Chapter 46

EPOV

I woke to find the bed empty, which was not a great start. But the smell of bacon and eggs wafting from the kitchen made me smile.

I grabbed a pair of sweats and pulled them on before heading out to see where she was.

The stereo was on, playing soft classical music and Bella hummed softly along, as she was frying eggs in my kitchen. Barefoot and dressed only in one of my jerseys.

Fuck this woman would be the death of me.

I wanted this. Everyday.

'Bella' I walked up to her from behind, pressing myself against her tightly.

'Good morning.' She said with a smile in her voice.

'it definitely is now. This is a sight I could get used to.'

'And you're refering to the fact that I'm making breakfast, not that I'm not wearing very many clothes at the moment?'

'of course.' I answered innocently.

She turned around with a grin on her face, pressing her hip against me slightly, feeling my hardness press against her. she cocked a brow at me.

I shrugged trailing my finger over her bare thigh and running it up slowly. 'you shouldn't look so enticing in my jersey then.' I muttered, sofltly capturing her lips.

She smiled against my lips and kissed me back for a moment before pulling back.

'Go sit down, breakfast is almost done.'

I nodded. 'do you want something to drink?'

'OJ please'

I grabbed the glasses and OJ and headed to the table. She followed with two plates filled with bacon and eggs. We sat down to breakfast together and I was glad to see she was much more relaxed than she had been yesterday.

'So what's the plan for today?' I asked her when I had swallowed the last mouthful of eggs. She looked at me with a small smile on her face. 'what?'

She shrugged. 'nothing.' Then she cleared her throat. 'I'll have to leave in a bit. You are not to show your face at the club today, and that's coming from your boss, not your girlfriend.'

She was looking at me with a stern expression, so I knew it was serious.

I nodded. 'I need to go to the police station anyway.'

'And the hospital.' She added.

I frowned. 'why?'

'to get your physical therapy checked over with Carlisle.'

'Carlisle already checked me over.' I argued.

She crossed her arms over her chest. 'He saw you for all of two minutes, and only patched you up. I want him to thoroughly check out your arm and your head, and then make a PT proposal so we know when we can put you back in the game again.'

I sighed, realizing she had really thought this through and I wouldn't be able to budge her on this. Still I oculdn't help but try one last ditch effort. 'I'm not sure he'll have time today.'

'I already called him, your appointment is at three.'

I blinked at her in astonishment. 'you were really thorough.'

She nodded. 'I'm sorry I'm being overbearing, but I just really need you to be in your best shape. Plus, I couldn't bear it if your injury turned out worse and it was all because of me'

Finally I nodded, I could understand that. 'alright. I'll go.'

'thank you.' she muttered.

'what are you doing today?'

'I have to go over Laurent's contract with Kate, and make a plan with the coaches now that we're down two players. See if there's any impact there. oh and I think I have a board meeting of the art institute too.'

I frowned. Bella was a busy woman it seemed. 'when will I see you again?' the question was out of my mouth before I could stop myself and realize how pushy and needy it sounded.

Bella looked contrite for a moment, which made me feel worse. 'I won't have time today, or tomorrow.'

'that's fine. I know you're busy. I didn't mean to make it sound –'

She cut off my rambling. 'It's fine, I understood what you meant.'

I gave her an apologetic smile. 'so the day after tomorrow?'

She smiled back and nodded. 'I should be able to do dinner then.'

'Great. It's a date.' I smiled, then immediately backtracked. 'I mean, not outside of course, we won't go out or anything…'

'It's fine Edward.' She said with a laugh.

I nodded, relieved. 'I'll cook for you then. You've cooked for me twice now, not including breakfast.'

'you cooked breakfast last time.' She retorted.

I shrugged. 'Still, I'd like to make you dinner.'

She smiled and nodded. 'Alright. I'll be here at seven then.'

We cleared up breakfast then and got ready for our days. Bella changed out of the jersey, and I was sad to see it go. But I knew it would probably disappear into her overnight bag. I'd already lost a pair of short and a shirt that way. She was doing her hair and make up while I was in the shower and it took a lot of willpower to not just yank her into the shower with me. but I resisted.

When I was done she handed me a towel and then pressed a quick kiss to my lips. b

'I have to go. Let me know how it goes with Carlisle.'

'I will.' I promised. Then she was out the door. I slowly got dressed and then headed down to Rose and Em's. Mike was happy to see me as his tail was wagging up a storm.

'when is your appointment at the police station?' Emmett asked, shrugging into his jacket, he was heading to the park a little late today.

'in an hour.' I checked my watch.

He nodded. 'alright. Let me know what happens. I'm informing the team today what happened and that you're pressing charges.'

'good luck. I'll be back tomorrow, if Carlisle clears me.'

He nodded and then waved bye before heading out.

'Can I leave Mike with you today?' I asked Rose.

She glanced up from her laptop. 'of course. I'm working from home today anyway.'

She smiled at me. 'thanks.'

'no problem. Make sure they arrest the bastard.'

I grinned at her. 'I'm planning on it.'

'good. Let me know if you want to stay for dinner tonight. I'm doing groceries at around four.'

I nodded. 'alright, I'll let you know. I might head to my parents after seeing Carlisle, so I'm not sure yet.'

'the offer stands.' She said with a smile. I nodded and with one last pet for Mike I headed out.

The drive to the police station was not very long and I parked the car in the visitor lot. I was slightly nervous as I headed inside, I hoped they would level charges against him. I didn't want him anywhere near Bella ever again. I headed to the reception.

'Hi, how can I help you?' the guy behind the counter smiled at me.

'I have an appointment with detective Anderson?'

'Ah right, Mr Cullen, is it?'

I nodded.

'Alright, right this way.' He stood up and came around the desk, scanning his badge on a door and opening it for me. 'just to the right and then the first door on your left.'

'thank you.' I muttered, heading through the door and following his directions. I kocked once on the door and then opened it. Inside was a bland windowless room, with a metal table and four chairs.

And that was it.

was I being arrested?

This felt like a horror chamber.

'Mr Cullen?' Someone said behind me and I jumped and turned around. A large imposing man in a suit stood behind me.

'yes?' it sounded more like a question though.

'Nice to meet you' he held out his hand. 'I'm detective Anderson. Let's head inside.'

I shook his hand and we headed inside. Anderson gestured for me to sit down and then took a seat opposite me, dropping a manilla folder and a laptop onto the table.

'So I heard you had quite the excitement at Wringley field the other day.'

'you could say that.' I muttered, absentmindedly rubbing a hand over my cheek, that was slightly more swollen today, and had a wicked bruise.

'And I understand you are here to press charges?'

I nodded. 'yes, I was assaulted. I'd like for him to not be able to do that to anyone else.'

He nodded thoughtfully. Then he opened his file. 'alright, I've got the report from the officers on the scene. You spoke with them?'

Again I nodded.

'and I received footage of the incident from the security team at the park.' He opened his laptop and clicked a few times before turning the screen towards me, with grainy footage loaded on screen. 'Let's go over everything together then.' He said, pressing play on the video.

There was no audio, but it was clear to see what happened; Bella took a step towards him, he charged at her. I quickly grabbed her and pushed her out of the way, then Laurent launched his attack on me.

when the clip ended with me and Laurent both beign carted off, Anderson turned back to me. 'in your own words, what happened?'

I relayed the story; how Bella told him that he was suspended, how that had set him off and then when I pulled her out of the way, he started beating me up.

'and you fought back?' Anderson asked.

'I wasn't going to let him continue beating my face into the concrete, that shit hurts.' I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.

'I would imagine so yes.' Anderson remarked dryly, cracking a smile. I grinned too. 'and the injuries you are sporting now are a result of the fight?' he asked, gesturing to my face.

I nodded.

'any other injuries?'

'My elbow, I have a doctor's appointment today, so I don't know the extend of the damage yet. And I have a cut on my forehead.'

He took some notes. 'Alright. Were there any indications that Mr Dupont was violent before this incident?'

I shrugged. 'I mean I don't know him in a personal setting, but professionally sometimes we get on each other's nerves.'

He made some more notes. 'anything else you can think of?'

'he seemed angry that he was benched the first game, and there was a reporter too, Mr James Hunter. They're together quite often, no one knows why or what they are up to.'

'and the fact that he was benched, why was that?'

'he and another player were disrespecting our owner and not training properly during one of the last training sessions before the starting game. She and the coaches agreed that if he didn't take it seriously, he could watch instead of play.'

'and he seemed angry about that?'

I nodded. 'really angry.'

'do you feel the attack was directed towards Ms Swan then, more than yourself?'

'it started that way, yes. He was gunning for her. but when I stepped in I guess he switched to me, wanting to teach me a lesson.'

'so it was personal you think?'

I nodded. 'we've not always seen eye to eye. He thought he was a better player than me.'

Again he took notes. He asked a few more questions and took a few more notes before shutting the folder.

'Alright. It seems I have enough for now. I can't tell you if it's enough for an arrest yet, sadly that's not up to me, that's up to the prosecutor.'

'and something like a restraining order?' I asked, hoping that would at least keep him away from bella as well as the club.

'it's definitely something to look into.' He said, with a thoughtful look. 'but again, it will be up to a judge to see if there's enough here for that. I think looking to ban him from the club will be the best help in the immediate future.'

I sighed, I had figured as much but it was worth trying at least. 'Alright, thank you. can you tell me if he's out though?'

Anderson shook his head. 'he'll be released sometime today. we can only hold him 24 hours if there's no charge.'

'I understand.'

'thank you for your information. We'll take your testimony and see if we have enough to charge him. I'll let you know.'

He stood up and held out his hand. I shook it. 'thank you for your time, Mr Cullen.'

He showed me back to the reception area and I left the station again. I wasn't really sure how I felt about it. I hoped a charge would come from all this, but I wasn't too sure right now.

I checked my watch and realized it was already lunch time. I quickly headed to a little café that had great sandwiches. It was a favourite spot of mine, a little off the beaten path so I wasn't likely to get recognized a lot, plus the staff knew me by now and they were really kind and sweet people.

As I stepped inside Marcus greeted me warmly.

'Edward!' he stepped out fro behind the bar. 'it's been a while.'

'yeah, it's been busy with the start of the season and all, sorry.'

'no worries. Come sit down.' He guided me to a table at the back – my standard table. And quickly ordered my usual for me. he sat down opposite me. 'so tell me how've you been?'

We caught up as I ate and he insisted I had to bring my new girlfriend by sometime. I didn't tell him it was Bella, though I trusted Marcus to keep it to himself, I didn't want to do anything that Bella might not be comfortable with. By the time we were done talking and I was done eating, it was time for me to head to Carlisle. Marcus made me promise not to wait too long to bring my girlfriend by though. I promised to do so and then quickly headed out.

I walked into the hospital quickly heading to Carlisle's office. Although I was his regular patient, I didn't really want to wait in the regular waiting room. Carlisle had agreed with that and we agreed to meet in his office.

I knocked once on the door then stepped inside.

'Good afternoon, Edward.' Carlisle said as he looked up from his laptop when I entered.

'Hi Carlisle.'

'how did it go?' he asked, standing up and walking towards me.

I shrugged. 'they don't know yet if something can come from it. they're going to look into it more, but it's up to the prosecution whether he will be charged.'

Carlisle sighed. 'let's hope they will then, the further that man stays from you both, the better.'

I nodded in agreement.

'Well, let's look at that elbow, shall we?' he changed the topic.

I grumbled but took off my jacket and sweater.

'Did you ice and rest it?'

I nodded. 'yeah I kept it in the sling all of yesterday.'

Carlisle cocked a brow. 'and today?

I shrugged. 'didn't hurt anymore.'

He sighed and shook his head. 'you of all people should know that that does not mean that there is no injury. Starting too soon can be detrimental long term.' He chided me.

'It wasn't that big of an injury.' I rolled my eyes. 'I knocked into his nose, not a concrete wall.'

Carlisle grabbed my elbow then and pressed.

I yelped in pain. 'what the fuck?'

'language.' Carlisle chided.

'fine. That hurt. Why did you do that?'

'to show you that you definitely do have an injury, even though it might feel okay and look okay. you're an athlete Edward, you should take better care of your body.'

I groaned. 'fine. I'll be more careful.'

Carlisle nodded and then set about actually examining my elbow. We went through the range of motion, he made me do some grip exercises and finally some strength exercises. When he was finally satisfied he headed back to his desk and sat down, gesturing for me to sit down too.

I pulled my sweater back on and sat down.

'It seems the damage is indeed minimal.'

I resisted the urge to tell him 'I told you so', but only barely.

Carlisle cocked a brow at me like he knew I was thining it anyway.

'there's some bruising but not the bone itself thankfully, there is some tenderness in the surrounding tendons and muscles, but again nothing serious. I'm going to recommend that you rest for another day, keep it elevated whenever possible. After tomorrow you'll be able to start training again, but not a full day, and no batting yet. I'll like to see you after your first training to see how your body handles it.'

'okay.' I nodded. I wasn't too happy with it, but I did agree that I had to take good care of my body, or my days as an athlete would be numbered very quickly. So I listened to his advice carefully.

'I'll send my recommendations to Emmett and Harry and I'm sure they'll share it with Bella.'

I nodded. 'I'll probably talk to her tonight anyway and tell her.'

'Good.'

We talked a bit longer, just catching up, before I headed home again.

I wasn't really looking forward to being benched, nor not seeing Bella for another day. I had hoped I'd be able to go to the club again tomorrow, but Carlisle had all but nixed that idea. I knew I wouldn't be able to head over and not do anything. So I just resigned myself to the fact that I was having a quiet day at home tomorrow and that would just have to do.