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Chapter 1

Phone Call


Edward


The first week went by very quickly.

On fire for the task of once again being allowed to plan a wedding, Bella was hogged by Alice most of the time, even though she would have preferred to just leave everything to her. But there were still things to sort out, much to her chagrin. My sister often did not want a mind reader present. And even though I would have liked to stand by Bella, just to have her close to me, it came in quite handy. I still had some things to organize myself.

The honeymoon ...! Where - and especially how? ... Or a much more pressing question: Which car would I buy Bella?

These considerations and research soon paid off, because her monster truck miraculously made its last piston motions shortly after we had managed to let Charlie in on our marriage plans.

All it took was a single phone call and only two weeks later the custom-made product was to arrive from Europe. It took a lot out of me not to let the joy of replacing her rolling danger potential with such an appropriate piece of jewelry, or to finally give my beloved something, show too much. So far, she knew nothing of her happiness.

But now Bella had to get something else behind her first.

Telling her mother about our plans. She was so horrified by this that I offered to call Renée instead of her, which she regretfully declined. She felt that she would have to do it herself. The conversation went well - I thought - only quite differently than she had expected. First she was stunned and then really angry.

"How can she?! All these years of exhortations and ... now? Does she stab me in the back ...!"

I frowned.

"How should I understand that now?"

"Oh, you know what I mean."

She paced up and down the kitchen, fists clenched, and just snorted.

I had rarely seen her like this.

"Come here, Bella!" I opened my arms. "It's late. You should go to bed and sleep. Tomorrow is another busy day."

I was met with a bewildered look, under which I winced slightly.

"Do you think I can sleep now?" And she started pacing back and forth again. "I should call her again and tell her what I think."

She reached for the phone.

I held her hand tightly.

"Bella, please calm down! Just be glad she reacted so positively. Would you rather she had made a fuss and tried to stop us?!"

"No! But it would have been ... honest. It wouldn't have overturned all her - and my - opinions in a second ..."

I had to smile.

She looked so cute. My little angry house tiger.

She gave me a nasty glare.

"Traitor!", she hissed and took a deep breath, apparently now taking out her aggression on me.

But the sounds of Charlie's arrival saved me.

Already, he came around the corner into the kitchen and stopped moving at the sight of Bella and tried to assess the situation.

"What's going on here? The first marital quarrel?"

That would suit you so well, I thought, since he still hadn't fully befriended me as a future son-in-law.

Bella now turned to her father, who eyed her with raised eyebrows.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"No! This is none of your business."

He looked questioningly at me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"She was on the phone with Renée."

"Ah ...!" His face cleared and then took on a smug, almost nasty expression. "So, how did she react?"

The satisfaction was clearly audible.

"Oh ... leave me alone! She is overjoyed and can't wait!", she pressed out between her teeth and stormed upstairs.

Charlie's facial expressions fell apart and he looked at me in disbelief.

I just nodded apologetically and went after Bella.

What was I supposed to say? I'm sorry? I was more than satisfied with her reaction. He would calm down again ... And Bella, too, eventually.

I stepped into her room and Bella threw herself into my arms.

"This is not fair! What kind of parents do I have!"

Soothingly, I stroked her back and kissed her hair.

"He'll get over it, my darling!" Slowly her breathing regulated again. "How about you take a nice hot shower in peace first!"

"Hmm ..." she grumbled against my chest and looked up at me.

An indefinable sparkle was in her gaze, which I had not expected at all.

"Are you coming with me?"

This time my features slipped, and I carefully detached myself from her.

"Bella ...! ...? Um ... you know ... I can't ... And besides, Charlie is here!", I groaned out.

Exhaling in frustration, she turned away, grabbed her pajamas and headed for the bathroom.

"Coward!"

Oh man!

I ran my fingers through my hair and over my face and had to nod my head in agreement, like it or not.

I said goodbye downstairs, brought my car home, ran back without delay, jumped through Bella's window, and threw myself on the bed to wait for her there.

Removed from the distracting activity, my thoughts began to take on a life of their own and wander towards the bathroom.

I tried not to think about what it would be like to be in the shower with Bella.

My teeth gritted uncomfortably from clenching them so hard.

I should have taken care of other things than just Bella's car. Yes, in the meantime it had already become two. I had not been able to decide. The broken truck gave me a good excuse, but I still didn't know how I was going to explain it to her ...

The splashing of the shower became more and more intrusive.

I had not showered for a long time. For a vampire, that was more of a pastime than really necessary. I knew exactly how Bella's hair smelled after washing. I wondered what it would be like in the steamy shower. The warm water on my skin ... Her warm body against mine ... Ahh ... stop!

I shook my head and sat up.

Everything inside me was tingling and a suspicious tension started in my loins. Not good! Not good at all! Bella would be here in a minute, wanting to sink into her dreams in my arms as always. Hopefully she was tired enough to fall asleep quickly. I really needed to talk to Carlisle soon now. And maybe with my brothers, too. How was I going to last even five minutes when just the thought of her skin got me so excited? So far I had only seen her bare arms on the few warm days. And in Phoenix her long, slender, beautiful legs ...

The sound of water stopped and pulled me out of my memories ...

I didn't have much time to get a handle on my emotions.

I got up and reached for my cell phone to set up a day of hunting with Jasper and Emmett.

Then I would no longer be able to put it off.

I dialed Jazz's number and asked him when Alice was going to Seattle with Bella.

"The day after tomorrow," she warbled in the background.

"Why are you calling me?", he asked.

Then Alice's voice was suddenly in my ear.

"Of course your brothers will accompany you on your hunt! I'll take care of it. It's sure to be an interesting conversation!"

Her grin was clearly audible as well as Jasper's curious "What's going on?"

I groaned.

"Thank you! Can you please stay out of my affairs!"

"Please, you're welcome."

I hung up.

I had a bad feeling. Psychic sisters could be really nerve-wracking.

"Are you all right?"

I whirled around and somehow felt caught.

"Yes, it's nothing ... Was the shower a success?", I deflected.

"Hmm ... could have been better," she grumbled with a disparaging look at me and crawled under the covers.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

She looked at me invitingly and lifted the blanket.

"Are you coming ...?"

It almost sounded like a grumble.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you want to do that? It doesn't sound like it somehow. I can go ..."

She sighed in surrender. And took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. Of course I want you – always, everywhere ..." I looked skeptical. "... with me! Please!"

I pulled up one corner of my mouth and crawled to her.

I wouldn't have lasted much longer anyway.

She immediately snuggled close to me.

I put my arm around her and started humming her lullaby.

My thoughts wandered to tomorrow.

I definitely wanted to talk to Carlisle before my hunt ...


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