Paul tried convincing Jamie to leave without waking Bella a few hours later, but the boy insisted on kissing her nose first. It woke her immediately, and she blinked up at him, grinning.
Paul chuckled. "We're taking off. Jamie has a playdate today, so he needs to eat some breakfast and wash his stinky little butt."
Bella looked over Jamie's rumpled pajamas, bed-head, and streaked face and nodded despite the lack of stink. It was obvious the boy had a rough night.
Jamie groaned in embarrassment and said, "Aww, Dad! My butt don't stink!"
Bella laughed as she sat upright and pulled Jamie into her lap. "I want a hug before you go!"
Jamie happily threw his arms around her and hugged her tight.
Bella grinned at Paul. "Nope! You don't stink, buddy, but you should always take a shower and smell good for a date."
Paul beamed as Jamie said, "Dad says that!"
"I know. Your Daddy said it to me once, a long time ago." She nodded for emphasis, and Jamie giggled.
"Why? Did you butt stink?"
Bella's cheeks instantly flushed as she bit her bottom lip, trying not to laugh.
Paul teased, "As a matter of fact…"
"Oh, hush!" Bella shook her head at him, recalling the moment a teenage Paul asked her to shower before coming to Sam's with Jacob so he didn't have to smell her 'bloodsucker.' Bella cracked a period joke that instantly shut Paul's mouth. It was one of the few times she'd bested him in their youth.
Bella and Paul tried their hardest not to laugh and wake Jack, but when their eyes met, they cackled. Jamie climbed down from her lap and, surprisingly, walked over to Paul with no fuss.
Bella wanted to ask Paul what he intended to do about Karrie but didn't want to upset Jamie again. She became agitated by just thinking about it. Her family was being tormented by a manipulative bitch abusing her title. She was glad she'd already discussed her concerns with the lawyer she'd spoken to about Paul's adoption fees. Bella was hesitant to say anything to him about it yet, and she couldn't in front of Jamie.
She kicked the covers to the foot of the bed and stood to stretch. Paul's eyes went straight to her lower abdomen as her shirt raised with her arms. Her back cracked as she arched and waited for the semi-lightheaded feeling to come. Mid-peak of her stretch, he wagged his eyebrows at her, and she laughed as she dropped her arms to her side. The fading sensation danced along her skin.
"That morning stretch is the best," he teased as she swayed toward him. Jamie stepped back and watched them intently as Paul pulled Bella in for a hug and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you soon?"
"Yeah, I hope so," Bella said.
Jack sighed loudly and pulled his phone from his pajama pocket. "We're doing yoga today, honey."
Paul sniggered as Bella said, "Um. No, we're not."
Jack scrolled through his phone and said, "You haven't done it since you've been here, have you? I heard you grunting and popping over there. And you've drunk a lot of alcohol. I bet you're dehydrated as hell. We will find some salads somewhere because I'm sure you've had nothing but room service, junk, and fried meat all week."
"I ate half of a grilled burger, thank you," she said. "And it's been stressful, sir. I needed carbs."
Jack snorted. "We can find a coffee shop and do yoga on this bougie-ass white carpet."
Bella smirked. "I didn't bring my yoga mat, Jackie."
He grinned mischievously, reminding her of the Cheshire Cat. "I know, Honey. But I did."
"Wow. Jack actually is like your husband," Paul teased.
Still focused on his scrolling, Jack said, "That's what I'm saying. Someone has to water this woman and her houseplants."
Bella asked, "Was he like this as a child?"
Paul scoffed and nodded. "Funniest friend I ever had besides Jared."
"We will talk while we do all that stuff today, too, Bella. You've been holding out on me." Jack genuinely sounded slightly angry, and it instantly made her nervous. What all had Leah and Paul told him while she'd slept?
Before she could respond, he grinned and said, "Your step-sister is amazing. You had me convinced she's a total…"
He paused, glancing at Jamie to curb his vocabulary, and laughed as he dropped the topic. Bella instantly felt relieved as he winked at her and returned to scrolling.
Paul shook his head. "Oh, just wait, Jack. You haven't seen her angry yet."
Bella laughed. "So, you like my step-sister, huh?"
Jack muttered, "I'm gonna marry that girl."
Paul chuckled, but Bella's jaw dropped in surprise. "Paul, you don't get it. Jack does not joke about marriage. Hates the entire concept of it, in fact."
And that was despite how nurturing and loyal he was.
"The institution of it," Jack corrected. "Paul only got to meet my dad's second wife, but he was on to number six when he…"
He glanced toward Jamie again, then up at Paul, who nodded in understanding.
Paul reminded them he and Jamie really needed to go. He picked Jamie up and smirked at his son as he puckered his lips at Bella. Bella leaned her cheek toward Jamie for him to kiss it, and he grinned as Paul pulled him away. They left with Jamie waving goodbye to Bella over Paul's shoulder.
As Bella shut the door behind them, Jack said, "You've got it bad, Honey."
She frowned. "Could you just… stop being right today? Gosh!"
He flopped onto his back and laughed. "Well? You do. And you're an idiot if you go through with this divorce. You clearly want to be with the guy."
Bella harrumphed. "Did Leah tell you to say that?"
"Nope," he said, popping the P. "You fucked the guy in the bathroom and fell asleep holding his kid twice. If that doesn't tell you something, Bella…"
More to herself than him, Bella insisted, "I admit, I'm crazy about Jamie, but I still don't want to have kids, Jack."
Jack softened his tone and said, "You don't have to. One was clearly made for you. That little boy already acts like you're his mother, and he met you a week ago. You don't have to live with the dude. You don't have to be Jamie's mom. Just be with them, you know?"
"Argh!" He sounded just like Leah.
Bella threw her hands up as she turned and headed to the bathroom. As she sat down to pee, the door flew open and banged against the wall. Jack leaned in the doorway, still screwing with his phone.
"It's gonna take like six U-hauls to move all of our shit to Washington."
She huffed. "All of our shit? And you know what? Leah is basically you with tits. No wonder you like her so much. I just didn't realize how much you are alike until now."
"Bella, I imagine you're realizing many things right now, but better late than never. And yes. Let's check a local paper for some places to rent while we're out and about."
"You want to just up and move to Washington? Just like that?" Bella snapped her fingers for emphasis and reached for the toilet paper.
Jack turned toward her, grinning cockily. "I'm the leading paralegal at the top law office in Florida. I don't fetch coffee. I'm like Erin Brockovich, baby. I can get hired anywhere."
"And so humble about it," she teased.
He tried not to laugh. "And we both know you don't need that shithole job!" He turned his back for her to wipe and pull her pants back up.
She flushed and moved over to wash her hands. "Jack… I know everything seems like sunshine and roses around here right now, but there are reasons I shouldn't live here."
"Like?"
"The trouble it could cause people, for reasons I can't talk about. Also, Paul filed for divorce because Jamie needs to come first, and I support that."
"Tell me you don't love the guy, Bella," Jack argued as he began pulling clean clothing from his luggage.
"I can't say that," she admitted as she sorted her remaining clean clothing. "Also, I didn't bring workout clothes. I was only supposed to be here for a week."
"Then it looks like we're going shopping. You said you needed more clothing, anyway."
"You know what? You're not the bossy husband in this friendship. You're the nagging fishwife."
"Somebody's gotta do it," he muttered sarcastically, making a fish face as he walked into the bathroom to change.
Jack kept Bella busy most of the day, demanding she show him around between shopping and lunch. He snickered at her choices to get through the next week, a mixture of her usual attire and some items that had tempted her when shopping for the bonfire. Unfortunately, she had to buy another suitcase to take all her purchases back to Florida.
When Jack asked to meet Charlie, she told him about their family dinner the following day. She hoped dragging Jack along with her would put Charlie on his best behavior (if nothing else). At least it would keep any vampire arguments at bay.
Bella didn't have as long as she would have liked to get ready with Jack's many distractions. Despite the rush, his constant jabbering had kept her mind occupied enough to curb any anxiety as she applied her makeup. Her eyes looked wide, almost doll-like, with thick lashes and winged eyeliner. Bella had perfectly applied her blood-red lipstick and loosely curled her hair. She put it up in a clip to change into her dress. Jack took over the bathroom, searching for a hidden iron and ironing board to press his suit as Bella pulled her decade-old prom dress from its garment bag.
"Eureka!" Jack walked out of the bathroom with the ironing board and froze. He scowled at the dress and asked, "When the fuck do you wear blue , Bella?"
"Yeah. I know." She sighed. "I've worn so much blue since coming home. I even bought a blue bra set and wore a lavender bikini. When the fuck do you see me in purple?"
As Jack set up his ironing space, he asked, "Do you think it's psychosomatic? You're here, you know?"
He was more than aware of Bella's aversion to wearing Blue, of any shade close to or containing it - Purple and Green included. It reminded her too much of the home, the Cullens, of Edward's obsession with her wearing blue more than anything - the green walls and purple bedspread in her childhood bedroom. It was part of the reason she'd stopped wearing jeans and most plaids, too. Now she was here, and her long-retired and comfortable sense of style screamed at her like a homing beacon.
"Look," she said, holding her hand out for Jack to see her nails, the blue matching her dress, swirled with gold.
"I've definitely never seen you do that." Not quietly enough, she heard him mutter, "Lord, this woman has lost her damn mind…"
Bella snorted. "I have a plan. After the reunion tonight."
"Well…" Jack carefully lowered the iron to his dark gray suit. "Call me curious about whatever that is, but I want to ask something important first."
"What's that?" Bella went to the bathroom to dress, leaving the door partially open to hear him.
"What color is Leah wearing tonight so I can pick a tie?"
Bella laughed as she hopped, nearly falling over as she tried to get her foot into her pantyhose. Her hip smacked into the counter, and she grunted.
"Just sit on the counter, clumsy. You and your goddamned pantyhose. I know that sound."
"Dick!" She yelled, "Text your future wife and ask her. I have a plan!"
"You really should be nicer to me, hubby. I'll be your brother-in-law someday."
Bella cackled. "That's sounds so bad."
She finally got the pantyhose on and reached for the dress. Bella had practically doused it with her favorite perfume days earlier, trying to remove any musty 'closet' scent she might have been nose-blind to (like traces of Edward or Alice). She also hoped it helped burn it later. Fortunately, for now, it smelled divine.
"Jack, I plan to set this dress on fire after the reunion."
He paused what he was doing to peek around the corner at her as he said, "Uh… not while you're in it, I hope?"
Bella was stepping into the dress as he looked, and both squawked as his eyes met her naked front. Bella's hands shot up to cover herself, and he cringed before darting back to his ironing board.
Bella squealed, "Jack!"
She stamped her foot for emphasis, only hurting her heel instead. It barely made a sound. Aggravated, she sighed.
"Sorry!" He coughed as he tried not to laugh. "Sorry!" He lost it then, trying to speak as he cackled. "Bella… swear… accident!"
"I know," Bella grumbled over his laughter, then had to bite back her own as she returned to putting on her dress. She put double-sided tape on her breasts between the fabric and her skin to avoid any mishaps. One unintentional flashing was enough for the evening.
"It was bound to happen one day, I suppose. It's not like you haven't seen me half-naked a dozen times. This morning, for example."
Just never full-frontal nudity until now!
"Exactly." He cleared his throat and sounded nervous as he asked, "So, you gonna tell Paul that just happened? Cuz we're not eight, and I can't kick his ass anymore."
Bella teased him, threatening, "I don't know Jack. My tits are kind of his favorite part of me these days." She glared at her behind in the reflection and grumbled, "Used to be my ass."
Jack asked, "Are you decent now?"
"Yes. Tits are secure… and I highly doubt Paul would have much to say about it other than laugh. With how we interact, he probably thinks you've seen me naked, anyway."
"Thank heaven," he grumbled, and she snorted.
As Jack entered the bathroom, she asked, "Can you zip this?"
The top of the zipper of her dress ended in an odd place between her shoulder blades that she could never seem to reach again after… She pushed the memory of Edward hurling her across the room away as her stomach flipped.
Bella released a slow, deep breath as Jack pulled the zipper up. She turned back to her reflection and frowned, half-expecting to see the mess she'd made of it senior year, with no boobs, a leg cast, and her thrift shop, beaded grandma sweater. But the dress fit her as perfectly as she knew it would when she chose it. It looked entirely different with her alterations and added curves.
This was likely the version of me that Alice saw when she bought it. It was an odd thought.
Bella stepped into the same sharp black heels she'd worn to dinner her second night home, released the clip holding up her blonde curls, turned to Jack, and asked, "How does it look?"
Jack stared at her for a moment before grinning. "Honey. Anybody who didn't like you in high school will hate you tonight."
And see me walk and dance without tripping… Bella never understood how she got the hang of it so quickly, but now she had better balance in heels than without. Perhaps it was because she started with low heels instead of the stilts Alice kept trying to slap her into. She had to work her way up to the stilettos.
She asked, "Red lips?"
"Great. I'm surprised you didn't put your hair up in those crazy rockabilly curls I've seen you do before," Jack teased. "Are you wearing your glasses?"
"My hair is too long for that right now, or I would. And, no. Contacts. Should I?" Bella picked up her glasses from the counter and held them up to see. "Nah."
She turned to appraise Jack's appearance. "Perfect. Leah will love you in that."
His dark hair was perfectly in place, as always. He'd shaved earlier, leaving Bella yelling about cleaning up his trimmings. It reminded her of one reason she enjoyed living alone.
"Apparently, her dress is a champagne color," Jack said, unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt. "I don't have a tie for that." Bella grinned as he loosened the collar of his shirt and tugged at the sides a little, entirely changing the 'feel' of his appearance.
"Better," Bella said, nodding. "She'll like this more, too. Ties are stuffy. She's a nature girl, Jackie."
"Good call," he said, laughing. "So… why do you want to burn the dress again?"
"And the scraps," She said, pointing to the bottom of the garment bag on the floor. Bella looked around the room and laughed. It was a disaster.
"You altered it? I didn't know you could do that."
"I just got lucky that I didn't butcher it. It was my senior prom dress."
Jack gasped in genuine surprise and cackled. "No way, Honey. You wore this to senior prom?"
"Trust me, it did not look like this. Ed's sister Alice shoved me into it. It didn't fit correctly and was much longer. I had a cast on one foot, Converse on the other, Capri-cut leggings under the dress, an ugly sweater, and I went with Edward. I looked like a skater girl after a makeover in an awful movie, and it was terrible. Trust me, Dad still has a picture on the mantel. You'll see it tomorrow."
"Oh," he groaned through laughter. "I can't wait."
"You're such a jerk sometimes. I'll explain the rest after we pick Leah up."
