Fifty-Two
B
Edward has been acting weird since the party ended last night. He's hot and cold. One minute clingy and the next a little distant, which isn't like him.
My parents are hosting a more intimate brunch this morning, so I've been slaving away for hours alongside my mom. I tried to convince her to just cater from Cora's, but she insisted on cooking everything. She wants to spend quality time with me, so I go along with it.
Trust Mom to notice my thoughts aren't exactly focused on the homemade biscuits I'm prepping.
"What's going on, sweet girl?" she asks without turning away from the stove.
"Nothing," I lie.
She looks over with a quirked brow. "I can practically see the dark cloud hanging over your head. So, I'll ask again. What's up?"
I sigh. "Edward's been acting strange since we got home last night, and I can't figure out what happened because we had such a good time."
She asks me if I've talked to him, and I shake my head.
"Well, I don't see why not. The two of you have a great relationship based on honesty and communication."
I agree. "I think it might have something to do with Jacob. Maybe Edward was just as ready for him to show up and cause a scene."
It was the elephant in the room that my ex never showed up at The Lodge last night. I was worried, and Edward seemed like he couldn't care less, but maybe that was all a façade for my benefit.
Mom hands me a tea towel to clean my hands and tells me to go find him and see what's got him so upset. "The biscuits can wait until you get back."
Billy and Embry, one of Dad's deputies, showed up early, and the guys decided to set up a poker game. I'm pretty sure I saw the liquor cabinet open when I brought out a bowl of pretzels to tide them over. It's eleven in the morning, on a Monday, but it's also poker, so who knows?
From the sounds coming from the den, I wouldn't be surprised if they've been dabbling.
When I walk in, Billy is in the middle of telling what I'm guessing is a hell of a joke.
"—and the police put an alert out on two hardened criminals."
The room dissolves into a fit of giggles until Edward sees me. He sits up a little straighter and greets me with an easy smile. "Hey, beautiful."
I ask if I can speak to him privately and lead him upstairs. When we're in my room with the door closed, I tell him to sit down.
"What's wrong, Bella?"
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"
He has the audacity to look confused, and that just annoys me.
"We had so much fun last night, and suddenly, you're acting bipolar. Your mood swings are giving me whiplash."
"I'm sorry," he whispers bashfully.
I press a kiss to his knuckles. "Just tell me."
His hands find purchase on my hips, and he buries his face in my shirt, inhaling deeply when I play with his hair.
"Talk to me, baby," I plead.
"I'm embarrassed."
"Why?"
He looks up and his cheeks are flushed, the tips of his ears blood red. "When we were dancing and talking about the future ..." I nod because, of course, I remember the conversation. "I thought you were asking me to marry you, Bella."
My uneasy smile falls. "What? When?"
"When you asked me how forever sounded," he explains and lets out a sigh. "For a second, I thought you were proposing, but then you laughed and joked about how cheesy we were being."
"Edward ..."
"I'll be honest that it kind of broke my fucking heart. I mean, I thought we've always been on the same page. We're in love and living together, creating our life, our future." He nuzzles my stomach, his voice muffled. "It was stupid. I'm sorry."
I pull on his hair until he lifts his head. "You're not stupid, baby.'' I lean down and kiss his perfect lips. "We're on the same page. The same book on the same shelf."
That makes him smile, crooked and sexy. Making my insides turn to lava. "Yeah?"
"Uh-huh. But you deserve more than a couple cheesy words blurted out in the middle of the dance floor. At a party being held for two other people."
Edward nods and swallows thickly, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stands and wraps me up in his warm embrace.
I let him hold me until Mom calls up the stairs, reminding us that brunch is meant to be served between breakfast and lunch.
"Are you okay?" I ask Edward before we join everyone. "Are we okay?"
"Of course, baby." He pecks my lips and leads me down to the kitchen where he apologizes to my mom for monopolizing my time.
She waves it off and waits for him to leave to ask me what happened. I love my mother, but I think it would be in our best interest to keep this whole thing between me and Edward.
"Just a simple misunderstanding. We're okay now," I explain, and she lets it go.
Once the biscuits are in the oven, we gather plates and silverware to set the table. Mom's telling me about the new thrift store opening in town when the door swings open, and Jacob Black comes sauntering in like he owns the place. And he's not alone.
"Room for two more, Renee?" he asks without looking my way.
His date clings to his arm, and it takes me a minute to recognize who she is.
"Emily?"
I vaguely remember seeing her when I used to spend time with Leah on the reservation. Her little cousin was always trying to be included, but being ten years younger than us, it was hard to find common interests.
"Hi, Bella."
Jake squeezes her to his side and kisses her head before finally acknowledging me. "Hey, Bells."
It's hard to keep the look of disgust off my face. I don't know what he's trying to do here. Bringing Emily, who's barely eighteen, around. I doubt whatever is going on is genuine on his part.
"Jacob."
Mom tells me to grab more plates and informs Jacob where he can find the guys. Before he leaves, he looks me dead in the eye and all but shoves his tongue down a very surprised Emily's throat.
I want to vomit.
Oblivious that she's most likely just a pawn, Emily giggles and watches him leave with a wistful sigh.
Mom and I share a look and get back to work, trying to include Emily. Mom might dig for a little information, seeing as no one knew Jacob was seeing someone. If you can even call it that.
He merely walked into Cora's where Emily works in the kitchen a couple of days ago and asked if she'd join him for brunch at my parents.
He hasn't even taken the poor girl on a date yet and just mauled her in front of us. He's more disgusting than I originally thought.
Emily tells us all about her graduation ceremony this past May and the party her family threw her while we transfer all the food to the table. She's working at Cora's to save up so she can start taking classes in Port Angeles after the new year. She doesn't know what she wants to do yet, just signifying how young she is. I want to wrap her in my arms and take her as far away from Jacob as I can, but I doubt she'd appreciate my warnings. She's smitten with him and his sudden attention.
I'm sent to get the men so we can eat, and I notice that the room is far more docile than it was before my ex showed up.
Edward jumps up and offers to help me get everyone drinks. We work together, filling glasses with ice and pouring various juices while a fresh pot of coffee brews.
"Can I ask the obvious question without sounding like a hypocrite?" he asks softly, watching the door.
"She just turned eighteen in June, and you are not a hypocrite. I'm a full-fledged adult, and our age difference is nothing like ... theirs."
"That's disturbing."
"More like disgusting. He's obviously just using her to try to get a rise out of me." I grimace. "Aside from bile, that's all he's going to get."
Edward kisses me until I give him a genuine smile, and we sit at the far end of the dining room table, close to my parents, and ignore the couple across the room.
Dad and Billy are planning on taking the boat out one last time before it goes into storage for the winter, and they're trying to convince Edward to join them.
"If you think you can tear yourself away from your girl for a couple hours. We promise to bring you back in one piece," Billy jokes.
I squeeze his hand and nod. "Between working and living together, I could use a break from this one."
Everyone ignores the sarcastic scoff from the other end of the table, and plans are made for the following morning while we eat. Mom and I are going to Port Angeles for the day while Edward learns how to fish.
After brunch, the women are sent out back with fresh coffee while the men clean up the mess. Edward insists, and the guys begrudgingly agree.
It's no one's surprise when Jacob announces that he needs to get to work, but it annoys me when he tows Emily out before anyone can say goodbye to her.
I'll make sure to call Leah and tell her to keep an eye out for her little cousin.
"That was nice." Mom hums around her mug.
I adjust the blanket we're sharing and wrap my arm around her. "It really was."
She tells me how happy she is. How perfect her life has become and how thankful she is to be my mother.
Tears fall freely as she praises me for being the perfect daughter. For the choices I've made and how far I've come. "Mom," I choke out.
"I'm not trying to upset you, sweet girl. I just ... I'm so full of love, and my emotions are out of whack. I blame menopause." She laughs. "You are easily the best thing I've ever done. I love you so much, Bella."
"I love you, too."
We finish our coffee, and the sliding glass door opens, Edward's head poking out. "We're done in here, aside from a load in the dishwasher."
"Thank you," Mom and l echo, and then laugh.
Edward smiles. "They want to start a new poker game, but I'm not feeling it. Do you want to take a walk or something?"
"The sun is out. You should take him to La Push," Mom insists.
I ask her if she wants to join us, but she declines.
"I think I'll go finish that book I was telling you about so I can send it home with you. If they keep it down, I might sneak in a nap."
The beach is deserted for the most part, considering it's a weekday as well as the chill in the air.
Edward holds me close as I regale stories from my youth. Some of my best memories took place on this beach, and I'm happy to share pieces of my past with him.
"Leah and I woke up in our homecoming dresses, soaking wet, and realized the tide was coming in."
We laugh.
"And that's why I don't drink tequila."
Edward looks at me out of the corner of his eye and smirks.
"What?"
"It surprises me how rebellious you were, considering your dad was a sheriff."
I roll my eyes. "My parents weren't strict, and they put a lot of trust in me to make good decisions. I made my share of mistakes and bad choices, but they were parents first, professionals second."
"Remember that when our children hit their teenage years and are hell-bent on making our lives a living hell."
"I can't wait."
Edward's smile widens, and I swat his chest.
"Just so we're clear. That does not mean I'm saying I want you to put a baby in me tonight."
He catches my hand and kisses my palm. "That doesn't mean we can't practice."