An. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all who celebrate from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you again for your patience. Between being terribly sick, holiday commitments, and getting ready to leave to be with our family for Christmas, I simply couldn't get this out on time. But, at least it's not a whole week. It's a Christmas miracle. LOL

This update would not be possible without the help of my amazing prereaders and beta. They worked extra hard on this chapter. It truly takes a village.

*** All mistakes are mine. Fiddling was had.

Chapter 20

"How can one become so bounded
By choices that somebody else makes?
How come we've both become a version
Of a person we don't even like?

We're in love with the world
But the world just wants to bring us down
By putting ideas in our heads
That corrupt our hearts somehow

When I was a child
Every single thing could blow my mind
Soaking it all up for fun
But now I only soak up wine"

"I Drink Wine" by Adele

~oOo~

Chewing the end of her thumbnail, Bella stared at her packed carry-on while she waited for her Uber. She vacillated all night whether or not to go. Rose talked her off the ledge a few times before Bella finally zipped her bags and went to bed. She slept restlessly. She didn't have the nerve to call Edward and tell him she was coming. Bella didn't want to hurt him again if she chickened out at the last minute. So, she decided to call him once she was on the plane. She knew she wouldn't be able to back out then.

Bella made it through security in record time. She walked leisurely through the terminal, grabbing a coffee from Starbucks on the way to her gate. She needed the caffeine at this godforsaken hour. Once she boarded the half-vacant plane, she secured her luggage and plopped into her seat.

So far, no one was sitting beside her, so she grabbed her phone. She scrolled to Edward's name and hovered over the number. Bella knew he would still be sleeping, and for that she was relieved. She knew it was cowardly, but she wanted to leave a message for him to wake up to rather than talking to him. She hoped it would bring a smile to his face, which in her mind, would make the reunion all the sweeter. Bella was aware she might have to do some groveling. She could tell by Edward's demeanor and lack of communication that she hurt him. She was hopeful her grand gesture would go over well and make a difference. One last time, Bella went over what she was going to say, and with time running out, she hit his number.

As predicted, he didn't answer. Bella knew he had his phone on Do Not Disturb when he slept, so as expected, it went directly to voicemail. She listened to his greeting and prepared herself to leave a message.

"Hey, you've reached Edward. I can't answer the phone right now. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message after the beep. I'll return your call as soon as possible. Go Braves."

Beep.

Here goes nothing, she thought as she steeled her shaky voice and put on a happy one.

"Hey. It's me. I'm sorry it's so early. I know we haven't talked this week, and that's on me. We both needed a little time, but I want you to know, I've thought long and hard about what we talked about, and I heard you, Edward. I promise you—I heard you. Please don't be upset with me. It just took longer to get this all straight in my head. Right now, I'm on a plane heading to you. It's exactly where I need—no, it's where I want to be. I'm thinking I have a place to stay and a date to the luau if you'll still have me. I'll see you soon. Bye."

As the plane accelerated down the runway, Bella rehashed the message she left as concern washed over her. Was she cheerful enough? Would he be excited to hear from her? What she said in the message was true. This trip was needed, and she wanted to be there. Bella feared the flight and the drive might not be long enough to counter the butterflies she had in her stomach.

~oOo~

Edward woke with a start. The sun was shining down on him like a spotlight, disorienting him. He sat up on the sofa and scrubbed his hand over his face.

What the fuck? he thought as he slowly realized he had fallen asleep on the sofa. A blanket was puddled around his waist, and on the coffee table, he spied a bottle of Tylenol, a glass of water, and a note. He picked up the note and read it.

Edward,

Morning, sunshine. At least I hope it is, and that you're feeling okay. We both fell asleep on the sofa. Once I woke up, I grabbed my things and let myself out.

You're a good man, Edward, and Bella is lucky to have you in her corner. Don't be too hard on yourself about the kiss. It meant nothing. I'm embarrassed by my behavior. I hope you'll accept my apology. I would hate to lose you as a friend.

Take the Tylenol. If you feel half as bad as I do this morning, you'll be glad you did. Drink the water and rehydrate.

H

Edward hung his head. Fuck that damn kiss. What in the ever-lovin' hell was he thinking? Oh, that's right. He wasn't.

Edward opened the Tylenol and dumped some pills on the table, taking what he needed and washing it down with water. He crumpled Heidi's note and threw it away. Heidi had been a really good friend to him last night. As he recalled the evening, he couldn't help but become angry. But what surprised him the most was his reaction. The sheer panic he felt when he kissed her had overwhelmed him. Edward wasn't a cheater; however, he wasn't technically cheating. Oh hell, he was so confused about what the deal was now; he didn't know his ass from his elbow.

Once he took a shower, he knew what he needed to do. He was going to get his head out of his ass and call Bella. Edward needed to stop wallowing in self-pity. It was time to man up.

Edward went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. As he was taking his first sip, he heard the doorbell. Wondering who it could be, he put down his cup and walked to the door.

Standing on the porch, Bella waited anxiously. When the door opened, Edward's look of surprise made all the effort it had taken to get there worth it.

"Hey." Bella smiled at him shyly. "I was hoping you got my message from earlier, but by the look on your face, it sure doesn't seem like it."

Edward stood stock-still in shock, surprised that the woman he'd lamented about all week was standing on his doorstep. "I didn't get the message. My phone…shit. I left my phone in my bag from the game last night and never took it out."

"I hope this is a good surprise." Bella looked at him hopefully. "I packed a bag last night and took the early flight out."

"It's a great surprise. But, shug, what…what are you doing here?"

"I'm accepting your invitation. At least, I hope the invitation is still good? Is this okay?"

Edward's heart nearly pounded out of his chest as he took in the beautiful sight before him. Everything he had wanted was standing on his front porch. Nothing could have prepared him for that moment. Bella was there—at spring training—with him.

He pulled her into a hug and nuzzled her neck. Edward inhaled her familiar scent. Damn, she smelled so good. He missed everything about her. The epiphany he had last night still rang true in the light of day. Edward loved her.

All the doubt and anger he felt over the last five days faded into the background. "God, I've missed you."

"I missed you, too. I'm just sorry—"

Edward pulled back and looked at her. "Hush." He put a finger to her lips. "I'm just so happy you're here. Let's get you inside." He held the door wider and ushered her in.

"Thanks, darlin'." She giggled as she walked past him.

Bella was thrilled by his reaction. It couldn't have gone any better. Rose was right; he had missed her, and seemingly as much as she missed him. Bella watched him as he gathered her things. She couldn't help admiring the way he moved. His athletic shorts dipped low on his hips, showing a sliver of his bare torso. Bella internally moaned. She wanted nothing more than to run her hands over his body and claim him as hers.

He took her hand and led her to the sofa. Now that she was there, he couldn't keep his hands to himself. He cupped her face and pulled her into a kiss. It was tender at first, but soon, their tongues tangled together; the electricity between them prickled their skin. They could both feel their connection, and neither of them wanted to stop. Edward laid Bella down on the sofa, kissing her as if his life depended on it. His hands roamed over her body, finding purchase under her knee and hitching her leg up and around his hip. There was no space between them as they continued to ravish each other.

Once they finally came up for air, Edward studied her face. His thumb grazed over her cheek and pout. These are the lips I missed. The feel, the taste.

"Edward, are you okay?" Bella asked. His intense gaze made her stomach flip.

"I'm perfect. I still can't believe you're here."

Guilt crept in as he thought about what happened last night. He knew he needed to shake it off and focus on Bella, but he was having a hard time shifting mentally. What should have been a happy moment was now tainted by his indiscretion. Deciding to zero in on the positive, he refocused his efforts on Bella, desperately hoping he would see some clarity.

After six long weeks, they could finally spend some time together. He thought better than to mention the deal or why she suddenly changed her mind, but he couldn't help being optimistic that it could be the start of something more. Sure, they were out of the ATL, away from all the prying eyes, but Bella's gesture was big, huge even, and he wasn't about to waste the gift he was given.

"I couldn't handle the silence between us anymore. I thought, well, I thought the situation deserved more than a phone call."

Edward gave her a weak smile. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to hear from me, to be honest."

"Oh, Edward. I missed you every day I didn't hear your voice. I could've reached out as well, you know? I was just scared you didn't want to hear from me. I know I hurt you by saying I didn't want to come down. I'm so sorry."

"You have no reason to be sorry. It was how you felt. I could've handled it better. I'm better than that."

"You have a right to your feelings, too." Bella grasped his hand.

"Yeah, well…" Edward dropped his head.

"Well, I think the fact that we haven't talked brought me some perspective. I was upset by your silence, and because of that, I realized I don't ever want to go another day like that again. I missed you too damn much."

Edward's head shot up. He looked into her eyes, searching for any clue that she was telling him what he had been waiting to hear. "What exactly are you saying, shug?"

"I'm saying that I can't do this anymore. This constant push and pull with my heart. I know what I want, and what I want is you. I want to end the deal. I mean, if you'd still like to."

Bella was nervous putting herself out there, but if she didn't take that shot, she knew she would regret it. Edward was everything she wanted and needed in a man. He had shown her time and time again. She was angry with herself that it had taken so long to come to that conclusion, but she needed her heart and her head to be in sync. And now they finally were.

"Hell yeah, I still want to." His mouth curled into the biggest smile. "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel any pressure. I know I pushed the boundaries. And I'm sorry for that, but if you got to this conclusion because of it? Maybe I'm not so sorry."

Bella laughed. "Yes, I'm positive. And don't go getting all cocky, sir. You and I know it was a long time coming."

"Yeah, it was. But I can't tell you how happy I am."

After all the months of uncertainty, he finally knew how she felt. Edward leaned in to kiss her. It was full of love and desire and hope.

Bella sighed into the kiss. This man meant so much to her. He freed her from the prison she was locked inside, and now, pure, unadulterated elation was all she could feel. Screw Jacob and the chains he'd wrapped around her heart.

She knew. From the first moment they met, she knew Edward Cullen was different. He'd captured her heart that first night, and it pulled her on a roller coaster of emotions ever since. No one else caught her eye once she met Edward. Not even a tiny flutter of interest sparked with anyone else.

Bella whispered against his lips. "Edward, I want you to know. It's only been you."

Edward pulled back and looked into her eyes. He cupped her face as he searched for the answers to all his questions. All he could see was the truth.

"Bella."

"I know we had the deal, but there's been no one else. I just wanted you to know."

As fast as all the elation washed over Edward, so did a massive wave of regret.

Oh my damn. Fuck. How could I have messed this up? I have to tell her. No, I want to tell her. If we have any chance, I can't blow it now by not being honest. No matter how much it may hurt. It's the only way.

Anxious to tell her how much her words and actions meant to him, he placed the palm of his hand over his heart and spoke. "I want you to know, from the moment I saw you standing on the porch, my heart jumped. You jump-started my heart, shug. These last few days have been shitty without you. You being here means more to me than you'll ever know. And I know what a huge step this was for you."

A smile tugged at the corner of Bella's mouth. "It was. But you're, no, we're worth it."

Edward's eyes glazed over, panic apparent in his expression.

She was happy with how well he had received her surprising him, but she noticed a change in his expression, and it worried her.

"Edward, what's—"

He cleared his throat. "I have something I need to tell you. I'm going to be completely honest with you, okay? Just please believe me when I say nothing happened—because it's the truth."

Bella's smile slipped from her face as she nodded slowly at him, not sure what to expect.

"Last night was a horrible night for me. Everyone was pre-gaming for the luau, and I wasn't in the mood to be around people. So, I poured myself a couple of drinks and decided to have a pity-party for one. A friend came over unexpectedly. I knew I shouldn't have let her in, but she kinda barged in and made herself comfortable."

"Who's this friend, Edward?" Bella knew it wasn't going to be good, but she was trying to lean into his words and trust him.

"Her name is Heidi. She's one of the PTs on staff. I knew her when I was in Gwinnett. She just recently moved up to the Braves to work with us."

"Ahh…and how well do you know her? Seems like a pretty bold move to show up on someone's doorstep uninvited. Don't you think?"

Edward swallowed hard. "I know her pretty well. We, uh…went out off and on before I was moved up to the show."

Bella's heart dropped into her stomach. She always knew it was a possibility—being faced with someone he'd had a casual relationship with.

"So, she came over. You were drinking. Let's cut to the chase." Bella's tone hardened. "Did you sleep with her? Is that why we're having this talk?"

"No," he rasped. "I couldn't…"

"Couldn't? As in you were too drunk?"

"No. I couldn't imagine anyone else but you."

Bella was relieved he hadn't taken that step with Heidi.

"Well, something happened."

Edward lowered his head, too painfully embarrassed to look her in the eyes when he confessed. His voice cracked when he spoke. "I kissed her."

He looked back up at Bella and met her glassy eyes. All her emotions clearly written on her face, a face that had been so happy to see him only moments ago.

"Is that all?" Bella asked, her lip quivering in anticipation of his answer.

"Yes." Edward hated to see her upset. He knew what he told her was going to hurt, but he also knew, under the terms of the deal, he didn't do anything wrong.

Bella started to get up off the sofa, but Edward grabbed her hand and halted her. Before she could begin to open her mouth, Edward looked her in the eyes and said the only words that he could muster. "Bella, don't go. Please, don't go. We didn't…I didn't—"

She couldn't believe her timing. As happy as she was to hear nothing happened, she couldn't shake the fact that he'd kissed someone else. Did he want Heidi, and he felt guilty? Was it the price for Bella's rejection? Had she pushed him too far away? Bella knew she had no one to blame for this debacle but herself, but it still hurt. She wasn't sure what to think, but judging by the look on Edward's face, he was equally wrecked.

Disheartened, Bella raised her chin and stoically looked him square in the eyes. "Edward, I'm not angry. This is all on me. You had the freedom to do whatever you wanted. I told you the deal was in effect when you left."

He sighed. "I know you did, but…I don't…I don't want her."

"Then what the hell was she doing here, Edward?" Bella raised her voice. The idea of his lips on another woman made her stomach sick.

Edward raked a hand through his hair. "Fuck, baby. I had no idea she was coming over. Please believe me." His voice broke. "I was minding my own damn business. I've been so fuckin' lonely and s-s-sad since our last phone call. Once you said you weren't coming, I was hurt. I admit it. So, I threw myself into the game and stayed away from everyone. You know how I get."

Bella stood stone-faced, failing to see the relevance of his ramblings.

"Heidi came by to check on me when I wasn't at the party. I was already two drinks in when she got here. We had a couple of drinks and talked." Edward dropped his head and looked at the ground, unable to meet her eyes. The embarrassment he felt over his moment of weakness made it unbearable to face her.

"The moment I kissed her, I just knew—"

"Stop. Enough," Bella interrupted, not wanting to hear any of his excuses. "I know I asked you what she was doing here. And I really don't have any right to. But I'm confused. You were just kissing me on the sofa, practically dry humping me, yet you kissed another woman last night. You told me you wanted to 'fuck the deal' in our last phone call. So, what the hell am I supposed to think?"

Bella let go of his hand and stood. Hurt bubbled up from deep inside her. She admonished herself for not breaking the deal before he left. Instead, she left the door open for him to do whatever he wanted. She knew what she wanted when he left for spring training; she was just too afraid to admit it. But had she misread his intentions when he left? Had he grown tired of waiting? Her mind swirled with unanswered questions.

Bella huffed a laugh as she tried to contain herself. "It's never how you really see it happening in your mind. You know what I mean?"

Once again, she felt like she was a failure in the game of love. Her eyes stung as they filled with unshed tears. Bella turned her face away from Edward and retreated; she didn't want him to see her upset. The room was closing in on her and she felt claustrophobic. She needed some space, some fresh air to clear her head. The last thing she wanted to do was fuck it up more by saying something she would regret.

Edward stood and took a few long strides to reach her, taking her by the elbow, halting her steps.

"Bella, wait, wait…stop trying to run from me for Christ's sake," Edward pleaded. "I wasn't purposely trying to hurt you. I know the timing is fucked up. But I have nothing to hide. I told you what happened because I didn't want any lies between us. So, ask me. Ask me what you really want to know."

"No, it doesn't matter, Edward. What's done is done." Bella shrugged him off and took another step toward the door.

Edward grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. "Ask me," he gritted out while his eyes bored into hers.

The intensity in Edward's gaze made Bella gasp. His hand trembled as he held tightly to her arm, and as she looked closer, she could see how physically affected he was. His hair was slightly damp around the frame of his face, and his breathing accelerated. Concern washed over her, but it was overshadowed by the burning need in his eyes. She knew what he wanted her to ask, but she was terrified to hear his response. Yet she had to know. Pushing away her fear, she gathered her courage and asked.

"Okay, fine. Did you want to sleep with her?"

"No." He shook his head. "No. I didn't…I-I-I didn't want her, shug. She wasn't you. I see nobody but you. "

Bella's shoulders sagged with relief as the words tumbled out of his mouth.

She knew she'd put an unrealistic expectation on him. She was the one who had insisted on keeping the deal in place. She had no right to hold him up to any other standard but the one they agreed on.

"Please say you believe me." With his gentle plea, the shaking in his hand abated somewhat.

Bella learned long ago that Edward wasn't a liar. But her heart broke that their happy reunion had turned sour. She couldn't shake the disappointment she felt in herself. Bella had been protecting her heart for so long, and the one time she let down her guard, this happened. What had felt so certain only moments ago was no longer a guarantee. She needed to regroup. She needed to see Rose.

"I believe you."

"Well, then—then stay. Please, baby. I want you to stay. I just want…you."

"I need…" She motioned to the door as she picked up her purse. "I need some—"

Edward watched as Bella grabbed the keys out of her purse and opened the front door. Frantically, he reached out to her and said, "Tell me what I can say. What can I do to make you truly believe me?"

"I said I believed you, Edward." Bella walked out the front door and headed toward her car.

Edward, at the point of desperation, blurted, "What was the point of this fuckin' deal if you were going to hold it against me?"

At that comment, Bella spun on a dime, planting her palms directly on his chest. Edward's hands shot out to steady her.

Enraged, Bella shrugged out of his hold. She couldn't believe the audacity of this man, and in an instant, her cool demeanor vanished. "I was trying to protect myself, asshole!" She pointed her finger at him emphatically. "You're a piece of work, Edward Cullen. I was lying. I thought that was how you wanted to play it. Putting myself back out there terrified me. First Jacob showed up, and then you started talking about dissolving the deal." Bella blew out a heavy breath as all the fight left her body. "I panicked."

Edward dragged a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have thrown the deal in your face. But I'm not being an asshole. You can't have it both ways, Bella. I asked to end the deal before I left, and you wanted to keep it. I did what you told me to do. You can't be this upset with me because I played by your rules. I told you about the kiss because I wanted to be honest with you, not stir up a hornet's nest. I think I've been clear on my intentions and what I want. I've tried to be patient, but it isn't fair to me to pay for the sins of your ex. I'm not Jacob. If you can't see that by now, I don't know what else I can do. You either want me or you don't."

She sighed. He was right. These were her own issues. "No, I'm sorry," she conceded. "You're right. You're not Jacob. I'm putting an impossible expectation on you, and that's not fair. Especially when this damn deal was my idea in the first place."

Edward dipped his chin in acknowledgment. "And for the record"—Edward's voice dripped with sincerity—"there's been no one else but you. I haven't seen, touched, or even looked at another woman since the moment I met you. Last night has been eatin' me alive because she wasn't you. It was a pathetic mistake. I'm not a cheater, Bella. You need to know that."

Bella saw how much he regretted the unfortunate situation. Rationally, she knew who he was; he'd never been anything but honest with her.

She angrily swiped at the tear that was threatening to fall. Edward took her other hand in his, rubbing slow circles on the back of it, trying to pacify her and keep her from running. Now that she was there, he wanted to do whatever he could to make her stay.

"Trust me."

"I want to trust you," she whispered. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I came because I thought…I thought maybe you were right about dissolving the deal. I've tried to do everything I could to keep this compartmentalized, not to get emotionally invested. But apparently, my heart had other ideas."

"And now?" He swallowed hard. "What's your heart saying now?"

Bella paused, her stomach roiling with uncertainty. "I can't reconcile my heart and my head right now. None of this has gone quite the way I thought it would. I'm just all twisted inside."

"What can I do to make you stay? Tell me what you need."

"I need some time to think." Her voice cracked with emotion. "I can't think rationally when I'm with you. I need some time to sort this all out, Edward. Can you give me that?"

Edward bobbed his head in agreement. "I'll give you whatever time you need."

"Thank you." Bella opened the car door and sat in the seat.

Just as she was about to close the door, Edward halted it. He leaned inside, his face so close she could feel the emotion rolling off him. "Leave knowing this," he began. "I don't think either of us expected to be in this place when we first started the deal. Hell, no one could be more surprised than me. But I wanted you here because I believe we could be something extraordinary. Please don't doubt that or me." Edward pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, praying it wasn't the last time, before he closed the car door.

Her heart stuttered at the feel of his lips. The urge to jump out of the car and into his arms was strong, but she remained resolute. If they were going to go all-in together, she had to be sure. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.

Bella reluctantly started the car and drove away. Tears clouded her vision as she pulled out her phone and called her sister.

Edward stood in the space where her car had just been, feeling like his heart had been ripped from his body. Between the alcohol from last night and the conversation he'd had with Bella, he felt like he'd been hit by a Mack truck.

"Goddammit," Edward screamed as he pulled at the ends of his hair.

He walked back to his condo and slammed the door. He wanted to go after her, but he knew that wasn't what she wanted. He recognized he needed to be patient, give her the space she desired. He hoped time would give her the clarity she needed and that she could see how great they could be together.

~oOo~

"Oh, Bella. Come on in." Rose wrapped her arms around her sister as she ushered her into the house. "What in the world happened? You were all sunshine and roses last time we chatted."

They moved into the living room and plopped onto the couch. Bella grabbed a pillow, holding it in her lap for comfort. She wasn't quite sure how her sister was going to react to this new information, so the pillow gave her something tangible to hold onto.

"Heidi." Bella sniffled.

"Heidi? Who the hell is that?"

"Ummm…she's one of the physical therapists on staff."

"One of the PT gals? What the hell does she have to do with this?"

"He kissed her."

Rose's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope. He said she showed up at the condo last night, uninvited. And that she was looking for him because he didn't go to the party. He'd been drinking alone when she showed up. Then I guess one thing led to another, and he kissed her."

"There has to be some explanation. I mean, that doesn't sound like Edward at all."

"What doesn't sound like Edward?" Emmett inquired as he walked into the room, dressed for the gym.

"Heidi," Rose responded.

"What about her? She seems nice enough." Emmett sat down next to Bella to tie his shoelaces.

Rose gave Emmett the stink eye. "She was at Edward's last night. He kissed her."

Emmett looked at Bella and Rose in shock. "Fuck me," he whispered under his breath.

"Yeah. Fuck me," Bella snapped back.

Emmett's eyes narrowed. "Did he tell you about it? Or did you catch him in a lie?"

"He told me. Unprovoked. He didn't want any lies between us. He seemed really upset about it, to be honest. He said he didn't want her. That she…that she wasn't me."

"That took guts, babe," Rose reassured.

"There has to be a reasonable explanation. I haven't seen Edward with anybody," Emmett reassured. "He's kept to himself or hung out with all of us. He's been like that the whole time we've been here, except when his friends came to visit. Sure, women proposition him all the time, but he always turns them down. I've seen him do it."

"Yeah. He gave me an explanation," Bella grumbled. She recapped their conversation, telling them even the hardest parts. She admitted she was not proud of her behavior.

"And you don't believe him?" Emmett asked the question with some trepidation. His eyes met Rose's with concern.

"I do. I just don't want to have another repeat of Jacob, and all these alarms are going off in my head, you know?"

Emmett did one of the things he did best; he tried to calm Bella's nerves. "It's a normal reaction after all you've been through. Don't give Jacob anymore power over you. And after what happened with Jacob, do you really think Edward would try to pull anything over on you? The guy was torn up about what happened to you. Trust me. I was there."

"I know, I know," Bella admitted. "You're right. This is my issue. Ever since Jacob showed up, he started taking up space in my head again, and I hate it. This is not who I am. And poor Edward. I know I'm giving him whiplash."

Bella wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "He told me he wasn't Jacob."

"He's not, sweetie. Anyone with eyes can see that." Rose took Bella's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Listen, I've stayed out of whatever you have going with Cullen," Emmett began. "But if I get a vote, then I have to say I believe him. Edward's never given me any reason not to believe he's a man of his word. He's a stand-up guy, Bella. And you know that's hard for me to say where you're concerned."

Bella nodded at Emmett. "Yeah, I know.

Emmett wrapped his arms securely around Bella, giving her a much-needed hug. "I think you're it for him, Bella. He's in deep," Emmett whispered into her hair just before he released her.

Bella sat stunned, holding tightly onto the pillow as her eyes welled with tears. She felt the movement of him getting up from the sofa, but it wasn't enough to break her from her thoughts.

"Emmy, what—" Bella looked up, only to catch Emmett's retreating form leaving the room.

"Do you think so?" Bella asked. Her voice sounded small and unsure.

Rose scooted closer to her sister and wrapped an arm around her. "Yes," she concurred. "And now I think it's time for you to put on your big girl panties and figure out how you feel."

Bella sat quietly for a moment, everything rushing at her at once. She replayed all the special moments they'd had together—the endless kisses, the meals, the quiet times. The passion they shared not only for their sport but also for each other. Edward had been all-in since the very beginning, but she was simply too blinded by the past to see it. Everything in front of her was crystal clear.

She loved him.

"I love him, Rose."

"I know," Rose whispered in her sister's ear as she hugged her. "I know. Now it's time to tell him."

An: Just what we've been waiting for! Another revelation! They love each other. Now for them to tell each other. The next chapter is the one we have all been waiting for. I'm happy to spill the beans on that. I'm just as happy as y'all are to get Darling and Shug together. It's been quite the labor of love to get them here.

As for Bella…let's remember, she's having a trauma response from Jacob. But through Edward, Emmett, and Rose she sees she has no one to be afraid of but her own self. Jacob doesn't deserve the power she believes he is holding over her. My friend, who this part is loosely based on, went through exactly the same thing. She still has issues all these years later.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of this chapter, so please kindly leave a review.

I have a FB group called DrivingEdward Fanfiction. If you want pic teasers, updates, and all things Darling and Shug, please come find us.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season to all who celebrate. The next chapter will be a week late. Everyone has family in town or is out of town enjoying themselves. I'm actually hiding in the bedroom from my family to post this. LOL.

Thank you so much for all the love you have given this story. It means more to me than you will ever know. See you in 2024.

~Be Happy

~Be Kind

~Be Blessed

~DrivingEdward