A/N: All info located in chapter "Over" posting.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer, the creator of Twilight.
Emmett had caught Bella completely off guard when he had asked her what she had meant by "three days". Her heart started to beat faster and the breath flew out of her lungs in a giant whoosh, refusing to refill until she could get herself under control.
In reality, it only took her a minute and she definitely looked more together on the outside than she knew she did on the inside. Inside she was just a giant mess of nerves and panic.
But it only took her brain a short time to recover and begin the first lie that popped into her brain.
"It's nothing, Em. I was just reminding myself, I have three more days before I have to head back to work. So I better enjoy 'em, huh?" She had laughed and elbowed his ribs playfully.
He had smiled and shook his head.
"No, that's not it."
Bella's heart plummeted and she was sure whatever little color she had in her skin, it was all drained out of her now. She gulped but the sounds of the wave crashing drowned it out so Emmett didn't hear it. She wasn't even sure if he could hear her terrified whisper.
"No?"
He smiled wider and looked down at her.
"No."
Apparently, he did.
She was in full panic mode now. Oh crap, if he had heard her and Jacob talking...and he was good friends with her husband...best friends...and she had just asked him to help her 'stay away' from Edward...oh God.
Shockingly, her face remained blank and impassive, not reflecting the turmoil inside. She arched her eyebrows expectantly.
He laughed and threw his arm around her again. "Come on, Bella. Admit it."
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
He leaned down towards her, flashing a brilliant smile. Her eyebrows rose higher.
"You were talking about me, weren't you?"
She gave him a confused look.
He laughed again.
"I mean, granted we don't get enough time to spend together as it is, what with you being married and all, and me with Rose..."
Her expression didn't change but her stomach was now in her throat. What the hell was he talking about? He wasn't making any sense.
"But just know, I love you, doll. And you'll always be my Bella no matter how many girls fall in love with this impressive sexy man you have here in your arms. Out of 'em all, Bella, you're the only one for me." He laughed and pecked her on the forehead and started them walking again.
"And someday when I do finally leave Rose for you, even though I think it'll be more like she'll kick my ass to the curb, then you'll get all the time in the world with me."
He gave her a playful wink. And then it hit her.
He was joking just like they had always done. She had been freaking out so badly she hadn't even understood a word he'd said. She just kept waiting for the bomb to drop.
She let out a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding and laughed in relief.
She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you, Em. I don't know how I'm gonna be able to take it with all those girls all over you, you know, with you being in demand and all. But somehow I will. It's not gonna be easy, though."
He laughed with her. "It never is."
She hugged him tighter and he picked her up and swung her around.
At that moment, Edward found them.
"Hey, Em. Take your hands off my wife!"
Emmett laughed and lowered her to her feet but his arms didn't leave her waist.
"Yeah, right. I finally get her to admit she's in love with me and you think I'm letting her go? I don't think so."
Edward laughed.
Bella turned to find Edward smiling in amusement.
"You have been after her for years."
Emmett guffawed and turned Bella around to face Edward, but wrapped his arms around her and held her close, placing his chin down on her shoulder, bringing his face side to side with hers.
"Yep and I finally got her."
Bella giggled and kissed his cheek before turning to her husband.
"Sorry, Edward, he does have many promising qualities."
Edward smiled wider.
"Does this mean you're leaving me, Bella?"
She feigned sadness. "I'm afraid so. I just can't pass up an opportunity such as this. I mean, it's not every day you get a tall...dark..."
Emmett had a smug grin on his face.
"...doofus throwing himself at you."
Emmett snapped his eyes to hers.
"Hey!"
She giggled again and he kissed her cheek.
"I'll show you doofus, missy." He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, her kicking and yelling the whole time for him to let her down.
She heard his booming laughter behind her. "Yeah, I don't think so. Doofus. Pssh. What are you, in third grade?"
Bella couldn't stop the laughter. There were practically tears rolling down her cheeks as Emmett ran her towards the water's edge, threatening to throw her in.
"Still think I'm a 'doofus', Sexy?"
"No! No! I'm-so-rryyy!" She was out of breath from laughing and kicking her legs so hard to get free.
"Yeah, that's right, you should be sorry."
"Let me-down, Em!"
"Hmmm...I don't know. I kind of like the view from here."
She gasped and smacked his back. He guffawed loudly and lowered her to the ground only to tackle her and start tickling her.
She was screaming for mercy and he didn't let up, laughing loudly for the entire world to hear.
Edward's laughing voice could be heard somewhere over the din.
"Knock it off, you two. Or do you need a time-out?"
Emmett stopped and let her catch her breath but kept her pinned down with his weight. He looked up at Edward with a fake pout.
"But she started it."
Bella frowned and smacked his chest.
Edward laughed again good-naturedly.
"That's enough, children. Don't make me separate you two."
Emmett grinned wickedly at Bella.
"Guess we better do as he says. You're so lucky he's here to 'protect' you."
Bella blushed and looked away. She muttered under her breath. "Bastard."
Emmett laughed and helped her to her feet.
Bella began to swat at the sand on the backs of her legs, working her way up to her back.
"Oh here, Bella, let me get that for you."
Emmett wiped off her back and then reached her butt and gave it a playful smack.
"Emmett!"
She hit him in the arm and shoved him back forcefully.
He was laughing so hard that she was able to move him back a few feet.
She glared at him which only made him laugh harder.
Edward came up behind her.
"Now, Bella. You can't kill him. For Rose's sake. Just think how sad and lonely she would be. Not to mentioned extremely pissed off. Then she'd come for you and as much as I'd like to say I would protect you from her, I'm not so sure I could. You've never seen Rose really angry."
Emmett snickered and grinned proudly. "That's my girl."
Bella's glare intensified at him and then turned towards her husband. "Good thinking, Edward."
He laughed and kissed her forehead, taking her hand. "So, what do you say we take that walk down the beach now?"
He raised an eyebrow at her and she bit her lip nervously. That fire was still in his eyes. Shit.
And then she felt her legs give way and she felt like she was falling, Edward's hold on her hand breaking. Next thing she knew, she was face to face with a smiling Emmett, cradled in his arms like a baby.
"Yeah, Edward. Let's go for that walk. Bella still looks a little tired and we wouldn't want our princess to have to walk on her own two feet. She'll just trip over 'em, anyway."
She looked towards Edward and she could tell he was a little disappointed but he smiled politely and nodded. "Yeah, sure. You're right about that one. And we don't have any first aid kits handy."
Bella glowered at him and he laughed.
So did Emmett.
"Well, Edward you lead the way and Her Royal Highness and I will be right behind you."
Edward nodded and turned to begin walking in the opposite direction.
Bella turned towards Emmett and smiled gratefully at him, kissing his cheek once more and locking her arms around his neck.
"My hero."
He gave her a wide grin.
"You got that right, babe."
She smiled and laid her head down on his shoulder as he moved to catch up with Edward.
~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~
They had walked for a good forty-five minutes, talking about anything and everything. Eventually, the conversation turned to work and Bella zoned out.
Emmett had carried her a little ways before setting her down, but keeping his arms locked around her waist. He claimed he was too afraid to let her walk on her own because surely if anyone could find a teeny tiny shell that was a death trap in disguise, it was her. That had earned him another smack in the arm and he just laughed in response.
She could tell Edward was really annoyed now but thankfully didn't say anything.
Edward knew that there was nothing going on between her and Emmett. This was how they always were. Like brother and sister. Friends and nothing more. The only person it seemed to bother was Rose. And more often than not, their little displays were more subdued when she was around.
No, she knew it had to do with earlier. She still wanted to talk to him about that, about his behavior, but she didn't want to embarrass him in front of Emmett. Because she certainly wasn't going to let him get away with that.
Regardless of anything that might be going on with Jacob secretly, Edward had been completely rude and unjustified in his confronting him. Ness and Jacob's marriage was none of his business. And even if he was a guest in their house, which should have curbed his spiteful tongue all the more, that did not mean he was entitled to speak his mind on such a private matter between the couple.
She didn't know what bothered her more, that his rudeness had been directed towards Jacob or that it was a part of him she seldom saw and was not the Edward she knew or that she cared for.
Either way, she would talk to him about it another time. Privately.
They started to head back to the house when Emmett pulled her up on his back for a piggyback ride. She locked her arms around his neck.
"Can't risk it."
Edward rolled his eyes, shaking his head and smiling. Bella giggled. Emmett winked at her conspiratorially.
They were near the house when Jacob and Ness came into view, holding hands.
Bella looked down, hiding her face in the back of Emmett's neck before plastering on a fake smile and shining it brightly at the couple before them. Jake's eyes never made direct contact with her and that bothered her a bit even though she knew why he couldn't.
"Edward, Emmett. We were just coming to find you guys. Have a good walk? How about you, Bella?"
Ness was laughing good-naturedly as she spied Bella's huddled form on Emmett's back.
Bella laughed back, hugging Emmett tighter. She didn't know why but she needed her big teddy bear just then. And he seemed to know because he held her tighter to him as well.
"Yes, I did. I've got my own personal-wait, Em, what did we say you were?"
Emmett grinned. "Your own personal bitch."
They all laughed. "Yeah, that's right. My own personal bitch."
She squeezed him with her arms and legs. "Aww, Em, I love you." And then she kissed his cheek.
He laughed and turned back to look at her. "I know that, Bella. How could you not? I mean, look at me." He then swiveled his head to face Ness and Jacob.
"Careful, Jake. The ladies are falling all over me left and right. I've already stolen Bella away from Edward over here." He inclined his head in Edward's direction who laughed. He winked at Ness. "How 'bout it, Ness? Care to join my harem?"
She and Jake both laughed. "Oh, Emmett, I would, but I'm already taken." Ness then turned into Jacob and placed her hand on his chest while tucking her head under his chin, smiling. Jake kissed the top of her head warmly and slowly rubbed her shoulder.
Bella felt her heart clench. She knew she had no right to be jealous or to be upset. They had agreed that they wouldn't do that to each other. But right then, she couldn't help but wish she could be the one whose head Jake's lips just rested upon. She bit her lip and laid her chin on Emmett's shoulder.
Emmett made a gagging noise. "Your loss." They all laughed again. He then turned his head towards Bella.
"Well, Bella, I guess it's just you and me then. What do you want to do? I'll take you anywhere you want to go, Princess. I'm yours."
She laughed and then pecked his cheek again, silently thanking him, although she knew without a doubt that he had no idea what for.
"Home, Emmett."
He guffawed. "Okay then, let's go."
Before Emmett turned to leave, Edward called out to her. "Bella, I need to go over some things with Ness before we go to that party tonight. The new clients are going to be there so I just want to run some ideas by her before we see them."
Emmett turned her towards him and she smiled warmly at him. "Sure. No problem. I'll see you a little later then."
He smiled back at her and walked around Emmett to kiss her on the lips. "I'll see you soon, love."
Edward walked back to his spot. She heard Jake pipe up next and then Emmett turned her towards him and Ness.
"Oh, well then, maybe I should head back to the house, too. Let you guys discuss everything."
Ness smiled widely at him. "Don't be ridiculous, sweetie. We can go over them just as well with you here. It won't take long. Walk with us."
Jake bit his lip and nodded and all three turned to leave while Emmett began to carry her in the other direction. She waved back at them. "See you guys later."
Edward smiled and waved. They only made it a few feet before she heard Jake's voice again. "Oh shit, babe. I almost forgot." Emmett heard it, too, and stopped.
Bella looked back over her shoulder.
Jake had his hand on the back of his neck, rubbing it while Edward and Ness looked at him. "I left my phone upstairs. I should grab it, just in case. I'll catch up with you guys in a minute." He turned to head back towards the house when Ness stopped him.
"Babe, you're away for the weekend. Let it go. Now, come on." She tugged on his hand and began to pull him back towards her. Bella could tell from his hidden expression that he was reluctant to go be present for the work conversation to follow. She couldn't blame him. It wasn't the most stimulating stuff in the world. Not to her, anyway. And she knew Jake felt the same.
Emmett turned towards them suddenly, surprising Bella.
"Actually Ness, if you don't mind, I'd like to borrow Jake for a little while if I could. Rose asked me to go to the store when I got back for some things she needs and I don't know this area at all. And we all know how Rose gets when I piss her off. So in order to save the evening and if you wouldn't mind..."
Ness looked perturbed. It was evident she was not happy with the way things were going. She didn't release her grip on Jake's hand. Bella concealed her frown underneath that fake smile. Jake had been right. Ness suspected something. Why else would she be clinging to him so tightly when she hadn't been before? Regardless of any talk of problems.
"Well, Emmett. I'm sure I could give you some directions quickly or there's a GPS in the car. Jake can give you the keys and you could take the SUV."
Emmett laughed. "Come on, Ness. You know better than that. Me and a mini-computer? Are you trying to get Rose to kill me? Come on. It'll be quick, I promise."
Ness' eyes narrowed at Emmett and so did Bella's, but at her. This was almost possessive. She could feel the animal inside her snapping, fighting to break out, snatch Jake away and protect what was hers. She could understand the suspicion Ness might have of her but Emmett? What was wrong there? He hadn't said that Bella was coming for the trip. So what the fuck was Ness' problem?
Jake looked a little uncomfortable and that made the animal all the more ferocious in its struggle to come to the surface. But at the same time, she hated seeing him like that, especially since it was because of her. She cleared her throat and turned to face Emmett. "I can go with you, Em. We'll find the store together. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll even let you buy me an ice cream and oh...wait for it...hold my hand."
She let a wicked grin form on her face which fell when she didn't hear the laugh she was expecting to hear. Speaking of which, his usual sarcastic retort was nowhere to be found, either. She leaned forward to look at him. He wasn't even smiling. He just kept staring in their direction. "Emmett?"
He didn't answer her. Bella furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. What was going on?
She looked to find the other three people staring back at them, their expressions unchanged. Ness was pissed, that much was clear. Jake looked like he couldn't wait to be elsewhere. And Edward...well, Edward looked...blank. He kept glancing back and forth between Ness and Emmett.
Bella was reminded of a scene in one of those bad westerns she had seen on TV when she was a small child. Her grandfather, Charlie's dad, used to love to watch them and whenever they would go visit him, that's what would be on the TV. The scene before her now reminded her of an old episode she had seen once where the sheriff and the bad guy faced off in the street, each waiting on the other to draw his gun. That's exactly what she was seeing now without the guns.
Then she heard Emmett snort next to her. "Please, Bella. It'll take us 'till like, Tuesday, to find the place and I don't have that kind of time. Rose will have left me by then."
She frowned. "Hey!" And she playfully smacked him on the shoulder. But, again, he didn't laugh.
She turned towards the others. Ness looked even more pissed; Edward's eyes narrowed and Jake's eyes were now snapped to attention, narrowing as well at Emmett.
Bella turned once more to look at Emmett. He had a wicked grin on his face but his eyes were hard.
What the fuck was going on? She had never seen Emmett like this before. The confrontation seemed to be centered around him and Ness and she couldn't understand why.
Emmett snorted again and shook his head. "You know what, Bella? You're right. We can find it on our own. We'll let these guys get down to business. So it's just you and me, baby. I'm all yours."
Bella stared at him in confusion. He was practically sneering at her except for the fact that his eyes never left the group in front of them.
Emmett then smiled wider and turned to look at her. "Don't worry, honey. We'll find it. I won't let us down." He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Of course you won't, Em. Because you know I'd kick your ass if you got us lost." She laughed quietly.
He smiled that devilish grin again. "Ouch. You know, Bella, I'm like, the only one you can count on around here. Have some faith in me. Trust me." He turned to face the other three, the grin never leaving his face but his eyes going colder.
Bella's eyebrows mashed in confusion again as she looked at him. "I do have faith in you, Em. And I do trust you."
He smirked wider.
She turned to stare at the other three. They all looked pissed now. But about what? She could almost hear the theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly playing in the background.
She was so damn confused, her head was starting to hurt.
Jake spoke next, turning to face his wife.
"Ness, I'm gonna go with him. He obviously needs a hand, so I'm going. I'll see you when I get back." He dropped her hand, kissed her forehead and began to walk towards them.
He didn't even wait for Ness' response. She stared after them coldly. Edward did as well.
Jake stopped right in front of them. His expression was hard. He was angry, that much she could tell. In truth, it horrified her. Had she made things so bad that they all knew what she was now, what she had been doing all this time, that they all hated her? How did they know? Who had told them? Had Jake admitted things to Ness?
He looked straight at Emmett. "Let's go."
Emmett smiled wider. "After you."
Jake nodded curtly and made his way past them and began to walk towards the house, Emmett following, and never once looked up at Bella as he did.
Bella's heart was in her stomach once again. Oh God, Jake was gonna end it. Ness knew and she had threatened him and now Jake was going to break it off with her. Oh God.
She could feel the tears burning her eyes but she held them back. Instead, she laid her head on Emmett's shoulder so she was facing his neck. Her 'knight in shining armor' had been able to protect her from her ravenous husband but would he be able to protect her from this? And once he knew what she had been doing, how deceitful she had been to her husband, his best friend for all intents and purposes, would he even want to?
She whispered to him.
"I love you, Em."
He didn't say anything and she couldn't help it; a lone tear fell haphazardly down her cheek as he carried her. She felt the lump starting to choke off her air supply. She closed her eyes and listened to his breathing, trying not to think about how her heart was breaking into a thousand pieces as each moment passed in silence.
And then very faintly, she heard him speak.
"I love you, too, my Bella."
~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~
Once they had made it into the kitchen, Emmett had lowered Bella to the ground gently.
"Your stop, Your Highness."
She laughed and hugged him.
"Why thank you, my liege."
He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight.
"You're welcome."
He had whispered it to her. Bella didn't move, she just let him hold her.
He was strong and she needed him to lend her some of that strength right now.
They stayed like that for a good minute until a loud throat clearing resounded in the room.
She pulled away from Emmett to meet Jake's cold stare.
"So, Emmett, ready to go?"
She frowned. Great, not only was he going to hurt her, now he was pissed at her, too. She just couldn't win with him it seemed.
"Yeah, Jake. Let me just grab my wallet."
Emmett then cupped Bella's face gently and pulled her gaze to his.
"I'll be back soon, Bella. Wait here for me until then, okay? This won't take long."
Bella furrowed her brows even further but nodded in agreement.
He then smiled warmly at her and leaned in to kiss her forehead once again.
"Okay, kiddo. See you in a bit."
He then turned towards Jake, whose stare had only grown colder, and his smiled wiped from his face.
"One minute. And then I'll meet you at the door."
Bella winced. His tone sounded harsh.
Jake grinned wickedly. "Count on it."
Bella winced once again. His voice was just as venomous as Emmett's.
What was going on with these two?
Emmett smiled just as wide and then turned and left the room.
Bella felt like she was going to hyperventilate.
Jake's eyes hadn't left her.
Any minute now he was going to do it.
Tell her he didn't want to see her anymore.
That he loved his wife and even though he loved Bella, too, it wasn't enough.
Bella felt her heart pounding out of her chest, begging her to run to save herself from the pain surely coming. But she stood her ground and stared back at him.
He took a few steps toward her until he was standing right in front of her.
He stared unforgivably hard down at her.
She swallowed and then glared right back at him.
Here it comes.
And when he didn't say anything, Bella decided to speak first.
Regardless of the fear and pain she felt, she was surprisingly able to put up a strong, icy front. She raised an eyebrow in expectation.
"Well?"
His eyes turned darker but not with the desire she had seen so often. This was anger. Stone cold anger and it was directed at her.
And again he didn't speak.
Bella sighed in angry frustration.
"Just do it, Jake. Just tell me already so I can get back to my life and you can get going."
His expression didn't change and yet he still said nothing.
She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Jake! What are you waiting for? Just do it! Tell me you never want to see me ag-"
His mouth crushed hers and he pushed her roughly into a counter and pressed himself against her hard.
She didn't think. She couldn't. She kissed him back with equal force. There was a sense of urgency in this kiss. But not the type of urgency she had grown accustomed to over the past five weeks with him. This was different. It was...frantic. Like he was never going to kiss her again, almost.
When he finally released her, his chest moving in and out erratically, she gasping for breath, he placed his forehead against hers. She could see the anger still there in his eyes but it had softened somewhat while looking at her.
"I need you to tell me."
She looked at him in confusion.
"Tell you what?"
"You know."
She formed her lips into that tight line again. "Jake, if you want this to end, then you're going to have to do it. I'm not saying it, so don't ask me to."
She tried to pull away from him but he held her tighter.
"No, not that. The other thing. What you told me this morning. What you said last night."
She tilted her head and looked up at him.
"Jake? What's going on?"
He ignored her question. "Tell me, Bella."
She narrowed her eyes. "I-I love you."
He stared at her for a minute before pushing his lips to hers once again. Then he pulled back.
"You mean that, right? No games, no tricks, no dancing around, no bullshit. You're telling the truth?"
She saw red. Was he really questioning her about this? Hadn't she made it perfectly clear since she realized it last night? Hadn't she been truthful with him when he asked her before?
She began to open her mouth to snap at him when his hand lightly covered her mouth.
"There's no time for that. I don't doubt you meant it when you said it before but I need to know. Right now. Do you love me enough to leave him if it comes to that?"
Bella's eyes widened and she completely forgot her anger. Jake removed his hand.
"Jake, you said we weren't gonna make dema-"
"I know what I said, Bella. But that was then and this is now. And I need you to tell me. If it comes down to it, will you leave him?"
Bella gaped at him. What the fuck was going on here? Why was he acting like this?
"Jake, you can't as-"
"Fine. I see what this is. I get it. I have your answer."
He then let her go and turned to walk away.
She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back towards her.
"Jake! Stop! Talk to me. What's going on?"
He wriggled his arm out of her grip. He didn't even turn to look at her and kept walking. "Goodbye, Bella."
"Jake, wait! Please!"
Her voice was choked up and she sounded like she was about to cry but she didn't care. She just needed to keep him from leaving.
"Jake!"
Bella tried to grab him again but failed when he made his way to the end of the kitchen and walked out.
He didn't look back once.
The tears started pouring down her cheeks and she couldn't be bothered to wipe them. She slowly made her way to the counter and sat down on a stool. She felt cold. Odd, but it was the only word that came to mind.
She placed her crossed arms on the counter and buried her head in them. She didn't even realize that she was crying with sobs shaking her body. Why had she ever engaged in this affair with him? Why had she ever broken her vows to her husband? Why had she ever fallen in love with him?
And then she felt big arms wrap around her and a large body cover her own.
"I'm sorry."
It was a broken whisper, choked off with emotion, nothing more, but she knew who it belonged to.
And right now, she couldn't look at him.
"I don't want to lose you, Bella."
Through her own sobs and sniffles, she could hear him. He sounded like he was crying right along with her.
She still couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"I love you."
He whispered those words into her hair and she found her sobs dying down a little as she struggled for breath.
"No, you don't."
She heard a small strangled sound. "Yes, I do."
She didn't respond, just sniffled.
She felt him embrace her tighter, almost cutting off what little air she had left.
She heard him sigh brokenly and then felt a warm kiss placed to the back of her neck.
She began to relax almost instantly. Again, she cursed her body's natural reaction to him.
Her sobs quieted down to an almost muted sound. She began to take full deep breaths, forcing her lungs to work in their natural rhythm. Her eyes ceased to tear and her cheeks began to dry.
She still didn't look at him, though. She couldn't.
Love wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to be so up and down, back and forth, with so much pain and uncertainty. It wasn't supposed to turn you into someone you despised, induce cravings for someone who isn't your husband that are completely insatiable. It isn't supposed to make you cry three times within a matter of two hours.
Was it?
Bella was so confused and hurt and angry and frustrated that she couldn't think straight.
One hand began to rub her upper arm soothingly.
"Do you remember what I told you?"
Well, that depends. He had told her quite a lot of things. Couldn't he be more specific?
Almost as if reading her thoughts, he whispered in her ear. "About that day in the garage?"
She nodded against her arms.
"I lied."
She began to sob again. Why was he doing this to her? Did he want to break her beyond all repair? Was this just one big game for him?
She heard him in her ear again. "Shhh. Don't cry. Please, honey. Don't cry."
His hand moved to her back and rubbed small circles.
Don't cry, huh? Sure, she could fake a smile as he broke her heart, no problem.
Asshole.
Before she could say anything or move to face him finally, she heard him speak again.
"I loved you long before that."
Her sobs stopped and she sniffled. What was he talking about? What did he mean?
But before she could ask him, she heard a deafening roar sound throughout the house.
"JAKE! LET'S GO!"
Bella jumped when she heard it. That was Emmett.
She raised her head and Jake groaned, placing his forehead against her shoulder before standing up and turning her around to face him.
She could see the wetness on his cheeks and his dark eyes still glistening. So he had been crying.
"Bells, I-"
"JAKE!"
His jaw clenched. He was angry and he roared right back.
"GIVE ME A SECOND!"
Bella flinched. They both sounded so pissed. She was about to ask him again what was going on when he looked down at her and spoke.
"Bells, I'm not losing you, okay? I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting the fuck out of here and going back to the way things were. I don't like this. Not being able to-"
"NOW!"
This time, Jake turned his whole body towards the directions of Emmett's shouts, away from Bella.
"I SAID, ONE SECOND!"
He sighed and turned back to her and quickly knelt down before her, taking her hand in his own, interlacing their fingers together. He then reached up his other hand to cup her right cheek.
"Bella, I love you. I want to be with you. I know it's wrong to tell you that while we're both still married to other people. And I know it's completely crazy for me to add this to our growing list of problems, but I can't afford not to. Not now. I'm putting all my cards out on the table here. I'll wait for you, as long as it takes. I'll do whatever you want. If you want me to leave her, I will. If you want me to hang in there and wait, I'll do that. I'll do whatever you want. I love you. I want you and only you."
"LET'S GO!"
Jake took a deep breath and then got up and kissed her quickly.
"Please, if nothing else, please, please remember that."
Bella nodded, unable to speak in response to such a declaration, still a little bit in shock.
"JAKE!"
Jake groaned. "COMING!"
Bella swallowed thickly. "What's going on, Jake?"
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Emmett's just a little impatient, that's all." She raised an eyebrow at him. Was he serious? Was he really not going to tell her what was going on? He chuckled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Guess not.
He then leaned down further and kissed her nose. "I'll be back soon. I love you, Bella."
She nodded and whispered back to him. "I love you, too."
He smiled and kissed her lips once more before wiping his cheeks and eyes with his sleeve and turning to leave.
He looked back at her over his shoulder. "Remember what I told you, Bells."
She nodded and he flashed his quick signature grin, the one she loved most, and then he was gone.
She then heard the front door close a little more forcefully than it should have perhaps.
She took a deep breath and slowly made her way out of the kitchen, into the living room and up the stairs. When she got to the top, she saw Rose standing in her open doorway, staring at her.
Bella knew she looked a mess, like she and Edward maybe just had a fight but she couldn't be bothered to think too much about it. She was so tired...
Bella offered a meek smile and wasn't surprised to see that Rose didn't return it. In fact, Rose's eyes narrowed at her.
Bella took a deep breath. "I'm just gonna take a quick nap. I'm still a little tired."
Rose nodded wordlessly and Bella turned to go to her room, giving a very small wave.
But she found herself heading towards the unused guest room she had used last night instead of the room she shared with Edward. Rose didn't say anything and Bella just didn't have the energy to worry about it.
She turned the knob and opened the door, stepping in and closing it quietly behind her.
She then climbed into the bed delicately and laid down upon the comforter. She grabbed the pillow Jake had been laying on last night and she could just smell the faint traces of his scent.
She clutched it to her chest, burying her face in it, imagining he was there with her.
She knew this afternoon had just made things even more incredibly complicated but right now, she couldn't think about it. Her head hurt so much and she was so tired. She'd worry about it later.
She only allowed herself to think of one thing.
Wherever Jake was, she hoped he was okay. Emmett had sounded really pissed. She thought maybe Emmett had heard more this morning than he had let on, but he had seemed pissed at Ness, too, and not Bella. So, that didn't make sense. Did it?
She sighed and buried her face deeper. She imagined his warm arms around her, holding her tightly to him, whispering he loved her while he rubbed her back. And then, in the blink of an eye, sleep came to claim her.
~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SWM~~~~~~~~~
She woke up to deep breathing behind her and soft kisses on her hair.
She opened her eyes.
The room was a bit darker. Obviously, she had been out for a while. Again.
She rubbed her right eye sleepily and turned over to find Jake smiling at her.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty."
She covered her eyes with her hand and laid her head back down, snorting.
"Yeah, okay. How long was I out this time?"
She felt him grab her other hand and press kisses to it.
"A while."
She heard him whisper and wondered why he had.
And then it hit her.
She lifted her hand and bolted upright.
Oh shit!
He was at her side in seconds.
"What is it, honey? Are you okay?"
She turned and looked at him like he was nuts. Truthfully, she felt nuts.
"No. It's-you-Edward-me-bed-late-slept-argh!"
She threw her legs over the bed and began to get off the bed when he pulled her back onto it and laid her back down with him.
"Shh. Relax, honey. Don't worry about all that, okay? It's all taken care of. You and I still have a little bit of time left."
She turned to look at him questioningly. What did he mean by a little bit of time left? And what did he mean it's all taken care of?
He chuckled and kissed her. "Relax. Just lay here with me for a little longer." He then pulled her onto his chest and held her to him as he sank his head back into the pillows. "Sound good?"
Bella nodded and adjusted her head to lay on the very spot she heard his heartbeat the strongest. It made her feel better and she closed her eyes, finally relaxing.
"When did you get back?"
She felt him take a breath. "A while ago."
She lifted her head and placed her chin on his chest, looking up at him. "And you let me sleep this whole time?"
He stroked her right cheek softly. "You needed it."
He was right. She had needed it. She gave him a small smile, turned and kissed his palm before laying her head back down.
They laid like that for two minutes, just breathing in and out together, holding each other. His hand found its way to her back and began to rub lazy circles. She loved it when he did that.
"Jake?"
"Hmmm?"
"What did you mean we only have a little time left?"
She felt him sigh heavily.
"Bells, I really don't want to worry about that stuff right now. Can't we just enjoy this moment? The time we have together?"
She sat up and brought herself to her knees in front of him. He looked up at her forlornly, clearly unhappy with her new position: out of his arms.
"No, Jake. I want answers. It's been a very shitty weekend for me so far. No, scratch that. A very shitty week."
He narrowed his eyes up at her.
"It has been for me, too, Bells."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know that, Jake. But, I need some...clarification on things."
He placed his arm behind his head.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything. Like what happened between you and Ness? Does she know? What happened earlier outside? In the kitchen? How is it you're able to be up here with me right now without any one breaking down the door?"
He sighed again and rubbed his face. And then he looked at her.
"Please, Jake. I don't want to be left in the dark. I'm going crazy here."
He laughed. "You are in the dark."
She glared at him and gritted her teeth. "You know what I mean."
He reached out and took her right hand in his, playing with their joined fingers as he watched her, seemingly deep in thought.
After about a minute, he let go of her hand and lifted himself up on his right elbow to face her.
"Okay, how about this? You can ask me whatever you want and I'll answer what I can. The rest...is gonna have to wait for a better time. Because, Bella, here and now is not a better time. And then when you're done or I think you're done, we lay back and relax and enjoy the time we have left together before we have to get up and get ready to go to this stupid effing party down the beach. Deal?"
Bella nodded. She couldn't really argue with that.
He grabbed her right hand again in his left one and began kissing the back of it. "Okay, ask away."
She tried to focus on the task at hand and not what he was doing to her actual hand. He was trying to distract her and he was succeeding. She closed her eyes and took a breath. Then she opened them and spoke.
"What happened between you and Ness this morning?"
She saw him wince. She knew he didn't really want to talk about her but too bad.
He pulled her hand away from his mouth but held it and looked up at her.
"Ness was furious with me, to say the least. She was pissed that I insinuated that there were problems between us. She was also pissed that I talked to you about them and not her. And that I even mentioned them to Edward. I was reminded that our marriage is private and I am not to talk about those types of things to anyone outside of it ever again unless I'd like her to leave. Which is total bullshit because I would be the one to leave before she would but whatever. Anyways, after a lot of her crying and yelling and me apologizing and begging, she finally forgave me. But then she started to question me about you. Did I think that you were trying to come onto me? Did you try anything when I was 'drunk'? Am I attracted to you? Why is it that we were so friendly when we first met and now we barely say hello to each other? Is there something going on between us? Are we having an affair?"
Bella gulped loudly. Shit.
He smiled at her. "Breathe, honey."
She did as he instructed, surprised when she realized her chest hurt with the effort because she had stopped before.
He squeezed her hand and kissed it. "Honey, I took care of it. It was me, not you, she was suspicious of."
Bella's mouth hung open. "What do you mean it was you and not me? She practically accused me of jumping all over you there!"
He sat up and kissed her. "It's not you. Trust me. She only threw you in the mix because I talked to you and not her. Trust me, this isn't about you. It's about me and her."
Bella breathed a little bit better when he held her.
He began to stroke her hair. "She actually likes you. A lot. She even asked me if you and Edward were having problems."
Bella's eyes widened. "Why would she ask you that?"
He smiled warmly at her. "Honey, you've been down for the count the past two days. Last night, you weren't 'feeling well' and today, you're not 'feeling well' again. I may know the real reasons why but they don't. And the fact that you and Edward haven't spent a lot of time together since we've been here is making the rest of them think that maybe there's trouble in paradise."
He rolled his eyes. "At least, that's what I was told."
Bella laughed. "If only they knew Trouble's sitting here next to me."
He smiled wider and kissed her softly.
She pulled back, smiling, until a thought popped into her head.
"Wait, do they know?"
He sighed. "About us? No. I cleared away any doubts about us. Ness isn't thinking you're about to start humping my leg anytime soon if that's what you're worried about."
She frowned at him and he laughed.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"And outside, don't ask me what that was about. It was definitely awkward, that's for sure. For a minute, I thought it was because she still didn't trust me, but then it seemed to be different, like it had nothing to do with me or you or Edward for that matter. It was weird, that's for sure."
He started to rub her back again and she began to close her eyes.
"But what about Emmett? He seemed really upset when you guys left and so did you. What happened?"
"Nothing, honey. We just had a minor disagreement, that's all. But we're all good now."
She looked up at him sleepily. Damn, she had just woken up from a long nap, hadn't she?
"Disagreement? About what?"
"Bells, as much as I would love to play 20 questions right now, we only have about another fifteen minutes before everybody gets back. And I would like to spend those fifteen minutes with you. Without all the bullshit, just holding you, okay? Besides, you look like you're about to pass out on me again."
She yawned and melted into him as he laid them both down, her head resting comfortably on his chest.
"Sorry. I don't mean to. It's just-everything-it's all so exhausting."
He chuckled. "You're telling me. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love you too much, Bells."
She smiled. "I love you, too, Jake. I really do.''
He kissed the top of her head. "I know you do."
She smiled and started to drift off again.
"Jake?"
She felt his lips against her hair, exhaling warmly onto her strands.
"Mmmmm?"
"Everything you said in the kitchen before you and Em left...you really meant all of that? That you would...do anything I wanted?"
She felt him kiss her head again and hold her tighter.
"Every word, sweetheart. Every word."
She smiled and then began to drift back into the place where she could be free and not weighed down with all the lies and deceit, all the insecurities and uncertainties, all the emotions and hurt, all the crap. Where she could be free of the instinct nagging at her that something wasn't right. That indeed, something was very, very wrong.