Hi again! Again, I am amazed by your response to the first four chapters of Riptide. Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows so far, it means a lot! Some of the reviews had questions, and those will be answered with time! We are still learning about the fictional town of Clear Lake, FL Be patient, you will learn a little more about the town and Bella in time! You just need to stick with me ;)
If you have some spare moments, leave me a review, please.
Also, a few people have asked if I was going to include some Edward POV chapters. Let me know what you think about having some Edward POV in your review!
Thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: This story is rated M for mature for sexual situations, explicit language, and character death.
SM owns everything!
I waited at the gate until I saw Edward disappear into his parent's house. I began to process what just happened. How could he have known about my aversion to water? I don't know if he believed me when I said I was fine. Well, I am a little frazzled, but this is nothing like the last time I made contact with water. After that incident, I couldn't stop shaking. I look down to my arms and hold them out in front of me. No trembling. Edward helped me from having a full blown panic attack.
I realized I must have been standing at the gate for a while, so I headed inside to prepare for Esme's dinner. I threw my towel into the washer as I headed to the bathroom. I started the shower. While I was waiting for the shower to heat up, I rummaged through my closet in search of the perfect outfit for this evening. I didn't have too many nice clothes, and the nicer clothes were usually reserved for my opening receptions at the gallery. I decided on a casual cream floral sundress. It was one of my favorite sundresses. It had thicker spaghetti straps and a modified sweetheart neckline. Cream colored buttons lined the front of the dress from neckline to hem. The soft blues of the floral work went with the cream background nicely. I pulled it from the hanger and laid it on the bed.
My shower helped calm any leftover anxious feelings from the ocean. Showering never causes anxiety. I am in total control of the temperature and spray of the water. Stepping out of the warm steam, I wrapped a towel around myself.
A few minutes later, I decided to blow dry my hair to tame any frizziness. My brown hair fell in natural loose waves down my back once I was finished. I put on a bit of makeup as well. The clock read 6:15, and I gathered my brown braided leather sandals and the apple pie I had made earlier. I took a deep breath and headed over next door.
The tall front door seemed intimidating as I carefully knocked while balancing the pie in one hand. I looked around the wide porch. The flooring was obviously restored from the original floorboards. A porch swing to the left made a nice addition. Plants were potted is neat arrangements. The house was very antiquated, probably built in the 1930s. It outdated the other houses on this street.
Esme opened the door with a grin. "Bella, we are so glad you could join us! Come in, come in!" She pulled me into a hug, mindful of the items I was carrying.
"Thank you for having me, Esme. Your home is beautiful." She pulled away and my eyes swept over the interior. A grand staircase lay in front of me. Arches on either side revealed the rest of the first floor. To my left, a quaint sitting room with a few bookshelves gracing the walls seemed to beckon visitors. To my right, a built-in mud bench, all whitewashed wood, set against the wall.
"I baked this pie for later, I didn't want to come empty-handed." I smiled.
"Bella! It looks delicious!" She accepted the pie. "Edward!" She called.
I instantly blushed. Edward appeared at the top of the stairs, looking devilishly handsome. His hair was slightly damp from the shower, altering the copper color of his hair slightly. He was wearing a light blue button up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbow and light khaki dress pants and light brown shoes. I almost swooned.
Keep it together, Bella.
How many times did I find myself almost melting on the spot when seeing him?
Edward descended the stairs graciously and gave me a small smile.
"Edward, have you met Bella?" Esme asked as she handed the pie to him.
"Yes, mom, I have. At the coffee shop, I frequent before work." He nodded once to ask for acceptance for his fib. He green eyes bore into mine.
I nodded in response to his silent request. "Yes, we met at Coral Coffee."
"Great! Edward, be a dear and take the pie to the kitchen please." Esme waved him off. "The others are in the living room." She looped her arm around mine and led me under the right arch to the living room. The hallway to the living room was wide and a few doors lined the walls. A soft muted blue rug led the way into the living room. Passing under another arch, the space opened into a large gathering space. The room was various shades of white with few light beige accents. The couches were modern and plush, all white. A whitewashed square coffee table sat in the middle of the couches. What amazed me more than the space were the people sitting on the couches.
"Everyone, this is Bella Swan. She lives next door." She gushed. Alice stood up right away and flitted over to me. She pulled me into a quick hug. Alice wore a chambray dress with black sandals.
"Bella! I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Me too, Alice. It's so nice to see you again!" I smiled back. She took a few steps back and seemed to vibrate in her place.
"Bella, this is my fiance, Jasper Hale!" A man with honey blonde hair made his way towards me. He was dressed in a short sleeve button up linen shirt with small anchors embroidered sporadically. Like Edward, he was also wearing khaki, but his pants were knee length. Jasper flashed a beautiful smile at me and put out his hand.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Bella." I met his hand and gave it a shake. "Alice has been going on and on about you and your gallery."
His words cued the fire to my cheeks. Alice laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Nice meeting you as well, Jasper." I smiled. The last two people on the couches stood up and made their way towards me.
"Bella, this is Emmett and his wife Rosalie," Esme said. Emmett was a burly, tall specimen. His frame towered over mine, and his wife's. He had dark hair, cut close to his head. He wore a plaid button-up unbuttoned, revealing a white v-neck shirt. His dark jeans contrasted nicely with his white sneakers. Rosalie was the epitome of female beauty. She was tall, thin, and had long blonde hair reaching the small of her back. Her hair was strategically curled into long waves. She wore a light pink strapless dress, snug at her waist and billowing around her long legs. I suddenly felt inadequate next to her, next to the entire Cullen family.
I was a plain jane. My brown hair is nothing special, and sometimes has a mind of its own. My face has faint freckles from gardening and sketching at the beach. My nose is quite petite, and my eyes are your everyday brown.
"Bella!" Emmett boomed. His voice was deep and smooth, a bit different than Edward's. "It's nice to meet you!" He said and pulled me into a bear hug. I squeaked slightly as his huge arms wrapped around my tiny frame. He released me as Rosalie came up to us.
"Hi, Bella." She said quietly and smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, Rosalie. And all of you."
Edward and Carlisle appeared from the kitchen, laughing with each other. Carlisle slapped his hand on Edward's back in a jokingly manner and smiled when he saw me.
"Bella! We are so glad you could join us." Carlisle said.
Esme moved to Carlisle's side, and his arm snaked around her waist.
"Dinner is ready!" said Esme. "I hope you enjoy fettuccine alfredo."
The conversation at the dinner table flowed quite nicely, but I noticed Edward, across from me, spoke very little. He seemed engaged in the conversations, but he never quite caught my eye. When I would be talking with someone, I felt his eyes on me, but when I turned to meet them, they were always on his plate.
Esme served the fettuccine alfredo with a side salad, Italian green beans, and garlic bread. We all drank white wine and enjoyed each other's' company. I was nervous to meet them, but I almost appeared to fit in with them well.
We discussed their feelings about moving to Clear Lake, their jobs, and how they met their significant others. That last conversation, Edward kept shifting in his seat and I realized he was the only one in the family who was by himself tonight. He had to have a girlfriend...He was so sweet, kind, and outrageously handsome. Any girl would fall for him easily.
I spoke up during that conversation and asked him "Edward, what about you? Do you have a girlfriend?" I took a sip of water in an attempt to hide my warm cheeks.
His eyes snapped up at me from his plate. I instantly begin to feel jealous of the lucky woman.
Whoa, why am I jealous? He and I just met...it's not my place to even think about his girlfriend…
"No." He replied curtly. If I was not mistaken, I saw him blush.
"Take the compliment, Bella. I love seeing your blush."
I learned more about Alice's job as a designer at the local bridal boutique in town. She was gushing over her designs for her own gown but was careful as Jasper was listening. She was beginning to draft and swatch fabrics. Jasper explained his job on the Clear Lake Police force. He smiled when I told him my father is the Chief of Police in Hartwell, Georgia.
Emmett and Rosalie opened a mechanic shop in town. Emmett explained he did a majority of the manual labor and Rose shoved him playfully. Emmett tinkers with the cars and Rosalie manages the business side, while occasionally helping in the shop. She described her love for cars briefly, and her eyes shone.
They all had questions about my profession and they were genuinely interested. It was different to have people interested in my work and not critiquing my choice of career since I usually didn't discuss it too much to avoid unwanted critiques.
We finished up dinner and moved onto the huge porch in the back of the house. My pie and another round of wine was served. I felt warm from the wine. The group settled onto the outdoor couches and chairs. Edward was the last to join the group and the only available spot was next to me on the loveseat. He glanced around and met my eyes. I scooted over to one side of the loveseat and smiled. He accepted my invitation and sat down next to me.
Immediately, I felt that strange electricity coursing between us. His knee was inches away from mine, bouncing away. His hand gripped the armrest. The sun was setting in front of us, complemented by the waves crashing against the shore. The group muttered their compliments on the apple pie between bites. Edward sat still beside me.
The sun eventually went down and we were still chatting on the porch. I stifled a yawn.
"Bella, dear, I think we are keeping you!" Esme laughed. "I think you're ready to go home."
I chuckled. "It is getting late, I think I have to head out now." I stood and the group headed to the front door. I collected my purse and the empty pie pan.
"I had such a nice time, Esme. I haven't had a family dinner in a while. I really enjoyed it." I blushed.
"Oh, Bella! You are welcome anytime." Esme pulled me into a departing hug.
Edward stood awkwardly at the back of the group as we all exchanged goodbyes.
"I'll walk you home, Bella," Edward spoke up.
"Thanks," I whispered.
Edward opened the front door for me and guided me down the steps.
"Your family is really great, Edward. You're so lucky to have them."
"I know." He replied. We walked in silence to my front door. I took my keys from my purse, about to open the door when Edward released a deep breath.
"Listen, Bella, I deeply apologize for what happened today at the beach. You had already been through an ordeal at the bar where...that guy overpowered you...and I did the same thing when I pulled you into the ocean. I had no idea...about your anxiety about water and it was never my intention to harm you." He spoke so eloquently and full of emotion, my eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Edward," I whispered.
His green eyes swirled with regret and his perfect lips were trembling into a frown. It was hard to make out in the dim porch light, but I thought I saw his eyes water.
"I understand if you can't forgive me, but I'll try my—"
He shut his mouth in surprise as I wrapped my arms around his torso. I hugged him tightly and laid head against his chest. He didn't pull away, in fact, he moved his toned arms around me.
"I accept your apology, Edward," I said against his chest. He pushed me away to look at my face. I didn't fail to notice how he still had his arms around me. The electric sensation heightened the feeling.
"Bella," He breathed, looking down at me.
"You didn't know, Edward. How could you have known?"
"That doesn't mean I had permission. I caused you to have a damn panic attack!" His arms dropped and he stepped away. He leaned against the side of my house and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I have those sometimes. But what you don't see, Edward is how incredible it is you were able to stop it. I have never been able to control my panic attacks, and you stopped it from becoming a massive one. Don't you see?" I stepped closer to him and touched his arm.
He looked at me. "At least I did one thing right, huh?" He frowned.
"Thank goodness you were there though."
"So you forgive me?" Edward whispered.
"Yes." I smiled. Edward cracked a smile. We fell into a slightly awkward silence. "I am going to the lake tomorrow, do you want to come?" I asked gently.
"If you're sure you want my company."
"I'm sure, Edward."
"What time were you thinking?" He asked, his eyes finally lighter and happier.
"Noon?"
"Sure."
"Do you have a bike?" I asked.
"No, why?" He smiled that damn crooked smile.
"I was going to bike there, I don't have a car." His mouth went wide.
"You don't have a car?" He asked.
"No, I sold it a couple of years ago because everything is pretty much nearby," I smirked.
"Well, looks like I'm driving then. See you at noon." He returned my smirk and spun around, leaving me to my thoughts on my front porch.