Thanks to Hadley Hemingway for her super-duper beta skills :)

EPOV

We've been in Nashville for a month. Living with Bella has been amazing. Waking up with her in my arms is a dream come true, even if she's a grump and her hair tends to look like rats've nested in it. I know I really love her 'cause I find all that stuff cute.

Emmett loves his new school. He's on the football team and seems to be making plenty of friends.

The only real problem for me has been work. I had some trouble finding anything I liked, and no way am I comfortable living here and not pulling my share. So I ended up taking a job as a bartender and I hate it.

I'm away from home too much at nights with too many people coming on to me. It's a job that'll never go nowhere and the pay stinks, especially since I don't flirt enough to get the really good tips. It sucks 'cause with only a GED it's nearly impossible to find anything good. At least bartending is better than asking if you want fries with that.

Bella and Em are going to have a movie night since it's a Friday and I want nothing more than to stay with 'em. Instead, I'm in the bedroom putting on my tight, black bar t-shirt and jeans.

"You look way too sexy to be goin' out 'round all those drunk women," Bella tells me from the doorway where she's standing.

I roll my eyes at her. "Yeah, right. You know I'd much rather stay home with you and Em. I hate this job."

She walks over and circles her arms around me from behind. "You could always quit and stay here and be my muse twenty-four seven." She winks at me through the mirror.

Thing is, I know she's only partly teasing. She tells me over and over that she's writing more than ever now. She swears it's 'cause of me and how happy she is. I could never just sit on my ass, though, and let Bella foot all the bills. That's just not the kinda man I am.

Instead of answering I turn and kiss her. Her lips are soft and plump and it doesn't take but a second 'fore her tongue is teasing mine. Slow and steady she seduces me with her mouth, but I have to pull back, just so I can make it to work on time. "You're way too temptin'," I tease her.

This time she's the one rolling her eyes; I swat her ass as she turns to walk out of the bedroom.

When I make it to the kitchen, Em's already stuffing his mouth while he gathers snacks for the two of 'em. That kid always seems to be eating something.

I pull Bella to me and give her one more kiss goodbye. Then I ruffle Em's hair, which he hates, before finally leaving 'em and heading out.

I get to work sooner than I want. The manager of the bar, Aro, is here tonight. I hate working with him 'cause he's a grade A jerk who treats women like dirt. I can't stand the guy and it sucks I have to be nice to him since he's my boss.

I walk behind the bar and clock in. "Hey, Edward, my man, lots of honeys here tonight. Plenty of money to be made if you play your cards right." He wiggles his brows. "Hell, with your looks I bet you could get your dick wet as many times as you want."

I have to stop myself from saying something that'll get me fired. Instead I clench my fists and bite my tongue, before giving him a standard answer. "Alright, dude, thanks, but ya know I have a girlfriend so I'll leave all the ladies to you."

Aro's in his forties and 'bout a foot shorter than me, with greasy black hair he keeps pulled back in a ponytail. I may not be a good judge of men's appearances, but I know he ain't an attractive man. The one time Bella met him, she said he looked like a creepy rat.

He shakes his head at me. "I don't understand you, man. I'd be taking advantage of all these willing women if I were you. You're young. No need to be tied down now."

I just shrug my shoulders and ignore him. It's the same conversation every time we work together. Guys like him don't know what it's like to be a one-woman man.

Finally my shift's done. Another night of having to fend off touchy women who don't care about respecting my space, throwing away countless phone numbers and listening to Aro try to score with every drunk woman that ain't sober 'nough to know better. It all makes me sick.

Exhausted, I head home to Bella and my brother and find 'em both passed out on the couch. Must've fell asleep watching movies.

I go shower 'fore rousing Em enough to get to his bed, then I pick Bella up and carry her to our room. She can sleep like the dead, so she doesn't even stir when I lay her down and pull her close. The scent of her shampoo allows me to finally relax.

I ain't ever had it easy and Bella's the best thing to ever happen to me… besides getting the chance to take care of Emmett. I'd love to give this woman the world.

I know she don't care about money or any of that, and she has enough of her own 'cause of her music. Still, I'd like to contribute more. I know I needa make some changes to do that, but I'm just not sure how or what to do.

I listen to her steady breathing and finally allow it to lull me to sleep.

I wake up the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon, two of my favorite things. I make my way to the kitchen where Bella's plating up eggs and toast. Have I mentioned how much I love this woman?

"Hey, sleepyhead. Just in time. I was fixin' to come get'cha." She hands me a plate and gives me a kiss before going over to pour some coffee. I look at the clock and see it's nearly eleven. I rarely sleep this late even when I get home in the early morning hours. .

She puts my cup down in front of me. "Thank you, baby," I mumble rudely around a mouth full of food. I can't help it. I'm starving and the woman can cook. She just laughs and says she's gonna grab Emmett who's playing Xbox.

After we eat, we decide to go hang out at the pool for a bit. It's getting cooler so there won't be many days left to swim. Even now it's a little chilly, but the water's heated so it's pretty nice.

I can never get enough of Bella in a bikini either. The woman is gorgeous.

We've been in the pool for 'bout a half an hour when Alice and Rose come out. Alice goes to lay out, while Rose gets right in. Bella and Emmett are having a headstand competition, while I judge.

Once Rose is in the water, Bella calls her over. "I'm glad you're here. You can play with Em. He keeps whippin' my butt at everythin', but I bet you can smoke him."

"Nah, I think I'll just swim for a bit," Rose tells her. Hmmm, wonder what that's about?

Bella whispers something to Em, then starts making her way to Alice. I go over and join 'em.

"Hey, Ali, come to get some sun?"

"Yeah. Rose wanted to swim and I figure it's going to be too cold for sun tanning soon, so I better get it while I can. Do you guys have any plans tonight?"

Bella looks at me and I shake my head. When I started at the bar, that was my one condition; that I have at least one weekend night off. With Em in school I don't see him as much, so I make sure to spend some time with him when he's home. "Nope. Why?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to come for dinner. Edward and Jasper could hang out, get to know each other better. They've hardly had the chance to meet."

"Sounds good to me. What time ya want us there?" I ask.

After ironing out the details we spend a li'l bit more time at the pool. Bella ends up hanging with Rose, while me and Em play some Marco Polo. I figured Rose and Em'd be done got to know each other better by now, but I guess not. Rose seems a little shy, so maybe it'll take some time.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with Jasper some. He works long hours and with me working nights, we've only said a word or two in passing. Bella thinks of Alice, Jasper and Rose as her Nashville family, so I know they're good people.

When we get to their house, Rose lets us in. "Alice and Jasper will be right in."

I lean over to Bella. "Smells like smoke. I hope everythin's alright."

Bella just giggles. "Rose, did Jasper try to help again?" She leans over to me. "Occasionally he tries to help in the kitchen, but it almost always ends up with somethin' burned. Sometimes just the food, but once or twice it's been more," she whispers.

A few minutes later Alice comes to lead us to the dining room. "Sorry about the smell. Jasper's heart is in the right place, but the man is a menace in the kitchen."

Em just has to pipe up. "Edward's an okay cook now, but for a while I thought we'd starve. Once he made beenie weenies with Vienna sausages. It was terrible! At least potted meat sandwiches ain't hard to mess up."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm better now and clearly you ain't starvin'."

Jasper joins us then, coming right over with his hand outstretched. "Hey, Edward, glad you could make it. It'll be nice to get some man time around here," he jokes. Alice just smacks him on the arm and rolls her eyes at his antics.

Jasper shakes Em's hand, too, and Em's obvious pride in being included as a "man" shows all over his face. We head to the dining room where pizza and breadsticks await us.

"Yes!" Emmett exclaims with a fist pump.

"I take it dinner didn't turn out so well?" Bella asks, giving Jasper a pitying look.

"Oh hush, you. Everybody will definitely enjoy pizza more, and that's all I'm going to say about it," Jasper chuckles.

We chuckle and load our plates. The conversation is light and carefree, with Jasper focusing on getting to know me and Em better. I appreciate it, too. I need a good guy friend here. So far I've been around mostly creepy, skirt-chasing men from the bar.

After dinner, the ladies go to look at Rose's newly redesigned room, while Em takes off to play video games. Who knew?

"You want to go in my office and have a nightcap?" Jasper asks.

I nod and offer him a fist bump. "Sounds good to me!"

There's a little from Edward about how life's going for him in Nashville and we'll continue with Edward next chapter!

See you then!

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