say, realizing my mistake. "I meant for my siblings and I."
"I know," she says, patting my shoulder.
"Are we okay?" I ask. We haven't really had this conversation. After everything happened over the New Year, we just sort of ignored it. Everything went back to the way it was before except with a underlying awkward vibe that neither of us acknowledged. I'm glad that Tia and Bella reached some sort of understanding, but I feel guilty with the realization that I never really talked to my friend.
I definitely fucked things up with Tia. But she is my friend and I hope she will continue to be my friend.
"Huh?" Tia asks, sounding so discombobulated that I glance over at her. I'm surprised to she that she is as focused on the dance floor as I once was.
"Are we okay? You are one of my best friends, T. I don't want that to change," I tell her, still trying to figure out what the unfocused look on her face. It is a look I've never seen before.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," she says, waving a hand at me dismissively. I chuckle a little because she is not taking this conversation seriously at all and she usually takes everything super seriously. "Whatever. Edward, who is dancing with Bella?"
Is that what has her so concerned? That Bella is dancing with another man?
"That's Tyler," I explain slowly as Tia continues to stare. Alice and Jasper, Mike and Jess along with the bride and groom, join the group as the band plays "Play That Funky Music." They look like idiots but all appear to be having a fabulous time. "I went to high school with him and they became really good friends in Forks."
"Friends? Just friends?" she demands, turning her wide eyes on me now. Never have I seen Tia this flustered. Not during finals or when she found out about Bella. It is disconcerting. Though at the same time I hate that she is still questioning Bella's commitment and faithfulness to me. If that is even what she is doing. I'm having a hard time figuring it out.
"Yes, Tia," I say, sighing heavily. "They have always just been friends."
"Okay, good," Tia says nodding and wringing her hands.
And then I think I understand. Tia's bizarre behavior has nothing to do with a concern for me.
"You like him!" I say, feeling down right giddy.
"What?" she shrieks, blushing deeply. "That's just… don't be… ridiculous… I haven't even met him!"
"But you think he's sexy," I continue, loving that Tia is so uncomfortable.
She mutters something under her breath.
"He's a good guy. And a marine. Or was a marine. Still, girls like men in uniform, right?" I ask, openly laughing at her at this point. She is literally chewing on her fingernails.
"I haven't even met him," she repeats primly and folding her hands together in an attempt to act normal. I'm not buying it.
"Do you want to?" I ask, grinning at her.
"What are you doing?" she demands as I take her hand and drag her towards the dance floor. "Edward! No, stop! I can't!"
But it's too late because we are here. I move my hips, dancing close to Bella and pulling Tia with me. Bella smiles and laughs as I emulate Tyler's ridiculous dance moves. He laughs too, and I decide he really isn't so bad.
"Tyler," I yell over the music, gesturing towards Tia who is standing rigidly at my side. Her eyes are wide and panicked. "This is Tia."
Tyler stops dancing and his mouth falls open the moment he sees Tia. I continue to dance, moving away from Tia and closer to Bella who is glancing between the two looking shocked and pleased at the same time. She turns her bright eyes on me, mouthing "no fucking way."
I pull Bella towards me, turning her with my hands on her hips so that her back is pushed against my front, and we watch Tyler and Tia stare at each other with similar dumbfounded expressions.
Bella, grinding into my crotch and driving me completely crazy, reaches up behind her and pulls my head down with her hand on my neck. She turns her head and her hot breath grazes my ear.
"What the fuck?" she says, asking the question out loud this time.
I just chuckle and shake my head as we continue to dance next to unmoving pair.
The disco number ends and is replaced with a painfully slow song. Part of me feels a little bad for my obviously uncomfortable friend, but mostly I'm just having too much fun.
"Tyler," Bella says, taking pity on her friend, who appears just as flustered as Tia. "Do you mind if I dance with Edward now? Perhaps you could ask Tia to dance?"
Tyler gapes at Bella before he starts stutter incomprehensibly at Tia. She looks at him, her expression somewhere between wonder and confusion, while he turns bright red and stares at his feet. I can only assume he is attempting to ask her to dance.
"Pardon?" Tia manages to squeak out when Tyler stops blathering. This whole thing is painful to watch, and I give Tia a little shove, causing her to bump into Tyler's massive chest. Thankfully, he offers her his hand and the two start to move silently together.
Success!
I smirk to myself, quite pleased with my effort, but then I stop thinking about anything at all because Bella's arms come around my neck and her chest presses up against mine.
She looks so beautiful, even in the tight black bridesmaid dress that only the queen of the damned – also known as my sister-in-law – would have selected. Bella discarded her heels and pulled her hair out of the elaborate updo the moment the toasts were finished. As a result, her hair is even more wild and appealing than usual. She is flushed from dancing, alcohol, and just general happiness, and I find myself wishing that this were our wedding.
So I let myself imagine it as I move with the woman I love in my arms.
BPOV
"Trying your hand at matchmaker, are we?" I whisper into Edward's ear as I play with the hair at the back of his head. I have to get on my tiptoes to ensure that he will hear me, but he still manages to lead me in a graceful slow dance.
"Humm?" he says, apparently confused by my words.
I pull away and nod toward the couple moving in a slow circle next to us. The look of puppy love on both their faces is fucking comical and totally bizarre.
Tia and Tyler. Who'd a thought it?
"Right," Edward says, clearing his throat and pulling me closer. "That. Them. Yes, match making."
What the fuck is going on inside that head of his? Even knowing him like I do and living with him for the past few months, I still have no idea most of the time.
"It's weird," I continue, laughing because I have never seen my big, strong friend look so discombobulated.
"What's weird?" Edward asks.
I pull back so I can get a good look at his face. "Tyler and Tia," I say, really questioning his sanity at this point. He frowns slightly as if he doesn't understand the English language. I laugh because he is just so fucking cute. "What the fuck is going on in that big, ol' brain of yours, Edward Cullen?"
"When are we going to get married?" he bursts out before flushing and looking as if he wishes he hadn't spoke.
"I don't know," I murmur, blushing as well. "Not for a while yet."
He just nods, his face totally unreadable and impassive. His dance steps never falter, even if I did stumble slightly when the words left his mouth.
I hope I didn't hurt his feelings.
"It's just not time, Edward," I whisper, pleading with him to understand. I have changed so much, made so much progress. But I'm still not ready for this final step.
"Hey, I know," he says, smiling at me now. I didn't realize that my whole body had tensed for fear that he is tired of waiting for me to be ready. All he ever does is wait for me to be ready. "You said 'yet,'" he continues. "Yet is good. I can work with yet."
I beam at him and lay my head on his shoulder. His hand traces the dimples at my lower back.
We dance and I think about this whole marriage thing. He needs to trust me first. And I need to trust myself. Sometimes I get scared that I'm just going to wake up one day and magically turn back to the old Bella. It's an irrational fear, but I behaved pretty fucking irrationally for a long time. Trust will come time. I truly believe that.
He needs to forgive me too. And I probably need to forgive myself a little bit as well.
"After you are a real doctor," I say suddenly as the song comes to an end. Edward raises an eyebrow at me, silently asking I elaborate. "I mean… I just want us to be settled. I want us both to be comfortable and settled in our jobs and not have any other shit going on."
Plus, that gives me at least two years while he finishes school to get my head around being a wife. Three, if we are including his year as an intern.
"Great," he says, smiling at me like he is amused with my little out burst. "When I'm a real Doctor. It's a date."
I giggle at him, closing my eyes and breathing him in as he plants a kiss on y temple.
"I love you," I tell him.
"As I love you," he responds.
The party continues on. It's the one positive I can identify of having a huge ass wedding. Big wedding equals big party. And part of me still loves a good party.
Even if it means spending more time with Edward's extended family.
I have come to love Grandma Cullen. I'm not sure how I let that sex comment pop out of my mouth, but against the odds I've won the respect of the Cullen matriarch. She really is a mean old bitch, but she is totally the kind of woman that tolerates no weakness. She likes me, and for whatever reason, I kinda like her too – even if most of what leaves her mouth is sexist or racist or classist or a thousand other ists that make my hackles go up. But I've somehow won the right to disagree and call her out, which I do. Often,
For someone so fucking conservative about every fucking thing, the old woman sure likes to talk about sex.
I found that winning over Grandma Cullen – or Margie, as she insists I call her – has done little to get the rest of the pretentious family off my back. Chelsea, Edward's aunt, looks at me with condescending amusement, replying to everything I say with "how bohemian." Marcus, her creepy as fuck husband and Carlisle's older brother, just leers, perpetually eye fucking me. Grandpa Cullen – or Dr. Cullen as there is no way in hell he will ever tell me to call him Richard – just ignores my existence, something I quite enjoy.
Which is why I'm shocked as fuck when he asks me to cut in as I take Edward's hand for another slow song.
"Uhhh…" is Edward's oh so intelligent response. He looks at me with mild panic, as if he would rather do anything than hand me over to his scary and disapproving grandfather. I squeeze his hand and give what I hope is a reassuring smile. But really I am not overly thrilled to take Grandpa Cullen's hand and move away from Edward.
"I'll just get another drink," says Edward stiffly. I know he will be watching, ready to run to the rescue.
We move in awkward silence for awhile. The old man is a good dancer. I saw him spinning his wife around the dance floor gracefully earlier. But with me he's obviously tense and irritated.
"This is just getting ridiculous, don't you think, Miss Swan?" he asks, sounding shockingly pleasant.
"Uh, what?" I ask, having no fucking clue what he was referring too.
"You," he continues, causing me to scowl, "wasting my grandson's valuable time."
"Wasting his time?" I ask, still not getting it.
"The last time he brought you around, we all turned the other cheek," he says with a sigh. I hold my tongue because trying to set Edward up with some fucking debutante while he was home for Christmas break our junior year is really turning the other fucking cheek. "We indulged him his little… dalliance but enough is enough. His preoccupation with you has run its course, Miss Swan."
Once upon a time, dearest Richard's words would have really pissed me off. Well, they do still piss me off, but then the anger would be covering the hurt and my escalating feelings of worthlessness. Now, I'm more just annoyed by this washed up old geezer.
"Dalliance, huh?" I say, chuckling slightly.
Grandpa Cullen's dance steps falter for a moment so I know I surprised him with my candor. Here is a man that is obviously used to being listened too. The man likes to intimidate, but it's not working with me.
"Richard," I continue, polite as ever. "Mind if I call you Richard?" I don't wait for a reply but get a lot of satisfaction when he turns purple. "I hate to tell you this, but me and Edward are not dallying or whatever you call it. We are together and are planning on keeping it that way for a very long time."
"What exactly are your intentions with my grandson?" he hisses at me, pretty fucking mad now.
And didn't I just answer this question a moment ago with the together a long time thing? Jeeze, this fossil is really trying my patience.
"I really don't see how it's any of your business," I reply.
"It's my money," he snaps. "That makes it my business."
"Money?" I ask. For the zillionth time since this ill advised dance, I'm fucking confused.
"His inheritance," Richard says, totally exasperated with me. "That is why you came back, I'm sure."
I notice that we've stopped the charade of dancing, probably a while ago, and now I pull my hand out of his, taking a step back in hopes that some distance will make it easier to not punch this asshole.
It doesn't.
"You are so totally wrong," I say, shaking my head.
"I'll pay you to get out of our life," Gramps says. He even has the gall to reach for his checkbook. "How many zeros are you thinking?"
I want to ask if go fuck yourself somehow translates into a monetary amount, but I magically refrain.
"I don't want his money," I say, pleased with how calm I sound.
"You really are a crafty one, aren't you, Miss Swan?" he asks with a dark chuckle. "You must know that now that Edward is twenty-five and has full access to his trust fund, that I'm no longer able to touch it. You can get much more by staying with him than I am willing to write a snake like you."
Edward has full access to his trust fund? Edward has a trust fund?
Right. Of course he does. All the Cullen kids do. I remember Edward telling me about this a million years ago, and although I've always know the Cullen's have obscene amounts of money, we haven't really discussed it.
A heads up about the whole "I'm a fucking bazillionaire" thing would have been greatly appreciated. Perhaps he could have even told me, oh I don't know, a fucking month and a half ago when we celebrated his birthday?
Idiot.
"I may no longer have monetary influence over my grandson," says Richard, his voice low and dangerous, "but you don't want to make an enemy out of me, Miss Swan. Do you really want to be responsible for destroying Edward's relationship with the family?"
The family. This dude sounds like a fucking Mob boss or some shit. Wow, what a fucking plot twist that would be. I'll have float that theory by Edward in the future. Right after I finish smacking him around for not telling me about his trust fund.
For a moment, I think that maybe there is a reason Edward didn't say anything. Maybe he does really think I'm with him for his money. But before this thought really materializes, I dismiss it as lunacy. The man loves me and knows I love him.
"I'm his family, Dr. Cullen," I say quietly, turning my back on the old man. I glance over my shoulder, suddenly pitying this old fogey. He is such an angry, bitter man. He doesn't have that much time left, and if I've learned anything in the last few years, it's to let go. Dude seriously should let go of the shit that doesn't matter. Like social pedigree and family lineage. "And I really hope you can grow to tolerate me, because if you don't, you aren't going to be seeing much of your grandson in coming years. That would be a shame."
That makes him real fuckin' mad, but I don't stick around to see his reaction.
I find Edward at a nearby table, watching me approach like a hawk while he sits next to Ben and Angela. Edward's eyes search my face as I lay my hand on his shoulder when I get to them.
"Bella!" shouts Ben. Someone has obviously been enjoying the open bar. "Just the girl we need."
"Oh really?" I reply, faintly amused. Edward shoots his roommate a withering look. I know he wants to quiz me on my convo with his pop pop but he'll just have to wait. Plus, I need a moment to collect my thoughts, to figure out how I really feel about the whole awful interaction.
"Yup," Angela replies.
"So you know how we were all planning on signing the lease on the apartment for another year next week?" he asks. I nod in response. "Well, I was thinking that just you and Edward should sign the thing."
I smile, pleased by the idea of an official document connecting my name to Edward's. Just mine and Edward's.
"There's an idea," I reply, as Edward smiles softly up at me. "So are you two finally taking the next step?"
"Yeah!" Angela says, absolutely beaming. "But we aren't going far. We actually are going to rent a one bedroom in your building. We're going to be neighbors!"
We high-five.
"So it looks like rent is going to go up a wee bit for the two of you," continues Ben, looking rather pleased with himself. "Bummer."
"Yup," I say, remembering to be pissed at Edward. "Good thing Edward now has access to his giant trust fund now that he's twenty-five."
Edward's eyebrows go way up as I scowl at him, my hand tightening on his shoulder. He winces and I let go because I really don't want to hurt him.
"You sound pissed," observes Angela. "Why are you pissed? Shouldn't you be happy that your boyfriend has buckets of money?"
Edward snorts at this.
"You should make him take you on a really cool vacation," Ben suggest.
"I really don't give a flying fuck about the money," I snap. " I would have liked to have been informed that it even existed."
"You knew it existed," Edward defends, speaking for the first time. "I told you years ago that I would have access to the accounts on my twenty-fifth birthday."
I vaguely recall a conversation but decide to ignore the memory.
"A reminder would have been fucking nice," I continue.
"I forgot," Edward says with a shrug. Angela and Ben think this is hilarious and laugh like loons.
"You forgot that you are now a bazillionaire?" I demand, pretty skeptical.
"You are such a fucking rich kid," Ben says, playfully shoving Edward who scowls at him again. "Who forgets something like that?"
"It's not a big deal," Edward insists. "I don't need it. Don't even really want it. Is it a big deal?" he asks, turning to me now. His eyes are wide and he looks so unsure, I feel my mad deteriorating.
"Not to me," I say, pushing a hand through the hair at his temple. "But it would have been good info to have when I was squaring off with Grandpa Cullen."
"Oh dear," Edward says, looking nervous now. "Was it really that bad?"
"Your pops is a real asshole," I mutter so only he can hear. I don't want to get into this now or to dis his family in front of our friends. Suddenly, I really need a fucking cigarette. "I'm gonna get some air," I tell him, nodding toward the exit of this country club ballroom.
"I'll go with you," Edward says, half rising from his chair. I push him back down because I really just want to be along for one little minute.
"No, stay," I say, smiling at him affectionately. "I just need one little alone minute." Edward looks unsure, so I kiss him tenderly to let him know that everything is okay. That I'm not mad at him or too upset.
He nods and I pick my way through the guests to the entrance. When I finally get outside, I take a deep breath of that Colorado air. The night is the perfect temperature and the moon is out in full force, so I can even see the basic shape of the Flatirons. The caterers are just loading up the last of their equipment.
"Hey," I ask a scrawny waiter in a clip on tie. "Can I bum a cigarette?"
He nods and even offers me a light, which I gladly accept. I'm not exactly in the habit of keeping a lighter on me these days.
I wander away from the cater waiters, just thinking about nothing in particular. I sigh in contentment as I pull smoke into my lungs, but the cancer stick doesn't give me the pleasure or relief it once did. Now I feel pretty guilty for indulging in this disgusting habit. I know Edward will taste it and smell it on me. He won't comment or really be disappointed.
But when since I quit he has made a point of often telling me how much he likes the taste of my mouth sans smoke. "I like the taste of you," he says. "Just Bella."
Richard doesn't scare me, but I really don't want to be the reason Edward is at odds with his extended family. Nothing is ever easy, I suppose.
Maybe Edward didn't tell me about the trust fund shit because he knows there is no way in hell I'll ever be a fucking kept woman. No fucking way. I don't care how much fucking money he has. We will be equals. I will contribute to our household as much as he does.
Our household. Wow. With Ben moving out, me living with Edward has a whole new meaning. The apartment will go from a place where I live with my roommate to our place. Our as in Edward's and mine. It will probably be the first of many.
Wow. We have a place. Not just some space where we store some shit, but a real live home. I can't remember ever having a place that felt like mine to do with what I wish.
This realization has my mood recovering from the dive it took gettin' my groove on with Grandpa C. But just as I smile to myself and prepare to stomp out my half smoked cig before returning to Edward, a chillingly familiar voice says my name from behind me.
Slowly, I turn, praying all the while that I'm mistaken. That this voice belongs to someone else. Anyone else. But most unfortunately, I turn to see a person I hoped to never see again.
"Aw fuck," I say, scowling. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
Bum bum bum! Who the hell is it? What did we thank of Edward's wacko grandparents? Tyler and Tia? Let me know!