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Okay. So maybe I'm just a touch dramatic. The phone call didn't ruin my life. I was just worried when Edward called me to say he took a fastball to the crotch during practice.
I mean, you'd be frantic too.
That's an extremely important area. It brings me great joy. Over and over.
Luckily he was wearing his jock which protected the reason for my existence.
He said he was fine, but I still spent hours tending to his injury in a naughty nurse costume (courtesy of Alice - because Jasper only likes robes and brooms to accompany his wand in the bedroom).
After a giving him a very thorough massage with both my hands and mouth, Edward pronounced himself depleted of fluids, AKA cured, but reserved the right to request "mouth therapy" at any time.
Apparently I'm a genius at something other than chemistry.
I'm so glad I got over my fear of the BJ. And I know Edward is too.
But I really need to stop thinking about Edward because I need to get Seth to the field on time. They have a very important game tonight to determine who's the league champion. Win or lose, I get Edward alone all night because the kids are going to have a sleepover party at Edward and Emmett's parents' house - which is really more of a small castle. The first time I went over there I thought of Neverland Ranch, only without all the creepiness.
Yeah, my future in-laws (according to my dreams, not reality) are totally loaded. Maybe Esme is in the mob or something. She is pretty scary when she's pissed. She did threaten to have Phil "taken care of."
Phil. Sigh. I have been trying not to think about him, but he has called and left messages asking to set up some kind of meeting. He's also sent over a folder of personal documents and list of his volunteer work to show that he's willing and able to take care of Seth. But the letter he wrote explaining his situation with Renee and her death and Seth really made me think. It seems like he's changed, but I just can't get over the fact that he signed away his rights. It burns me up inside. But I know it's not about me. I have to think about what's best for Seth.
I finish packing my overnight bag while trying to forget our situation. I'm distracted just enough by a text from Alice that lets me know that they're on their way. Alice and Jasper are picking us up to drive to the field so I can go home with Edward.
Everyone is going to be there tonight to watch. The game, I mean. Not the sexathon that I'm going to have with Edward. They better win or he's is going to be in a shitty mood. Although the angry sex after he loses is pretty hot. Okay, any sex with Edward is hot.
I have the whole night to get my fill of Edward, and I need it. He's going to go on a road trip for the College World Series soon and I'm not looking forward to it. I want to tuck myself into the pocket of his track pants and just go with him, but of course that's ridiculous. His peen takes up all the space.
"Bella!" A yell down the stairs jerks me out of a lovely daydream where I'm playing peek-a-boo with Edward's cock. "I need my socks!"
"Seth, I put your whole uniform on the bed. Maybe they dropped on the floor," I call up to him.
"Not those," he whines, "my lucky socks with the stripe. The ones I wore when I struck out six batters."
Noooo. Those are dirty. Like really dirty. And smelly. Because the kid already has athlete's foot. I was going to soak those in like a gallon of stain remover and febreeze which I now buy in industrial-sized drums because of the constant washing of uniforms. But before I can tell him no, he sprints into the garage and emerges with the nasty socks. The smile on his face almost makes me forget they smell like Parmesan cheese.
"Seth, those are gross. I didn't wash them."
"I know. It's awesome. All the luck is still in there," he says with a grin, waving the offending items. Oh dear god. I think I swallowed the smell.
I sigh and pack up the snacks for the game. I'll have to drive with the windows open or my car will be saturated like the one in the Seinfeld episode.
"Do you have your bag for Carlisle and Esme's house?" I ask. "Swim trunks, too?"
"Yeah, I'm ready. I can't wait to win the game and go over there. Riley says his grandma got a special surprise." He's bending over tying his cleats. Knowing Esme, she probably got a few Disney stars to do a private concert.
"That's great, Seth. They are very nice people. We're lucky that they've invited us there."
"Riley is the one who's lucky. He has four grandparents and a mom and dad. And he has the best uncle. And Jasper is okay, too, and they're all going to be at the game. I mean...he will have a lot of people there." He stands and looks at me. He's not angry or accusing. Just wistful.
It breaks my fucking heart. Because all he has is me. And I know it's not enough. I'm not enough. I plaster on a happy face for him because I'm not going to ruin his big game.
"They'll all cheer for you, Seth. And I'll be there screaming my head off as usual."
"I know, Bella. You've always been there since she died and my dad gave me away. I just wish..." he trails off.
"What, Seth?" I ask quietly.
"That we'll win the game," he replies softly. He grabs his hat and walks toward the front door.
But I know that's not the only thing he's thinking about. And neither am I.
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"Are you kidding me, Blue?" Emmett groans from the dugout. "That was a strike!"
"Don't quit your day job!" yells Esme from the bleachers. I snort a laugh.
"Esme is really into the game, isn't she?" asks Alice, leaning over from the bleacher seat above me.
"Esme is serious beans when it comes to baseball. During the last game, Riley got called out at home and I had to drag her back to the stands before she threw her shoe at the ump," I tell her, laughing. "And they were those red-soled shoes that you always want to buy that cost more than my monthly income. She and Carlisle know their stuff. I mean they have two sons that play, and Esme used to be a star softball player in college."
"The game is sort of fun, but I don't know that much about it. The kids are cute, though. Mostly I come out here to watch Jasper. Look how cute he is holding the bats."
I look over at Jasper who is waving a bat in a circular motion that has nothing to do with baseball. I would bet a gram of Californium 252 that he's pretending it's a wand and casting a hitting spell.
Oh Jasper, you're so lucky that my friend finds your quirks sexy.
"He is a keeper, Al," I say while watching Edward give signs to a player. Even those motions are hot when he does it. "We both got lucky."
"Hey," she nudges me, "did you see Jasper's sister over there?" She gestures with her head to the outfield where Rosalie is sitting in a chair. "She can't even sit over here. Ugh, she's such a bitch. She rolls her eyes every time I say something. Jasper got really upset last time we saw her. And Jasper doesn't get angry."
"Right? I mean how can she be related to Jasper? He's the sweetest guy ever. And I don't know what Emmett saw in her besides the obvious."
"She's not even watching the game. She's totally reading on her iPad. Probably bad fanfiction."
"Speaking of that, did you read the Golden Girls slash fic I sent you? Blanche totally goes dow-"
"No, Bella! I can't with that. How do you people even read those stories? I caught Jasper reading about someone named Snape blowing some guy named Draco. It was sort of hot except for all the stupid magic."
I laugh. "I thought every little thing Jasper does is magic?" I'm not even joking. Like maybe eighty percent of his day is magic. The other twenty percent is school and doing Alice.
"No, Sting. I said his fingers and tongue were magic."
I scoff. "Sting. Right. I'm not the tantric one. And if we're talking expert magic tongue, then Edward's a professor of oral at Hogwarts."
The crowd cheers the end of the inning, and I sheepishly turn and pay attention to the game. Okay, so when Seth isn't out on the field I watch Edward. I'm only human.
As the innings pass, the game gets closer and more exciting. I'm yelling almost as much as Esme, who is now being restrained by Carlisle. We have a small lead, and Riley and Seth are on fire. They have really carried this team to the championship. Emmett and Edward have done a great job coaching, but most of these kids are just learning how to catch and hit. At least they're not making dirt angels in the infield anymore.
One of the opposing players is now crying after getting hit by a pitch, so there's a momentary lull in the action. I notice that Alice and Jasper are now missing. I guess she couldn't hold out anymore after witnessing Jasper's attempt to levitate the practice balls. I hope they aren't fucking in the bathrooms. Those places are disgusting. I'd rather go in a Gatorade bottle. Hopefully they had the good sense and taste to fuck in her car or in the batting cage.
We're up five runs, and all of the parents and family members are now standing near the dugout waiting for the final two outs. Well, except for Alice who is most likely riding Jasper's broom. Even Rosalie has deigned to grace us with her presence and is standing close by. Esme grabs my hand and says," Oh, Bella, aren't you so excited? The boys are going to win! Emmett is amazing at this."
Before I can answer, Rosalie lets out a snort and mumbles, "Amazing. Right." Esme's head snaps around like a whip. "Did you have a comment, dear?" she says in a voice that makes me pee a little because it's so scary.
Rosalie's eyes widen. "Um, no. I was just agreeing with you."
"Of course you were. Why would you insult the father of your child in front of his mother, father, and his future sister-in-law? You are many things, Rose, but stupid is not one of them."
"No, Esme," she answers with her eyes cast down.
"Now run along and wave to your son. I'm sure he didn't see you there hiding in the outfield," she says as if to shoo away a fly. Rosalie scurries to the other side of the dugout as if she's been scalded by hot water.
Esme turns to me and whispers, "I never liked her." I totally noticed how she called me her future daughter-in-law. I might be dancing a little in my head. My delusions are not that delusional, as it turns out.
Carlisle chuckles and shakes his head. "She's family, Es."
"Hmph. Not any more. I'd rather claim that goofy wizard brother of hers."
"She's still Riley's mother, regardless of her faults. You have to accept that." he says gently.
I stay quiet, and more importantly, on Esme's good side. But then I think about what he said about Rose. It applies to my situation as well. I really have a lot to consider.
Alice and Jasper finally emerge from whatever rock they were fucking under. He looks like he was drugged - does Alice's pussy have special chemical properties? Yeah, that's one experiment I will not be conducting. Her hair looks like she was actually riding a broom. The best broom ride ever, according to her shit-eating grin.
"Whore."
"Jealous."
"Now I know why you wore a skirt."
"You're not the only genius around here."
It turns out that the game isn't in the bag, because now the bases are loaded with one out. Seth is struggling on the mound, but there's no one who can come in who is even close to being good enough to win. Edward calls time out and talks to him. Seth nods his head and Edward pats him on the back. He settles into the stretch, and the next pitch is a strike. But the batter hits the second pitch to the third baseman who drops it. They get two runs, but Riley tags out the next batter on an easy ground ball to first. They are now only up by two with two outs. The winning run is at the plate. Seth looks at Edward, who yells to him, "You can do it, Seth. Get this guy out!"
Seth nods and goes into the stretch. The batter hits a sharp comebacker at Seth's head. I cry out when he falls back, knocking the ball down with his glove. He scrambles for the ball, and from his knees he throws to Riley at first base to end the game.
Everyone yells and runs out onto the field. Emmett hi-fives Seth before running to Riley. Edward lifts up Seth and spins him around and I've never been more in love with that man. I burst into tears because of the win, but mostly for look in Seth's eyes when Edward congratulates him. I run up to both of them and it's one big group hug.
"I'm so proud of you!" I cry. "You were terrific, Seth!" I mouth "I love you" to Edward as he stands back and lets me congratulate Seth. He makes his way over to his parents and Riley.
"We won!" he says. "Edward said I could do it. I just had to relax and throw. I told you these socks are lucky. Now they're even luckier."
"You were awesome." Great. Now I'll never be able to wash those socks. Maybe I can hermetically seal them and put them on his wall.
He looks back when someone starts calling his name. "Hey Bella, I'm going over to say hi to Riley's grandparents. They're calling me." I nod my permission and watch him take pictures with everyone in Edward's family. I walk over to where they're standing and they include me too. But the two of us are outsiders, no matter how wonderful the Cullens are. Even Jasper has more right to be in their pictures than we do.
I'm so thrilled for Seth that we have such great friends, but I hurt too. But I think I know what I need to do.
I have to call Phil.
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A/N: I'm not even going to make an excuse. I know I fail at updating. Thank you to all those still reading and reviewing.
Please express your feelings about Phil in a review if you are so inclined. My prereaders have given me an earful.
Many thanks to twilover76, les16, and rtgirl who preread for me. Expect your Goiterward action figure (with the titanium jock sized XXL) in the mail.
Cosmogirl is my reason for existence.