So, how do we like FighterWard? Isn't he swoon-worthy? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story … What's up next?
Up next will be … Bella's road to recovery, both physically and emotionally. How will she react to knowing that she used FighterWard as her own human body pillow? We're also going to start training with Charlie 'Bull Dog' Swan. You think I'm lying about the drool. It will be messy.
Up next will be Edward and Charlie checking on Bella and a long-overdue conversation between Charlie and his daughter.
I do apologize for the delays. First off, I had a recent death in my family. My aunt, who was my godmother and adoptive mom after my own mother passed away, died rather suddenly. She fell and never regained consciousness after she had a couple of seizures. As of right now, it's the day before her wake and funeral and my mind is on my family.
Secondly, I started some new meds that really wipe me out. Once I take them, I have to go to bed within an hour or I'm a drooling mess. I'm hopeful to get back to my regular posting schedule by next week. Thank you for your patience.
What I own: A brand new faucet for my guest bathroom, one that no longer leaks!
What I don't: Twilight
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Alice, can you go into my closet and find my cast condom?" Bella asked her friend. "I'm covered in sand, dirt and … fuck it, the beach. I'm covered in the beach." She ran her hand through her hair, grimacing when she remembered the laceration along her hairline from her drugged clumsiness. "I can't wash my hair. Damn it."
"Not in the shower, but I can do it for you in the sink, Hells Bells," Alice said. "Where was that cast condom?"
"It should be in the closet, in my underwear drawer," Bell explained, shifting on the bed.
Alice went into her closet, ruffling through the drawers. She found the 'cast condom', pulling it out and carrying it to the bathroom. While she was in there, she turned on the water and cleared off the bench inside. "Come on, Gimpy. Let me help you."
"I need a shower cap. I think I have one from my trip to the Wynn when I dumped Jake's ass," Bella deadpanned. Standing up, she slipped the crutches underneath her arms and hobbled to the bathroom. Bella sat down on the toilet and wrapped a towel around her body, removing her clothes.
Alice found the shower cap. With Alice's help, they wrapped her cast in the cover. Leaning heavily on her friend, Bella sat down on the bench with her towel. Alice pulled the removable shower head, angling it away from Bella. "Holler when you're done. I'm going to make some more coffee and we're going to have a chat after you're all cleaned up. It's a lovely day. The view over the lake is just what you need."
"I don't know, Alice," Bella grumbled. "Possible concussion and sunlight?"
"Work with me, Swan," Alice said. "We need to talk."
"Okay, okay," Bella agreed. After Alice left the bathroom, Bella let the water just wash over her body. The warmth of the water relaxed her body. She sighed as the grime, sand and schmutz washed down the drain. Using her body pouf, she poured a healthy amount of body wash into, scrubbing at her skin, avoiding the red and angry welts on her legs and palms of her hands. She stayed in the shower until the water turned cold, standing up to turn off the shower. Wrapping the towel around her body, she called out for Alice.
A half hour later, Alice helped wash Bella's hair and then they went outside. Bella was sitting on one of the chaise lounges, with another ice pack around cast. Sipping on some coffee, Alice arched a brow at her friend. "Alright, Bells. Spill … what's going on with you and Edward Masen?"
Bella held her coffee cup, inhaling the delicious scent of the dark roast. She took a few sips, holding her good leg up to her chest. "I'm really attracted to him," she whispered.
"You are?! Oh my gosh! That's great news! You would have such beautiful babies," Alice squealed.
"Slow your roll, Alice," Bella deadpanned. "The first few days after Edward arrived, I helped him out with his doctor's appointments and finding an apartment. After he signed a lease, we went out for lunch and had a picnic in the sculpture park. We shared our dark sordid tales of sucky exes and … I don't know … there was a connection. He constantly called me beautiful and there was this spark whenever we touched. Anyway, we barely kissed and Alice, I felt more in that chaste, sweet kiss with Edward than I did with Jacob in our entire relationship."
"So, why did you ghost him?" Alice asked.
"Because, he's a fighter," Bella answered lamely. "No more fighters."
"Hells Bells, you listen to me. Jacob was a douche canoe. He was cheating, whoring, bastard of a man who fucked up the best thing in his life," Alice hissed. "You were entirely too good for him."
"Then, why did he cheat on me? Why did he throw me away, like everyone else who supposedly 'loves' me?" Bella asked.
"Jacob only loved Jacob," Alice growled. "And, not all men are like Jacob Black. He got too big for his britches. From what I've observed and heard about Edward Masen, he's the complete opposite of Jacob. Edward is kind, generous, and very easy on the eyes."
"But, that ship has sailed," Bella frowned. "He made it abundantly clear that I fucked up when I ghosted him."
"If he felt that way, he wouldn't have hovered and stayed with you last night," Alice said. "Now, explain to me why you have a broken leg, a goose egg on your head and covered in scrapes?"
Bella's face flamed. She sipped more of her coffee and stared at the sun reflecting on the water. "That girl …"
"Bree Tanner," Alice said. "She's my cousin. My very socially inept cousin. Mom laid into her for being a slut."
"Really?" Bella deadpanned. "And from what I saw, she wasn't not acting slutty, just forward."
"Bree is the only child of my Aunt Carmen. Carmen's husband died unexpectedly, and she sheltered Bree. As such, Bree doesn't understand the social niceties of flirtation. If my Aunt Carmen had her way, Bree would never leave the nest. She only agreed for Bree to move to Seattle because my mom was here and Bree had family nearby," Alice explained. "But, she's a slut. If only Aunt Carmen knew how many people Bree has fucked. Bree talks to me, telling me of her conquests. She'd fuck Edward, use him for a while and then toss him to the side."
"Is it wise for her to work in the physical rehabilitation center?" Bella asked. "She sounds like sexual harassment suit waiting to happen."
"Maybe if she's faced with real consequences, her behavior will change," Alice shrugged. "Regardless, you disappeared awfully quickly when you saw Bree pounce on Edward."
"I don't have any right to feel anything toward Edward and who he wants to date, but I felt betrayed," Bella sighed. "I felt more with Edward than I did for Jacob. I still do and it's never going to happen because I'm too fucking broken."
"What the actual fuck?" Alice snapped. "You're not broken. Seriously, what crack are you smoking, Isabella Marie?"
Bella just stared at the glittering water, unable to put how she felt into words. Hell, she vaguely remembering confessing to Edward how she built up a wall around her heart. She was able to tell him when she was three sheets to the wind, but couldn't tell one of her best friends.
"Hells Bells?" Alice asked.
"I'm tired. My head hurts from being outside and the sunlight," Bella mumbled. "I'm going to take a nap." She stood up, balancing on her crutches.
"Bella, talk to me," Alice pleaded.
Bella shook her head, hobbling away from her friend and making her way to the bedroom. She found her pain medication, popping a pill and curling around the pillow Edward slept on the previous night. A few errant tears fell from her eyes as she drifted off.
Alice knew enough to not push her friend, but she was stewing on the deck. Shaking her head, she went inside and did some work for her clients, starting first with some endorsement options for Edward. He'd done some work for Movado, Under Armour, and one of the biggest glove companies for fighters. She reached out to them, acting as his publicist, asking if they still wanted to have him promote their products. Movado immediately said yes, as did Under Armour. The glove company was a subsidiary of Volterra, and they tried to get Alice to admit that Edward broke his contract, wanting him to pay them money for not fulfilling his contractual obligations. Alice calmly responded that if they wanted to dispute Edward's contract, that they'd need to contact his attorney. She gave them her husband's number and sent an email to Jasper, explaining the situation.
By midafternoon, Charlie and Edward pulled into the driveway. Charlie parked Bella's car in the garage. Alice was waiting outside. "Hello, boys," she said. "Charlie, I'm going to take Edward out for dinner."
"But …" Edward said.
"I have things I need to talk to you about," Alice said. "We'll come back here." She looped her arm through Edward's. "Bella's in her home office."
"Thanks, Alice," Charlie said, ducking inside.
Alice pulled on Edward's arm and dragged him to his car. "Alice, what the hell?"
"They need to talk," Alice explained. "Bella was sleep-talking when she took a nap and … they need to have a long-overdue conversation."
"I'm supposed to drive Charlie back home," Edward said, unlocking his car and sliding into the driver's seat.
"I'll drive Charlie when I get back," Alice said. "Besides, I have some information to share with you regarding sponsorships and endorsements. I'd like to go over that with you. I'll take you out for a steak."
"I can make us dinner, Alice," Edward snorted.
"I'm taking you out for a steak. I can expense it and we can talk about your PR plan and about your future wife, Masen," Alice smirked.
"What?" he barked, shooting her a look at a stoplight.
"Trust me, Edward. Just trust me," she sang, rubbing his bicep.
A/N: So, Charlie and Bella's conversation is happening next chapter. We'll also hear some more from Alice and Edward, too. We're going to move forward in time, along with Bella and Edward's relationship.
Pictures from this chapter are on my blog. You can access that from a link in my profile. I'm FB: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79.
Leave me your thoughts.
Updates will resume this weekend, but will go on hiatus until early May (which will get me through my musical and final choral concert). Again, thank you for your support and patience. Much love to all of you!
