I woke in the morning to an empty bed. Edward was already in the kitchen cooking breakfast so Maurice had curled up next to me. I stretched my tired muscles but loved the feeling. Nothing makes you sleep better than mind blowing sex. When I had returned to bed last night Edward woke up. Before I knew what was happening he had me handcuffed to my headboard.
"I've been thinking about this all day." He chuckled at my bewildered expression. His fingers trailed up the sides of my torso taking my tank top with them.
Obviously Edward had quite the imagination considering I was still tingling from orgasm after shock. I would have to pay him back tonight. A wicked smiled stretched my mouth as Edward poked his head in the room to see if I was awake.
"I know that look. You better stop making that face or we will both be late." He gave me a crooked grin and retreated back to the kitchen. I pulled my discarded pajamas back on and made my way towards Edward's humming along with my iHome. The tune was very familiar.
"When I fall in love by Nat King Cole?" He stood in front of the stove scrambling eggs.
"Yeah," he grinned sheepishly as he scraped eggs onto a plate.
"That's one of my favorite songs of all time." I smiled back. My fear from yesterday seemed inconsequential standing here with him like this in the light of day. Edward and I were monogamous, not engaged so I really had no reason to over react. The back of my neck prickled as I thought about dealing with Jacob but I pushed it from my mind. I reached up my on my toes and kissed the sensitive place behind his right ear as I stole a sausage link. He snaked an arm around my waist before I could leave anchoring me to his side so he could kiss me properly. We ended with me sitting on the counter with my arms around his neck and his hands in my shirt.
His phone buzzed from its place on the counter next to us and he swore into my mouth vehemently kissing me a little deeper.
"Edward, we are both going to be late." My voice sounded breathy as his lips roamed my neck. He growled and leaned back. I wanted to grab him and hold him as close as possible even though I had encouraged the change. My urge had me dropping me hands and releasing him. He picked up his phone and flipped it open.
The look on his face was dangerous as he read the message.
"What's wrong? Who is it?" I hopped down and moved towards him. He flipped the phone shut.
"It's nothing, just Tanya being delusional as always." He smiled at me and I gave him a funny look for mentioning Tanya. "So are you coming to my place tonight?" He wiggled his eye brows at me.
"After I go see Charlie." He got a funny look on his face. I chose to ignore it.
"Ok, well I have to leave. Enjoy your day and I'll see you later." He kissed me sweetly one final time before walking out the door. I sat and ate the breakfast he made me. Rain pattered against my windows and without Edward near to lighten my mood I felt it droop. I finished my eggs and scrubbed my plate in the sink.
Briskly I walked back to the living room and pulled out my computer case from under the couch. The fortune came back to mind but my earlier optimism made it seem stupid. I didn't need an inch of paper from inside of a cookie running my life. If I did have a big decision coming I would deal with it accordingly. I dressed in jeans and a zip up sweatshirt since the day was downright chilly. My toes were still cold from walking around barefoot despite my shoes.
I packed my bag and flipped up my hood and walked out of my apartment. I reached my hand into my mailbox absent mindedly and my fingers touched an envelope as I exited the building. I paused surprised to feel something so thick in my box. Normally the only mail I would receive was bills. Occasionally I would receive Christmas and birthday cards from high school or college friends, but other than that nothing. This surprised me. Slowly I retrieved the envelope.
The paper was thick, so thick in fact I suppose it should be called parchment. The eaves dripped on my hand so I hastily stuffed it into my bag to open at my café. I didn't want it to get water logged.
My bag seemed heavier with the mystery package in it so I walked faster than normal to my destination, not to mention the rain. I sloshed through puddles and tried to avoid car spray. This place could get quite depressing if the rain stayed for too long. In the winter our eyes become accustomed to the gloom and our fingers accept the half-prune faze from all the moisture considering it rains for about three months straight.
Once inside the café I unzipped my sweater and hung it on my neighboring chair to let it dry. Then I unpacked my laptop. Finally my fingers found the envelope again and skillfully slid under the lip to open it. The address was pressed directly into the paper and the sheet a waiting inside had gold leaf inlay.
Dear Miss Isabella Swan & Guest,
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Miss Sarah McDonald and Mr. James Cochran to be held on the fifth of October.
RSVP 765-973-8134
All who RSVP will receive further information. Sarah and James hope to see you there.
I felt bile rise in the back of my mouth. So, Sarah was marrying James. I shook my head and huffed out a breath. So, my step sister is marrying my ex-boyfriend, which is just fantastic news. I'm just glad she did not ask me to be in the bridal procession. I tried to squish the disgust and reason with myself. Maybe James is not the same egotistical pervert anymore. Maybe they really love each other.
But I doubt it. I would not even be surprised if Sarah was not the one to invite me in the first place. Perhaps Renee is trying to renew our lost bond like she does occasionally.
She always told me she wasn't leaving me; she just couldn't stay in our situation. She always said she wasn't not choosing me to marry him. She always said I still love you even if I have a new family.
Christmas, seven years ago.
We all sat around the table filled with catered food and expensive decorations. Renee still doesn't know how to cook.
"So Bella how's your first year of college going?" I pushed my steamed green beans back and forth across my plate without looking up. I can feel the eyes on me and I still regret letting Charlie talk me into this. He was without any family on Christmas because he made me accept Renee's invitation this year.
"It's going well. My classes are really interesting."
"I bet a pretty girl like you has all those horny college boys chasing after you!" Phil's sister Charlotte snorted at her own joke as she sipped her wine. I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not so I didn't respond. Either it was a twisted compliment or a horrible insult.
"So Bella, do you have a boyfriend yet?" Sarah asked innocently. She sat directly across the table from me. I glanced up at her and blushed.
"Yeah, I do actually." She looked surprised and sniffed as if she was not impressed. True my relationship with James is very new but it is a relationship.
"What's his name?" Renee asked curiously, oblivious to my discomfort at being the center of attention. I was out on a limb and she was joining Phil's family in shaking the tree.
"James. He's a freshmen like me, but he's from Tacoma." I blushed a little deeper. Sarah's cousin Dylan leered at me.
"Is he good in the sack?" He grinned. I shifted under his gaze uncomfortable as people laughed. They did not notice the serious tone in his voice.
"So how's Charlie doing?" Renee asked me later as I helped wash dishes. Sarah was in the den watching TV with the men while Renee and I cleaned.
"He's ok. I really don't like leaving him alone on the holidays though." I was hinting that they should include him in the invitation next time but Renee misunderstood.
"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to be here Bella .I just thought my daughter might like to spend time with me." Renee dropped the plate she had been washing and walked out of the room. Charlotte entered soon after to take up Renee's position in the assembly line. The rest of the visit was even more strained up until the day I left.
I feel as if Renee gets maternal pangs from time to time. She wonders if she is a good mother, if she raised Sarah and I well. Around these times she calls and tries to become involved in my life again all the way from Phoenix but as spontaneously as they begin they end. I almost wish she didn't try so I didn't have to lose her over and over again. Despite Renee's selfish moments she is my mother and I love her.
I stuffed the invitation back in the envelope and then the envelope back into my bag. There was no sense in worrying about this now.
OOOOOOoo
Hours later I knocked in Edward's door. I held and overnight bag in one hand and I was ready to drop from exhaustion. I just ran seven miles on the treadmill at the gym and my legs desperately protested the climb up here.
Edward pulled the door open and I trudged inside. He reached down and kissed me sweetly as I walked by but he sensed my exhaustion. His presence lifted the gloom I had all day but I was still tired.
"Rough day?"
"No, the rain is just a downer." I flopped onto the comfortable leather couch and threw an arm over my eyes. Maybe the low barometric pressure was making me feel so lousy. "How was practice?"
"We stayed in the weight room for most of the day since the field was so wet but I talked to the rookie quarterback. We had a nice long chat about strategies and leadership. I hope it sticks, that kid can go far." He dropped down next to me and pulled my legs into his lap. Gently he pulled off my shoes and tossed them across the room.
"What are our dinner options?" There was a knock at the door. Edward stood and looked through the peep hole. I shifted my arm so I could watch him.
"Quick Bella! Hide, it's Alice!" He hissed quietly looking slightly frantic. I grinned.
"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you."
"You invited her?"
"No, but she already knows about us. I told her and Rosalie yesterday she won't be surprised to see me. They're keeping it quiet for now." I slid the arm back into place and I felt sleep tug at me. The knock got more persistent so Edward pulled the door open a crack.
"Hey Alice, what can I help you with?"
"Why is Bella's shoe on the floor right now?" I felt a smile play at my lips but I tried to keep my face neutral so I looked like I was sleeping.
"Well…" I heard fabric brush. "Hey!"
"Oh, hi Bella, it's good to see you, on my brother's couch." When I didn't respond there was silence. The hair rose on the back of my arms before Alice landed on my chest. She began tickling me viciously. "I deserve more of a welcome. I know you're faking I heard your voice just a second ago!" Her small fingers were skilled and I had to curl into the fetal position trying to find relief.
"Uncle! Uncle! I can't breathe!" I wheezed through a laugh. Edward grabbed Alice under the arms like a child and pulled her off of me. "So how are you Alice?"
"I'm well. Famished actually. What are you guys having for supper?"
"We were just deciding when you knocked."
"I want Cajun!"
"I think I have some Zaterans around here somewhere." Edward wandered off running his hands through his chair mumbling about interruptions. Alice climbed back onto the couch with me but did not start tickling again.
"So anything exciting happen in your life today?" She asked me and grabbed a magazine off of the coffee table.
"I was invited to my step sister's wedding to my ex-boyfriend." I massaged my temples.
"That's rather awkward."
"Tell me about it."
"No, I mean you weren't saving yourself for Edward? I don't know how his ego can take it. I bet you wouldn't dive in from of a bullet either." Edward banged a pan on his stove top and Alice snickered.
"Well I'm actually pretty sure I wear the pants in the relationship." He turned towards us from the kitchen area and I could feel the skeptical look he gave me.
"Well as long as you're wearing pants while I'm hear I'm satisfied."
"Want to know something I just realized?" Edward called.
"What?" Alice and I both swiveled to see him.
"I'm the only one here cooking while you two sit there and do nothing. I thought cooking was the women's job." I grinned.
"It is, that's why you're doing it."
"I like take-out better." Alice commented turning the page in her magazine.
OOOOOOOOoo
Later after Alice left we sat in the living room. I read a book while Edward flipped through the channels on his TV. He shifted a few times and sighed so I glanced at him.
"Is there a problem?"
"No." He shrugged but turned off the TV. He faced me and looked me in the eye. I slid my bookmark into place and set my book aside.
"What's up?"
"I heard you talking about your step-sister's wedding thing."
"Yeah."
"And it made me think. Alice and my mom throw each of our family members' birthday parties every year. Usually they rent out an entire restaurant and invite a lot of people. This year I asked them to keep the list small since the party itself is inevitable."
"So for Alice, that would be within the state limits.'
"Right, well I was wondering… well I guess I would be really happy if you would come." He gazed at me through his eye lashes and my stomach melted.
"Sure, sounds fun." His eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I want to go to your birthday party? I've met most of your family already so I don't think it would be so bad seeing everyone again."
"Well actually I was planning on introducing you as my girlfriend to my parents and everyone."
"When is it?"
"Next week." I bit my lip and thought. There wasn't really a reason for them not to know.
"OK, I'll just have to be liquored up before we arrive. It's a good buffer." I grinned at him. His return smile stopped my heart. He leaned forward and captured my lips.
"It's a date."
A/N I put a poll in my profile. I want to know if I should start another story. I have a good idea but I don't want to lose momentum without people understanding why. I just need some feedback. Thank you.