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Word Prompt: Swing
Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Rise to the challenge.
"Charlie, did you take my Chapstick?" Tossing my purse aside, I walk down the hall and into her room. "Charlie?" She's not there, so I check the bathroom... "Charlie?" and then my room..."Charlie!"
Finally, a muffled response leads me to my closet. Charlie's in the corner, where she usually goes when she's up to no good.
"Charlie."
"Yes, Mom."
"What're you doing?"
Her silence tells me all I need to know. Venturing in, I bend down and drag her out by the foot. She squeals and giggles, trying to get away, but I grab her tight and haul her out. She's got my cherry Chapstick all over her mouth and what looks like orange Sharpie all over her feet.
"Ugh, what did you do?" I cry, holding her at arm's length as we head for the bathroom.
"Doin' my nails, Mom."
"I said I'd do it for you later," I groan, turning the shower on. "With polish. You made a mess, Charlie."
"You said, you said..." She trails off, trying to keep me from prying my mangled Chapstick from her fist. I eventually get it, tossing it into the sink before stripping her down and placing her in the bath. "Here. You can play in the shower for a minute, okay?"
"I don't wanna shower," she says, which is interesting because usually she loves showers. She also loves challenging me lately, though, too.
"Too bad." I lather her up and then set her to rinse, closing the shower curtain with a sharp tug. We're only half way through the day and already I'm over it.
Sighing, I retrieve my Chapstick, which is probably a lost cause now, and head into the kitchen. I loosely wrap the doll we bought in tissue paper and place it into a gift bag, jotting a quick birthday card to go with it.
We're heading to a birthday party, Charlie's first - not counting family get togethers. Nessa, her little friend from preschool, invited several little girls to celebrate at her house. I'm equal parts excited and dreading it. Excited because this is kind of a milestone for Charlie and her little social life, but dreading it because I've heard how boring kid parties can be.
Thankfully, Nessa's mom Angela is one of the friendly ones. We've chatted a couple of times during pick up, and I really like her.
"It's good to have Mom friends," Rose says, all the time. "People dealing with the same things you are. Just watch for the super competitive ones."
I'm wondering if I'll encounter any of those today.
My heart skips a beat when Edward's name appears on my phone. I answer, hoping this means he's back in town. He's been busy lately, helping Emmett with catering but also visiting some fancy physical therapist in downtown Seattle.
"Hello, Edward?"
"Hey, Bella. I'm back."
"How'd it go?"
"All right. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know."
These days Edward's knee is pretty much back to normal, but he says it's still sensitive when he runs or tries to execute some of the footwork he used to do on the field. He thinks that with special physical therapy everything will return to normal - hence his trip.
"Will he be able to help you, you think?"
"Yeah. I have to go four times a week for three months, at which point he'll reevaluate."
"Cool," I say evenly.
"So, what are you up to?" he asks. "Can I swing by?"
"I'm taking Charlie to that birthday party, remember?"
"Oh, yeah. Shit. Well..."
"You want to come?" I tease, imagining the absurdity of Edward surrounding by a bunch of toddlers and their Pinterest-perfect moms.
"Sure."
"I was totally kidding, Edward."
"I don't mind...unless you'd prefer I didn't come."
"No! I mean, I'd...like that. It just might be boring. I don't know." I have no idea why the prospect of this makes me so nervous.
"I'm a couple of minutes away. Just, hold tight."
"Fine. But we're taking my car."
"Okay."
We hang up. I set the phone down and stare at it for a minute, my mind all over the place. I'm not used to this. I've been all right with doing things solo, living my life and Charlie's, work and family. There've been guys, but no one spectacular: casual dates that never led anywhere, nice guys that were dull, cute ones who just wanted to hook up... and that just isn't me.
I've had one semi-serious relationship since having Charlie, and that fizzled out on its own. There's definitely never been an Edward, and it still kind of surprises me when he wants to hang out as much as I do. Rose gets annoyed when I say things like this, like I have an inferiority complex or something, but it's not about that. It's about finding someone who wants you like you want them. Maybe I've just gotten used to duds and then he comes along and...he's...he's Edward.
And it's about timing. I mean we're both busy people, but he's a special kind of busy. Besides ongoing communication and negotiations with coaches and teammates, agents and doctors, he's decided he wants to take an active role with the catering business. He's always been a silent partner, but now he's got Mike and Em training him on the paperwork side of things, scheduling and accounts and all that.
Guess he's covering his bases in case soccer is a no-go. I mean football. He still calls it football, something Emmett bugs him about endlessly.
"Mom!" Charlie calls, interrupting my runaway thoughts.
I hurry back down the hall and get her out of the shower. We dry her off and get her dressed - she actually allows me to help pick out something - and I give her pigtails.
The doorbell rings.
"Hey, Edward's coming with us, okay?" I say, belatedly.
"Yah." She nods absently, wandering toward the kitchen. "Where's Nessa's doll?"
"I wrapped it up, ready to go," I call, opening the door. "Hi."
"Hi." Edward smiles at me. He looks tired, the way he often does after physical therapy.
"You sure you want to come?" I ask, kissing his cheek. "It's going to be very...loud. And non-relaxing."
"I'm sure I can rise to the challenge," he says dryly.
"Edward!" Charlie says, running to him and hugging his legs. "Hi! We're going to a party!"
"I know. Can I come, too?" he asks, patting her head.
"Yeah. They'll have cake."
"I love cake."
"I love cake," she echoes, looking like this is the best coincidence ever.
Angela lives about ten minutes away. We're a couple of minutes late, so the party is in full swing by the time we arrive.
"Hi Angela," I say when the door opens. Charlie jets past me and disappears without saying a word - something I should talk to her about later.
"Hi, Bella!" Angela says, giving me a hug. "So glad you guys came! Nessa's going to freak when she sees Charlie." Her eyes slide over to Edward, who's standing just behind me, and I swear her cheeks pinken. "Hi, I'm Angela."
Now I blush, because I feel rude for not introducing Edward, but he just extends a hand. "Hi, Angela. Edward."
She gestures toward the kitchen. "Come on in. The kids are set up outside but there are refreshments and things in the kitchen."
The second Edward's attention is diverted she glances back at me, mouthing, "he's hot!"
Biting my lip, I just smile and nod. Because, yeah. He is.
There are mostly just moms here, and Edward gets a few glances. I'm still not unaffected by Edward's looks, or his tattoos, but I suppose I've forgotten just how initially breathtaking he is.
Angela's as sweet as always, getting us sodas and chatting as we head toward the backyard, where her husband Ben's keeping an eye on things. It's a bright, beautiful day, and as we settle into a corner of the yard, I feel myself start to relax.
"Edward, would you mind watching Charlie so I can take this?" I ask, holding my phone up. It's a call from one of my newest customers. I have a feeling they want to hire me independently, and the money would be fantastic.
"Of course." He nods, waving me off.
Wandering back inside, I answer the call.
About fifteen minutes later I hang up, excited about the upcoming job. I'm about to shoot Emmett a text, telling him, when I spy Lauren Mallory talking to Edward. She's inappropriately close, which isn't surprising: everyone knows she comes out to play when Mr. Mallory's away.
"You've gotta be kidding me," I mutter, walking slowly back outside. They've got their backs to me, but I can tell by the way Lauren's inclined toward him that she's charmed.
That's how she is, though. She's beautiful and she knows it. Everyone knows it.
He laughs at something she says, and I then see her point at the kids. I go closer, shamelessly eavesdropping.
"...Charlie," he's saying, pointing.
"Aw, she's cute. Bet she's a real Daddy's girl."
"Edward," screeches Charlie. "Look at me!" She tumbles down into the grass, executing some sort of faux-somersault. He gives her a thumbs up, right as Lauren scoots closer, looking all faux-flustered.
"Oh, I am so sorry; I thought you were her Dad," she says.
"It's fine," he laughs again. "Whatever."
He doesn't sound too affronted, but I am mortified beyond belief. It's not like our situation is rare, but I mean, who says that crap? Really? I walk over, not even trying to be stealthy anymore.
Lauren puts her hand on his arm, but he stands, brushing grass from his jeans. He takes a step back and smirks at her, like he's got her all figured out, and of course he does. He's a professional athlete. I'm sure there have been plenty of Laurens over the years.
"Charlie's not mine, but her mom is," he says, glancing at me, like he fully expects to see me here.
Be right back; melting.
dedicated to the Mormon Mafia and Amish Gangstas.
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