Chapter 43
"Our house"
Bella's POV
It was almost 8 o'clock when I heard Charlie's car pull up outside. We'd spent the afternoon and the early evening entwined in my bed, trying to make good on the promise Edward had made me. But now it seemed like our time was finally up.
"Oh shit", I sighed and quickly put on my sweater and then put on my pants.
"I probably should have left earlier", Edward mumbled and then proceeded to swiftly dress himself. I cast him one last look as he was putting on his clothes, not able to get enough of him. He was lovely.
"What?" he asked warily. "Have I forgotten to put something on? Is there something on my sweater?" He pulled at his sweater, looking for whatever had caught my eye.
"Nothing. You just look amazing", I answered before I could stop myself.
He smiled teasingly at me and then put his arms around me.
"Are you going soft on me, Bella Swan?" he asked, looking down at me while enveloping me in his arms.
"What I meant to say is that you look hideous", I retorted, taunting him, and then kissed him.
"Forget I said anything", he said and gave me a small smile.
I put my arms around his waist and pulled him closer. I buried my face against his neck, relishing at how good he smelled.
"You should probably head out", I mumbled into his sweater, not really wanting him to leave.
"I know. So do you want me to leave for the night or just long enough to avoid Charlie catching us like this?" he wondered, his voice earnest and slightly trembling.
"Don't your parents keep track of you at all?" I asked, genuinely surprised by his offer. "I mean, won't they worry if you don't come home tonight?"
He seemed thrown by my question and he didn't reply right away.
"Um, well. My parents kind of have their hands full with Jasper right now, so a lot of what I'm up to just kind of slips past them. Anyhow, they're not very… conservative about these things. I imagine that Charlie might not like the thought of us spending time alone in your room, but my parents wouldn't mind. They're pretty open-minded and I'm pretty sure they're aware of the fact that I've spent plenty of time here…."
I felt my cheeks turn crimson red. I'd never met Edward's parents face to face, only having visited their home that one time when they'd been away visiting Jasper. But the thought of them knowing that Edward had been staying over here made me feel flustered. It wasn't the first impression I'd wanted to make, even if they were in fact less strict than Charlie.
"It's fine, Bella. They don't care", he added promptly once he caught on to my embarrassment. "I mean, Emmett and Rosalie live under the same roof. I assumed you'd already figured that my parents are pretty easy-going." He smiled reassuringly at me and I shot him a faint smile.
"So, do you want me to come back later? I can park my car a couple of streets away and come back", he asked, anxiously awaiting my reply.
"Of course I want you to come back. I just didn't know if you could. I didn't know that it was an option."
"Well, it is. And I'd be happy to come back and spend the rest of the evening here with you once you've managed to shake off Charlie." He kissed my forehead.
"Then come back. I'll shake him as fast as I can", I answered eagerly.
"Alright then", he said, smiling at me, and then let me go. "So what exactly have we been up to for hours in your room? I mean, what's the story we're telling Charlie once we get downstairs?"
I hadn't even thought of that and I felt my cheeks go red once more. Fuck.
"I don't know", I answered nervously. "Your parents may be very relaxed about these things, but Charlie is not. Not at all."
He smiled daringly at me.
"Just follow my lead and I will get us out of this situation", he said boldly and then headed for the door. Without missing a beat I watched him heading for the stairs and descending them, as if he wasn't scared at all that Charlie would bring out his rifle.
"Chief Swan!" I heard him call out, sounding polite and respectful as ever. It was a whole different tone compared to the one he'd been using with me while lying in bed this afternoon.
I scurried to follow him and I practically dashed down the stairs.
"Hello Edward", I heard Charlie saying, sounding surprised at finding Edward in his house. As I made it down the stairs I found the two of them standing in the hallway, Charlie looking a bit confused and Edward giving Charlie his most pleasant smile. Oh, he was good.
"How was your fishing trip with Billy, sir?" Edward asked amiably, seeming genuinely interested.
"It was fine, thanks. We caught a couple of really big ones", Charlie answered, still sounding distraught.
"That's great!" Edward exclaimed excitedly. "But who could have doubted that you would, given how nice the weather was today? Today must be considered as a perfect day for fishing, am I right?"
"Yes, it must. So what have you been up to this afternoon? How was your flight, Bella?" Charlie asked, sounding suspicious. He threw me an inquisitive look and I could feel my face fluster.
"The flight was good, dad", I replied nervously.
"Well, it was fine, except for the part when they lost her luggage", Edward retorted.
What the hell? What was he up to now?
"They lost your bags, Bella?!" Charlie called out incredulously. "But how in the world…?"
"It wasn't a big deal, really. They found them eventually in the back of the plane, even though the staff insisted that all bags had been moved from the plane to the carousel. However, it did take them three hours to locate them and it got so late that we had to stop on the road to grab some food, seeing as Bella hadn't eaten since breakfast. We only just got back. I've helped Bella bring her luggage upstairs just now", he said earnestly and gestured at the stairs.
Charlie stared at me, dumbfounded by what Edward had just told him. I had to muster all of my strength not to burst out laughing at the elaborate lie that Edward had just told my dad to cover up the steamy afternoon we'd just shared.. Only Edward could pull a stunt like this with a straight face.
"I can't believe this! They'll hire just about anyone at airports these days. No wonder the talibans just sailed straight into the World Trade Center. You should have called me. I would've come immediately and set things straight", Charlie finally spoke, sounding very upset by the supposed trouble I'd faced at the airport.
"It wasn't that bad, dad", I assured him, trying to calm him down. I hoped that Edward wasn't going to take this lie too far or I imagined that Charlie would be placing a call to the police deparment in charge at the airport.
"And that you had to spend your entire Saturday afternoon sitting around at the airport", Charlie continued heatedly, directing himself at Edward, "If I had known I would never have asked you to pick her up."
"I offered, sir", Edward replied humbly. "In any case, we had a rather nice afternoon together, getting the opportunity to catch up. No harm, no foul."
"Well, let me at least compensate you for gas and any other expenses…"Charlie insisted eagerly.
"I won't hear of it, officer. Really. And it was my pleasure", Edward asserted, raising his hand to stop Charlie from insisting further.
I could tell that Charlie wasn't comfortable accepting Edward's refusal, but after a brief moment he seemed to let it go.
"Alright then", Charlie said at last, "I am very grateful to you for picking her up and for helping Bella get her bags back. I'm glad that Bella has such reliable friends in her life."
"Thank you, sir", Edward said, adding jokingly, "I might call in the favor one day when I get caught speeding or shoplifting."
For a minute Charlie just stared at him, bewildered. And then he burst out laughing.
"Oh, you got me there, Edward", Charlie spoke, still laughing. Edward smiled widely at him.
I didn't know why, but something in the way they interacted made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I'd noticed it before too, but it was becoming more and more obvious that they were getting really comfortable in each other's company.
"I would never speed of course. But if, in an alternative universe, I ever did, it would feel safe to have the local sheriff on my side", Edward continued gleefully.
"Well, after what you've been through this afternoon I suppose I'd have to cover for you even if you murdered someone", Charlie responded brightly.
"I'll remember that", Edward said and shot him a wide smile. "Well, I should probably head out now or my parents will be filing a missing person report soon."
"Of course. Please send your parents my apologies for making you come home so late", Charlie said solemnly.
"It's quite alright, sir. If you had five teenagers living under the same roof you probably wouldn't mind one of them disappearing temporarily either", Edward answered smiling amiably at him.
"I suppose that can be a handful from time to time", Charlie responded lightheartedly, "And please call me Charlie. It's not necessary for you to call me sir or sheriff in my own house."
Edward's mouth transformed into a bright smile.
"All right then, Charlie. I wish you a good evening", Edward said and then turned to face me.
"It's good to have you back home again", he said and without hesitating wrapped me up in a big hug. I stopped breathing for a second, not knowing how to respond to his bold move. But then I conceded and reciprocated. The hug was over within seconds, but I assumed that the aftermath would be a lot longer when I saw Charlie's reaction to our sudden display of affection. Yes, we would be talking about this once Edward had left.
"Good night then, Bella. Charlie", Edward said, nodding at Charlie and then quickly disappeared out through the front door. Charlie and I were left alone with a roaring silence filling the house.
"So…", Charlie started, still cringing at what he'd just witnessed, "This is happening now? What I said to you before leaving for Phoenix really made an impression, didn't it?"
I felt my face fluster for the 100th time this day.
"Um, well… It was a thought that had already been on my mind for a while before you spoke it, dad", I answered awkwardly, tugging at the sleeves of my shirt.
"Yes, I supposed as much. Well, I suppose you could do much worse in this town", Charlie said, suddenly sounding grave.
"Come on, dad. You like Edward. Admit it. Now you'll just have to deal with the fact that I like him too", I said lightheartedly and smiled at him.
Charlie looked torn for a brief moment, and then smiled reluctantly.
"Alright, alright. I like Edward. I think he's great", he sighed.
"It's important to me that you like him", I replied earnestly, "You're both important to me and it's important to me that you get along."
"Yeah, yeah", Charlie said, waving away my worries about him not liking Edward, "As long as he treats you well I'll like him just fine. If he is willing to wait around for hours at the airport to find your lost luggage then I suppose I'll have to give him a chance, don't I?"
"Yes, you do", I replied brightly.
Charlie smiled awkwardly at me, still looking a bit pained by the realization that his daughter was growing up. I smiled reassuringly at him.
"However", Charlie suddenly said, making me hold my breath, "I still stand by what I said about… intimacy under my roof. There will be none of that. I know your mother is very down with the kids and relaxed and that you got to do pretty much what you felt like in Phoenix. That's not how it works under my roof." He spoke with tenacity.
If he only knew.
"Of course, dad. I wouldn't disrespect your rules while living under your roof", I said, lying through my teeth. "And after all, we haven't even begun dating, this is really new. I think you're jumping to conclusions thinking that I'd be considering…that right now", I retorted.
He was not jumping to conclusions at all, but I couldn't tell him that. Charlie's face turned red.
"Well, I just wanted to make things clear. I want a better life for you than I have had, Bella", he said seriously, regaining his composure.
I was moved by his concern, almost feeling bad for having lied to him. But only almost.
"I know. I know that's important to you and mom. And I promise I'll be going off to college and living the life you guys never could because of me. Me seeing Edward isn't going to change that fact", I answered sincerely.
"You can do whatever you want, Bella. Yes, I'd like you to go to college and get an education so you don't have to be stuck being a small town cop or a substitute teacher. But if you'd rather go travel the world or get a job straight after high school I'll support that too. I just want you to be able to choose whatever you want when the time comes", Charlie said soberly.
"I know, dad. You really don't have to worry."
"Well, I'll still worry. But I suppose I'll be worrying a bit less seeing as you're dating a guy with money. At least you won't end up in a trailer park with your illegitimate children", Charlie replied gleefully.
"Ugh! Stop it, dad", I called out, cringing at the thought, "We haven't even been on a real date yet. Could you please not picture our future children? Gross."
"I'm just doing my best to traumatize you so you won't be having those thoughts", Charlie retorted, roaring with laughter, and headed for the kitchen, "Would you like me to make you a snack before going to bed?"
"No, it's fine, dad. We ate on our way back from the airport. I'm just going to bed now."
I was actually pretty hungry, but I suspected Edward would be waiting for me in my room and I didn't want to spend one more second away from him.
"Good night then, Bells. It's good to have you back home again, as Edward put it", Charlie called out gleefully from the kitchen.
"Oh, shut up, dad. Good night", I answered him and then headed up the stairs.
I glanced behind me, making sure that Charlie hadn't followed me up the stairs, and then opened the door to my room. Just as I'd suspected I found Edward sitting on my bed, smiling teasingly at me, with a brown paper bag in his lap.
"Hey again", I spoke softly, closing the door behind me.
"Hey you", he said, patting the bed, gesturing at me to come and sit down next to him. I quickly strode across the room and placed myself next to him. He leaned forward and kissed me softly.
"What's in the bag?" I inquired, curious to find out its content.
"Well, I imagined you'd be hungry by now from all that mind-blowing sex so I swung by The Lodge and picked up a couple of sandwiches", he answered teasingly and showed me what was inside the bag.
The bag contained several different sandwiches and a couple of soft drinks. The smell of turkey and bacon made my mouth water. And him being considerate enough to think of feeding me in its turn made my eyes water.
"Oh, come on, Bella", Edward said mockingly, having noticed my reaction, "I think you have to raise your standards a bit if a guy bringing you sandwiches causes you to tear up."
"This is just nice", I answered, trying to make my voice sound even, "This wasn't how I expected to be spending my evening once I got back."
"How did you expect to spend your evening?" he asked, suddenly sounding serious.
I shrugged awkwardly.
"Not like this", I answered miserably. I'd expected to be spending the evening the way I deserved. This was a whole lot better than I'd actually deserved.
"I'm not mad at you, you know", he replied, concerned by my glumness, "I was though. And I might be again at some point. But we're fine."
He gave me an earnest look, reassuring me that we were in fact fine.
"Now let's eat. I've got no use for you when you're hungry", he said, once more gleeful, and handed me a sandwich.
I smiled at him briefly and then started to wolf down the sandwich, barely pausing to chew.
Edward watched me smiling as I devoured my sandwich in five single bites.
"You want another one, wolf girl?" he said jokingly and held out the bag to me.
"Yes please", I answered and then went on to devour another one.
Edward smirked at me while nibbling on his own sandwich.
"How can you not be hungry?" I inquired, almost offended by his lack of an appetite, after having swallowed the last bite of my food.
"I've had my mouth full most of the afternoon, if you hadn't noticed", he answered my question with a daring smile.
His suggestive answer to my question made my cheeks turn a bright crimson red and I smiled awkwardly at him.
"You've got a point there", I stammered shyly.
He just smiled at me, probably rejoicing at the fact that he'd made me blush.
We spent a long while, just sitting on my bed, him carefully nibbling on his sandwich and me gulping down a can of Dr. Pepper to quench my thirst.
"So… About what you said earlier, about your parents not being conservative", I began.
"Yes, they are pretty relaxed compared to most parents, I guess", Edward answered, not giving me much to work with.
"So they've never objected to you having someone stay over for example?" I continued, finding it hard to form the question I'd really wanted to ask.
Edward shot me a teasing smile.
"You wear your heart on your sleeve, Isabella Swan. Be brave and actually ask the question that you want me to answer", he said boldly.
I was embarrassed by him calling me out, but went ahead and asked anyway.
"I was just curious to know if you'd ever had anyone stay over. With you, I mean", I asked, my cheeks burning from embarrassment. I couldn't even look at him as I spoke.
He smiled affectionately at my question.
"No, no one ever has", he answered matter of factly while looking right at me, "I don't know if you've noticed but all of this is pretty new to me. These past few months have been many firsts for me."
I tried to grasp what he was alluding to.
"Are you saying that you…", I began, not knowing how to end my sentence in a way that wouldn't make me blush.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying", he said, now looking sheepishly at me ,"I didn't want to tell you because I thought that maybe you'd be scared off by the fact that you were my first. I didn't want you to think that it was a big deal or anything like that."
I smiled meekly at him.
"It is a big deal though. I wish I would have known. And you're right, I probably wouldn't have pursued you if I'd known. All the same, I would've wanted to know", I spoke softly, feeling honored by the fact that he'd told me.
"It was perfect just the way it was", he said, grinning awkwardly at me ,"I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Or with anyone else."
I just nodded and smiled gently at him. Most guys would've never admitted to what Edward had just told me. But that was the thing with Edward, he wasn't like most other guys. Not at all.
"Anyhow, I'm assuming I did a pretty good job, seeing as you've been coming back for more ever since", he proceeded to say, grinning at me.
"Could you be any more smug?" I asked, mildly embarrassed by his statement, "But yeah, you made an impression alright. I never would've figured you were new to that."
He beamed at me, not being able to conceal how pleased he was by what I'd just said.
"That's one of the best compliments I've ever gotten. Honestly", he said, still beaming.
"Give credit where credit is due."
"Being with you brings out my primal instincts, what can I say?" he said and smirked teasingly at me , "Anyhow, if you'd ever want to stay over at my place my parents wouldn't mind. Not at all. However, I doubt that Charlie will let you anytime soon."
"Yes, you're probably right", I concluded solemnly.
"It's fine. That's the normal thing, parents setting up rules for their kids. You can't really hold it against him", Edward stated ,"And I really don't mind climbing your window. I prefer us being able to set our own rules regarding our…sleepovers. It's probably best just to maintain the charade that we're only holding hands right now or Charlie will probably start checking your bedroom at night. I can be well-behaved in front of Charlie if that means I get to behave very badly when we're alone." He shot me a filthy smile.
I laughed timidly.
"I don't know why you always have to do that. You know how easily I get embarrassed", I complained.
"That's what makes it so fun." He suppressed his laugh by laughing into his hands. "And you'll get used to it eventually."
"Somehow I doubt that I'll ever get used to being around you", I said sincerely, smiling affectionately at him.
He smiled blissfully at me.
"I really like you, Bella", he spoke candidly.
"And I really like you", I replied equally candidly.
His gaze remained on me for a long while, all the while smiling widely at me. I could get used to this.
"So on another note, what are we naming our trailer park children?" he suddenly asked, his face turning into a huge grin.
"Oh my god", I cringed and covered my face with a pillow, "I can't believe you heard that. What's wrong with your hearing, really?"
"I guess that means Charlie has accepted me as his son-in-law?" he went on mockingly.
"I'm going to start locking my window to make sure you never listen in on me and Charlie ever again", I groaned, refusing to let go of the pillow covering my face.
"We can get back to the subject later in case you're feeling undecided about the names of our children. But perhaps we should practice some more first?", he said, his voice suddenly seductive.
He tugged at the pillow I was holding and I reluctantly let him take it out of my hands.
"Get over here, Swan", he said and pulled me towards him, "Let's make some beautiful trailer park children."
I sighed resignedly at his joke, but then gave in to temptation and let him lay me down on my bed. He didn't stop smiling at his own joke as he proceeded to strip me of my clothing.
—-
Author's note
Thank you so much for the nice reviews I've been receiving, all of the new followers and for all the encouraging messages. I truly appreciate it! I've reviewed and extended chapters 1 to 11 so far and I will be posting revised versions of a couple of more chapters within the next few days. The story is essentially the same, but I've tried to add some nice details to every chapter, extending some more than others. I'd say it's worth the read if you haven't read the first chapters in a while.
I will also be posting chapter 44 within a couple of days.
Please let me know what you think about the story so far and if you have any suggestions!