Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters.
You swore that you loved me
But where were the clues?
I died on the altar waiting for the proof
You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days
And I'm just getting color back into my face
I'm just mad as hell cause I loved this place
For so long, London
Had a good run
A moment of warm sun
But I'm not the one
So long, London…
-So Long, London by Taylor Swift
Bella
I was in the middle of sending an author a partial request for the manuscript when the door to my office opened. I look up from my computer, shocked to see Billy Black walk in.
"Mr. Black, um, what a surprise," I say nervously and stand up. "W-what can I do for you?"
He walked to my desk and pulled an envelope out of his pocket.
"I came to see how you were and say my goodbyes."
"Your goodbyes?"
"Im stepping down as CEO," he says, fidgeting with the envelope. "My doctor told me the stress and everything is not helping very much with my heart, so after very careful consideration, I've decided to step down."
What? Billy was stepping down?
"Oh wow, I really wasn't expecting that." I'd known Billy had been having health problems since his heart attack a couple years ago, but I didn't think I'd see the day he actually decided to leave Forever Publishing. Jacob often joked he loved this company more than he loved him. "Well, as sad as it makes me to not work with you anymore, I've got to say it's been one of the best work-wise experiences I've ever had."
"I truly appreciate it, Isabella. You're going to do wonderful things, I know it." He hands me the envelope. "I know things between you and my boy are over, but I do want you to know that I am very happy for you and that is a little something for the baby."
I open the envelope and look at it. It's a check, a very generous check. I look at Billy shocked and say, "Mr. Black-"
"You know to call me Billy."
"Billy, this is not necessary-"
"Take it as your Christmas bonus, my wife and I will be leaving town tomorrow and I wanted to get this straightened out first. Take it as a Christmas gift if you must. Buy yourself and your baby something nice."
"No, seriously Billy, this is too much. I mean, Edward and I are handling it just-"
"Edward?" His eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Why did I have to speak his name out loud?
The shock was soon replaced with confusion.
"Edward Cullen is the father of your baby?"
Of course he knew who Edward was and what he was to me. Throughout my relationship with Jacob, Edward and him were somewhat friends. Granted, they weren't best friends but they went to some baseball games together and would be friendly when we all were together.
"Yes, he is," I say quietly. "We are not together but we are going to co-parent, and I really should stop telling other people my personal business. Look, I just don't want Jacob to know, at least not until... Just not yet. Would you please not tell him?"
It was the last thing I needed given how our relationship ended and why.
Billy nodded, chewing at his bottom lip.
"Of course, it's not my business to discuss. Just take care, Bella. You're going to be a wonderful mother."
I gave him an appreciative smile. Billy gave me a small wave and walked out of my office. I look back down at the five thousand dollar check and I can't help but laugh to myself. Why the hell would he give me a five thousand dollar check? No one ever gets a five thousand dollar bonus. Edward will certainly not take this money if he knew who it came from. Unless I don't tell him who gave me this money and why.
I was exhausted and very hungry by the end of the day. I wrapped my coat around me tightly and walked out of the office when out of the blue, a body ran into mine.
"Watch it!" I snapped.
"I'm so sorry," he said at the same time.
Shocked shot right through me like lightning. I looked up, my brown eyes meeting his familiar black one. Jacob. Jacob was back. He was in the middle of the sidewalk, holding me by the shoulders.
Jacob is back.
"Jacob?"
His shock reflected mine.
"Bella?"
I was completely mind fucked. It's been more than six months since we broke up and he left. Six months since I had my heart broken. He let his hair grow a bit as it was now falling over his forehead and the stubble was also new. Why was he back?
"W-what are you doing here? I thought you weren't due to come back in another couple of months?"
"Well, my father's sudden decision to step down left me little choice but to come back. I'm actually here to see him."
"He left an hour ago," I say. Then the most horrifying thought came to me. "Wait, are you taking his place?"
Jacob nodded.
"Yes, I will."
He was going to be my boss now? How the hell was that going to work? What the hell did that mean?
There was a short awkward silence as we both just stared at each other until he said, "Do you want to grab some lunch?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Did I want to have lunch with him? What was the point? Were we friends?
"I really shouldn't."
"It's just lunch, Bella, it doesn't have to mean anything."
"It doesn't." His eyes widened at my bluntness. Man, being pregnant has tone something to the filter between my brain and my tongue. "I-I mean, I know. We're friends but I have someone waiting for me, I have to go see my OB for my ultrasound-"
"Wait, ultrasound?"
I really should stop doing that!
I didn't know what to tell him or how to tell him. How do I tell the one I believed to be the love of my life that I'm expecting? Especially after the reason why we broke up was because he didn't want children. What will he think? I look down to my belly. It's not as noticeable under the coat but if I open it, it's out in plain view.
Alright, here goes nothing.
I can't hide it from Jacob forever. He's bound to find out eventually. It's better if he hears it from me rather than from the office gossip.
I slowly unbutton my coat and without meeting his eyes, I open it and expose my belly out to the chilling air and his eyes. I hear him gasp and he looks at me with wide eyes.
"Bella, is that... is that?"
"It's not yours if that's what you're thinking," I say, closing my coat again. "Unless you got some really slow swimmers that it took them months to get me pregnant, then maybe. But it isn't."
He looked at me and for a moment I think I saw some sadness in his expression.
"Then, whose is it?"
"Someone."
"Are you dating him?"
"No."
"Was it a one night thing?"
"Jacob..."
"I want to know, Bella."
"Well, it really isn't your business. Now if you excuse me, I have a doctor's appointment with the father of my baby in less than an hour. It was great seeing you by the way," I say sarcastically and walk the other direction.
"Bella, wait!" He runs up to me and pulls me to him. "I'm sorry, it's just that I'm..."
"Shocked?"
"More like confused. I mean, you wanted a baby that bad?"
I look at him completely shocked.
"Do you think I wanted a baby like this? A one night stand and no fucking clue what to do next? No, Jacob. I wanted a family with you, a future, but you obviously didn't and now I'm having a baby. I didn't plan this, it just happened and I will get through this, I'll raise my baby with or without the father and I sure as hell won't need you since you never wanted this in the first place. So don't worry about me, Jacob because for starters, this baby isn't even yours."
I stalked off down the street, leaving him behind as shocked as he'll ever be. God, why did that feel so good? I get in my car and look down at my phone. There's a text from Edward.
Fancy dinner after our appointment?
And I responded with.
Shitty day. How about a nice, fattening dinner with milk shakes on the side? Baby is craving curled fries.
He responded:
Gotcha! ;) I'll pick you up from Emmett's in thirty.
Me:
See you then.
I look up from my phone and realize Jacob has not moved from his spot on the sidewalk where I left him. I kind of feel bad for yelling at him, but he had it coming. However, if he was going to be my boss now, then we needed to talk things through and come to an agreement. I couldn't afford quitting my job for obvious reasons, and on top of that, I loved working at Forever Publishing.
I searched for his number on my phone.
I'm having dinner with the father tonight. Do you want to have lunch tomorrow? I'll try to be less snappy, I promise.
He responded with:
I'll be here.
Jacob opens the door to his mustang when I walk out of the office the next day. The cold wind of a Seattle morning sends cold chills down my spine and I find myself holding my belly as I make my way to his car. He has a surprised-slash-weird look on his face, just by the fact that I'm doing what I'm doing. Trust me, Jake, I surprised myself many times.
The drive is painfully silent. I wasn't in my comfort zone anymore. Normally at times like this, I'd reach for his phone and plug the stereo in and we'd both sing along with our hands joined together, but now I can't even look at the stereo. The drive is short, however, so the silence doesn't last much. We arrived at a small restaurant just two blocks from the office.
When we make it inside, the smell of food and freshly made coffee invades my senses. Oh, I'd kill for a coffee right now. Jacob walks up to the hostess, who immediately takes us to a booth, far in the back of the restaurant where there's only three couples eating. Once we reach the booth, I feel a little sweat forming in the back of my neck from either my body sweating from nervousness or just in general. I've been sweating a lot lately. I undo my coat and leave it on the booth. When I look up, Jacob is staring at my belly which is more obvious thanks to my white blouse. My hand immediately touches it, as if protecting it from his judging stare.
"How far are you?" He asks as I slide in across from him.
"Eighteen weeks," I tell him.
The waitress comes. Her eyes land on Jacob and a flirty smile creeps on the edges of her bright red lips. It's just a pretty face, woman. You see them every day. She hands him his menu first and when she turns to me, her eyes immediately fall on my belly and she practically shoves the menu in my hands.
Bitch.
"My name is Linda, I'll be your waitress today. Is there anything you'd like to drink?"
Jacob nods without looking at her. "I'll have a coffee, two of sugar and vanilla."
"I'll have green tea, no sugar," I say.
"Got it. I'll be right back."
She leaves and we're left with our menus between us.
Jacob chuckles.
"What?" I ask.
"Normally, when a woman smiles at me the way she did, you become a little hostile."
I roll my eyes. "It was just a smile, Jacob. It's not like she was crawling on your lap." I flip the menu. "And even if she was, I'm no one to say anything. It's not like we're together anymore."
Seriously! Think before you speak, ever heard of it?
Damn, do I need a new filter.
"You're right, not anymore." The tone in his voice was really sad and as I peek over my menu, I see he's looking down at his closed one and shaking his head. "Bella?"
"Yes?"
"Can you look at me please?"
I slowly put my menu down and look at him.
"Yes?"
He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. I don't miss the little jerk away motion it does and neither does he.
"I've missed you so much-"
"Jake-"
"I was an idiot and selfish and a total dick for telling you I didn't want the same things you wanted," he continued.
"Jacob-"
"I've been thinking about it the whole time we've been apart. I was being so stupid because there is no other woman in this world I would want to spend the rest of my life with that isn't you. I want all you want, marriage, babies, a house, a fucking farm if we must. I'm so sorry I disappointed you. I really am."
I sigh, taking my hand from his.
"Where was this six months ago? Why now?"
"You don't realize what you have until you lose it. Last night, I kept thinking about how I lost you to another man."
"You didn't lose me to another man, Jacob," I say. "I gave you my heart and all you said is that you wanted to have nothing else but just us. No kids, no future, nothing. And that is completely fine, if that's what you want, I will not blame you for it. But I will not give up on what I want just for the sake of keeping you."
He looks down, fidgeting with his hands. He knows I'm right. He has to know. In the final weeks of our relationship, he wouldn't even stop and consider what I was asking. It had always been a definitive no and that is completely okay, I wasn't going to force him into a marriage he didn't want and children he didn't desire only for him to hate me for it. But he also had to understand he couldn't make me give up on my dreams for him because at the end of the day, the outcome would be the same.
The truth was, as much as I loved Jacob, he and I were not meant to be together.
"Do you still...?"
"Love you?"
He nodded.
I needed to be honest. This is the only time my no filter brain actually comes in handy.
"I love you. But I'm not in love with you. I haven't been for the past four months. But I love the person you are. You're caring, warm and supportive. I love you like I love-"
"Edward?"
I stopped, biting back my words.
No, not even close. He meant it in the way I loved Edward before I got pregnant and the only way he ever witnessed. As my best friend. But that love has changed. I love Edward and while I'm not sure if I'm in love with him, I love him as the man who has been supporting me and is the father of my child.
"A lot of things have changed since you last saw me, Jacob."
"You're pregnant," he pointed to the obvious.
"That's one of them." Okay, truth time. I take in a deep breath. "I thought it'd be harder, but the father of my baby has been a great help and really supportive. We both have agreed to co-parent and his family is all on board."
"And yours?"
"Anxious to meet the baby," I say with a smile. Another deep breath. Here goes nothing. "Jacob, Edward is the father of my baby."
"Oh thank God!"
We both look at Linda, our waitress. She wipes the sweat off her forehead and makes a little phew sound.
"I thought you two were together!" She laughed. "Well, I'll be back to take your order once the tension dies down."
Talk about not having a filter.
She walks away. I turn to Jacob, who is leaning against his booth with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Jake?"
He raises his hand. "Just a minute."
"O-"
But then his hand slams the table suddenly.
"Edward! Edward? Your so-called best friend? The one you told me I had nothing to worry about from the beginning of our relationship because he was family, that Edward is the father of your baby."
I did not expect that.
"... Yes."
"How-"
"Jacob, it just happened!" I snap. "It was something neither of us planned, but it happened and in all honesty, there's no one else I would rather have a baby with than with him."
Jacob shook his head.
"I'm just a bit shocked, that's it. I mean, in the beginning of our relationship, I was jealous of how close you two were. Then I realized you two were almost like siblings-"
"Okay, it's really weird if you put it that way," I interrupted him. "We're best friends and honestly, I don't see anything bad in him and I having a baby, it'll be less complicated if we were involved and then when it didn't work out." I take in a deep breath. "This is my life now, Jake. Before during the weekends I was able to flirt with guys, have a drink, sleep in till noon and wear my favorite jeans. I was able to smell cooking meat and exercise like crazy. Now... I'm shopping for maternity clothes," I laugh. "I'm woken up by my own morning sickness and I'm snacking on everything I see."
Jake laughs, but there was still that sad glint in his eyes.
"This is my life now, Jacob. I've made peace with us, with our relationship and like I said, I do not blame you for knowing what you want and sticking to it. That is why I have no resentment toward you when it comes to our relationship. You have always been fair to me, so I hope, now that you'll be taking your father's job, that we can have a professional relationship. I really hope we can be friends."
"We can," he said. If there's one thing I could always count on when it came to Jacob, was that he was always level headed. "Anything you need, just let me know, Bella. I'll be there for you." He reaches over and takes my hand in his. "Always."
Linda finally came back. "So, are we ready to order?"
"You did what?!" Both Rosalie and Alice scream at the same time.
"I had lunch with Jacob," I say as I take a seat on the couch. "He came back yesterday. He's taking over for Billy since he's stepping down."
"And did you tell him...?"
"That Edward was the father of my baby? Yes, of course I told him. I'm not stupid. He took it... Well, he was shocked at first, but then I guess he was able to understand what happened. He said if I ever needed anything, he'd always be there."
Rosalie sat back. "Man, this is like a fucking soap opera. First, your best friend knocks you up, then the ex-love-of-your-life comes back, now all we need is a crazy bitch to stir the pot."
I roll my eyes. "Don't jinx it, Rosalie."
Author's Note:
Well, it's a good thing Jacob is level headed, but wonder how Edward will feel if he finds out? Hehehe.
Chapter Eight Preview -
"You had lunch with Jacob!"