Life's A Beach
Chapter 3
A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting, and thanks to the readers who encouraged me (so politely!) to get back to it. I had some minor eye surgery and it was hard to type with a patch over one eye. Now I'm catching up on everything but will try to do a better job of keeping on schedule. As always, everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Looks like everyone is heading to the same place tonight. Let's see what happens at Jasper's Pub!
Bella was sure of one thing. Alice was the best researcher of anyone she knew. All you had to do was mention a topic, and Alice would find out everything there was to know. Wanted to know the best local beer? Alice was on it and had an answer in minutes. Wanted to know the best place to buy those cute boots with the fur around the top? She probably knew that one off the top of her head. Wanted to know the best place on the island to listen to music while eating amazing shrimp? According to Alice, it was Jasper's Pub. So Bella and Rosalie had no concerns at all about the evening to come. Someone else might not do their homework, might not check the latest info, and would lead you to some lame retro-disco wine tasting bar instead, but not Alice. Sure enough, as they approached the place, Bella could tell they would have an amazing time. Frankly, any place on Hilton Head was amazing as far as she was concerned. She would have been happy sitting on their little deck and reading a book, as long as she could hear the ocean. But she needed time with her girls too. They were long overdue.
The place sat right along the water of Skull Creek. It didn't look too old or too new, maybe like an older place that had been updated. Considering it was January, Bella didn't expect a lot of people or a long wait for a table, but the parking lot was full. Rose turned their little rental car in and parked between two other buildings. When she stepped out of the car, Bella had to just stop for a moment and take it all in. The sun was setting over the creek, the last licks of sunlight reaching out like fingers extended across the horizon. She could see a string of lights reaching around the inside of the pub and hear the muffled laughter of those inside.
"Alice, you did it again" said Rose. "This looks perfect for our first night out."
"Of course it's perfect" Alice replied "now the two of you will have to do just as good when it's your turn to pick. Good luck with that." She smiled smugly. Bella never seemed to care where they went, as long as they were together, and Rose didn't have the patience to look for a place, which led them to some rather shady places in the past. Good thing they'd let Alice pick first.
"We can't go wrong on the island, so just relax" said Bella. "We still bow down to the wonder that is Alice Brandon." She pulled open the door and stopped in her tracks when she heard the sound of a guitar. It wasn't so much that someone was playing the guitar, rather, it was like someone was gently coaxing the music out and wrapping it around the patrons. Rose and Alice, comparing notes about something, didn't realize she had stopped and ran right into the back of her, pushing her into the room. Bella managed not to fall and looked up to see a handsome guy with shaggy blond hair holding out a hand to her. She grasped it for balance and apologized.
"I'm so sorry. My friends" she wheeled around and gave them a steely stare "are just a little anxious."
"Well, ladies, welcome" he said. "My name is Jasper and I hope you'll always be tripping over yourselves trying to get into my place."
Alice's eyes were wide. "You're Jasper?"
"The one and only, ma'am. This is my place and though I love it to death, it's gone up in quality several notches now that you are gracing the premises." He let go of Bella's hand with a wink and reached for Alice. "And your name, darling?"
"I'm Alice" she nearly whispered as Jasper placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
"Of course you are" he said, nearly as awestruck as she was.
Rose snorted. "And I'm Rosalie, though clearly no one here cares."
A big guy with brown curly hair and the cutest dimples raised his hand from behind the bar. "I care!"
"Well, aren't you special to say so" she said, slinking over to a barstool.
"Actually, I am pretty special" dimple guy responded. "Good thing you figured it out early. Have a seat at my bar, ladies, while Jasper kicks somebody out so he can give you a table."
"Allow me to get you the best seat in the house" said Jasper. He gestured to the front of the room. "That table will be empty in about 15 minutes, and I have no doubt Emmett can keep you entertained and happy until then."
Bella nearly giggled as she watched her friends, who normally prided themselves on making guys work for their attention, immediately spark a connection with Emmett the bartender and their host Jasper. She had the feeling they'd be spending a few of their evenings out right here. Now if only she knew where to find the guy she was looking for. She shook her head and turned to look where Jasper was pointing.
"As soon as it's ready, I'm going to seat you right up in the front so you can watch the lovely and talented…"
"Edward" gasped Bella. She clasped her hand over her mouth as she recognized the gorgeous bronze hair of the guitar player. Though she had hardly spoken loud enough for Jasper or Alice to hear her, Edward's head shot up as though she'd shouted his name.
His fingers seemed to hesitate on the strings for just a second, then a smile grew across his beautiful face. Bella couldn't help but smile in return, and he nodded in acknowledgement.
"That's your Edward?" asked Alice.
Jasper looked from Alice to Bella. "You know Edward? He didn't say he had anyone coming tonight."
"We don't exactly know each other" said Bella and Jasper started to laugh.
"I know, you must be Aro's friend. The one he gave an impromptu roll in the ocean this morning?"
Bella blushed, hoping Jasper didn't know exactly how transparent Aro made her. "Yup" she said. "That was me. Salt water and sand in all kinds of places I didn't plan on."
"Well, then, it's a good thing you're here. Edward doesn't play here for us that often, though I always try to talk him into it. You're in for a treat. If you'll excuse me." Jasper scooted away to deal with a departing customer on the other side of the room.
"He's so beautiful" said Alice.
"I told you" Bella replied.
"No, not him…I mean Jasper." Alice laughed. "Although dog guy is pretty hot too."
"Don't call him that" said Bella. "But he is hot. What do you think, Rose?"
There was no immediate answer. Bella and Alice both turned, only to find Rose engaged in a heated argument with the bartender. The girls moved closer so they could hear what was going on.
"I don't care if that's your signature drink, Emmett. I'm telling you that it's made with dark rum and only dark rum. None of that other girly stuff."
"Now Rose" he said, as if trying to placate her "I know my customers and I can tell what they want to drink. You try this my way, and we'll see who knows best."
"Challenge accepted." Rose grabbed the drink he held out to her and downed it. "I'll admit it was different. And kind of tasty. But try it my way now." Emmett stared at her with a look somewhere between admiration and lust.
Bella and Alice just looked at each other. "I think we've lost Rose for the evening."
Jasper sidled up behind them and put an arm around each of their shoulders. "Well, that might work out just fine. Your table is ready, and I'll be happy to occupy the other chair when I can since Rose and Emmett are otherwise engaged. This way, ladies. Your table and your musician await."
LAB
As much as Edward wanted to pass on playing at Jasper's Pub, he know he owed it to his host. He and Jasper were cousins, but they always been more like brothers. When Edward was little, every summer had been spent on the island with Jasper and his parents. Wonderful, idyllic summers full of beaches and sandcastles, turning to kayaks and jet skis and sometimes girls as they got older. Around the time Edward went off to college three years ago, Jasper's parents made the decision to move further south and left the pub to their only son. After all, they'd named it after him when they first bought it ten years before and always intended that it would be his to run, if that's what he wanted.
Nothing changed much at first, but over time, real life seemed to kick in for the cousins. Jasper's Pub was more popular than ever, and Edward ended up helping behind the bar when he came down for the summer. Then they'd met Emmett, and he immediately became part of the team both in and out of the bar. Even though they had more work and less time to play, the cousins remained close. Only recently had Edward's life changed again, and he had less and less time to spare, especially in the summer. So he decided to head down in January this year, and after running into Bella on the beach, he was glad he did.
He didn't mind filling in for Seth tonight, but he was a little disappointed that it meant one more day before he could search out his girl, for that's how he'd already started to think of her. He'd launched into his playlist and after the first few songs he felt an odd prickle of electricity run up his spine. Edward wondered for a second if there was a problem with one of the speakers and maybe he'd hit a loose wire or something. Then he heard his name, as clear as if the person speaking it was standing right next to him. He looked up, and there she was. His Bella.
Edward nearly missed the next few notes but he was good enough to cover his mistake quickly. He watched as a smile spread across Bella's face, once that surely matched his own. Jasper looked from Edward to Bella, and his grin made it clear that he'd figured out exactly who she was. With a wink at Edward, Jasper pointed to the table right next to where he was playing. Edward was never so happy to see Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, two of his favorite regulars, getting ready to pay their bill and leave.
Jasper made sure to seat Bella in the chair where she could look directly at Edward. He put Alice on the other side, so that there was an open seat next to her. One that he intended to occupy whenever possible. He took their drink orders and headed to the bar, where he had to interrupt Emmett and Rosalie and remind Emmett that they had other customers too. Edward finished the song he was playing just as Jasper brought the girl's drinks and slid into the seat next to Alice.
"Hey folks" said Edward, and paused to acknowledge the applause. "I'm going to take a little break from my usual playlist, if that's okay. I need to play a special song for a special friend." He really, really hoped Bella liked his music, and really, really hoped she wouldn't mind if he singled her out. With a slightly sheepish grin, he pointed his guitar in her direction. "Bella, this is for you." And every woman in the pub sighed.