Bella

She lay in bed that night, shaking her head at the turn of events. Edward had not only agreed to meet her dad and ask for his blessing, but also persisted in the pursuit of it by attending the county's 4th of July celebration. It was too much to ask of him, but he had offered. And though she couldn't have been paid to go to that event, she now found herself in this mockery of a relationship with him…and for what? To receive her dad's blessing so that he would pursue treatment for his cancer?

She looked down at his text message, the last one where he'd agreed to meet her after their day together on the cruise. She should have erased it but couldn't bring herself to do it. Her heart was full. Her desire for Edward, though he was pretending, hadn't decreased. He was every bit as handsome as she remembered. And he'd been so kind. After she'd agreed to pull the video, he owed her nothing.

She typed a message to him:

Thank you again, Edward.

She resisted following it up with xoxoxoxo.

His reply shot back. You are very welcome.

She sent him a smiley emoji.

Then another one from him: You're lucky I'm bored.

I am very grateful.

As she was about to text good night to him, another reply came back.

It wasn't so bad.

Snickering, she replied: Not for you. You didn't grow up with him.

There are worse ways to spend a Sunday.

She hoped that he considered worse ways to spend the 4th because potato sack races, hot dogs and hamburgers, and being teased by classmates sounded as much fun as shoveling cow poop. Bella typed out the message. Nobody should have to spend the 4th in Forks. I'm giving you an out.

No way, Jose.

But…

No buts. We're doing this. I will get his blessing, and he will get his treatment. End of story.

Her brows rose. You sound very confident.

I can be very persuasive.

She shivered at his words. Bella imagined Edward hadn't needed to persuade her very much to do anything.

I just don't know how I'm going to be able to do this, Edward. We were only with my dad for like what, half an hour?

Well, maybe you should meditate.

She smiled. I think it's going to take more than meditation. She imagined crystals, maybe asking a witch friend for some spells.

Well, there's always alcohol.

True. She stayed away from it, but it seemed like a drink would take the edge off. Maybe just one just before, but she was such a lightweight now it would certainly ease the stress.

We'll see. Thank you again.

Good night, Bella. Sweet dreams.

Good night, Edward. Same to you.

The next morning, Angela met Bella for breakfast at their favorite cafe and she filled her in on what had happened.

"He is so into you."

"I feel guilty, Ange. I shouldn't be leading him on."

She lifted one brow. "Oh, come on, if you didn't like the idea of spending time with him, you wouldn't do it."

"I told you that Charlie is dying."

"Yeah, but it's me you're talking to, Bella. You can use whatever excuse you want. So, stop dreading it so much. You'll be there with Edward, and I'll be there with Mike. It's gonna be great."

That was a good thing—having Angela there would also provide a sort of buffer.

Bella would be going about her day and then receive a text saying hello from Edward and while she liked it, she was trying to keep things casual between them. But when she woke up from a dream about him the night before, Edward had become foremost on her mind.

She typed out the words: I had a dream about you.

After sending the text, she regretted it, especially after hours had passed and he hadn't replied. She had been editing her book when Edward's reply prompted the chirp on her phone.

Okay. My client is gone and now I can focus on this. You now have my undivided attention.

Bella smiled, and she couldn't wait to respond. You were a vampire. And you wanted my blood.

What else would I have wanted? Lol

That's the thing: I wanted to be a vampire too. But you wouldn't make me one.

The cursor blinked as she waited for his response.

Mmmm. Interesting. What do you think it means?

We call toxic people vampires—energy suckers. My energy appealed to you but you didn't want me to be like you.

But you wanted to be like me…

Yeah, well that was my ego mind, after all, getting sucked into wanting things on an unconscious level. Sometimes, it's hard to recognize toxic behavior and it wants what it wants.

Toxic. Unconscious. I don't think I care for these labels. It's very low vibration.

Bella laughed, her mouth hanging open at his response. What?!

I've been watching some of your videos.

Oh. I see. What do you think?

The cursor blinked but the reply quickly followed. You're going straight to Hell.

She began to formulate a reply about how she didn't believe in Hell or Satan or any of those constructs but his response came back.

Lol.

Lol? He was joking? She'd known so many who were convinced of that. She hoped Edward wasn't one of them.

Lol. I'm glad you don't think that way.

I didn't say that. I just think I'll see you there. :)

OMG

gotcha

Very funny, Edward.

Alright, Bella, now if you can stop tempting me with your wicked beliefs, I can drive home.

Bella laughed. Well, that would be no fun.

So true.

Goodbye, Edward.

Goodbye, Bella.

The days leading up to the 4th, he'd texted her good morning and good night, and she looked forward to it. Don't fall for him, Bella. She needed to remind herself. When Bella pulled up at his house to pick him up, she found him wearing shorts and a polo, and as he smiled and got into her car, she thought. Too late.

Edward

Wearing cutoff jeans and a flowy white top, Miss Bella Swan looked more enticing than was legal. A large oblong crystal pendant lay against her chest. Beaded bracelets covered her wrists, decorating her more than usual.

"I see you've armed up for the occasion?" he said, gesturing to her wrists.

She smiled. "You didn't happen to watch my video on the power of crystals, did you?"

"Alice wears them and Nessie has her own collection, so I was curious. I thought they were just for decoration." He still thought so, but he wasn't going to admit that right now.

She pointed to her rose crystal. "Protection." Then to the pink beads on her right wrist. "Anxiety and nerves."

"What are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of them, Edward. I just don't like spending time with these people. I moved away for a reason."

"Are you worried that we won't be able to convince your dad?"

"Sometimes I think that maybe I'm trying to force something that's not meant to be, but then I feel this tug to try. And I don't know, Edward. I hate dragging you into this."

"I am here of my own free will."

"Yes. And I appreciate that."

On the drive, Edward told Bella that Nessie had called him and nearly flipped out when he told her about his plans for the 4th. He didn't share that there was a purpose behind it, but his daughter was very excited to know that they were spending time together.

Bella briefed him on the people he would likely encounter—among them, her ex.

When they arrived at La Push Beach, people had already crowded the shore. Red, white, and blue balloons and decorations were set up along the grassy picnic areas. Colorful checkered tablecloths covered tables topped with food and drinks. The wind blew the smell of barbecue towards them, and Edward noticed how Bella had curled her nose at the smoky scent. Vegan.

Bella held a bowl of her homemade pasta salad, and Edward carried an apple pie as they walked forward. They didn't see Charlie anywhere. The original plan was to pick him up, but he had told them he would see them there.

"Bella? Is that you?"

She set the pie down on a table, and they turned to meet the eyes of a native American man, whose long hair was streaked with gray.

"Billy! Oh my god! It's been years." She hugged him and he smiled but eyed Edward.

"You brought a friend."

She pulled away and gestured to Edward. "Yes. I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Edward. Edward, this is Billy, my ex-father-in-law."

Edward extended his hand and shook with the man, whose smile stayed stiff on his mouth. "Fiancé?"

"It's a pleasure meeting you."

"Welcome to our celebration."

Bella clasped Edward's hand in his, which he hadn't expected and was caught off guard by the buzz that charged between them. "Yeah, have you seen Charlie?"

Billy pointed to a table and chairs where he was sitting with some others.

"He said he's not drinking. And that's because of you."

"Well, we did make a deal. He's supposed to seek treatment."

"Aww…good luck with that. We've offered, you know. But your old man is a stubborn one."

"Well, he seems to think he doesn't have a reason to live."

The tension was gathering on her forehead, and Billy had directed them toward the ice chests with drinks. Edward was sure he could use one as well, and opened a can of beer for her and one for himself.

"Ugh. I don't really like beer."

"Do you want something else?" He didn't see anything in them but would have driven to the liquor store to get something else for her.

"No. It's fine," she said, sipping. "Looks like I'm breaking all the rules today, anyway."

Edward didn't remember all the names of the 40 or so people he met—mostly native Americans, but when she was sitting on the sand and looking out at the ocean, he saw a man go up to her. She turned to him and her brows pulled together.

He was trying to keep company with Charlie, who'd been talking to him about his latest catch but how he hadn't been feeling well enough to fish lately.

"Understandable," Edward said, distracted.

"Do you fish?"

"I don't. No, I'm a city boy."

"Yeah, Bella never liked to fish either."

He was looking for common ground, Edward guessed. Was there any? Edward kept looking back at Bella, watching how she lifted her shoulder as the man tried to touch her. He grabbed another beer from the ice chest.

"Who's that?" Edward asked Charlie.

"Oh. That's Jake. Her ex."

Before he knew it, Edward rose to his feet and headed that way.

"Aw come on, Bella," he was saying.

"No, Jake. Aren't you married? And I told you I'm here with someone. I am engaged."

Edward felt a growl rise in his throat. What was he trying to get her to do?

"Bella, is everything okay?"

She looked so relieved to see him. "Edward," she said, rose, and braced her arms around his waist. "This is Jacob."

"The ex," Edward said tightly, extending his hand.

"Fiancé, huh?"

"Yeah," Bella said, "and where's Leah?"

"She's with our two year old."

"You have a child?"

"Yeah and one on the way."

"Congratulations. Wow. That's great. You always did want kids."

Edward noted how the smile didn't reach her eyes. Miscarriage. "Here's the beer you wanted," Edward said, sitting beside her and handing it to her.

Jacob laughed. "Bella doesn't like beer."

Sneering at Jacob, Bella took the can from Edward. "Shows how much you know." She proceeded to pop open the tab and take several gulps as Edward watched in amusement.

"Well, looks like you've changed."

"Yeah, time does that," she said, and then a burp escaped from her lips. "Excuse me."

Edward held back a laugh, and she laid her head on his shoulder. It looked like he got the hint and made an excuse to get back to his wife.

"Thank you, Edward," she said.

"What a jerk."

"See?" She finished the contents of the beer with one last gulp.

"Hey, maybe you ought to slow down."

"Are you kidding? I'm fine. It hasn't even kicked in yet."

They called out announcements for the games to begin, and Bella shook her head as Edward prompted her up.

"No, we don't have to do this."

"We really do. Come on. We make a good team. Let's show them what Bella Swan and her fiancé can do."

With a reluctant nod, she took his hand and stood but then stumbled as she stepped forward.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked.

"I'm fine." Though, Bella looked a little wobbly as she made her way on the sand.

"Are you sure?"

"Lead the way."

A/N: Stay tuned for more fun as Edward meets more of Bella's hometown peeps and what happens next in part 2. So many thanks to my beta EdwardsFirstKiss, who is the epitome of awesomeness and is far ahead of me! Also, many thanks to you for reading and following, and special love to those who leave reviews. (I like to think that more reviews brings more visibility, but I also believe that whoever is reading is meant to. :)