Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
EPOV
Family dinner.
To a stranger looking in you might mistake the Cullen clan as a happy one with the smiles and laughter. Maybe we were and it was just me who was out of place in this group.
"All I can say is that I am thrilled to have both my boys back," Dad said as he held up his wine glass as if he were making a toast.
"Here, here," Esme exclaimed happily with a clap of her hands after setting down her glass as she turned to smile at me. It was at that moment that Angela slipped her arm through mine.
Her touch was warm and slightly possessive.
Normally I would lean into her touch, but tonight everything was off.
She noticed my recoil, but didn't loosen her hold.
"What is wrong?" she whispered through a smile as she continued to looked at Dad and Esme while they bragged on about Emmett.
I glanced over to Emmett to find him looking down in what appeared to be embarrassment while his wife, Rosalie held Dad's gaze with a look that could only be described as boredom. Both of them had little use for Dad after how he tried to block Emmett from using his inheritance from mom during college.
"And my boy, Edward."
The sound of my name caught my attention and forced me to meet Dad's adoring gaze.
"It was touch and go there for a while, but here you are," he breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Grown, on the verge of marriage to a good woman whom your mother and I completely approve of," he said as I felt Angela's grasp on me tighten for a moment.
"You have come so far and we are so proud of you," Dad finished with a beaming smile to me and my betrothed.
He paused, allowing me time to say some flowery response, but I could not think of any words.
"Thanks," I muttered as I held up a glass weakly before taking a sip and setting it down. I looked across the table to see Emmett, his face void of expression as we all listened to Esme encourage Angela to speak. He had always been the master of hiding his thoughts, but that was not his wife's gift. Rosalie sat there with a look of disgust on her face as she looked at me before watching it vanish as she took a deep drink of the wine in her glass.
"I am so excited to be joining this family and being with Edward," Angela said happily as I felt her hand heavy upon my arm.
"We are thrilled to have you," I could hear Esme gush on as I remained silent.
"Say something Edward," Angela prodded me as I struggled to find any words.
"I…Uh…" I stammered as I looked from my Dad's pleased grin to Emmett's blank stare.
"I'm just happy that everyone is happy about this," I said slowly as no other kind words came to mind.
I looked over at Ange to watch her smile falter for just a moment before returning to its warm glow.
"And that is what's really import here, Edward, "Rosalie cut in with a snort of laughter that was silenced as Emmett visible elbowed her.
There was no time gasp over her comment as she quickly switched the topic by asking about the wedding and the plans afterwards.
"We are going to Madrid for the honeymoon and from there who know," Ange giggled softly as I watched Rose smirk in response.
"Spain?" She questioned as I looked down at the untouched food on my plate.
"Yes, I told Edward how I wanted to go back to Spain and so we are," Ange gushed on as I nodded in agreement. "You know, he went on spring break of his sophomore year."
"Yeah, I remember," Rosalie said with an edge to her tone as she glanced over at Emmett.
"A reward for my GPA," I mumbled as if I owed her an explanation.
I didn't.
"If that's what you want to call it," Rose breathed out before taking another sip of her wine as Emmett sat stone face next to her.
"What would you call it?" I challenged her as Ange fell silent.
"Enough, Rosie."
Emmett broke his silence with a curt comment that silenced his wife as awkwardness settled in over the table.
"Sorry," she mumbled before taking a drink of her wine.
The awkward silence loomed over the table for a long moment until the loud knocking on the door broke the tension. I watched as Dad walked off to answer it while Esme and Angela gushed on together about the wedding.
I watched my brother and his wife exchange what appeared to be bitter words until finally it was clear that Emmett was backing down. I opened my mouth to speak, knowing that it was not my place, but was saved from the embarrassment by the arrival of Angela's parents.
I listened as Esme and Mrs. Webber squealed as they greeted each other. It was loud and unnecessary, but amusing to watch these women hug.
"Look at them," Ange whispered with a chuckle as I turned to look at her with a smile.
"I know," I laughed as I looked down once more.
Celebrating anything involving Esme felt wrong, but Ange liked her so I went along with it.
"Imagine how they will react when we have kids," Ange laughed in a breathy whisper that had my blood run cold.
She knew how I felt.
She may not understand why I felt that, but we have agreed no kids.
Not now.
Not ever.
"We agreed…"
"We can talk about it later," she hushed me before standing up to walk into that older woman hug session. It was the perfect excuse for me to join Rose and Emmett, especially now that Emmett had disappeared to avoid the crowd.
I cross the room and sat down next to Rose. The scowl on her face told me how welcomed I was to join her.
"Emmett is in the restroom," she offered as I nodded that I understood. I took a deep breath followed by a deep drink of the wine.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked as I found the nerve to demand answers to my conversation with Emmett from earlier.
"What are you talking about?" she asked me as she turned to face me with a confused look on her face.
"Bella."
I spoke her name and watched recognition wash over her features before she met my eyes again with a snarky grin.
"I have no idea what you are speaking of," she lied with a grin that had me gritting my teeth in irritation.
"Liar," I hissed softly as I struggled to contain my anger towards her, earning a soft laugh in response.
"Edward, you are getting married in a few days," she chuckled as I shook my head in response.
"Why are you doing this?" I demanded once more.
"You have nothing to do with this or her," she spoke over the top of my words just as Emmett appeared.
"Good you're just in time for your brother's breakdown," she snorted as Emmett sat down between us. I could see the swift and harsh dirty look he shot his wife.
"Stay away from Bella," I muttered under my breath, which only made her chuckle.
"Rose," Emmett warned as I watched fire flash in her eyes.
"You listen to me, Edward Cullen," she breathed out in a low whisper that had a dangerous tone to it.
"No, you listen to me," I countered back as Emmett gave me a warning look.
"You have no business with Bella, and you are just doing this to hurt me," I hissed in a low whisper, filling the silence between us.
I watched as Rose gave Emmett a knowing look before he shook his head.
"Edward, this has nothing to do with you," Rosalie said in a low voice that was far from soothing. "It's unbelievable that you think it is,"
"Ridiculous?" I countered as my voice rose over the hum of the room just enough for Ange to give me a quizzical look.
"There is no reason for you to be in contact with her unless it involves me, so that is far from crazy," I finished in a whisper before smiling at my fiancé.
"Wow…." Rose whispered in disbelief as she looked at me then back to her husband. "I told you, Emmett, I told you that he was nothing but a spoiled baby,"
"Rose…" Emmett breathed out.
"Spoiled?" I questioned with a soft laugh as she shook her head.
"Yes, big fucking spoiled baby," she repeated slowly, as if I needed her to slow her message based on my ability to comprehend her. "I have no idea what she ever saw in you. I'm just glad she is ready to try to move on."
Her words hit me.
Bella was ready to move on.
"She already has," I whispered earning a scathing laugh in response.
"Stay away from her," I re stated as Rose shook her head.
"No, you stay away from her," she countered as I stared in disbelief.
"Emmett told me about your stalking and bull shit need to make sure she was fine," she laughed as I felt my face flame red in response to Emmett telling her about my visits to Bella's.
"Where was all this need to make sure she was ok after she lost the baby?" she hissed in anger as I met her angry gaze.
"She left me," I whispered earning an eye roll in response.
"Keep taking her side," I muttered earning a loud laugh as Emmett tried to shush her.
"This isn't about taking side," Emmett interjected, finally breaking his silence.
"Emmett, I am done with this. You can stay and coddle the prince here, but I'm going back to the hotel room," Rose whispered in a harsh tone as I watched Emmett nervously rub at his forehead before standing and lifting a glass towards Angela.
"She seems sweet, Edward," she continued on as I watched Ange nod and then smile bright at me in return.
"Someone should probably tell her that you're still in love with your first wife," she started to say only to be silenced by my biting laughter.
"Someone should probably tell her that he's still married to his first wife," Emmett commented with a tired sigh as I watched Rose's eyes go wide for a moment before they narrowed to match her snarky grin followed by a low round of laughter.
"You never divorced?" She asked in a low voice as I shook my head.
"We…. I refused to sign the papers," I replied stupidly as I thought about the night, I found the papers.
"What the hell is this?" I demanded as I held the papers up while Bella cowered in the doorway of her father's house. Her hair was messy from sleep and her dark, haunted eyes met mine with tears.
"You know this is the only way your dad will pay your tuition," she countered in a soft voice as she moved past me sit on the porch swing. I watched her walk, holding on to the wall to help brace herself. I stepped towards her quickly to take hold of her hand to help her as she was still weak. She said she was fine, but this just proved different.
"Not like this, Bella," I countered as we sat down together. I pulled her on to my lap to hold her. I slipped my hand under my oversized t shirt she insisted upon wearing. I slipped along her rib cage and paused on her breast bone just to feel her heart beat against my hand. It's heavy thud against my hand was a soothing reminder that she was still alive.
"It's just a piece of paper, Edward," she whispered into my hair as she held me close.
"Bella, it's giving him what he wants," I countered as I pressed my face into her chest to breathe her in. The scent of her combined with the heavy thud of her heart was what I needed to ground myself in that moment as I thought of the papers in my hand.
"No, it's making sure you get what you need," she whispered before pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. Bella was always the rational one between us.
"I need you," I reminded her, earning a low giggle that I loved more than the air I breathed.
"it's just a game, Edward," she sighed as I felt her fingers run through my hair. The sensation sent a chill down my spine as I continued to breathe her in.
"It doesn't change anything between us ever."
AN:
Thanks for reading!
XOXO,
Mamasutra