An: Thank you once again for the amazing reviews. I love and appreciate each and every one of them. I'm going to let you get to this. We'll meet at the bottom.
Thank you to my prereaders and my beta. Without them, this wouldn't be possible.
**Fiddling was had. All mistakes are mine.
Chapter 14
"We were good, we were gold
Kinda dream that can't be sold
We were right, 'til we weren't
Built a home and watched it burn
Mm, I didn't want to leave you,
I didn't want to lie
Started to cry but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for hours
Say things you don't understand
I can take myself dancing
And I can hold my hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can"
"Flowers" by Miley Cyrus
~oOo~
Two more floral arrangements were delivered that week. When they arrived, she had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. Bella was not having it. Each delivery met the same fate: the trashcan. The notes were simple. Missing you and I'm sorry. The sentiments were way too late.
Bella was starting to feel unnerved by all the attention. Nothing was threatening. Nothing was unsavory. It was just Jacob. It was how he operated. When he wanted something, he went all-out. The problem was Bella was not something for him to acquire, ever again. The "I'm sorry" note did pull at her heartstrings briefly, but only because she truly wanted to believe he felt remorse. She never wanted another woman to go through what she did with him.
Who am I fooling? she thought. Once a narcissist, always a narcissist. Jacob always had his own agenda. After depositing the latest arrangement in the trash, she got ready for her dinner date with a man who had proven, thus far, not to be a narcissist.
Edward arrived a few minutes early; the traffic, for once, was in his favor. He walked up the path to her door and rang the bell. He was looking forward to their date at South City Kitchen. Anticipation for their fried chicken, sweet cornbread, and collards had danced in his head all day long.
The front door swung open. Bella's beautiful face appeared as she peeked around the side of the door.
"Hey. Come on in. I'm so sorry. I'm not quite ready yet." She was still in her bathrobe, towel-drying her wet, tousled hair as she greeted him.
"No, no. Don't worry. I'm early. Traffic showed me some mercy this evening." He leaned in, giving her a sweet peck on the lips.
Bella reached up around his neck, dropping her towel to the floor as she pulled him into a deeper kiss. Edward groaned as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. As they came up for air, Edward leaned his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes.
"A guy sure could get used to a greeting like that."
"A guy, huh?" Bella teased.
He kissed her again, crushing her even closer. "Well, all right…this guy."
Her soft lips met his in a heated kiss. He played with the sash of her bathrobe, lightly teasing it loose, opening it until a sliver of her skin revealed. He slid his cold hands under her robe to caress it.
"Oh my God!" Bella squealed. "Your hands are so cold." She squirmed in his grip, trying to worm herself away.
Edward chuckled. "Mhhhmmm, but you're so warm." He nuzzled her neck, placing a few kisses as she continued to try to wriggle away from him.
"Edward." She giggled, squeezing his arms, trying to get him to stop. "I'll never be ready if you don't stop."
He sighed into the side of her neck. "Okay. If that's what you really want." He released her, running his hands down her arms. "Go finish getting dressed." He kissed her once again.
"Raincheck?" She eyed him seductively.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Now go…"
Bella rushed back to her bedroom to finish getting ready.
"I have some of your SweetWater and Creature Comforts in the fridge if you want one while you wait," Bella yelled from her room.
Edward was touched, yet a bit amused, that Bella had put a few of his favorite local beers in the fridge for him. She was becoming an Atlantan more and more, and he smiled at the thought of her acclimating to the place he loved the most.
He twisted off the bottle cap and walked over to the trashcan, ready to drop it in. When he opened the lid, he was taken aback by what appeared to be a brand-new flower arrangement sitting inside. He ground his teeth together, studying it for a minute. The note was still attached. He resisted looking at it, knowing it would be an invasion of her privacy, but he couldn't help feeling jealous.
Who the hell was sending her flowers? Why were they in the trash? Did she throw them in there so he wouldn't see them? The pang of emotion he felt in his chest took him by surprise. He took a deep swig of his beer as he walked over to the sofa and plopped onto the cushion, defeated.
He knew he had no right to be jealous. They had a deal, and part of that deal was that they asked no questions. They were free to date whomever, whenever, though he thought they had agreed it was just the two of them in the off-season.
With his mind reeling, he finished his beer, deciding how he wanted to play the rest of the evening. Should he ask her about it? Realistically, it might not even be from a man. So should he jump to conclusions and make an ass of himself? Should he play it cool, as though he hadn't seen it? He raked a shaky hand through his hair, trying to calm himself, when Bella walked into the room.
"Okay, I'm ready." She came in and twirled around, showing off for Edward.
Edward's gaze snapped up to meet hers. He knew then, when he saw the radiating smile on her face, that he should take the high road. She was with him, going out with him, sleeping in his bed or him sleeping in hers most nights. Whoever this person was, they were inconsequential.
"You look gorgeous, shug." He admired her as she beamed at him. "Come here."
He stood to greet her, reaching out to pull her into his waiting arms. His lips grazed the top of her head as she nestled into his chest, breathing him in.
"You looked deep in thought when I walked in. Everything okay?" Bella asked, her head tilted up, regarding his reaction.
He pondered for a second before looking into her bright eyes and smiling face. "I'm perfect. You ready?" He pressed a kiss on the top of her head.
"Yep. Let me get my coat and we can head out." Bella grabbed her coat and purse and walked to the door. "I can't wait to try this place out. I've heard really good things about it."
Edward entwined her hand with his, and placed a quick kiss on the back of it. "Yeah. It's one of my favorites. I usually go to the one closer to me, but this one is just as good. In the spring, I want to take you to—"
Edward opened to door to usher her out, but they were both stopped in their tracks. Standing on the front porch was a man with a bouquet of flowers in one hand and his other fist raised to knock.
Bella jumped back. She was so startled to see his familiar face standing on her front porch that she could only open and close her mouth like a fish out of water.
"Can I help you?" Edward inquired, his smile less than friendly as he took in the man before him. This guy held a bouquet in his hand; he was nicely dressed, and had a gleaming smile.
He was holding the same kind of flowers Edward had seen in the trashcan. Edward's mind was running through all the scenarios of who he could be, but the flowers in this guy's hand spoke volumes. This was someone who knew her. Someone Bella might or might not have had a relationship with. The look on this prick's face told Edward he was familiar, and Edward's stomach dropped.
As he continued to stare the guy up and down, realization dawned, and he knew exactly who the guy was. Jacob fucking Black. What worried him, though, was the reaction Bella was having.
Bella's heart raced and her mind blurred as she stared at her worst nightmare coming true. She squeezed Edward's hand tightly, poking him so hard with her nails that she could have drawn blood.
Edward sensed her distress. Not only did she have a death grip on his hand, but he could also feel her shaking. He turned to look at her, and the anguish was clearly written on her face as she continued to stare silently.
"Baby? Aren't you going to say hello?" the man asked, his look hopeful, open.
Irritation finally set in. Bella fluttered her eyelashes as she came to her senses, but her death grip on Edward's hand was unrelenting. She straightened her back while she gathered her confidence.
With her chin held high and her eyes looking directly into his, Bella responded. "Jacob, what are you doing here?" Her tone laced with venom.
"Is that how you greet your boyfriend? Where are your nice, southern manners?" Jacob glanced over to speak to Edward. "She always had the nicest manners. Tried to school me, but I was an utter failure at which fork to use. You know what I mean, bruh?"
"Jacob," Bella chastised.
"Dude, I'm sorry. Where are my manners?" He moved the bouquet to his other hand so he could offer out his right hand to shake. "I'm Jacob Black. Bella's boyfr—"
"Ex-boyfriend," Bella corrected immediately.
"Why you gotta be so mean? Didn't you get all my flowers?" Frustration bloomed in Jacob's expression at Bella's rebuke.
"Haven't you heard of the saying 'silence is deafening,' Jacob?"
Edward studied Jacob a bit more, the revelation hitting him hard at the mention of the flowers. Jacob, Bella's ex, was attempting to win Bella back, and Edward wasn't about to have it. He knew there had been an acrimonious breakup from their conversation in the mountains. Though Edward didn't know all the details, he knew enough about Bella to know Jacob wasn't a welcome sight. It was obvious that polished and pretty Jacob was coming to make a grand gesture, and he was frustrated that it wasn't being well received. Edward figured his presence had to disturb Jacob as well.
Jacob's eyes flitted back to Edward's. "And you are?" His hand shot back out to shake.
"Edward Cullen." Edward denied his proffered hand, securing Bella's hand in his grasp. He went into protective mode, especially once he felt her hand shaking slightly in his. That told him all he needed to know. He would let her take the lead on this, but he would not leave her side. He would take her cues and know when to step in. By the look of things, he wasn't going to let this man within ten feet of her.
Jacob controlled his features, ignoring the fact that he had just been slighted, as his face lightened with recognition. "As in…Atlanta Braves shortstop Edward Cullen?"
Edward nodded, not at all pleased that he recognized his name.
Jacob mumbled under his breath, chuckling to himself. "Oh ho…Bella. You sure do know how to pick 'em. Very high profile. Good for you." He waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Jacob, you need to go."
"Come on, Bella. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I'm sure you heard the news about my new contract with the United. Thought you might want to welcome me to Atlanta, show me around."
Edward's eyebrows rose. That bit of information definitely caught his attention.
"Oh, she didn't tell you I was here, did she?" Jacob taunted. A maniacal expression played on Jacob's face, revealing just how close he was to going over the edge.
Edward remained silent, not wanting to engage with the guy any more than he needed to. Judging by Jacob's erratic behavior, he could blow at any time. Edward didn't want to get physical with the guy, but he would step in if needed.
Jacob looked between them, taking in their stiff body language.
"You don't know about me at all, do you, Hot Shot?"
"I know enough," Edward shot back. "Enough to know that you're yesterday's news."
Jacob shifted his rattled gaze from Edward back to Bella. "Bella? Honeysuckle… Did you leave me out of your 'getting to know you' dating history? Edward seems uncomfortable here. Does he know we're engaged?"
Both Edward and Bella winced at the word engaged. Bella continued to hold Edward's hand, squeezing it repeatedly, using him to ground her.
"Were engaged, Jacob," Bella snapped. "Past tense."
Jacob didn't stop to hear Bella's retort. It was apparent his plan was going drastically awry.
"I take it that's new information. Sorry, dude, she's damaged goods. But damn, those goods are spectacular. Taught her everything she knows…so, you know." He radiated a proud smile at them. "You're welcome."
"Motherfucker," Edward whispered under his breath. It took everything in him not to lunge at Jacob. It was obvious the guy had snapped right in front of their eyes. Jacob didn't even attempt niceties anymore.
Bella held Edward's hand tighter, willing him to stay in his place as she whispered, "Don't. Trust me, he's not worth it."
She pulled Edward closer, praying things wouldn't get any more heated. She knew how volatile Jacob could be, so she refused to have him see how he affected her. Never again would she give him the satisfaction of seeing her shaken or afraid. He was digging himself a hole with his asinine behavior, and she was happy to give him the shovel.
"Jacob, please go. You're not welcome here." Her stomach rolled with each syllable that tumbled out of her mouth.
Bella pulled her hand from Edward's and folded her arms across her chest in a protective stance. Her anger boiled just beneath the surface as she watched his brows knit together and his hand white-knuckle the stems of the flowers. He was losing his patience and becoming flustered. She knew the signs, and Jacob's agitation was shining through. Things were going to escalate quickly, so she had to brace herself for the fall.
Edward's presence threw a monkey wrench into Jacob's plans to woo Bella back. It didn't take an idiot to figure that out. But, as apparent as that was, Edward wasn't going to allow this dick to disrespect her any further. He was tired of the caustic banter, so he spoke up.
"Listen, man, you should leave. Bella doesn't want you here. Nobody wants any trouble."
"You think I want trouble, Cullen?" Jacob's voice trembled with anger. "The only trouble I see standing here is this two-bit fame whore." Jacob paced back and forth on the porch, suddenly launching the bouquet of flowers into the flowerbed. "She fucked me in the ass. You know that? I was the first victim, and you'll be the next. She's lying in wait…lying in wait to scoop up all the attention, all the endorsements, and then fuck you in the ass when she gets what she wants."
Edward stepped in front of Bella, guiding her behind him with his arm. His instinct was strong to shield her from Jacob. He could feel her body shaking more than before while Jacob continued to spew obscenities. His behavior and voice continued to escalate, as the show on the front porch started to gather onlookers. Each barb he threw was worse than the last. There was no stopping the tirade. Edward couldn't stay silent another minute and let this animal continue to barrage them with his poisoned words and hatred. Hate and despair rolled off Jacob, whipping around them like the winds of a hurricane. He was talking fast, slinging everything he had at her.
"Enough!" Edward yelled, startling both Jacob and Bella. "Jacob, I'm asking you one last time to leave before I have to call the police." Edward's threat was spoken with a growl.
"Who are you to ask me to leave motherfu—"
"Everything okay over there?" Peter's voice rang out from next door.
Bella and Edward sighed with relief at the sound of her neighbor's voice.
"Do I need to call the police?" Peter inquired as he gradually made his way into view.
Edward raised a brow at Jacob. "Do we need to call the police, Jacob? Or will you leave peacefully?"
Jacob snapped out of his rage as quickly as he had plunged into it. The awareness of his outburst crashed upon him as his eyes widened and his face turned red. His demeanor changed immediately, looking contrite as he cast his eyes downward, unable to look anyone in the eye. With slumped shoulders, he took a deep breath and composed himself.
"I'm leaving." Jacob lifted both hands in surrender and took a step back.
"Thank you," Bella replied in a whisper.
Jacob's gaze returned to Bella's. After a long, pregnant pause, he spoke. "I tried, you know? Thought I had a handle on everything. Guess seeing you is just too much for me." He blew out a deep breath as he pushed his hands through his hair. "They all tried to warn me. But, you know, I wouldn't listen."
Bella just nodded, knowing any words uttered could ignite him again.
He hesitated briefly, staring at Edward and Bella, shifting his eyes back and forth between them. He shook his head as he looked down to the ground, muttering something to himself.
"I…I really loved you, Bella. I'm sorry…Edward. This won't happen again." He hastily retreated to his car and drove off.
They both stood on the porch, stunned, as they watched him drive down the street.
"Y'all okay?" Peter asked.
Clearing his throat, Edward gruffly replied, "We're good, Peter. Thanks a lot for stepping in."
"Don't mention it. Glad y'all are okay. Bella, call me if you need anything. I'll keep an extra eye out to make sure he doesn't come back."
"Thank you," Bella croaked.
Edward guided them back into the house with his arm draped protectively around Bella's shoulders. Bella stood shell-shocked. Her stomach roiled as she felt the bile rising up in her throat.
"Bella, are you okay?" Edward looked at her with concern.
She looked drained and pale as she stared blankly into nothingness.
Facing Jacob again felt like a wild punch in the stomach. Bella couldn't bear to meet Edward's eyes; she was mortified he learned about Jacob that way. Anger washed over her when she realized she had missed a huge opportunity to tell him everything that night in the mountains. At least it wouldn't have taken him by surprise and would have spared her the embarrassment.
Her erratic breathing and general state of being were starting to alarm Edward. He tried to coax her to sit down on the sofa, but she wouldn't budge.
"Edward," Bella panted, breaking out of her trance, "I think you should… I think it's best that…" Bella tried to continue speaking, but she felt the telltale signs that she was about to be sick. Putting a hand over her mouth, she took off to the bathroom, running as if her life depended on it.
Edward followed her, finding the bathroom door wide open with Bella kneeling over the toilet, sobbing and sick. He wet a washcloth and placed it behind her neck. The coolness provided some much-needed relief. Gently, he gathered the long curtain of hair surrounding her shoulders and pulled it behind her as she continued to be ill, rubbing soothing circles of comfort on her back.
"I got you, baby. Let it out." His tone was soft and caring. Edward felt helpless as she continued to empty her stomach, painfully so, when she began to dry heave.
Mortification aside, Bella was beside herself. How dare Jacob show up at her home, uninvited, making her feel unsafe, opening up that can of worms. He was dead and buried until two weeks ago, as far as she was concerned. The weight he still carried over her emotions surprised her, but only because of the humiliation she felt as he spewed his vitriol for the entire neighborhood to hear. The problem was she wasn't worried about what the neighborhood thought; she was worried about what Edward thought, what he believed to be true.
Finally, her stomach stopped seizing and Bella asked Edward to give her some privacy. He left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Undecided about what he should do, Edward walked straight to the fridge and grabbed another beer. He twisted off the cap and guzzled half of it in one big gulp. When he threw the cap in the trashcan, he saw the flowers once again taunting him from the bottom of the can. He slammed the lid shut, kicking the can hard as he let out his frustration on the unassuming receptacle.
As if it was goading him, Edward decided to take out the trash. He didn't want Bella to have any reminders of the past two weeks.
Two weeks, he thought. She has been dealing with this for two damn weeks. Why didn't she tell me? Come to me?
They had never shared much about their pasts—an unspoken rule of the deal, he supposed. But now, he had to admit, he was even more curious about Jacob Black than ever before. What the hell did he do to Bella? Clearly, she was terrified of him.
Edward was sitting in the living room googling Jacob when the front door opened. Rose rushed in, finding Edward immediately.
"Where is she? Is she okay?" Her eyes searched his for any emotion she could glean as he stood to greet her.
"She's in the bedroom." Edward jerked his head toward the hallway.
Rose dashed to the room, but before she reached the door, she turned around to acknowledge Edward.
"Thank you for being here…for protecting her. I can't thank you enough, Edward."
He nodded his head to Rose as she opened the bedroom door, then closed it behind her.
He bent over at the waist, resting his hands on his knees while he took in some deep, mind-clearing breaths.
"Knock, knock," Emmett called as he entered the house.
Edward stood and looked at Emmett, simple words escaping him.
"Man, you look like you've been through the wringer. You all right?"
"Yeah. I'm all right. It's Bella I'm worried about right now. She's been in there for about thirty minutes."
"Yeah, that's what Rose said. We came as fast as we could."
"I didn't even know she called y'all until Rose walked in. She asked me for some privacy, so I left her in the bathroom. Thought maybe she was splashing some water on her face or something, but I haven't heard a peep out of her since I stepped out."
Emmett nodded, a weak smile on his face. "Come on, Cullen. Let's get out of here and give them some space. I know just the place."
~oOo~
"I've never been more humiliated in my entire life." Bella sobbed as tears streamed down her cheeks. "He just wouldn't leave. Once he got on a roll of insults…"
Bella plucked another tissue out of the box to wipe her eyes. She was grateful she no longer felt like she had to throw up. Once the guys left, Rose made her a cup of ginger and turmeric tea to settle her nervous stomach and brought it to her along with a small pack of crackers. So much for the romantic dinner they had planned. The girls curled up on the sofa, tea in hand, and continued to talk.
Bella recounted the entire episode to Rose, pausing at times when an errant sob escaped her. She couldn't believe how amazing Edward had been throughout the whole ordeal. He never wavered, and he never once made her feel anything other than safe.
"Seriously, Rose. I don't know what I would have done without Edward being here. You should have seen him. He stood beside me, holding my hand, as I tried to get Jacob to leave. He let me try to handle things. He didn't jump in all caveman-like. It wasn't until it became apparent that Jacob was losing his cool that Edward stepped in and handled it."
"Thank God he was here with you. Who knows what the outcome would've been if he hadn't been here?"
Bella nodded her head in agreement. "I've never seen Jacob like that, Rose. He was up and down the whole time. When he saw Edward holding my hand, it completely rocked him. Jacob couldn't stop staring at him."
"You ready for something stronger?" Rose walked over to the bar to grab a bottle of wine.
"God, yes. Just the sight of him rattled my every nerve. He called me baby, and I nearly threw up right there on the porch."
Rose poured Bella a healthy glassful.
"Ugh. He didn't?"
"He did."
"He also told Edward we were engaged." A tear fell from the corner of Bella's eye.
"I assume this was news to Edward?"
Bella nodded. "Yeah. I mean…" She shifted positions on the sofa, gathering a blanket tightly around her. "We haven't really spoken much about our exes, but I guess the genie's out of the bottle now."
Rose snorted. "You think?"
"He's going to think this is way too much. I just know it." Bella closed her eyes for a moment and sighed heavily. "He's too much of a gentleman to cut and run, but I…I just know he'll make a slow but definitive retreat."
"Bella, no."
"You didn't see the look on Edward's face."
"Bella, the man was just knocked for a loop. Give him some credit here. Has he ever let you down before?"
"No."
"Then why would he start now? And frankly, why does it matter? He's just a fuck buddy. Right?" Rose watched her sister's reaction.
Bella cringed at the words. Edward was way more than a fuck buddy. She knew deep down he was a good fit for her. Ever since they started the off-season, things had been perfect between them. She tried to keep it in perspective, keep it in the "deal" box she'd put them in, but he'd been gradually breaking down her barriers since he took her to the mountains. Something just clicked between them while they were there, and it gave them a chance to relax and simply be with each other. It was exactly what they'd both needed.
"Rose, you know it's more than that," Bella murmured.
Rose nodded as she took her hand. "Bella, don't be afraid. Don't let tonight ruin the progress you and Edward have made. I've truly never seen you happier. And…I know it's not just the sex." She winked at Bella. "But it's good, isn't it?"
"Rose."
"Come on, tell me. We haven't had a good sex discussion in a long, long time."
"No."
"Come on. I'll start first." Rose took a sip of wine. "Have I told you what Emmett likes to do with his pinky finger?"
"Oh my God, Rose. No. I don't want to know what Emmett does with his pinky finger."
"You're missing out, just saying."
"Ewww. Now I'm officially traumatized. It isn't Jacob; it's the sexcapdes of my brother-in-law that did me in."
Bella and Rose started laughing as they shared tales of sex and boys.
"So, are you going tell him everything?"
Bella shrugged. "Seems like I don't have a choice."
"You always have a choice, Bella."
"Yeah, yeah. I know…but yeah, I'm going to tell him everything. Edward's mind has to be completely blown with all the things Jacob said about me."
"And he won't believe a single thing that came out of that asshole's mouth, either. If you can find the strength to believe anything, believe that."
"We'll see."
~oOo~
"Two Blantons neat, please," Emmett ordered from the bartender.
The bar wasn't crowded. The NFL playoffs were on the television, so they sat at the bar and quietly watched the game, letting the events of the evening roll off them.
Edward nursed his drink, deep in thought, flexing his hand around the glass.
Emmett was the one to break the tense silence. "So, you met Jacob."
"Yeah," Edward acknowledged, picking at the pretzels in front of him. "What a motherfucker."
"You can say that again."
"How did…how in the hell did she end up with him? I literally can't see it."
"Well, to be honest, he wasn't always like that. Things…let's just say, things took some interesting turns in their relationship."
Edward eyed him, waiting, no, wanting him to go on. He desperately needed to know. For the life of him, he couldn't imagine Bella with Jacob. He was nothing like she was. He was manic and cruel. The things he said to Bella were things no man should ever say to a woman. Edward was stewing, and his anger was creeping above a simmer.
"Don't tell me anything he said was true?" Edward questioned.
"Oh, hell no. The man's a certified lunatic. Listen, this isn't my story to tell. You need to have this conversation with Bella when she's ready. But that poor girl has had it rough. Really thought she had it behind her. All I can say is…she didn't deserve it. She's one of the best people I know."
Edward nodded, looking sadly at the TV. He hated hearing that she had been through hell, that Jacob made her feel anything less than wonderful each and every day.
"You hungry?" Emmett asked as he perused the menu.
"I could eat."
"It'll give the girls enough time to talk things through. Rosie will text me when the coast is clear."
Edward nodded. The food choices all blended together while he tried to make a selection from the menu.
After they ordered, Edward ordered another drink. His nerves hollowed out a pit in his stomach.
"Listen, after we eat, can you drop me off back at Bella's? I'm just going to go home. I'm sure she isn't going to want to see me, and I just—"
"Need some time to think?"
"Yeah. My head is a bit fucked up at the moment."
"I was hoping I wasn't going to need to have this conversation with you, especially under these circumstances, but I gotta ask."
"Go ahead and ask, Emmett."
"Fuck, I'm sorry, man, but this is so awkward… Okay, I know this sounds old-fashioned, but…what are your intentions with Bella? She's told me y'all are just friends, but from the look of things—"
"We're friends, Emmett. I care about Bella. I'm not out to hurt her, if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm not worried; it's just…after the bullshit of today… Dude, I can't handle watching her get hurt again. She's been through enough."
"I promise that's the last thing I'd want to ever do. I care about her, man. We both decided last season to keep it kinda loose, take away some of the expectations and pressure, and just see where it goes."
"Yeah, that's what she said. I'm glad y'all are on the same page, at least. I just want her to find someone and have what Rosie and I have. She deserves a love story, you know? If you don't think you can be it, please don't hurt her or embarrass her. That's all I ask."
Edward nodded. "I hear you. Loud and clear. I'm not going anywhere, Emmett. Bella and I…well, let's just say, Bella and I have a connection worth exploring."
Emmett patted Edward on the back. "Good. I'm glad. You two seem like you would be good together. Not that I have any say in the matter." He chuckled.
"We are. She's—"
Emmett's phone lit up just as their food arrived.
"Hey, baby. Is she okay?"
Edward's sentence was left hanging as he listened to Emmett's side of the conversation.
"Okay, okay. Let us finish up here…yes, I'll tell him. Love you too. Bye." Emmett hung up the phone.
"They're done? She okay?" Edward inquired.
"They are. Rosie said Bella's okay. Just incredibly embarrassed. She wants to see you. That's if you want to see her, she says."
Edward scoffed. "She has nothing to be embarrassed about. Let's go."
He signaled to the bartender to get their bill, but he was tied up with some other customers. Edward was getting antsy, so he threw two hundred-dollar bills down on the bar by their food, signaled to the bartender, and they rushed out the door with their burgers in their hands.
An: So we've met Jacob. Wow. What did you think? Who's dying to hear their story? Don't be too hard on Bella for not divulging her past. She has her reasons, and Edward is mature enough to understand. They've tried hard to not have that be a part of their "relationship", but the tides have been changing between them. There won't be any "misunderstanding" tropes happening in this story. Mistakes will be made, but they are young and real people just trying to do the best they can.
Please leave a review and tell me all the things! Your thoughts, your predictions, etc… They breathe so much life into this story.
In case you haven't heard, we have a contest going on called The Eras Contest. It's a period ( Eras) contest with any pairing, any genre, any era, and any or all Twilight characters. We are accepting submissions now until October 31st. You can find the FFN page by searching the contest name. We also have a FB group with the same name. Please join and be a part of all the fun and picspiration.
If you want pic and fic teasers, talk about the story, or just have a place to chat, I have a Fb group as well. DrivingEdward Fanfiction. Please come and join the fun.
I also made a youtube playlist of all the songs for this fic. Please follow the link if you would like to listen to the playlist or add it to your faves.
/playlist?list=PL7K2bIWBlltXklsgoSkRfYfIWgmn4lsC4&si=XA_k7a1Iu5vW9hvy
See you in two weeks.
~Be Happy
~Be Kind
~Be Blessed
~DrivingEdward