Happy Friday! Sorry this is so late, but I've been a busy girl today…and I had a horny, drunk hubs who kept me busy all afternoon once I woke up. (Yes, I'm totally bragging.) ;) I was working on review replies, but I'm so far behind now, that it's going to take even longer, but please know I've read them all and laughed, smirked or giggled like a loon. So, THANK YOU!

James Hyde is another Passions' actor and a total DILF (seriously…look up his old pics). He came in one time with his wife and son, who was a toddler at the time. The rambunctious little boy ended up knocking over Dad's Ice Blended Mocha and making such a mess. Dad was thoroughly embarrassed, but helped me clean up the mess before they rushed the screaming toddler out of there.

Chapter Eleven

My mother was a piece of work. The amount of squealing she had been doing since she learned of the invite to the Cullens' house was driving me up the wall. She had also been acting like the cat that swallowed the canary about something, but she wouldn't tell me what was up.

The drive to Beverly Hills was unusually long for a holiday. Traffic was a nightmare, and when we finally arrived we were fifteen minutes late. Edward opened up the gate that led up to the house. The driveway was completely covered in a tunnel of vines that were cut back to the iron fencing. It was a hidden tropical oasis with all the lush landscaping and ivy climbing up the sides of the house.

He met us at the side entrance from where we parked my mom's Escape. Besides the Sonata, which was most likely Edward's new rental, the Escape looked completely out of place next to the two BMWs and the Mercedes that were also parked in the driveway.

I looked down at my lavender sweater set and simple black skirt and cringed. I felt so under dressed. Edward had told us to dress casually, but I didn't feel right listening. Charlie had no problem, though; he was in jeans and his San Francisco 49ers jersey even though they weren't playing in any of the games that day. Renee was dressed similarly to me, but she wore slacks.

When I saw Edward's ensemble of jeans and a black sweater, I knew I was okay. He opened my door like the gentleman he always was and helped me out before he pulled me in to a tight hug. He dropped one of his signature kisses on my forehead before he greeted my parents.

"Charlie, Renee, welcome to my parents' house. Come on in. Everyone's in the living room watching the football game. Cowboys are leading by seven." Charlie clapped his hands together in excitement of not having to miss too much of the game and practically pushed us into the house.

Edward led us through the kitchen, which smelled fabulous—I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the turkey—and into the family room that sat off of the kitchen. It was a pale periwinkle with cream accents. The furniture where Emmett and two other men were sitting was a hodgepodge of textures and all complementary shades of cream too. Esme, Rose, and another woman were sitting at the eat-in table that sat between the two rooms and tied them together.

"Coffee girl!" Emmett bellowed. "How could you pick Eddie over me?!"

Huh?

He jumped up from his seat and pulled me from Edward's grasp and into a bear hug that was so tight I couldn't breathe.

"Emmett! Put her down before she passes out, you idiot." Thanks Rose, I thought as I began to breathe again.

"What...what are you talking about?" I asked when I remembered what he had said.

"The article in Hollywood Life." I shook my head, still completely lost. "Apparently I've been cheating on Rose with you, and when Eddie found out, he decided he wanted you for himself."

My eyes had to have been the size of half dollar coins as I blinked repeatedly in shock. "What are you talking about? What article?"

"You didn't know?" the woman sitting with Rosalie and Esme asked. I shook my head, almost giving myself whiplash. "I find that really hard to believe, seeing as you're dating Edward Cullen."

"Alice," hissed Edward, Esme, and Emmett simultaneously.

"I don't watch TV or peruse gossip sites…I'm not, I've never—" Some things started to fall into place. The way Renee had been acting. Edward's odd questions. "You knew. Both of you, and you said nothing! How could you?!"

I turned and ran out of the house. I was so embarrassed. This was not how I thought my first holiday with Edward would go. I began to wonder how many people I knew had seen those pictures. Were they all laughing about it behind my back like Edward's family had been?

I hadn't made it very far before I was wrapped into the familiar arms of my father. The smell of his Old Spice aftershave was a balm to my weariness and I let my tears fall.

"Why, Daddy?"

"Baby girl, this isn't like you. You've normally got much tougher skin than this. What are all these tears for?" He gently swiped at the wet spots under my eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm PMSing."

"See, there's my little girl, always making the old man uncomfortable." I snorted through my sniffles. "You really like this boy."

I nodded. "He makes me feel so vulnerable and I question everything when I'm with him. What could he possibly see in me?"

"Now you listen to me, Isabella Marie. You are amazing. You probably have more talent in your little finger than he has in his whole body."

"He's right." We were both startled by Edward's surprise appearance.

"I'll let you two talk," my father replied before he walked over to where Edward was standing and then he stopped. I didn't know what was said because my father whispered so lowly, but Edward's nod told me he understood.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want you to worry about anything. Emmett and Rose just laughed it off. They thought it was funny, and I've learned to ignore all the lies that those people tell to sell papers."

"I get that you're used to this, but, Edward, it's all new to me. My goal in life has never been to be a part of the public fodder."

"I get it, and I am truly sorry." I could see he really was.

"Apology accepted. I also need to apologize for jumping to conclusions. I'm so new to this relationship stuff that I'm jumping—or in this case running—without giving you a chance to talk. Bear with me while I figure it all out."

Edward cupped my cheeks with both hands. Oh, his hands, they were so soft and warm that my eyes fluttered closed and I sighed.

"What am I going to do with you, coffee girl?" His voice washed over me like warm honey, thick and smooth at the same time.

"I don't know. Keep me?"

"That's not a possibility, it's inevitable. You're mine, Bella."

"I like being yours."

"And I love you."

I gasped in shock, my eyes popping open.

He loved me?

"You do?"

"Are you really questioning my feelings for you?" Uh, yeah.

"No?" It totally came out as a question. I really was clueless when it came to matters of the heart.

"It was love at first sip." I rolled my eyes at his cheesiness. "You know, the whole fairy tale type of love. Can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the coffee girl kind of love."

I was crying again, except this time they were happy tears.

Maybe that was all there was to love—putting someone else's needs before your own. Wanting their happiness to outshine your own. Being able to look at the person you care about and know that every single day that they are in your life makes all the trials and tribulations worth it because they'll be right beside you, holding your hand and heart through it all.

Maybe, just fucking maybe, if we stopped allowing our minds to override what our heart was telling us to do, we would just love. To do it without conditions because no one was perfect, we all made mistakes, just like Edward and my mother had for not telling me about the stupid articles. Just like I had for jumping to conclusions and running.

The words sat on the tip of my tongue, my heart begging me to listen, and I heard what it was saying. "I love you, too."

Edward's lips crashed into mine, and just like that, all the heaviness and questions disappeared. It was only Edward and me kissing, reconnecting after our second misunderstanding.

I was starting to realize relationships were work. Both parties had to be willing to go all in and lose everything for it to really be worth it. I was all in. Edward had obviously been in since I handed him his café au lait.

When the passionate kisses gave way to sweet, love filled ones, I was sure we were on the right path.

"Come on. Let's get you inside so you can warm up."

The biggest revelation for me that day was that I would follow him anywhere. It was eye opening and equally terrifying.

~o~o~o~

When we went back inside, Edward led me to one of the restrooms and I washed my face. Even with my puffy eyes, I truly felt lighter than I had in all my life, but especially after the six plus weeks Edward had been in my life.

After that he took me back to where our families were. I was introduced to his father, Carlisle, a hubba hubba daddy—lucky Esme. I was introduced to Jasper and Alice as well. She was still a bit cautious around me, and I felt like she was analyzing my every move. I was sure I would end up tripping or breaking something if she didn't stop it soon. Her piercing blue eyes matched Carlisle's, but weren't as kind, and they were driving me crazy to the point where I couldn't take it anymore.

"Yes, Alice?"

The entire room quieted, waiting to see what would happen between the two of us.

"What?" she smirked.

"You're staring at me like you have something you want to say, so please, have at it." I was still riding our 'I love yous' high and felt I could conquer anything, including Edward's snooty sister.

"Do you really think you're good enough for my brother?"

"Alice," snarled Edward. "Your opinion of my love life doesn't matter. It never has and it never will."

"But Tanya—"

"Was a trashy whore who only wanted me for my money." Edward was madder than I had ever seen him before. "Just because she is your so-called best friend does not mean she is good enough for me. I don't want someone whose idea of a good time is gangbanging the entire Lakers starting lineup and then blowing the rest of the bench."

"Edward, that is not an appropriate conversation." Go Mama Esme. "And, Alice, Edward's right. She is a bit trashy."

Everyone around us laughed at Esme's candor.

"Alice, to answer your question, no, I don't think I'm good enough for your brother, but I love him and he loves me."

"I really do," he interrupted.

"Thanks, Eddie. But the thing I can promise is I will always strive to love him and support him in everything he does. I won't make his choices for him, just like I don't want him making my choices for me. I would think that's what would be important to you."

"What about his money?" Really?

"I wish he didn't have it. Money doesn't buy you happiness, it only gets you name brands. You ever hear the saying 'more money, more problems?'" She nodded. "Well for all those millions sitting in the bank, your brother no longer has a private life. His every move is watched and recorded. He can't even scratch his balls without someone reporting he has an STD. Do you really think all that money is worth it? Because I don't. He can't trust anyone, and if it wasn't for you all being his family I don't think he would have anyone around that wouldn't try to take advantage of him."

"I actually wonder now if that's true, Alice, seeing as you are questioning the only woman I've ever loved as if she's a common criminal out to steal my money." Edward's piercing gaze was trained on his sister.

"Well, she needs money. How do you honestly know she isn't with you just for that?" Alice snipped.

"Excuse me?" I was completely taken back with her words.

"How exactly do you plan on paying back all of your student loans?" Alice demanded.

The fuck?

The room exploded.

"You ran a background check on her?!" screamed Edward, his chair from the dinette table scratching against the mahogany floors as he jumped up from his seat.

It was chaos.

Don't kill me for the drama or the cliffy because what's a family get together without a little drama? It's not a long one and you all already know how this story ends. Enjoy your weekend; I've got a busy one since the holiday party season start tomorrow. xx Dee