Thank you so much for reading and being patient with me!
Everything belongs to S. M. sadly lol
As always. A big Thank you to my wonderful Pre-readers Erin, Lo and Janeth. Love you guys! Your comments and suggestions are the best :)
And Susan. I wouldn´t have this ready without you. I know you´re busy so i really appreciate the fact that you took the time to be my Beta. Big hugs and much love to you.
Let´s get this party started ok?
BPOV
After that night, Edward and I started texting each other daily. Sometimes he sends me voice notes from Josh, sometimes is just him wishing me a good day or goodnight. I can`t help to think about what Seth said about us liking each other.
Days later I get a call from my best friend Angela saying she`s coming to visit us for a couple of days. On the day she`s supposed to arrive I oversleep and wake up acting like a crazy woman by running around in my bedroom trying to get ready. I'm thinking about going to pick her up until I hear her voice through the baby monitor along with another voice that immediately makes me smile. "So my daddy was talking with Miss Bella and when I and Luke looked again he kissed her!" I hear Angela gasp and ask him where his dad kissed me. "Oh, I think it was on her forehead. I asked them if he was her boyfriend but they said no, that they`re only friends. But Uncle Emmett says my daddy liiiiiiiikes miss Bella. He sang a song about a tree, I can`t remember. Do you know the song?" I can almost picture Emmett singing and saying the word liiiiiike the way Josh just said it. Very mature… I bet Seth and Emmett will be great friends.
I fix my hair into a ponytail and head to the nursery where I find Josh playing with Mily and Angela holding Lizy. After I hug both of them, Angela tells me my mom picked her up this morning so I could sleep a little longer. I quickly change the twins and then we go downstairs to have breakfast. I put the girls in their portable crib and start making omelettes for us while we wait for Alice. We decided to stay at home today to watch movies and play with the kids. Tomorrow we`re planning on going out to a bar while my parents babysit our babies.
"So Bella, when were you planning on tell me about your and Edward`s little kiss? And don`t you dare lie me because that little man already told me everything!" I blush and tell her about that day in the park, about our conversation, the hug after the party, our texts, and show her the picture Alice sent me. "Wow, B, if I didn`t know you I would think you have a gorgeous family because that`s how you look in that picture! So, do you like him? Do you want to date him? Woman that guy is gorgeous and you are beautiful! You would make the most beautiful babies in the entire state!" I almost burn my hand on the stove at her statement. "Whoa, Ang! Hold on a second! I'm still recovering from giving birth to TWINS thank you very much! And now you want me to think of having another baby? We`re not even dating!" She doesn`t say anything for a minute and asks me again if I like him. I admit that I do like him but I have two little girls who are my first priority. I don`t have time for dating.
When Alice arrives, we have breakfast with the boys and then head to the living room where we spend the rest of the day enjoying movies for kids that actually entertain us. At noon I hear the doorbell ring. When I open the door I see Edward smiling at me. I tell him to come in and he says that he is in a bit of a hurry and needs to take Josh home. The sweet boy comes running to the door asking to stay here longer. Edward tells him they have to go see Dr. McKenna -his therapist, I remember. Josh says he doesn`t want to leave and I tell him that if they don`t have plans tomorrow he is welcome to join us at McDonalds in the afternoon. Josh is not very happy with the idea of leaving but he smiles when he hears where we are going tomorrow. Josh hugs me and gives me a kiss on the cheek, then asks his dad to do the same. Edward blushes but gives me a sweet kiss, and then they get in their car and leave.
"Aww look at our girl, she is growing up!" I hear Alice say as I join them again on the carpet where we have made a small fort out of blankets and pillows for Luke and Josh. We all laugh as they tease me and then we talk about Angela`s upcoming wedding in six months. When my parents arrive home with food, we devour it like we used to do when we were in high school.
Later, Angela helps me bathe the girls and I decide to move the portable crib to my bedroom for the night. I hold Mily and as Ang gives a bottle to Lizy, she tells me about her wedding dress. She wants me to head to Seattle soon to try on my maid of honor dress. "Oh God, I don`t even want to think about that dress! I mean right now my boobs are huge and I have more curves but I don`t honestly know how I will look in six months! Hopefully these - I touch my breasts- will stay the same!" We start laughing and then something beautiful happens - my sweet Lizy starts smiling at us! I practically run to grab my phone so I can take a picture while Angela makes funny noises in hopes that Emilia will do the same. After a while she smiles as well, making little noises and we take more pictures. I sent both of their pictures to Edward who texts me back quickly saying "Gorgeous just like their mother!" I smile at my phone and then I send the same text to my family. I put the phone back in my bag and when I turn, I see Angela smiling at me. I ask what`s going on she just shrugs and says, "You tell me sweetie! You are the one who sent the pictures to Edward first instead of your family. And from the smile on your face I can tell his reply was as sweet as you expected deep down!"
I blush and then laugh, telling her that I don`t know why, but the first person I wanted to share this picture with was him. She tells me that it is obvious I like him and that maybe we should go on a date and see what happens next. Then we put the babies to sleep and get in bed in the middle of her teasing me and my thinking about the possibilities of the future.
The next morning, Alice texts me saying that she took Luke to the hospital after he apparently put a small soldier in his nose. While at the hospital, she saw Rose and asked her to join us at the bar tonight. She said yes and that she, Emmett, and Edward were already thinking on going to the same bar so maybe we could all go together. I get very nervous and decide to call her back. She tells me that, sadly, Jasper won`t join us because he is traveling to Texas to see his grandmother who is in the hospital. Then she proceeds to tell me to wear something comfortable and that Edward will like the way I look no matter what I wear. I start laughing and tell her that we will see her at McDonalds later.
"Luke! Don`t put any toy in your nose little mister! Or Santa won`t bring you anything this year!"
"Really, Alice? Santa? We`re in September for fucks sake!"
"Mommy, aunt Bella said a bad word! No dessert for her! Oh look, Josh is here! Hey Josh, we`re here, we`re here!"
After pretty much everyone in McDonalds sees and hears my family and Angela keeps laughing and shaking her head, we see Josh approaching us holding his dad`s hand who`s looking like he wants to start laughing but is holding it in out of respect.
"Come on Edward, I know you want to laugh. You`re safe. We won`t be mad, we`re crazy and we know it."
At those words, he starts laughing really hard that only makes people turn and look at us even more. We take our stuff and go to the play area where Josh and Luke are running around and jumping like little monkeys. Edward goes to buy Josh`s happy meal and takes Lizy with him. We hear him talking with someone who tells Edward that his little girl is gorgeous. He just replies, "Thank you," and comes back to our table. He blushes as he tells us what just happened and he apologizes for not correcting the person. With a smile, I tell him it`s fine. We all talk about the kids, about Angela`s work, and about how long we`ve known each other. Edward shows Ang the pictures from Josh`s birthday. "Wow! If I didn`t know you guys I would think what a beautiful family you have!" We both blush and then continue to talk about the party. Angela starts laughing when she hears about the piñata and tells us she can`t wait to meet Emmett. Too bad her fiancée didn`t come this time - he has a similar sense of humor.
"Daddy, I`m sleepy."
"Mommy, I`m tired."
We hear Josh and Luke at the same time. After two hours of playing and running and laughing, we take the kids and leave with a promise from Edward that we`ll see him tonight at the bar.
"Look at you my sweet girls! Show me more of that cute smile! Show Aunt Angie how you can smile!"
"Oh Bella, how sweet! Who would have thought one year ago that we would be here? You playing with your little girls, us living on the same coast, me engaged, you meeting a great guy, about to release your new book!"
"Yeah Ang, I definitely never expected this! Except for the part about you being engaged and my new book... But I seriously thought that me and you-know-who would be still together. I guess that only proves how unexpected life can really be, you know? But I wouldn`t change a thing! Especially the part where I get to hang out with these two beauties, right my loves? You are the loves of my life!"
"Okay, sorry to interrupt the sap-fest going down in here but you two really need to start getting ready! Oh and Bella? Don`t over think it. You look gorgeous!" We are interrupted by my sister who, as usual, knows how I feel about my body without even saying it. She comes into my room and offers to watch the girls while we change. Angie, being her usual self, starts undressing in front of us and puts on leather pants and a blouse. Alice is wearing jeans and a silk blouse. I go to my bathroom to get changed. I put on dark jeans and a black sweater, but after looking in the mirror, I don't like the way the sweater looks. Instead I change into a long sleeve blue blouse, put some makeup on, and decide to wear my hair down.
After I check myself in the mirror two more times, I go back to my bedroom and put on the black high heels that Alice gave me last Christmas. We go downstairs and my mother takes pictures of us before we leave. "What? Are they going to prom?" My dad teases, "Oh you look very pretty girls, don`t do anything I wouldn`t do! And don`t forget to call me if you decide to drink too many margaritas. Oh, and say hi to Edward would you? I saw Emmett this afternoon at the drugstore; he said you were going to meet them at the bar or something like that... Anyway, have fun!"
"Okaaay Dad, we`re leaving now," Alice and I say in unison. Angela and my mom just laugh about it.
We drive to the bar and when we get there, we see Edward outside talking on the phone. He is saying goodnight to Josh and reminds him to be a good boy. He greets us with a hug and we go inside. We order margaritas and laugh at Emmett`s jokes and stories he has to tell us from when they were teenagers. They even share a story from Edward`s wedding where they had a little too much to drink and ended up falling asleep in the bathroom while their wives were very pissed trying to find them. That leads to Alice talking about her wedding and Angela sharing her experiences while planning the wedding with her "motherzilla" who seems to be in hysterics over everything.
While they talk about weddings I feel someone lightly touching my elbow. I gasp, surprised, and hear Edward laugh. "Hey, you looked a little lost there. Are you okay?" I realize that he is referring to moments ago when I started thinking that maybe a wedding won`t be on the horizon for me soon, or ever. How naïve I was, thinking he was going to marry me after finding out I was expecting. I half smile and tell Edward that I am just thinking. "Are you sure? Sorry… Maybe I shouldn`t ask. I was just worried for a minute when I saw the look on your face. You looked kind of sad."
"It's just the talk about weddings. I am so happy for them, but a little sad for how things turned out, you know? You`d think that after telling your boyfriend about a pregnancy he would want to get married. Don`t listen to me, I don`t know why I'm telling you this. It`s a little embarrassing and so ridiculous! Gosh I think I've had too many margaritas!"
He smiles before speaking again "Bella, do you remember that conversation we had in the park? About me and Josh`s mom? I never thought it was embarrassing or ridiculous telling you about it because I trust you. You can trust me and I'm sorry you`re feeling that way. I'm sorry things didn`t turn out the way you thought, but things can get better you know? I am actually feeling really hopeful now, after not feeling that way for a long time. Don`t feel bad for feeling sad, I'm glad you can talk about this with me. I actually wanted to ask you something before I saw your face."
Before he can ask me anything Emmett comes back carrying another round and asks Rosalie to dance with him. Apparently one of his favorite songs is on. When I listen to the music, we all start laughing after hearing the lyrics to Ice, Ice Baby. Rosalie and he dance for a bit and then Alice and Angela join them when Livin` La Vida Loca begins after that. Apparently while he was ordering Emmett saw a jukebox and picked 3 songs he thought we definitely needed to dance to tonight. We wait for the third song to start and I scream "Oh my God!" after hearing the first notes to the Backstreet Boys song "Everybody". We all scream and I quickly tell them how Angela, Alice and I had created choreography for that song when we were teens. Edward and Emmett beg us to show them the dance. We all say no, because we are in public and not drunk enough! Everyone laughs and we jump and dance around for a bit longer.
I text my mom around one AM to ask about the girls. I'm having a lot of fun but I also miss them like crazy. She says they seemed to be missing me as well but that they are doing fine - sleeping peacefully with their cousin. I put my cell phone back in my purse and turn to look at Edward who seems to be doing the same I just did. "Checking on Josh?" I ask. He laughs "Is it that obvious? He wanted to stay up and wait for me but my mother told him I would be out for a while. Now he seems to be a little upset. I'm thinking I might head out soon. She says I should stay here but I don`t want my son to think he`s not important to me." I sigh and tell him that he`s not the only one missing his kid and thinking about leaving early. He tells me he would drive me home if I want to head out early as well. I talk to the girls about wanting to leave and they tell me that they could sense how I was feeling. In fact, Alice was about to tell me that if I wanted to leave we could all go home. But since Edward offered to take me home they`ll stay a bit longer. Edward and I pay our part of the tab and say goodbye.
On our way outside, Edward opens the front door for me and then does the same once we reach his car. We head to my parent`s place and talk about all the fun we had tonight. When we get there, I find myself feeling disappointed that the ride didn`t take a little longer. He stops the car and turns to look at me. I notice he`s a little nervous. "Listen Bella, I wanted to ask you something before but I guess we got a little distracted. Um… Do you… Do you still have feelings for Peter? It`s okay if you don`t want to answer." His question leaves me a little speechless, I wasn`t expecting that question at all.
"Wow! Well, first of all, that question was a curve ball!" I laugh, and he does the same. "I don`t think so. Sometimes I think that I wasted a lot of time with him and even though the girls were unexpected, I don`t regret it because thanks to him I have them, you know? I wish circumstances were different but at the end of the day nothing matters because I have two beautiful daughters. So I guess the answer is no. I haven`t been in love with him for a long time now. Why did you want to know?"
"I guess I wanted to know before asking you another question. I know maybe you feel it`s too soon or that your girls are your priority and I truly understand that… Josh is mine as well, but I want you to know that I like you. I don`t say that because others have said it, but I really think we have a lot of chemistry. What I want to ask you is this - God It seems I'm in high school again, I'm really nervous!" I grab his hand and tell him not to be nervous and we both watch our hands together. After a few seconds he asks me, "Would you like to have dinner with me? Like a date? It is fine if you think it`s too soon. I can wait."
I smile at him and barely hear my voice saying yes. I notice he`s surprised and he looks like he is waiting for me to say it again. I give his hand a little squeeze and say again "Yes. I would love to. I do like you too, Edward. Thanks for asking me and thanks for everything." Then he tells me he doesn`t have anything planned yet but he has been wanting to ask me out since we saw him at the bar`s entrance. We both laugh and agree to have dinner next Friday. He will plan everything and let me know what time he will pick me up. He also says Josh will be very happy about it. "Speaking of Josh, I think I should head home. He must still be waiting for me." Edward gets out of the car, opens my door, and holds my hand until we get to my front door. Then he gives me a hug and kisses me on the cheek before saying good night.
I enter my house and go upstairs to my parents' bedroom. I see the door open so I look inside. They`re both sleeping, with their grandkids in the middle of the bed. I get close to my dad`s ear and ask him. "Are you done spying on me, dad?" He snickers "Well, I heard a car outside so I had to see if you guys were okay. Then I saw it was Edwards`s car". He looks at me in a funny way "So, what were you guys doing? Did he ask you out?"
"Oh my God, Dad, you are the worst! Going to bed now! Talk to you tomorrow!"
I get undressed, grab my pajamas and head to my bathroom. After taking my clothes and makeup off I head to my bed. Suddenly, I feel so tired. Right before I crash I see my phone light up and find a new text from Edward. "Sweet dreams Bella, thank you for giving me a chance"
Sweet dreams indeed.
A/N Thoughts?
Thank you so much for reading! Next update will be next wednesday :)