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My steps halt, as I see Jake and Jessica walking into the opposite side of the tent. I knew there was a chance they'd be here, but I'd hoped not.
"What's up?" Edward asks. "Did someone steal your pie?"
I laugh, "Well, I've never heard it put that way, but I guess you could say that."
He must have followed my line of sight because he then asks, "Is that your ex?"
"Yep, that's Jake and Jessica, the most perfect family in Tyler County!"
I watch as they talk to Mike and Lauren Newton, another couple I've known all my life. Jake is being his usual dramatic self, waving his hands around while he tells his story, and Jessica is showing how demure she can be, smiling sweetly as she watches her soon-to-be husband.
I can't help but stare at them like they're some kind of exhibit in a museum. They equally fascinate me and freak me the hell out. Jessica must feel my eyes burning into her because she turns her head my way and catches me watching them. Knowing she has my full attention, she turns back to look at Jake, this time rubbing her swollen belly.
"Fucking bitch!" I mutter before turning on my heel and heading toward where my truck is parked. When I finally reach it, I see that it's completely blocked in by other vehicles. I won't be driving out of here any time soon.
Edward jogs up to me, kicking dirt and gravel everywhere in his haste. "Hey! Why'd you run off like that?"
I tune him out, not ready to talk just yet, and start pacing. So many hateful thoughts, so many hurtful ideas are floating through my mind but I'm trying really hard to ignore them. I don't want to be the town crazy. I don't want to be the pitiful, angry woman with trust issues. I just want to be at peace.
"Edward, unless you feel like arresting me again, I'm going to need you to get me out of here right now."
"Okay, Bella, whatever you need. My truck is right over there where your dad's parked. Let's go." He takes my hand without asking, but I don't fight him. It feels good and it's been too long time since I've had this kind of contact. I'm going to take it while I can.
Edward helps me into his truck and I groan out in frustration as he walks over and gets into the driver's seat. He starts the truck but doesn't put it into drive. Instead, he turns to face me and asks, "Wanna talk about it?"
"No. Yes. I don't know!" I close my eyes tightly and try to regulate my breathing before speaking again. When I feel like I can talk without losing my mind, I answer him. "Yes, I do want to talk. With you being a relative stranger to this town, you'd actually be the perfect person to vent to. That is, if you don't mind listenin'."
"I don't mind at all, Bella. We're friends now, right?" He smiles at me and I have a sudden urge to kiss the word 'friends' out of his vocabulary forever.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I relax my body before I tell him everything. I tell him about the perfect couple Jake and I were in high school and all about our fairytale wedding; then I tell him about our fertility problems. I explain how getting pregnant became our sole focus and that we both neglected the other parts of our relationship. I tell him that I knew things weren't great, but that I was hopeful I'd eventually get pregnant and things would be perfect again, but I was completely blindsided when I found him screwing Jessica in our house.
"Shit, Bella! I had no idea," Edward says, placing his hand on my shoulder and gently rubbing my skin, soothing me.
"When Jessica got pregnant a couple of months later, it was all the proof Jake needed that I was unfit to be his wife. Lawyers were contacted and he immediately moved in with her."
I feel Edward scoot closer, his arm now draped across my shoulders, and he smells so damned good.
"I didn't start acting out just because I was a woman scorned, you know. I did all of those crazy things because I was angry at the injustice of it all. I mean, it's just not fair!" I say louder than I intended. "It's not fair that Jake gets to cheat on me and knock his mistress up and nobody gives a shit! Everyone here turned a blind eye and let him get away with it! Everyone except for my mama and daddy and Rose and Em dropped me like a bad habit. I was treated like an outsider. It was like they knew all along that I wasn't good enough for him."
"You don't believe that, do you?"
I bark out a laugh. "Fuck, no! I mean, I loved Jake but, when you don't get your way all the time, your true colors start showing. His inner asshole came out in full force and my backbone grew to epic proportions. There's no way we would've stayed married. Besides, all the drama's been great for my business. People still buy my cakes and pies but I think they also want to witness me showing my loony side. I've even thought of making my logo say 'Bella's Baked Goods - They're crazy good!'"
Edward laughs along with me, before telling me he's proud of me.
I turn my head to the side with a questioning look on my face. "You are? Why?"
"Because you don't take shit from anyone. You stand up for yourself and you hold your head high. And, you walked away today when you could've made a big scene in front of everyone."
Blushing at his words, I joke, "Well, I did think about smashing all of those pies into Jake's and Jessica's faces but that'd be a horrible waste of some delicious pies."
"Don't even joke about that!"
"Ooh, speaking of pies, I need to call Em for a second." I grab my phone from my purse and dial his number. After he assures me that he'll get my mama's pie for Rose, I tell him that Edward's going to drive me home since my truck is blocked in, and Em promises to get it to my house as soon as he can.
"So, now what?" Edward asks.
He might simply be asking me what I want to do right now but the question feels deeper somehow, like there's a hidden meaning behind what he's asking. I know what I want to say, I just don't know if I should.
Backbone, don't fail me now!
Our bodies have moved closer without me realizing it and Edward's face is just inches from mine. My eyes lock with his and I whisper, "I don't want to go home."
His eyes soften but he stays quiet, sliding back to his seat and starting the truck.
No words are shared between us as he drives—just quick glances and shy smiles. Chewing on my lip, I wonder if I'm ready for what might happen tonight. I can honestly say that Edward has been the true highlight of my life this past week and there's just something about him that makes me feel hopeful.
The silence is broken when Edward stops his truck at what I assume to be his house.
"Your neighbor's Mr. Miller?" I ask, my mouth gaping open. About a mile up the road, I see Mr. Miller's house and one of my favorite spots in the entire county: his pond.
"I am. That's why your dad had me pick you up the other day; you were right next door." He laughs and I'm utterly entranced by the way his green eyes are dancing.
"You must think I'm a big goof."
"No, I think you're pretty terrific, actually, and I'm hoping you'll let me kiss you."
Stunned beyond belief, I give him a little nod and squeak out, "Okay".
I blink and he's right there. His breath washes over me and I close my eyes in anticipation of his lips on mine.
Holy shit, the man does not disappoint!
Never, I mean, never have I been kissed like this. Edward's full lips press firmly against mine while his tongue slides inside my mouth, making itself at home. My body is tingling from top to bottom and, if we were standing up, I'd totally have one leg raised up behind me, just like in all those old movies I watched as a kid.
Breathless, Edward whispers into my lips, "Do you want to go inside? We can just talk, if you want."
"Yes, I want to go inside and, no, we've done enough talkin' for one night, I believe."
He pulls back and his eyes are wild and lustful; for a second, I contemplate jumping him right here in his truck. I've fooled around in even smaller vehicles. It can be done.
Hearing the doors unlock is like the gun going off at the beginning of a race. Edward and I both are now frantic as we jump out of the truck and run to his front door. After a few shaky tries, he opens the door and pulls me inside, his mouth instantly finding mine again.
I barely notice when Edward picks me up and carries me to his bedroom. It's only when we're both naked, skin-on-skin, that my senses become fully engaged. Feeling his weight on me, his body so close I can feel his heartbeat on top of mine, unleashes the passion I never knew I had. Once we're completely joined, our bodies move on instinct, knowing exactly where to touch and what to do to bring each other to ecstasy.
Waking up in Edward's arms is confusing. There's a part of me that never wants to leave but it's at war with my insecure side, the side that's telling me to get out while I can, before he wakes up and realizes what a mistake he's made. Insecurity wins and I slide out of bed and throw my clothes on before sneaking out his front door.
I curse myself when I remember that I'm stranded here without a vehicle. I could call Em and ask him to pick me up but it'll be embarrassing enough trying to avoid Edward the next time I'm down at the station. I don't need Emmett knowing what happened and adding to that embarrassment. Looks like my only chance for escape is to walk to Mr. Miller's.
When I reach my favorite pond, I plop down on the bank and take my shoes off. It doesn't take long for the tears to start spilling, running down my cheeks, and falling onto my dress. I cry for my failed marriage and I cry for the stress and disappointment I've forced onto my parents. I cry for the gorgeous man I just left and I cry for the fear that surrounds me.
It could be minutes or hours later, I'm not sure, when I hear a panicked voice calling my name. Edward. He must hate me. I slowly stand up and try to prepare myself for his dismissal. He sees me wave and rushes over to me, grabbing onto my arms when he's close enough.
"What are you—why are you here? Why did you leave?" His breath pants on my face and I can't look at him. Shutting my eyes causes more tears to slide down but they're wiped away by strong hands. "Bella, talk to me. What's wrong?"
Still not looking at him, my lips quiver as I admit, "I didn't want to be there when you realized last night was a mistake—that I'm a mistake."
His arms engulf me and he presses my head to his chest. "You're not a mistake, Bella Swan. Last night was perfect, and so are you."
"Edward, I'm far from perfect and, believe me, you don't want to be linked to my crazy."
"Well, I think you're pretty perfect—for me, anyway—and I kinda like your crazy. Besides, why do you think I always have my cuffs out when I'm with you?" He laughs into my hair before kissing it.
I laugh and wrap my arms around his waist, holding him tightly. "I can think of a much better use for those cuffs, you know."
"I have no doubt, but how about we get some breakfast first? I have a feeling I'm going to need to keep my energy levels up to be able to keep up with you."
"You got that right, Deputy."
We kiss, and it's patience, acceptance, hope, and more—it's everything.
A/Ns:
Well, that's where the O/S ends, but we're planning on continuing this story, so we hope you'll stick around for that!
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