A/N: Hey guys this is just a small chapter before we get to the date, which will be posted on Tuesday. Got two barrel races this weekend, looks to be a beautiful weekend for it!! I can't wait. Hope ya'll have a great weekend.
Thanks again to my wonderful Beta StephieB, she keeps me in check.
Stephenie Meyer owns all that is Twilight, I do however own Vetward!
Chapter 16
It's a Date
BPOV
I immediately feel empty the minute Edward's lips leave mine, I have never experienced a first kiss like that, we moved together like we were supposed to be together. I have never been one to believe in soul mates but my opinion on that matter is rapidly changing.
I look up at Edward. He has the smuggest smile on his face. "So Bella, how about that date?" Since intelligent speech evades me at the moment, I nod my head to answer his question. I hear that beautiful laugh he has "I am going to take that as a yes then."
My heartbeat has quieted enough that I feel it would be alright to speak "Yes Edward, I would love to go on a date with you." I look up at him through my eye lashes.
He dips his head lower and whispers "Wonderful! And what exactly do you enjoy doing on dates?" Edward then cocks his head to the side waiting on my answer.
"Hmm…every week Alice, Jasper and I get together for dinner and a movie. It is my turn to cook this Friday, would you be interested in doing something like that? Maybe we can invite Rose and Emmett as well." I immediately start biting my lower lip, anxiously awaiting his answer.
Edward smirks "Isabella, Friday it is…"
"EDWARD! BELLA! Where did you disappear to?" I look up to see Renee yelling from the back of the barn.
I roll my eyes, knowing that our time together today is coming to an end, "Ugh, guess we better start making our way back to the barn. I'm sure they are almost done." I look down at my boots.
"Yeah I bet Dad needs some help; I've been gone long enough." Edward grabs my hand as we start walking in a comfortable silence back to the barn.
After what Edward told me this afternoon about Phoenix, I dislike Tanya even more. Not only did she betray Phoenix but she also betrayed Edward. What kind of person could be that heartless? She didn't deserve Phoenix or Edward; fate has a funny way of working itself out. If Tanya wouldn't have been so careless with either of them, they both would not be in my life right now. I need to thank her the next time I run into her. Maybe I could mail her a Thank you card. That would really get to her. I giggle to myself.
Edward seems to notice the smile on my face. "What are you thinking about?" He smiles back at me. I start to blush.
"Oh…just thinking about fate, you know stuff like that." We walk into the barn, where Carlisle is standing with his arms folded and Renee has her hands on her hips. I totally feel like we are about to get punished.
Renee is the first to speak, "Where have you two been? Carlisle and I finished up with the rest of the horses. It would have been nice to have some help." She scowls at both of us.
"I am sorry Mom." I let out a sigh. "I know it was irresponsible to leave you both. There is a really good reason though. I promise to tell you all about it later." I look up apologetically at my mother.
Carlisle is next to speak, "Edward, I hope your story will be as good as Bella's." He shakes his head. "Let's go son. We have one more farm call this afternoon, than we can go home."
I walk out to the truck with Edward and Carlisle, helping them pack up to leave. "Edward, about Friday, do you think you could be at the house around seven o'clock?"
He pauses before opening the passenger side door of the farm truck, "Seven o'clock is perfect. Do I need to bring anything?"
"Nope" I say popping the p, "just yourself. I guess I will talk to you later then?" I glance up at his beautiful green eyes.
He leans in and kisses me on the forehead, "You know it, Bella." He smiles as he gets in the truck, leaving down the long driveway in a cloud of dust.
I turn to see Renee standing behind me. She is wearing her concerned mother face at the moment. "So Bells, you and Edward Cullen huh?"
We both start to make our way back into the barn. "Yeah, I guess so", I shrug my shoulders, trying to act nonchalant about the whole situation. The last thing I need is for Renee to worry about me. She worried enough during my marriage.
"Hmm…something tells me that Edward Cullen is not just a 'yeah, I guess so' kind of guy." Renee looks over at me with a smirk on her face, "Call it mother's intuition," she says as she points to her head.
I just laugh as I start dishing up the afternoon feedings.
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Friday is here before I know it. The week sped by. I spent my mornings getting my classroom ready to start on Monday; the afternoons were spent getting ready for our first rodeo back on Saturday. Every day Phoenix gets stronger and faster. She is ready and knows it.
I pull up to Renee's around two on Friday afternoon. I have to get all my gear ready for when Em and Jas come to pick me up tomorrow. I am not going to ride today, Phoenix will need her rest for tomorrow. Mom is sitting on her porch playing with one of the barn cats. I walk up taking a seat next to her on the old wooden swing. She pats me on the knee, "Well, tomorrow is the big day kiddo. You guys will do fine I just know it."
I nod my head "I know we will mom, I am just a bundle of nerves right now. With the date tonight and the rodeo tomorrow," I run my fingers along the grooves in the swing.
"Isabella, look at me." Renee grabs my chin and pulls my face up so that I am looking at her. "You have come a long way since that piece of shit James. Please sweetie, do not ever doubt yourself, you are a strong, intelligent, independent woman. You can do anything you set your heart and mind too." She takes me into a motherly embrace, I start tearing up. I have never been very good with showing emotions, "As for Edward, I have seen the way he looks at you. Trust me when I say he is as head over heals for you as you are for him." She releases me, grabs me by the hand and hauls me up from the swing.
I wipe the tears from my cheeks, "Do you really think so mom?"
She chuckles softly as we walk hand and hand to the barn, "Bella you must be blind, trust me that man is totally smitten."
I feel tons better after the talk with Renee. We go about our chores without incident.
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On my way home from Renee's I decide to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner, I am going to make lasagna and a green salad for everyone. I hurriedly make my way down the aisle that contains the pasta. Ugh you would know they would put the freaking lasagna on the top shelf! As I stretch up on my tippy toes, a very large russet colored arm shots up grabbing one of the packages and hands it to me. I pivot around to say thank you, and there standing behind me is Jake.
"Oh…Hey Jake, thanks for reaching that for me, it really sucks being vertically challenged." Why, oh why did I have to run into him today of all days!
He chuckles "Not a problem Bella, you looked to be having some trouble. So…um…how have you been? How is Phoenix?"
"We are both doing GREAT. Thanks for asking. I am actually headed to Gilbert Saturday night to a small rodeo for our first run back, pretty excited about it." Just as Jake is about to answer a very attractive girl with jet black hair and the same complexion as him walks up and loops her arm through his, they compliment one another very well.
Jacob turns to her the minute he feels her hand "Leah, this is Bella. Bella this is my girlfriend Leah." Apparently Jacob's girlfriend has heard all about me, the once beautiful smile she had is now turned down at the corners. I wonder what Jake has told her.
"I am so happy to meet you Leah." I hold out my hand and smile genuinely hoping she will see I truly meant what I said. Leah studies my face for a fraction of a second, satisfied by what she sees there, her smile returns and takes my hand, "Likewise Bella."
An uncomfortable silence has fallen upon us, so I try to get the conversation back on track, "So Jake, have you sold any horses lately?"
"Yea I have, it is funny that you are going to Gilbert Saturday night. Leah and I also are headed- up that a way, I sold her brother Seth a calf horse a few months back. That is actually how we met. Anyway, we are going to watch and cheer him on." He takes Leah's hand and raises it up to his lips and kisses it very tenderly. I am so glad Jake has found somebody, he really does deserve it.
"Great! I will see you both there then. Jake you will be able to see Phoenix as well; you won't believe how different she looks." I catch a glance at my watch, "Well, I really need to get going. It was great seeing you both. Come find me tomorrow night, okay." I turn on my heel, looking over my shoulder one last time to wave at the couple as I hurry to pay for my purchases.
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I rush through the door, throwing the grocery bags on the counter, the clock on the microwave says five-thirty. Can that be right? I have an hour and a half to get dressed and everything cooked before Edward gets here. Calm down Bella you can do this! I start to work immediately on the lasagna; it takes better than thirty minutes to get it layered and in the oven. I take the opportunity while it is baking to head upstairs to get dressed.
Once upstairs I jump in the shower, washing my hair with my favorite strawberry scented shampoo. Once I am completely clean, I get out, grabbing a towel as I walk into my room. I hear voices pass my door, so I peak to see who it is, Alice and Jasper. I snake my arm around the door grabbing Alice as she walks by. She screams and jumps, "DAMN IT BELLA! YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME!"
"Oh my God Alice I am so sorry, I just need you help. I am having a clothing crisis." She squeals, places a kiss on Jasper's cheek, and then joins me in my room. Alice loves to play dress Bella up.
Forty five minutes later, Alice has worked her magic. She tore through my closet and hers to piece together the perfect outfit, a blue v-neck halter with a pair of bleached destroyed jeans. I grab a pair of black strappy low-wedge heals from my closet throwing them on as I run down the stairs. Just as I get to the last step there is a knock on the door. I freeze in place as Alice and Jasper come around the corner from the living room. "Bella, what are you waiting for, let the poor guy in." I nod at my cousin, swallow and walk towards the door. Nothing and I mean nothing in my 25 years has prepared me for the sight that was before me when I opened the door…
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End Note: So next week the date. Leave me some love peeps, I love it! I posted some links in my profile to Bella's shirt and jeans she is wearing for her date.
