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Word Prompt: Inspection

Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Take the easy way out.

"Well, do you want to go or not?" Em asks, rifling through paperwork.

We're in his home office, sitting at opposite sides of his desk like he's my boss. Which he is.

"Yeah. I mean. Yeah. I think so."

"You think so?" His eyes flicker briefly to me. "Have you always been this flaky?"

Rolling my eyes, I settle back. I can see their backyard from here, a side view of it. Charlie's laying back on the grass, pointing up - at the clouds probably. The sun is starting to set, casting everything in a deep, rosy gold.

"Rose and I can watch Charlie if you'd like to go alone. It's a weekend anyway. No big deal."

"Why are so insistent I go?"

"I'm just giving you options." He shrugs, putting the stack of papers into a desk drawer. "Also, I think you should shit or get off the pot. Not that your relationship is any of my business."

"No, it's not," I agree, but his words hit home.

Edward is committed to me and I to him. We're both focused on our careers, but we've promised to give each other just as much focus if, and when, we can. There's just...this little part of me that's still afraid - of rejection, failure, disappointment, heartbreak. Whether it's intentional or not.

How do two people combine their lives without losing themselves? And is losing myself as bad as I think it is? I look at Em and Rose and they just...have it.

"How do you guys do it?" I ask. "You and Rose?"

"What do you mean?" Em frowns, seeming genuinely puzzled. "Like how do we stay happy or whatever?"

"Yeah. How do you go in your own directions but still manage to be...going the same way?"

Exhaling loudly, he clasps his hands behind his head. "That's the million dollar question, Bella. But for real?" He looks at me, really looks. "It's loads talking it out. And compromise. And in-ter-dependence." He sounds this last part out as if I'm four.

Nodding slowly, I mull over his words. As gregarious and fun loving as my brother can be, he's also incredibly insightful and wise. And he has to be; Rose would never have married a moron.

"So basically it's a juggling act between independence and dependence. Compromise."

"Right. But right now the bottom line is, what do you really want? Not what do you think you want, or what everybody else wants for you, but you? What do you want?"

"I would like to go to L.A. I'm just nervous."

"About?"

"About going to his game alone. Being on my own. Leaving Charlie. I don't want her to ever think- to ever feel - someone else comes before her."

"Chuck's fine. Everyone's in love with that kid. And..as for you..." Sighing, he leans forward. "It's okay to have people in your life other than Chuck. If Edward's a good guy...if he's the guy...then, it's okay. Has to be. You can't be Saint Bella for the rest of your life, sacrificing shit like you're some kind of a martyr. Come on."

"Martyrs sacrifice themselves, Emmett."

"Exactly."

I notice he doesn't even bother addressing the 'going alone' part, and I figure that's intentional.

Because I'm a big girl. I can do this.

He downplays it, but Edward is ecstatic I'm going to L.A.

"I thought you'd leave me hanging for sure," he says, hugging me from behind as I make myself a PB&J. It's been a long day, full of errand running.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I tease, not wanting to admit to how close I was to doing that very thing.

"I know you," he whispers, kissing my ear before backing off completely.

I cut the sandwich in two, offering him half. "You do?"

"Yeah. I think do." He accepts, taking a bite. "Enough to guess your moves."

"Mm." I take a bite, too. "Well maybe I'll surprise you one day."

His eyes crinkle, and he nods. "I hope you do."

These nonsense conversations usually lead to the bedroom, which is part of the reason I love engaging in them. It's just...sillness and cuteness, just him and me. Flirting. His eyes sweeping over the hemline of my shorter than usual sundress, and my hands itch to touch the skin beneath his shirt.

I hope we always feel this way.

And then I realize that thinking that way at all tells me more than I thought I knew: I'm in this for the long haul. I really, really am.

And that's it.

"You sure I'll pass inspection?" I ask, smiling big to hide my nerves.

Edward squeezes my knee, most likely seeing through my act. "Yeah, Bella. My Mom loves everyone; she's an easy sell. And my Dad...he'll love you, too. I promise."

"How do you promise?"

"Because I know them. I know the type of stuff they care about, and it lines up with the type of stuff you care about. You're a good match."

"For them or for you?"

He chuffs quietly. "Both."

"Good." Smoothing my dress, I take a deep breath and look out the window, enjoying the play of sunlight as it dapples through the trees. Edward grew up in an affluent part of Seattle, but now his parents own a ton of land in the country.

We've been driving up their driveway for like, five minutes. That should say something. It's beautiful out here, though. Open, endless. Easy to breathe.

I peek at Edward, admiring how he looks. Dressier than usual, in dark grey Armani (I peeked) slacks and a white dress shirt rolled at the sleeves, showing off his forearms as well as his other sleeves. No tie or anything, just...classy.

Just...sexy.

When he looks at me, his eyes soften. "You okay?"

"I'm great." I am. Just nervous.

The road ahead curves and then, right ahead, sits the Cullen's home.

We park beside a black Mercedes and a white BMW. Considering the utterly plebeian vehicle I drive, I find this amusingly predictable. Still, the grounds are gorgeous, not over landscaped at all - wild roses and towering trees, a little bird bath to my right.

And no maid. Edward's mother herself answers the door, grinning when she sees her son. "Hey, handsome." She hugs him tight, kissing his face the way she probably did when he was a toddler, and then turns to me. "Bella."

"Yes. Hi, Mrs. Cullen. It's nice to meet you."

"Thank you! It's nice to meet you, too. And Esme is fine. I prefer that." We hug awkwardly, but she's so warm and pretty and kind it's okay. "I'm glad he finally brought you up," she says, holding Edward's hand but looking back at me as we walk further into the house. "It's really long overdue."

"We're busy, Mom," Edward says, his exasperation mellowed by obvious affection.

"We're all busy, Edward. You make time, though." She winks at me, and suddenly I see where he gets it. "Don't you?"

You make time.

"Yes, we have to." Nodding, I hurry to keep up.

Carlisle Cullen's an older, blond, and tattoo-free version of his son. So, hot, basically. I mean, hot in a distinguished way; I'm not like, having inappropriate thoughts or anything. But he and Esme? Wow. What a couple. They're so very attractive; it makes total sense why Edward is as fine as he is. I have to wonder what they think of his tattoos. They seem easy going, but you never know.

Regardless, the closeness Edward shares with them is apparent. They might not hang out all the time, but it's obvious they keep in touch very regularly. Esme mentions an email, and Carlisle says something about Facebook.

I freeze, eyes sliding over to Edward.

He bites his lip, laughing. "Yeah. He's been monitoring things."

"What?" Carlisle says, throwing his hands up. "I like keeping up. You'll see. When you get older. You won't feel older, you know."

"It's true," Esme says, leaning to refill my wine glass. "Although he's way more into social media than I am. I find all of that exhausting."

"You still ask me for all of the details, though," Carlisle says.

"No, I don't!" But she's laughing now, too.

"You do." Carlisle looks at me. "So, Bella. Tell me."

Edward stiffens and grabs my hand all at once. "Dad."

His father waves him off. "No, I'm curious. Tell me, Bella. Where do you see this going with Edward?"

I'm speechless. We've all had a good bit of wine with dinner, and these two are particularly open - refreshingly transparent, even - but this is unexpected.

"I...I don't know." I glance at Edward, who shakes his head at me.

"He's nosy, Bella. Ignore him."

"No taking the easy way out," chortles Carlisle. "Come on. We've been hearing about you for months now."

Esme lowers her eyes, but she's still smiling, too. It's funny; as confident as Edward is, his parents are really jovial. They remind me of...Emmett. Smiling inwardly at the though, I finally look Carlisle in the eye.

But Edward speaks first.

"Bella's the first girl I've trusted in a long, long time. We have a really good thing, and...I love her."

He's told me he loves me, but somehow, hearing that he trusts me does something to me. He's so giving, so all in. I reach for his hand, holding it between both of mine.

"I'll go wherever he takes me."

Hypolight - Mt Wolf

xoxo

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