AN: Thank you, PurpleBrina and May Tucker, for pre-reading for me. You're both the best.

Reposting this because FFN is a fail.

*All the mistakes are mine*

Chapter Twelve

-For Better, For Worse-

Eight years ago: a month before Graduation 2014

The drama was explosive and circulated fast. Nobody believed it, but Fork's High prom King and Queen had split up. Everyone expected Edward and Kate to marry after graduation since they were destined for greatness. I was one of the few people who didn't believe such crap. Sure, I was biased toward my brother's closest friend, but I wasn't blind. Edward hadn't been happy in months, and his supposed girlfriend had no clue. Kate was all about appearances, and she was more concerned with showing him off at endless parties and boasting to her friends about how handsome he was - completely phony and disgusting. That girl was no good for him. Sure, she was pretty with that straight, glossy blonde hair and big boobs - if you're into that sort of plastic Barbie look. And okay, on paper, they appeared to be a perfect match and had a lot going for them: They were both incredibly popular and ruled the lower classes. Kate was the squad's top cheerleader, and Edward was the quarterback and team captain. For their future, everything appeared to be shining and wonderful.

Errr, wrong! Nope, they were dunzo.

Jessica told me in our fourth period that she heard from her cousin's sister's best friend, who shared Chemistry with Kate, that they saw her crying. The story went as such: Edward took her to the bleachers during lunch and broke it off. He wanted to focus on college and didn't see them making their long-distance relationship work. She pleaded for him to give their love a chance, but he said, "Girl, please, get to stepping." Well, I don't know what he said, but I liked to imagine that it went like that. All I knew was their breakup was the best news I heard all year.

When they first started dating in January, I figured it would last as long as his other girlfriend, Tanya, did - a whopping twenty-three days. From what Rose tells me, Tanya got all upset because Edward was always playing football and not making her a priority. He was sweet to her and apologized about being single-minded, but in the end, they went their separate ways, and for nearly two years, Edward didn't date - not once. He just went to school, threw the pigskin, and hung out with Emmett, Rose, and me all day, making funny YouTube videos.

I couldn't wait to get home to confirm that the rumor was true.

When I jumped off the bus and ran down my street, I was bummed to see Edward's Volvo not parked out front. It might have been too early to tell, but his car not being there could only mean one thing: it was at Kate's, and they didn't break up. Why do people make up stories and get my hopes up? Sure, Edward and I would never be a thing, but I didn't like seeing him with other girls. The jealousy was intense - too intense, where, at times, I wouldn't eat. For months and months, I would torture myself, thinking about him kissing her and how she got to put her hands in his hair.

"Crap," I grumbled, gently banging my forehead on the wood of my front door as I unlocked it. The final thump of my head threw the door open, and I stumbled inside. "Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I yelled out. Flinging my backpack on the table in the foyer, I kicked the door closed with my foot and walked into the living room. A bronze mop of chaos on the couch stopped me in my tracks. "Oh, hi," I croaked out.

Edward's green eyes looked away from the television and over at me. "Hey, Bruiser," he said.

The air from my lungs got sucked out by how beautiful he was sitting in his dark blue jeans, chunky black boots, and a light gray sweater. He could put anything together and still look handsome. My mind was whirling, trying to handle him being only two feet away from me, but I was failing epically.

So, of course, I was awkward and fidget nervously in the doorway. "I didn't see your car out front," I said lamely.

"Oh, yeah, right. Em and Rose borrowed it to get food for us - you still like the chicken strip basket at Sully's, right?"

I mumbled, "Um, yeah," as I confusedly looked around the empty house. "Where's my mom?"

After muting the volume on the television, Edward shrugged. "Not sure. Em said that your parents would be gone for the evening and gave him money for dinner."

I smacked my forehead with my palm. "Duh. I forgot. They're attending a cadet graduation ceremony." When I looked back at him, I felt a white-hot heat rush through me. He was watching my every move so closely that it caused an irrational panic. "Um, so, yeah. I'll be in my room. Just let me know when the food gets here."

Edward snorted and said, "Oh, I see. You're an adult now and too hip to hang out with me, right?"

"No!" I shouted, which made him laugh, and I quickly ducked my head and said softly, "I just didn't want to bother you."

"When have I ever given you the impression you bothered me?" Edward said, narrowing his eyes. I bit my lip and shook my head slightly. He patted the seat next to him. "I don't have cooties."

"Cooties? Really?" I rolled my eyes and flopped down so close our legs touched. "How long have you been here?

"Just an hour or so," Edward said, causally cracking his knuckles. He nodded at me. "You do something different with your hair?"

My hands immediately covered as much as I could to hide the hideous frizz from his view. I smile sheepishly. "Ugh, sort off. Jess told me I should stop trying to straighten it all the time and let my curls out. It's a mess, I know."

"No, it looks good, Bruiser. I just never seen it so curly." He reached out and took a strand. It crunched under his forefinger and thumb. "You put gel in it?"

I blushed and jerked my head back so my hair ripped away from his grasp. "I'm going to wash it out."

"Okay," and he turned away from me, his eyes on the television again.

"What are we watching?" I asked before things got too weird between us.

"Nothing right now." Edward picked up the remote from the coffee table and faced it toward me. "Your pick," he said, and as I reached for it, he pulled it back, and his tone turned serious, "but none of that girly shit you like to watch."

"What girly..." I paused to censor myself, and he smirked, "stuff?" I finished. He chuckled, and I playfully hit him in the face with one of the throw pillows. "You know what I mean."

"You can't even say shit?" Edward lifted his forearms to protect his face from the soft blows. "That's barely even a swear."

I continued to hit him and raised to my knees to get a better angle. "A swear is a swear."

"A swear is a swear," he mocked. "You're such a square."

"Oh, that's it, buddy! I will show you a square!" I said, and as my arms went high to put some force behind it, Edward sprung to life.

He snagged the pillow from my grasp and pushed me backward on the couch. "You wanna go?"

"Don't!" I screamed. My hands go up in defense, but there's no retaliation, just a cocky grin on his gorgeous face. I playfully kick at him. "You're a mean butt."

"Oh, man, one of these days, Bruiser," Edward said, flinging the pillow across the room and sitting back over on his side, "I will corrupt you."

"Really?" I sit on my elbows and snuggly put my feet under his right thigh. "What makes you think I'm so corruptible?"

"You're not," he said, his arms folding over his chest, "but that doesn't mean I won't stop trying."

I took that in a direction he didn't mean and said the quiet part out loud. "Well, if it comes to you corrupting me, you won't have to try that hard."

As soon as it left my mouth, I snapped my eyes closed and cursed frantically in my head, frick, frick, frick. The heat of embarrassment due to my loose tongue burned my face to an uncomfortable level. There was no way in Hades I could go back in time and take that back. I was too afraid to look at him and wanted to crawl under a rock.

"I changed my mind," Edward said, briefly searching for the remote until he found it underneath me. I couldn't move, but my breath caught as his hand slipped behind my back and yanked the hard plastic from underneath me. "We're watching this."

It didn't take me long to recognize the intro of Edward's favorite movie, The Watch.

Shifting myself into an upright position, I tried to create space between us, but the two-seater was small and only provided a two foot gap. For the next three minutes, we didn't speak. I kept my eyes glued to the screen, never once glancing in his direction. Every time he laughed, though, I wanted to join in but was putting myself in time-out. My buzzing attraction to Edward made it hard to act normal or not flirt with him. Therefore, it was challenging to maintain a discussion, and as a consequence, I said foolish things - like telling him that I wanted him to ruin me.

Edward and I decided to end the silence at the same time.

While he said, "Look, Bella, I didn't mean to make things weird."

I said, "I heard you broke up with Kate."

That threw him, and he gaped briefly before pulling himself together. He nodded once and replied, "I did."

"You okay?" I asked while putting my hand on his bicep, which was a stupid move. Not only did feeling him under my fingertips cause me to catch fire, but his look was so disdainful that I began to question my entire existence. I snatched my hand from him and shifted my weight to the couch's other side. "I'm sorry."

Edward said, "Don't worry about it," and then brushed the spot where I touched him - like I had cooties, and he would catch them. If I wasn't so desperate for him to like me, I would have flown off the handle and told him where he could go, but of course, I broke apart inside and forced a smile on my face.

"Breakups can be hard," I said.

Edward raised his brow and tilted his head toward the side. "What do you know about them, Bruiser?"

I didn't know anything about it, but I chose to lie through my teeth. Not only do I want him to like me, I want him to think that I was desirable - even though most of the boys steer clear of me. "I know when I broke up with Johnny and Luke, they didn't take it well, and it took them months to get over me."

Edward smiled. "Johnny and Luke, huh?" He again brought our legs together as he moved his entire body toward me as I sat on the couch. "I don't know these guys."

"Why would you?" I said, a bit defensive but unwilling to drop the lie. "They're eighth graders. Y'all don't exactly run in the same circles."

He leaned in, completely engulfing the little oxygen I had left, and said, "Fork's is a small town, Bruiser - and I know everybody. What's their last names?"

Luckily for me, these boys did exist, but to them, I didn't - however, I sounded confident when I said, "Anderson and Wiley."

Those names clicked with Edward, and his smug face turned sour. "Bullshit."

"Why is it so hard to believe? Luke and I dated for a few weeks in sixth, and I dated Johnny this year for nearly three months."

Edward shook his head. "Naw, no way, Swan. First of all, these guys know bet - I would know about some tools you're dating. Second of all, Emmett and Charlie wouldn't allow it."

"Luke and Johnny are not tools, Cullen - and you don't know everything. Furthermore, my dad and Em know nothing about my life. They aren't with me when I'm at school."

"Oh, I gotcha. So, at school is the only time you see them?" Edward was trying to poke holes in my story. "You haven't actually been on dates with them."

No response would have been the best response, but I couldn't help myself - it was like word vomit. "No, we haven't been to the movies, but so what? We aren't second-graders or anything. Our romance was in secret."

"Is that right?" Edward wasn't buying what I was selling. "And what would you and, uh..." He snapped his fingers as he pretended to forget their names.

"Johnny," I said, rolling my eyes.

He smirked. "Right. Johnny Wiley with an older brother named Kirk. What would you and Johnny do at school? Share a fruit cup?"

It bugged me that he saw me as a little kid. So, I kicked it up a notch until my lie took on mythical proportions. "For your information, Johnny and I would sneak out every day between periods in the afternoon and make out behind the boys' locker room."

At least, that's what Jessica and all her boyfriends did on their lunch break. I spoke it in confidence like it was my experience, and that got Edward to doubt his own beliefs.

"You would make out with Johnny Wiley?" He questioned me cautiously, looking for the slightest hint that I was lying as he slowly studied my face. "Really?"

His gaze was so intense I started to sweat. I uttered, "Mmmhmm," but I didn't take my eyes off of him.

Edward kept closing the space. He questioned, "And was this tool your first kiss?"

"Yes?" I whispered, but my eyes zeroed in on his mouth.

It wouldn't take much to get closer and have my first kiss with Edward. I wanted to cross that line, but I feared rejection. What was he thinking? Did he want to kiss me - no, of course not, but I wanted him to want to kiss me. Behind his beautiful face, there were no signs of emotion. To me, he was a closed book that was impossible to read. The silence crackled as we continued to wait for the other to do something - either cross that line or break the stare. It took for the front door to open to snap myself out of his spell.

"They're back!" As I leaped off the couch, I unintentionally elbowed Edward in the chest.

"Fuck!" he yelled.

I whirled around and saw Rose standing there. "Hey!" I spoke in a panicked, high-pitched voice.

She responded, "Hey, yourself," her gaze flitting between Edward and me. He was massaging the discomfort my clumsiness had created. "What were you all doing?"

"Nothing," I instantly replied. Emmett extended a bag to me as he stomped into the entryway. "Is that mine?"

"Yup," he said. "Basket of chicken strips. Edward said you - "

"Thanks!" I grabbed it out of his hands and ran upstairs. I fell into my bed as my door banged behind me. I yelled, "AGH! You're so stupid, Belly," into my pillow, but fortunately, it masked the sound, keeping my craziness within these four walls.

Why was I such a coward? I should have kissed him. Our mouths were right there, and it wouldn't take much effort to press them together. Even if he rejected me, I would still walk away, knowing how his lips felt against mine. However, I botched it all, and the moment has passed, leaving me wondering: did he want to kiss me, too? It looked like he did, and several times, he leaned into me - that wasn't my imagination, was it? That stupid Schrodinger's cat. I was not okay with it being dead and alive. I wanted a definite answer. Either way, I could move forward.

Rolling onto my back, I stared up at my glow-in-the-dark stars and decided that it was time to open the box. "I gotta tell Edward I love him."

Present Day

Coach Biers wanted to have one more team meeting before excusing the players for the day, and unfortunately, the quarterback was expected to stay an extra hour or two longer. That meant I was heading back to the hotel without Edward. Even though it sucked to spend another couple of hours without him, I was eager to return to our room. I was tired and looked forward to crawling into bed before tonight. We were supposed to have dinner with a few players at some upscale restaurant. The wives and girlfriends wouldn't be there, and from what Edward tells me, they were all flying in Saturday night or Sunday morning at the latest. I was excited and nervous to meet these women, who often went by a term I kept forgetting.

I look up at Edward as we approach the stadium's front entrance. "What do you guys call the wives and girlfriends again?"

He smirks. "Wags."

Oh, that's right, I think. It's an acronym for 'Wives And Girlfriends.'

The Florida sun is blistering, even at four in the afternoon, and I raise my hand to shield my eyes. "So, that's what everyone's going to call me?"

"Honey, you're the main wag," he says, and there's a bit of proudness in his tone.

"The main wag, huh?" I say, gently squeezing his hand. "As in, we're the NFL's prom king and queen?"

Edward laughs. "That's one way to look at it."

We come to the curb's edge, and in the distance, I see Troy's black SUV weaving through the empty parking lot. In less than two seconds, he'll pull up and take me away.

Edward swings around to face me, his large body in front of mine, protecting our privacy as he lowers his lips to mine. We kiss briefly, and when he pulls back, I notice the sheer amusement in his eyes.

I smile bashfully. "What?"

"I love that you're untainted by this bullshit. Everything is still so new to you." He smooths his hands down my arms and holds me. "I find it...refreshing."

Eight years ago, Edward left Forks and didn't come back. At that time, he surrounded himself with other professional athletes and celebrities. Their lifestyle was extraordinary, but they all assumed it was normal. Not everyone was fortunate enough to drop ten grand in a store or have to worry that their personal lives would be used as tabloid fodder. I'm sure when he was engaged to Gigi, she fit right in with the wags and relished all the publicity she got by being with Edward. At times, I wished it wasn't obvious how novice I am to all this, but seeing me through his eyes makes me feel special and that I'm rare to him. When it comes down to it, he might think I am a breath of fresh air, but I'm bringing back the part of him he lost along the way.

"If you could go back four years and have us start dating than, would you?" I ask.

Edward answers right away, "Yes and no."

"Yes and no?" I repeat, confused.

Troy pulls up, and Edward waves at him, indicating that we've seen him and to give us a minute. He then turns back and addresses me again. "Yes, because it bothers me that I wasted so much time on relationships that went nowhere and would never go anywhere because I've been in love with you for a long time," he says, smiling. "If we got together four years ago, I would have figured that out the first time we kissed."

"And why the 'no'?"

Edward's eyes drift from mine, and he gulps nervously. "Because I fear being with me then would have held you back."

I want to argue his point, but looking back at eighteen, if he had waltzed into my life and offered me the world, I would have taken it. The only reason I went to college was to get away from Forks and the constant reminders of him. My ambitions only formed when I started to move on and come to terms with the reality that Edward and I weren't meant to be. Alice would kill me if she knew how much Edward shaped my life by rejecting me for all those years. She's the goal-oriented, independent, and 'don't need no man' type of woman.

My forefinger and thumb take hold of his chin, and I return his gaze to mine. "Timing is everything."

The corners of his mouth lift slightly. "I don't want to fuck this up, honey."

"How will you muck it up?" I ask, following his head movement as he tries to glance away, but I won't let him. "Hey, don't get all broody on me now. We can only tolerate one moody person at a time, and these pregnancy's hormones have me cornering that market."

Edward chuckles and stops fighting me. When I raise my brows in a silent request for him to answer my question, he does. "All my life, I have lived and breathed football. I don't know how to do anything else - or how to be anything else. This job is very important to me. I give one thousand percent of my time and energy into it."

"Oh, god," I say with a groan. My nausea is coming back strong. I drop my head in my hands and pray it will subside. "Not again. You can't keep doing this to me."

"Fuck," Edward mutters, his eyes searching me, his long legs bent at the knee so he could keep my face in his view. "Honey, I didn't mean - fuck!" The panic in him is apparent. "You just say the word, and I'll retire."

My head snaps up in surprise. "What?!"

The stress is scrunched into four severe lines on his forehead. "None of it matters to me. I want you more than I want to play football," he says.

It all made sense now. He misconstrued what I had said and assumed it was about him.

"No, no, no," I say, but the slightest movement upsets me, and I try to remain still. "Don't be an idiot, EC."

The name hits a nerve, but he's more confused than angry at me. "I don't understand."

Breathing in deeply through my mouth, I try to focus on him and not the food that wants to come up. "I know how much you love the game. You're not allowed to retire until you're ready. Dang it." My wide eyes flash to his concerned ones. "Babe, I need something - like right now!"

"Oh, shit!" Edward says, finally catching on. "Hold on, honey." He dashes into the SUV and asks Troy for help. Luckily, he keeps an emesis bag on hand for his clients. Apparently, drunk people can't keep their food down, either. Edward rushes back to me, "Here, we go, honey," and gently assists me to sit down on the curb. He hands me the blue bag with a hard circle ring on the top.

I bury my face in it before letting go. Even though it's embarrassing, Edward never leaves my side. He crouches to my right and gently strokes my back. When the episode ends, I feel even more exhausted than before and just want to lie down. My body becomes completely weakened, and I slump onto Edward's side. Troy exits the SUV, grabs the emesis bag, and throws it in the garbage. Edward wraps my arm around his shoulder as he lifts me off the ground and carries me to the car. He lays me on the backseat and smooths my hair away from my face. My forehead is starting to get drenched in sweat, so I have the cool AC blowing on me to help. I'm so ashamed. I can hardly contain my feelings.

I wipe the tears from my cheeks and mutter, "I'm sorry," in a frustrated manner.

"What for?" Edward asks.

"I feel like such a basket-case. My drama is the last thing you need right now."

Edward tells Troy, "Give us a sec," he jumps into the SUV with me, putting my legs on his lap. To keep the heat out, he closes the door. He doesn't even look at his phone when it starts to ring; instead, he turns the ringer silent and moves on. The slightest touch from his palm resting on my hip calms me. "I love you," he says.

I whisper, "I love you, too," since if I say it any louder, I'll start crying.

"Do you want to cancel the dinner tonight?"

"No, no. I'll be fine. I just need to go back to the hotel and chill for a few hours," I say.

"Are you sure?" he asks as his lovely greens close in on me. "They won't miss us if that's what you're worried about."

I chuckle a little before repeating, this time with more assurance, "No, I'll be fine."

He says, "All right," but then his head drops back and he moans. "I've got to go."

I tell him to "go," yanking my legs off his lap before using my foot to nudge him toward the door. "I'm sick of looking at you."

After grinning, he rapidly approaches me and kisses my lips. "I'll see you soon, all right?"

Before he can pull away, I say, "Okay," elevating my head and giving him another kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Edward opens the car door and gets out. "One thing before I go, Bruiser," he says.

"What is it?"

"I meant what I said about retiring." He continues, cutting off my opportunity to answer, "None of it means anything without you," and the door slams shut.

Around seven that evening, Edward arrived back at the hotel and showered. I had hoped he would return earlier to squeeze in a quickie before dinner, but I was fully dressed and wearing makeup. Of course, there are several positions that we could do to keep everything intact. I refrained from pressing the matter since Edward appeared anxious. I could tell he was frustrated with his job because the meeting lasted longer than he had hoped. I hated that my presence impacted his life this much. My selfish part was like, "Sure, babe, ignore all your obligations and be with me all day."

It wasn't surprising that we wanted to spend every second with each other because our relationship was still new. We can't, however, continue throwing away our careers because of our insatiable thirst for each other. I wanted to be with Edward forever, so I had to put up with everything inconvenient for us right now. I didn't want us to resent each other once the novelty wore off.

So the whole, 'I'll quit football just say the word" had rubbed me the wrong way. It made my heart sick just thinking that somehow I said something to make him feel like he had to choose between the NFL and me. That was the furthest from the truth. I loved the passion Edward had for football. Never once when we were growing up did I feel slighted in any way when he chose to play a game instead of hanging out with me. Of course, watching him play meant there was a possibility of seeing him shirtless, and I would never get in the way of that.

I wanted to have a discussion with him about it, but it would have to wait until we get back to Seattle.

My focus currently was to get through the weekend without any more drama. That meant not complaining about him having to stay in another hotel room or not seeing him as much. It will be hard, don't get me wrong. I ached to be with him every second of the day, but that feeling went both ways. It wasn't one-sided. I saw how Edward agonized over his need to see me and the pressure of his job pulling him away. My bemoaning about it would make him feel guilty, and I wanted nothing more than to bring him peace.

It's close to nine when we arrive at the restaurant. There's a line outside in front, but Edward called ahead, and the manager was expecting us. Our party was small, and only a few guys from his team are joining us. I asked a lot of questions on the ride over.

So, I know Seth will be there, but also a few guys from his offensive line. Tyler Crowley is a center. He's twenty-eight and married with four kids. He was initially from Kanas and went to college there, but he was drafted by the Seahawks at twenty and has played for them since. He is the classic Abercrombie and Fitch type of guy with the sandy blond hair and blue eyes.

Too bad he's married, I think. Alice would love him.

"So, Tyler's the guy that you have your hand in his crotch, right?" I joked with Edward - which got me a round of tickles and multiple kisses to my face and neck.

The offensive guard for the Seahawks, Laurent White, served as a solid barrier that prevented the opposition from getting to the quarterback. I met him just once this afternoon. He was courteous and respectful but enormous. Because of his lengthy dreads, I could always tell where he was in a room or on the field. He had two children and was married to his high school sweetheart. Although I didn't know his exact age, he appeared in his late 20s to early 30s.

I guess his wife would be here tonight.

"Irina is good people," Edward tells me. "You'll like her."

A rash is forming on my chest and neck as my anxiety skyrockets. "Will she like me though?"

My previous boyfriends would dismiss my concern, but not Edward. He full-stops and drops everything to assure me. "Honey, you're one of the sweetest people I know and it's impossible not to like you."

I feign a smile. "Okay."

The last guy we're meeting is Garrett Pace. He's a tight end. I guess he plays two roles on the field. He's a part of the offensive line because he blocks attacks on the quarterback, but he can also play receiver. So, Garrett has to be a rare breed of large man like Laurent and quick enough to run down the field to catch a pass. Honestly, I am still new to football and their positions.

"Garrett's role on our team works best as a receiver, but Coach Biers will use him as a sixth offensive lineman when we're down a guy. It all depends," Edward explains with a shrug.

"I should start taking notes," I say as my head swims with all this new information. "If I'm going to be the main wag, I'm gonna need to know this."

Edward's chill about everything and waves it off. "You'll get it, honey."

Garrett's in his mid-twenties and is a total playboy. He's attractive and charming. He was Edward's partying buddy. They used to be known as the 'single cubs' in the league and were constantly surrounded by an endless sea of models. I recognized him from the pictures in the magazines of him and Edward walking out of nightclubs. Honestly, I didn't talk to him too much at lunch and he kept his distance.

I feared the worst.

"Garrett doesn't have a hateful bone in his body," Edward says. "Why would he hate you?"

The manager leads us to the back of the restaurant, where our party is waiting.

"Because I took his wingman away," I say quietly.

"Garrett doesn't need me to help get him women," Edward says, bringing me closer to his side. "Besides, we stopped hanging out a long time ago, honey."

Everyone stands when we approach the table. Seth is grinning from ear to ear and waves enthusiastically at me. I return the gesture, but my smile is more demure and muted.

Tyler approaches Edward and me, giving us a shake and a simple, "It's good to see you again, Miss Bella."

Garrett barely looks up from his phone but gives a nod of acknowledgment. I think my impression of him hating me is correct.

Laurent and his wife, Irina, are last, but you know what they say about saving the best for last. They're an attractive couple, their faces filled with warmth, but she's so tiny compared to him. I can't stop looking at her. She's beyond beautiful. The cream-colored dress she wears sets off her dark skin, and her muscle tone is unbelievable. I'm half tempted to ask for her workout routine.

Before I can get out a 'Hello," Irina has me in her arms. The hug is so heartfelt and tight. I don't hold back, either. When she pulls away, her deep brown eyes are sincere, and I know this woman will make me cry.

"Laurent wasn't lying when he said you're just a cute little thing," Irina says.

I bite the inside of my cheek and blush. "Thanks. You're so beautiful," I say.

She wraps her arm around my shoulders and walks me to her side of the table. "You're sweet."

As everyone gets settled, Edward and Irina, on each side of me, order food and drinks. I try to keep my plate simple. They have a pasta dish that has minimal ingredients and is incredibly filling. All the men order a ten-ounce steak with mashed potatoes, and Irina is sophisticated with her Salmon salad.

The conversation is focused on Edward and me mainly. They're fascinated by our history. I watch Seth closely, curious about his reaction to discovering that I was Emmett's sister and then realizing the connection between Edward and me. He seemed spooked and it was odd. However, during the stories of us growing up, meeting in September after eight years, and our little oopsie, Seth took everything in stride.

"Well, I think this is great, EC," Laurent says. "You two look really happy together."

"Thanks, man," Edward says, and both men lean across the table and fist bump.

Irina nods and then leans over to me to whisper, "I wasn't a huge fan of the last one."

"Gigi?" I cough out, nearly choking on my water.

Edward's head whips toward me and gently pats my back. "Honey, you okay?"

"I'm fine," I say, putting the napkin to my mouth.

Edward looks me up and down. "Are you sure?"

"I'm okay." I smile and put my hand on his chest to reassure him. "Honest. It just went done the wrong way."

"Okay," he says, his panic abating. "As long as you're sure."

The entire table is silent as they all look at him with wide-open disbelief as Edward settles back into his chair.

Garrett utters the words, "Holy shit," in complete shock.

Edward averts his gaze. "What?"

Garrett shakes his head while holding up his hands. "Nothing."

I'm not sure what happened just now, and I'm a little bewildered myself.

Edward doesn't pursue it, though, and ultimately, the topic of conversation is returned to the table.

"So, when are you due, Bella?" Irina asks.

"June of next year," I say.

"Are you two going to get married before or after the baby is here?" Irina's question is well-intentioned, but it raises a sensitive issue.

The awkwardness can be felt as Edward and I glance at each other and laugh with discomfort.

"Um," I mutter while frantically furrowing my forehead. "We, um...well..."

Edward interrupts my stuttering and says frankly, "I'm a fucking idiot and haven't asked her yet."

Irina looks ashamed right away. "Oh, my God, I'm sorry. That was really a bad move on my part."

"No!" I jump to her defense. "You didn't know. Edward and I are..." I glance at him, and he smiles weakly. He feels horrible about our situation. This is the opposite of giving the man peace. My mind thinks up a way to fix it. So, I say this, "Actually, we're already married."

Irina blinks a couple of times. "You are?"

I can tell by everyone's expression that they're trying to think of when Edward and I could have slipped off to Vegas and got hitched, but nothing is coming to mind.

As the memory returns, my hands shake, and I squish them into my lap. "Yes, we are. It was in Forks, where we grew up, and it was a backyard wedding for another couple." Edward has his head slightly tilted and is watching me closely. He doesn't remember. I take a breath and continue, "We were goofing around in the lawn, and you said," I smile and poke him gently on the chest, "'You wanna marry me?'"

Then it hits Edward like a freight train, and he gets blown back into his seat. "Do you take Bruiser," he says under his breath.

I nod, and my heart is beating so fast I don't think I'll get through the whole story. "So, we asked the pastor if he could marry us, and he said he would, but we needed rings first."

"I asked my mom if she had one, and she gave me hers," Edward says softly. "It didn't fit you, but it was good enough."

"And I got you this rubber band ring I won at the fair the weekend before," I say.

Edward puts his hand on my leg and squeezes gently. "It was neon green."

I duck my head as my blush explodes on my cheeks. "You wore it for weeks before you lost it."

"Yeah, I took it off for practice one time," Edward says, sounding upset about it now, but back then, he acted like it was no big deal.

"Anyway, so we got the rings, and we gathered our witnesses," I say. The memory is so clear to me. "I believe it was both our moms."

"Yeah, our dads were too busy watching the Mariner's game," Edward says. "Emmett was my best man."

It was the only time he was supportive of our relationship.

"And I think my maid of honor was...shoot. What's her name?" I snap my fingers, unable to recall that girl I always hung out with. "Do you remember?" I ask Edward.

"Allison," he says, zero thought behind it, as if it was on the tip of his tongue.

"That's right. Ali-cat. Yeah, she liked you, too," I say, smiling coyly at him. Oh, the fights we had after my wedding. I think that's why we stopped being friends.

Edward scoffs and rolls his eyes. "I was obviously taken."

I grin with him and continue for our audience, who has faded from my periphery. "So, the pastor does his ceremony, has us say our vows, we exchange rings, and voila, we're married."

We officially declared our union with him kissing my cheek. Our moms cheered and threw confetti at us. After that, we had cake and juice, but no honeymoon. I had to wait thirteen years to consummate our marriage.

"Can't believe I forgot about that," Edward says, amazed.

The look in his eyes, full of love and adoration, nearly makes me gasp. "It was a long time ago," I say.

As the story ends, the table and the people sitting at it come back into view. They're still hazy as all my perfect clarity focuses on the man before me.

Irina speaks first. "How old were you?" she asks.

"I had just turned nine, and Edward was twelve."

AN: I promise, this story is going somewhere. Thank you for reading.