Hello, Darlings!

A quick reminder, each set of three chapters is one day on the island. This chapter marks Bella's 5th day in Lighthouse Cove and only two days after the 4th of July when she ate dinner with Edward. This timeline applies to all the girls in their chapters. You can find the date at the top of each chapter.

Also, seriously, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you all for your incredible reviews. Hearing your own stories of your best girlies and the time you find to carve out with them fuels our hearts! We love, love, love all your stories! So thank you for sharing!

Thank you oodles to Pamela for prereading!

-18-

Bella

July 6, 2023

Lighthouse Cove, Maine

I slept in Edward's flannel.

I probably shouldn't have, but I couldn't seem to part with it. Plus, it's not like I have pajamas since my luggage is still missing, so what else am I going to do?

Still, waking up surrounded by the scent of lemon and salt is confusing and arousing in a way that is all in all unproductive to my morning.

But I'm still wearing it when I head downstairs in search of the strongest cup of coffee I can find.

I'm up late, nearly ten o'clock, and sleeping in is leaving me disoriented and confused.

Edward's shirt isn't helping.

On the whiteboard stuck to our refrigerator, I see a note in Alice's handwriting.

Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink the wild air.

I let the words thrum through me as I pour myself a cup of coffee.

I take a large swig as soon as I can, wincing when it's a touch too hot. But the coffee is restorative to my sleep-induced disorientation and helps me find my bearings.

I down my first cup leaning against the kitchen sink, thinking about last night.

Edward surprised me. He has been since he picked me up from the airport if I'm honest. I've never allowed myself to think too much about him, mainly because who he is doesn't fit into my life plan or lifestyle right now.

But, I hear part of myself reasoning, you're in between plans. Who's to say he's not exactly what should be happening right now?

The question only confuses me more, and I refill my cup, taking another long swig.

I hear a car pull up on the gravel outside, and my stomach flips. It's Edward, it has to be.

I listen as a car door slams, and footsteps crunch toward the house.

Then, to my surprise, Alice's voice is calling out from the front porch. "Hey, Edward!"

I had no idea Ali was even here.

I leave my spot in the kitchen, mug still clasped in my hands as I make my way toward the screened front door.

I'm pushing through it before I can think anything through.

Edward is standing on the walkway just under the porch, dressed in a white shirt and board shorts, sunglasses over his eyes to protect from the bright Maine morning sunlight. Ali is sitting on the porch with a blond man I've never met, a container of muffins between them.

"Oh, Bella," Ali says, as I process the scene in front of me. "Morning."

I grunt at her, looking at Edward. He's got his glasses on, but I can feel his gaze on me. I lick my lips in response and take a quick sip of coffee.

"What's going on?" I ask when I lower the mug again.

Edward hesitates, and Alice speaks up. "Jasper brought muffins over from his mom. Do you want one?"

I look at her, then at the man beside her. Who's his mom? Is this the guy she met on the beach?

Vaguely I remember him from the Fourth of July party.

"What kind?" I ask, my stomach grumbling.

"Blueberry," he answers, his voice an interesting blend of soft and hard sounds. It's an accent I can't place.

I silently reach for one, taking a large bite.

"Edward?" Alice asks, offering him one. Edward takes two steps up onto the porch and reaches for a muffin.

"Thanks, Alice," he says, nodding to her. He's within an arm's distance from me now, and I'm having a hard fucking time chewing and breathing at the same time without choking, so I quickly swallow and don't attempt another bite of the delicious baked good.

"I don't mean to drop in on you," Edward says, turning to me. "But I'm heading out on my boat, and thought you'd like to come see it."

My mouth goes dry, and I can feel Alice's eyes on me as I process his words. "Yeah," I croak. "I'd like that. Let me get dressed."

He nods, and Alice motions for him to take a seat on the porch with her and Jasper while he waits.

I run inside the house and make it to my attic room before I realize I still have a mostly full cup of coffee and a half-eaten muffin in my hands.

And that I'm naked except for Edward's fucking button-down.

Jesus fucking Christ.

I set the food down on my dresser, shaking my head.

"Get a grip," I order myself, running my hands through my hair. "Calm down and get a grip."

I move across the room to the tiny veranda that sits off the attic. It's got a single hammock on it and not much else.

I'm grateful I thought to hang my wet clothes up there last night before I went to bed.

My bathing suit is stiff from drying in the sun, but I quickly pull it on before wincing and pulling on Ali's shorts. I opt for her linen button-down this time and mentally make a point to call the airline and check on my shit today.

When I'm dressed, I race into the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair before throwing sunscreen on my face, neck, and shoulder tops. I'll have to keep my shirt on today, or else ask Edward to help me with sunscreen on my back.

The thought makes my stomach twist, so I opt to not think about it yet.

I grab my purse and flip-flops and head back downstairs. Alice, Edward, and Jasper seem to be having a pleasant conversation when I barrel through like a bull in a china shop.

"Okay," I gasp. "I'm ready."

Edward stands and flashes Alice and Jasper a smile. "Thank your mom for the muffin. I'll see you guys later?"

Both of them nod and Edward turns to me. "Shall we?"

I take in a shaking breath and nod. I glance at Alice as I fish for my sunglasses out of my purse. "Later?" I ask her. She waves me on with a grin.

"Later," she agrees.

I offer Jasper a belated polite smile before following Edward off the porch toward the shuttle van.

We climb in and he looks at me. "Sorry for springing this on you," he says once we're inside. "If you had plans we can reschedule…"

I shake my head. "No, not at all. I had nothing going on."

Edward nods and starts up the van.

"Great," he says backing away from the house. He drives us down toward the docks. It's a quick enough ride that I don't have much time to press him about what we're doing.

Down in the water, I can see Carlisle sitting on the pontoon boat, waiting for his next call. I lift a hand to wave at him when he spots us, and he waves back.

When I start heading toward the pontoon boat, Edward's hand lightly catches my elbow. "This way," he says. I look at him in surprise.

He's pointing toward the other end of the dock, at a much larger sailboat.

"This is me," Edward says, motioning toward the ship.

I can't help being impressed. She's beautiful, from her tall white sails to the beautiful gleaming brown deck I can see even from here.

"The Compass?" I ask as we approach the sailboat.

Edward smiles at me. "She's never steered me wrong before," he says as we reach the edge of the dock. He directs me to a small ladder that's been affixed to the side of the ship, and I climb up, scrambling up onto the deck.

Up here, the boat is even more impressive. The white fiberglass hull compliments the light brown wood-paneled deck. Everything looks bright and lovingly maintained.

"She's beautiful," I say, my eyes sweeping over every detail. I turn in time to see a small pleased smile on Edward's face.

"Thanks," he says. "Would you like to take her out?"

I turn toward him fully and nod. "Absolutely. Tell me what to do."

Edward nods and motions to the doors that I suspect lead below deck. "You can put your stuff down there if you like."

I head down, my curiosity overtaking me.

Below deck, the cabin is surprisingly cozy. Knitted blankets are carefully folded on top of the bench seats, a crocheted pillow nestled between them with what looks like an attempt at a ship in the middle of the design. Behind the table and bench seats, there is a rigged bookcase holding up old tattered books behind an elastic chord to keep them in place. I can't help my curiosity as I lean over and search the titles. I spot the copy of Moby Dick I remember him reading years ago, as well as the Bell Jar he'd been reading the night he picked me up from the airport. The books aren't alphabetical, so I wonder if they are in some sort of chronological order.

I can't for the life of me figure out where Proust would fall in the lineup.

Across from the books, there is a large portrait hung on the wall of the Cullen family. I take a minute to study it. Carlisle and Edward have similar builds and smiles, though Edward has his mom's hair and eyes. There is a blonde woman I don't recognize beside Carlisle, but I realize that she must be Kate, Edward's sister. There is a tall brunette man beside her, his arm around her shoulders and a content smile on his face. In her arms is a baby, and on Esme's side is a young boy who must be one of the kids from the fair. There is a younger boy, maybe four years old, sitting on Edward's shoulders.

Everyone is grinning with broad genuine smiles. It warms my heart to look at them all.

I hear the door above the stairs open, and I look up, setting my bag on the small table.

"Bella? Will you grab the keys on the wall beside you?" Edward calls down. I turn and spot a set of keys hanging on a hook. I grab them before heading back up on deck.

"Your boat is cozy," I tell him when I'm back under the sun. Edward flashes me a smile.

"I like to think so," he agrees softly. "It's sort of my haven."

Something about this turn of conversation is making me feel a little uneasy. I've spent so long drifting through the world, avoiding settling roots too deep in any one place. I don't know if it's the realization that Edward is clearly someone who doesn't mind putting down roots, or if it's the idea of having a haven at all that makes me squirm. It's a nervous feeling that verges on jealous somewhere in the pit of my stomach. I don't like the feeling, so I clear my throat and push past it.

"Okay, captain. What do I do first?"

…

If ever I had delusions that sailing was easy, all those have been utterly obliterated. I don't know how Edward does this on his own. It's taken everything in me to just get us out onto the water.

By the time we find a place to stop and drift, I'm sweating so much that I have to take off my shirt.

The sun is hot and bright and touches my skin like a warm hug. Edward is behind the helm—not the wheel, as I have been corrected—and I see him hit a few control buttons before he steps away and heads in my direction. I plop down on the fiberglass hull, my head tilting back to catch the sun.

"This is kicking my ass," I tell him as he gets near. I hear him chuckle, and I open my eyes to look at him through my glasses.

"You'd get used to it," he tells me.

"How often do you come out here?"

Edward settles next to me, leaning back so that his biceps are straining against his white t-shirt.

"Out to sea, or on my boat?"

"Both."

Edward's head turns to take in the perfect dark blue water. "Whenever I can," he admits. "Though I live on the boat, so it's a bit easier to come out here whenever I want."

I sit up, surprised. "You live on this boat?" I ask.

Edward looks at me and nods.

"Yeah, I have for about five years now."

I don't know why I'm so stunned. Maybe I always just saw him as locked into the island, the only place I'd actually ever seen him before now.

"Do you sail far on your boat?" I ask, my heart beating harder with my excitement.

Edward shakes his head. "I'm based out of Lighthouse Cove. I work here almost year-round, so I don't wander too far," he explains.

I feel my excitement drain a fraction. "Oh," I say, hoping he can't hear the disappointment in my voice.

"I love it here," he continues. "I mean, I know it's small, but it's where I grew up, where my loved ones are. There is something really grounding in that, you know?"

I don't know. I've never felt that way, not really.

I sit up, crossing my legs under me. I don't know what to say.

"Where did you grow up?"

I glance over my shoulder at Edward, who is sitting up to match my position.

"This tiny little town in Washington," I say dismissively. "Smaller than this area even," I say, motioning toward shore.

Edward nods. "And that was with your dad?"

I look at him in surprise and nod. "Yeah. He's still there now, though I don't get back there often to see him." I feel guilty as I say it. I know Dad would probably like it if I came home more.

"What about your mom?" he asks.

"She's in Phoenix, the last time I talked to her. I see her even less," I admit. I talk to both my parents on the phone often enough, but we've never been a family that was big on the in-person connection. The occasional phone call or care package sent to one another is usually enough for us.

"Did either of your parents come to visit you in Guatemala?" Edward asks. I look at him, surprised.

"No," I snort. "I can't imagine either of them fairing well." I laugh at the thought, shaking my head. Edward grins with me. "I sort of do things on my own," I say, then internally wince because I know he won't understand what I mean by that.

Rarely anyone ever has.

I'm not someone who needs to wait for others to do something with me. I'm happy to do things on my own because I don't like to waste time. I make exceptions for the girls here at Lighthouse Cove, but apart from these two weeks a year, the rest of my life is spent mostly alone.

It's easier that way.

I turn to Edward, wondering if I'm driving him away. It wouldn't be the first time I'd turned a guy off by my lifestyle.

He looks pensive though as he gazes out over the water. I want to know what he's thinking.

"So," I say, clearing my throat. "You live on the boat and work on the island? Year-round?"

Edward turns to me. "Sort of," he says, shrugging one shoulder. "There isn't much need for a ferry in the off-season, though I'm still around to do that on request. I spend the rest of the year helping out some of the seasonal homes with maintenance work, as well as doing some work from home."

"What do you do from home?" I ask, even as I wonder if he works on our house. My stomach flips again thinking of him behind those sacred walls, permeating the place with the scent of lemon.

"Freelance stuff," he says, and I glance at him when I realize he's being cagey.

"What kind of freelance?" I press. He hesitates, and I grin. "Porn?"

He barks out a laugh, and I'm pleased to see a flush rise up his neck. I've embarrassed him.

"No," he chuckles. "I write."

I blink. "You're a writer?"

Edward shrugs. "It's not much," he says quickly. "Articles for different online platforms," he explains.

I stare at him curiously. "Do you write for fun?"

When he doesn't respond right away, I realize I have my answer. I'm immediately curious. "Have you published anything?"

"Nothing beyond technical articles," he says with a shake of his head.

I have to bite my lip to stop myself from asking to read his work. It seems personal, even though I'm dying of curiosity now.

"Is that a dream of yours?" I ask. "To write?"

Edward considers my question. "In a perfect world?" he asks. I shrug and nod. "Yeah, I guess so," he says slowly. "I'd love to be able to write full time, to support myself and eventually my family."

I wonder if that means the family he has, or the family he hopes to have one day.

I'm not brave enough to ask.

"What sort of things do you write?" I ask, turning fully to face him. He doesn't respond, and I realize I'm not going to get an answer out of him. I had no idea it was such a personal question, but I decide not to press it. "I hope you get to live your dream," I tell him quietly.

He looks at me, a soft smile on his handsome face.

"What about you, Bella? What's your dream?"

I don't answer him for a long moment, my brain and heart trying to find any sort of unity on the subject.

"I don't know," I say finally. "Maybe I just want the freedom to keep trying new things, chasing new horizons."

We're both quiet as we think about the heavy turn of conversation.

Overhead of us, the sun is bright and hot, and I can feel it baking into my shoulders. I pull Alice's linen shirt back on to cover my skin.

This excursion hasn't exactly been a science outing, though I have learned about a sailboat and how it works. Still, it's been more friendly than science-based, and I find I've really enjoyed it.

But I'm not quite sure how to set up another day like this in the future.

"Do you want to come over tomorrow?"

What did I just say?

I look at Edward, my eyes wide with my surprise at my own fucking mouth. Edward looks surprised too as he looks at me.

"Tomorrow?" he asks.

I nod. "Yeah, to like… I don't know, hang out?"

What the fuck is wrong with my mouth? Why does it keep saying shit my brain has not signed off on?

"Sure," Edward says with a nod. "I'll have to switch shifts with my dad depending on what time, but that should work."

I swallow thickly. "Okay, well, why don't you tell me what time works for you when you talk to him," I offer.

Edward nods and reaches into his pocket. "Sure, I can do that. I've got your number, right?" he asks, pulling up my contact and handing it to me to verify the information. I look it over and nod, handing his phone back.

"Yeah, that's all correct," I tell him.

It occurs to me that in the years we've been coming here and communicating with Edward for rides, I've never once texted him, not even to schedule a pick-up.

I ponder this as Edward pockets his phone again.

…

Edward and I stay out on his boat until sunset. I miss seeing the sunset over the water like it does on the West Coast, but it's still a spectacular view to watch it dip below the skyline of the little island.

By the time Edward drops me off back at the house, I'm sunburnt, happy, but unquestionably confused.

I wave goodnight to him, thinking about him going back to his boat to sleep for the night. My stomach twists a little at the thought.

Inside the house, I can hear Ali and Rose talking in the living room, and I stop by as I come in.

"You're sunburnt," Rose says in greeting.

"I've done something impulsive," I say, blowing past her observation.

"How impulsive?" Alice asks, one eyebrow arching.

I let out a grunt and fall into a seat, slouching so low I'm almost lying down. "I invited Edward over here tomorrow."

The girls stare at me.

"So?" Rose asks.

I grunt again and sit up. "So," I hiss. "What the fuck am I doing?"

Alice waves her hands in the air in front of us. "Okay, calm down, Bella. What's wrong with inviting him over?"

I let out a string of frankly unintelligible sounds.

"I'm not… I… ugh…" I groan. "I don't want to… I'm not like, ready for this to be like a thing." I say. "Do you think you can invite Jasper?"

Alice looks surprised by my question.

"To come over tomorrow?" she asks. "Like some sort of double date?"

I can't help my snicker and the girls grin.

"No, just to help it stay casual."

Alice considers it for a moment. "Okay," she says slowly. "If you're not ready to invite Edward back here one-on-one, then we'll make it a casual thing," she says reassuringly. "I'll ask Jasper."

I look at her, grateful. She turns to Rose. "Will you invite Emmett?"

"So he stuck around?" I ask, curious. "And you're… rolling with it?"

"I think so. At least for Island Time, I'm not letting myself think further than that right now."

I let out a breath. "Jesus, I wish I could just..." my hands float in front of me, wiggling and the girls giggle. "I don't know how to do anything but Bella time anymore."

The girls glance at each other, smirking.

"Then it sounds like you definitely need to let loose," Rose says. She glances at Alice once more before looking back at me. "I'll invite Emmett."

Alice nods like everything is going to plan. "Good. We'll make it a little party. Casual, fun, no expectations," she says, looking over at me.

I let out a breath, hoping she is right and praying to God I can pull that off.

Because the more I think about it, the less sure I am I can stay casual around Edward.

Okay, Darlings! The countdown is on and our Bodice Ripper's Contest is coming to a close July 31. If you are writing an entry, please reach out to FanficsR4Nerds directly with any questions. Submission guidelines and rules can be found on our page BodiceRippersContest or on our FB page under the same name.

See you Monday for an impromptu party!