Stephenie Meyer owns these characters... I just wanted to play a bit. No copyright infringement intended. I don't own Twilight and everything here is fictional.
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That said … ummmm I'm sorry! LOL
Chapter 14
Edward's POV
Our bed. The dawn of another new day, wrapped around each other… content and sated.
We were moving forward, I was no longer static. I pulled Bella closer, simply enjoying the feeling of waking up to, and with, someone. My beautiful, stubborn, sexy, smart Bella… As she snuggled in my arms, long legs twisted with mine, my mind reeled. It was time, time for the truth… the how and why I came to the White Swan Lodge.
I left Bella sleeping, warm under the down duvet and set out to prepare breakfast. Pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I noticed a slight chill in the air. The cooler weather was settling in. As I passed through the great room I imagined many late fall and winter nights in front of the fire with Bella, which reminded me that we were low on fresh wood.
As I started the coffee, I took out eggs, bacon, peppers, and onion, deciding on a breakfast casserole, one of my few kitchen capabilities. Quil perched himself on the island watching me put everything together. Bella suddenly swung the door open, wearing a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt and my hoodie.
"Morning, Baby." I leaned down to give her a kiss, wrapping my arm around her.
"Good morning," she said with a yawn. "Why didn't you wake me up? I could have done all this."
"Hey, I have to start earning my keep around here too, besides, Quil looks kind of ravenous here," I teased, pulling her close. "I also noticed the temperature is dropping and I don't think we have much firewood chopped. After breakfast I'll head out and get that done."
"Ok… there are a few things I need to get done in the office today and we have the Newton's coming later this afternoon too. Newlyweds, I'm really sort of excited." She gave me a final squeeze, pulled herself from my arms and went to find her coffee mug.
Her budding enthusiasm was contagious. I wanted to dive in and help as much as possible.
Alec and Garrett eventually joined us for breakfast. They'd decided to go for a short hike, and then go into town for some shopping. Garrett fawned over Quil while we discussed Portland, Chicago and Seattle.
I borrowed back my hoodie from Bella and headed outside. Charlie and Jake had piled a copious amount of wood to the side of the main house when they were here. It just needed to be cut down to size. After searching the shed for an axe, I grabbed several stacks, taking them over to the worn stump.
Giving myself a hearty workout, I continued on through the pile. On an upswing I saw Bella through the large picture window in the kitchen. I noticed her with the phone to her ear, her fingers pressed against the glass as she stared. I offered my best smirk, a little wave and carried on.
I forced myself to decide the time and place to share the truth with Bella. My sister warned me not to wait, while she agreed it only mattered that we'd found each other, I was making it worse by letting the omission linger.
As I worked through the last of the wood, I decided I would tell her tonight after we greeted the new guests. I heard the door slam shut, and Bella stormed towards me, her face burning with anger.
"Bella, what's wrong? What's going on?" I urged.
"What the fuck, Edward? What's this?" She threw my notebook at my feet in the dirt.
"What do you mean? It's my writing book." I bent over to pick it up, dusting it off.
"Liar!" She screamed as her hands fell flat on my chest.
"Bella, stop..." I was desperate, she couldn't hear me... wouldn't hear me.
"Is this your standard routine, Edward?" She moved closer, her glare penetrated me. "You fuck the staff before you write your bullshit review? Hmmm? So how'd I do? What rating would you give my blowjobs?" She seethed. I took a reactive step back and ran a trembling hand through my hair.
"You got a call… while you were out here chopping wood." Her voice shook. "I took a message for you, though. It was your boss at Adventure, he said your review of my lodge is late…"
I reached out, my fingertips barely grazing her arm. "Don't fucking touch me!"
I stilled, completely lost.
"Whoa… okay. Bella, it's true. But I was going to tell you…"
"Is that what you were arguing with your sister about when I walked in? Oh my god, I'm such a fool!" Her voice cracked, she wrapped her arms tightly around her shivering torso.
"Bella, it doesn't matter why I came here. That job brought me to you. I'm not doing the review. You have to believe me, Baby."
"Believe you? Are you fucking kidding me? How can I believe a word you've said to me, if you couldn't be honest about this?" Her voice faded into heaving and tears. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, apologizing for the rest of my days.
"I'm sorry, Bella. Please, just let me…"
"No, Edward. I'm done. You need to pack your things and go...just go!" She screamed, pointing towards the lodge.
"I'm not leaving like this Bella… I'm not. I'm not losing you over this." I choked back emotion.
"Yes, Edward, you are leaving… now. I should've known better. I trusted you; I thought we had something really perfect… a future. You were just too good to be true." She turned, heading inside, still shouting. "No… no. I want you gone before the Newton's get here."
"Bella…wait." I begged, chasing after her. "Please, wait."
Just as she reached the stairs, Garrett hurried out of the door.
"Bella, dear lord what's going on? We heard all this shouting. Oh my god, Alec… he's got an axe!" He gasped. I didn't even realize I was still holding it; I immediately threw it on the ground.
"Nothing, Edward was just leaving." She breathed, shifting her tone, realizing we had an audience.
"I knew it, I just knew it. He's way to pretty to be that sweet. I told you, Alec."
I immediately followed Bella into the house.
"Bella, I'm not leaving…not like this. Please talk to me."
"No Edward, you had plenty of opportunities to talk to me about this, you chose not to.
This is how we end." She was hurt, angry… devastated. Furiously wiping her face, determined to end the conversation she turned her back on me.
I brushed her shoulder gently; she flinched, pulling away from me. I'd done this to her… I had no one to blame but myself.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, heading to her suite. Quil chased after me, leaping onto bed, nestling into the duvet. I pulled my duffle from her closet, tossing it on the bed next to him.
I went through the motions; I was numb, on auto pilot. Quil rubbed against the bag meowing incessantly as I packed. After zipping up, I sat down on the bed to catch my breath… to breathe her in.
"I really fucked up, Quil," I whispered quietly, holding him to my chest and burying my face in his fur. He offered me a loud rolling purr, reminding me how far we'd come.
"Take care of her for me…"
I set him back down on the bed and took one last look around. Thinking about the passion we'd shared in the bed, loving her completely… making her moan, laugh, smile. I didn't deserve her, it was the end. I grabbed my bag, threw it over my shoulder and went into the great room.
Bella was curled up on the end of the couch, her knees tucked under her, chest heaving.
I kneeled next to her, reaching tentatively to wipe the tear streaks from her warm cheeks, but before I made contact, she clenched her eyes and turned away from me. I brought my hand to my mouth, biting back my own tears.
"I'll be at my parent's house… if you need anything."
"Please just go, Edward."
I stood at her words, dusting my palm over her arm. "Good bye, Bella."
A/N
Ok… so I'm sorry but you all knew she was going to be mad… please don't be angry at her (or me) *puppy dog eyes* and it's short but I thought this should stand alone. sadpanda
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