******V&V*****
After making the 'nickel between my knees' joke, he casually threw around words such as abstinence, and virginity, while I sulked into my tea. Because he was Emmett, the thought never occurred to him that he may want to lower his voice to save me further embarrassment.
The sad thing was that I wasn't surprised.
I left the table in a sulk. I walked back to our room in a sulk. I zipped my suitcase in a sulk. After that, I sat in the backseat of the rental car for at least an hour, not surprisingly, in a sulk.
We stopped to take photos of a giant rock on the side of a hill which had been painted to look like a frog. If I hadn't been in such a bitchy mood, I might have enjoyed it.
Emmett simply didn't get it. He had as much as shouted my virgin status to an entire diner full of people. What made matters worse was Edward's cavalier attitude toward the entire incident. He had laughed along with Rose, and somehow, even though I knew they weren't laughing at me, it kind of felt that way.
Granted, he tried to apologize several times until I finally told him quietly that I needed a little time to get past my mood. He left me alone after that, so I stared out the window and sulked.
If I'd been at home, I could have escaped to my room for a little solitude while I typed on my computer, something that had always seemed to cure my bad moods in the past. Unfortunately, I didn't have that option, instead I had to suck it up and deal with the fact that I was trapped in a vehicle with three other people.
I bet a hot make-out session with my fiancé would put me in a better mood.
I laughed bitterly at the notion, not willing to venture further down that path of self-torture. Most days you could cut the sexual tension between Edward and me with a knife.
Make that every day.
We would be driving to Tulsa, which was just under five hours from where we began our trip this morning, that didn't include the stops which I'm sure my brother had planned along the way.
I knew that I'd need to get out of my foul mood before lunch, or I'd ruin everyone's day.
As I watched out my window, I could hear Edward speaking with Jasper on the phone. Evidently Jasper was arranging for a television interview in Tulsa for that evening.
"I don't care how many interviews you schedule during this trip Jasper, as long as they agree not to air the segment for a few days. So far I haven't seen any photographers, but if they get wind of what we're doing that will change."
I lay my head back against the seat and before long I could feel my eyes drift closed.
I looked down at the sparkling blue water of the pool. Mom had purchased a membership to our community pool so that Emmett and I could go swimming while she tutored.
'Come on Bellaboo, I promise I'll catch you' Emmett was standing in the deep end with his arms stretched toward me. Of course the water wasn't deep to him, but it was definitely over my head, and I was petrified.
'Emmett, I don't want to go under' I said in a pleading voice.
'Bells, I won't let you go under. I would never let anything happen to you. If you want me to teach you to swim, you have to trust me.'
I bit my lip. 'Yeah Bella, stop being a little chicken.' I heard the voice of my nemesis, Joey Webb tease. Of all the kids in the neighborhood, he'd decided to single me out, and make my life miserable. I'd hoped that with my brother visiting, he'd leave me alone.
No such luck.
"Shut the fuck up you little assmunch." Emmett bellowed at Joey.
I giggled even though I didn't know what that meant, but it sounded funny.
'Or what?' Joey challenged. I had always suspected Joey was stupid, now my suspicions were confirmed. Emmett was fourteen but as big as most seventeen year olds. Joey was eleven and a lot bigger than me, but puny when compared to my brother.
'Or maybe I'll come out of this pool and teach you a lesson.' My brother was angry.
'I'm going to report you boys if you don't stop fighting and cursing.' One of the Moms sitting poolside cautioned.
'Sorry' Emmett muttered.
Joey laughed loudly.
'Ignore him Belly.' Emmett said while shooting a glare at Joey. 'Jump, I'll catch you.'
I inched closer to the edge. I looked down at the water, noticing that I could see all the way to the bottom. I lifted my leg, rubbing my foot against my other leg as I tried to work up the courage to jump.
'You promise?'
Emmett nodded.
'Oh would you just jump already' Joey barked at me before I felt something shove against me hard, causing me to lose my balance and fall into the water, banging my leg against the edge on my way down.
'Bella!' Emmett shouted in surprise and anger.
I hadn't even had a chance to hold my breath.
Two strong arms immediately pulled me from the water as I sputtered and gasped for air. 'You're okay Belly, just breathe. I've got you.' My brother soothed as he carried me across the shallow end and out of the pool. 'You'd better run, because I am going to fucking kill you.' He shouted, although I knew his words weren't directed at me. I glanced in Joey's direction. He must have been smarter than I thought because at Emmett's threat, he bolted toward the exit, disappearing with a group of his friends.
'That horrible boy!' My friend Lianne's Mom commented as Emmett sat me down on a chaise near the shallow end.
'Here Bella' Lianne said as she handed me a towel. While Emmett dried my face, Lianne sat down and draped her arm around my shoulders.
'You okay now?' Emmett asked once I seemed to have caught my breath.
I nodded.
'Bella, this isn't the first time that kid has picked on you is it?' He asked.
I was afraid to tell him, knowing that he'd do something to Joey. If that were to happen, it would only make my life harder once Emmett went home.
I shrugged.
'No it isn't Emmett. He's mean to Bella every day.' Lianne said the words I didn't want to admit.
'What other kinds of things has he done?' Emmett probed.
'He calls her names all the time. Like 'loser' and 'dummy' and 'ugly'.' Lianne said sadly. 'Your Mommy told on him, but Joey's Mommy wasn't very nice to her.' Lianne informed.
She paused to think for a moment before continuing. 'Um. Sometimes he steals Bella's toys if she leaves them in the yard.' Lianne began. 'Last week he took her toy washing machine. We found it in his yard. It was ruined because he filled it with dirt clumps and turned it on.'
I dropped my head, not wanting to look at my brother's face. I was certain he was ashamed of me.
'Belly, look at me.' He whispered.
I forced myself to look at him, tears brimming in my eyes.
'What's all this?' He asked as he wiped the tears away with a corner of the towel.
'I don't want you to think I'm a loser.' I whispered.
'I could never think that Sissy.'
'But I didn't fight back.' I said sadly. 'I am a loser.'
Emmett frowned. 'Sissy, that kid's a couple years older than you, and a lot bigger. I wouldn't expect you to be able to fight him.' He rubbed his chin. 'But I could probably teach you a couple of things.' He added with a grin.
The next day we arrived at the pool late. I didn't realize that Emmett had been plotting his revenge on Joey, and needed him to think we weren't going to show up.
As we entered through the gate, I saw Joey's eyes widen in surprise and fear as soon as Emmett fixed him in his gaze.
The next thing I knew, my brother had Joey cornered against the fence.
Emmett never laid a hand on him, but whatever he said had Joey red-faced and looking absolutely terrified about a minute later.
Before the day was over, Joey's Mom complained about Emmett and me to the neighborhood association, and in retaliation my Mom complained about Joey, resulting in all three of us being banned from the pool for the rest of the summer.
It didn't matter. Mom went out and purchased an above ground pool for us the next day. It was only three feet deep, but that was enough. Emmett worked with me every day, and by the end of that summer, I had happy news to share with my Mom.
'Mommy!' I shouted as Emmett, Lianne and I ran to the driveway upon her return from the grocery store.
'Hi kids' She said, smiling brightly.
'Guess what Mommy! I now know how to swim!' I bubbled over with excitement. 'And tomorrow Emmett says he's going to teach me how to kick Joey Webb in his nuts if he's ever mean to me again.' I added with a proud smile, although I couldn't understand why kicking some nuts would bother Joey one little bit.
Maybe Emmett knew something I didn't. Does Joey really love nuts and stash them away like a squirrel? I didn't understand, I only knew that I trusted my brother bear.
I shrugged as Emmett guffawed. Our Mom laughed and shook her head. 'Oh Emmett' She sighed.
I blinked my eyes open and yawned. Edward was watching me as I fought off the blanket of sleep. I sat up a little straighter in my seat and stretched.
"Bella's back." Emmett announced happily when he saw me. "Sorry I embarrassed you Sissy." He sang.
I sighed. The dream, which had actually been a memory from a summer spent in Phoenix with Emmett, had served as a reminder of just how much my big brother loved me. Yeah he was loud, sometimes crude, usually always embarrassing, but I wouldn't trade him for the world.
I could never stay angry with him.
"I forgive you brother bear." I said truthfully.
"I knew you couldn't stay mad for long." He grinned at me in the rearview mirror. "You totally missed the miniature Hubble telescope Bells!"
"Bells, you didn't miss anything." Rose said with a giggle.
"Everyone ready for lunch?" Emmett asked.
At the mention of food, my stomach growled.
That's what I get for skipping breakfast.
"I think we are." Edward answered, still watching me warily.
I smiled sheepishly at Edward. "Hi."
He smiled back tentatively. "Hi." He frowned. "You're better?" He asked in a whisper.
I nodded. "I'm sorry for my silly irrational behavior."
I watched as he sagged in relief before pulling me against him. The seatbelts kept me from getting as close as I would have liked. "Baby, we're all entitled to be in a bad mood sometimes." He said before pecking my lips.
About a minute later we pulled into the Steak and Shake. Emmett and Rose immediately exited the vehicle. No doubt Emmett was starving and Rose had to pee. When I opened my door, Edward held me back for a moment. "Bella" He whispered.
I turned to him, one hand on the open door. "Yeah?"
Edward frowned. "Who is Joey Webb?"
"Joey Webb? He's a boy I used to know in Phoenix. Why?" I cringed, remembering the dream.
Edward pursed his lips and nodded. "Would you care to explain why you were talking about his nuts is your sleep?"
I laughed for three solid minutes at Edward's question. After I finally regained control of myself, I explained exactly who Joey Webb was, and how his nuts figured prominently in my self-defense training that summer. "Unfortunately, I never got to kick Joey. He must have taken Emmett's threats seriously because he left me alone after that. He and his family moved away a couple of months later." I giggled again, realizing what Edward must have been thinking during my sleep-talking.
He chuckled along with me and shook his head.
-V&V-
Steak and Shake was a Route 66 fixture, having been there for almost fifty years. After eating a round of their signature steak burgers, we ordered milkshakes to go.
My side by side was heaven through a straw.
"Here's a little mood music to carry us down the road." Emmett announced once we were back in the car happily sipping our milkshakes. He reached over and pressed play on his Ipod.
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,
And they're like
It's better than yours,
Damn right it's better than yours,
I can teach you,
But I have to charge
Rose and I burst into laughter.
"Emmett, I know for certain that song was not on our Route 66 playlist." Edward admonished with a laugh.
Emmett responded with a cheeky grin as Rose and I began to sing along while bouncing in our seats:
"I know you want it,
The thing that makes me,
What the guys go crazy for.
They lose their minds,
The way I wind, I think it's time"
-V&V—
"Damn, I wish we were passing through here at night. I've never taken you to a drive-in movie Babe." Emmett shot a dimpled grin at Rose as he pulled into the 66 Drive-in Theatre in Carthage Missouri.
Rose laughed. "Um, maybe after the wedding." She replied a little more suggestively than I was comfortable with.
"Okay, I'm out of here." I announced as I stepped from the car.
We took photos and walked around a little. "This is really cool." Edward said with a grin.
I looked at the large movie screen. "Yeah, I could see myself enjoying one of your movies on that giant screen." I knew I was smiling like a fan-girl.
He laughed. "Especially if I flashed my ass."
"Hmm" I nodded with a sigh as I took in the giant screen before suddenly realizing what I'd just revealed. I turned to look at his face only to find him smirking at me. "Just shut up." I said in mock irritation. "You make it sound like I'm obsessed with your butt."
I totally was.
"That's okay Bella; I only caught a slight glimpse of yours in England, and I'm a fan. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be opposed to another glimpse sometime soon." He added playfully.
Hmm
-V&V—
"But Rose, it's a Giant Fucking Whale!" Emmett exclaimed. "And it's blue!"
Rose was tired. I was tired. Edward was tired. We all wanted nothing more than to arrive in Tulsa in order to check into our motel. Since eating lunch at the Steak and Shake, we'd stopped to see a sculpture of a giant set of praying hands.
Immediately after that, Emmett insisted that we stop to see the old truck that was the inspiration for Tow Mater from Cars. That was in Galena, Kansas. I chuckled when I realized that Edward was just as thrilled as Emmett to have his photo taken next to the old rust bucket.
Then there was a photo op on a bridge, then the world's largest totem pole, then another bridge, making it the third of the day, I think, and now we were on our way to the big blue whale.
Rose sighed. "Do you promise this is the last stop today?"
Emmett took one hand from the steering wheel and placed it over his heart. "I swear."
"Okay, but as soon as we're done here, I need food." She whined. "Let's go see this whale."
"That's some whale." Edward announced as we stood there gazing at the big blue concrete monstrosity. Actually, the whale was pretty cool. The lake upon which it sat used to be a popular swimming hole. Swimming was no longer allowed, but the whale had become a Route 66 icon, and was kept in good repair.
We entered through the whale's mouth. As Emmett and Rose walked toward the tail, I felt Edward gently tug at my hand. I turned to see that he was pulling me toward a ladder. We climbed it to find ourselves inside the whale's head. The space was large enough to crawl around and look out the tiny portholes on all sides.
I found out pretty quickly that Edward wasn't interested in looking out the windows. He had something else in mind. The next thing I knew, he pulled me flush against him. "I've been dying to get you alone all day Miss Swan." He breathed against my lips.
I gave him a little smile. "Knowing my brother, we won't have long, so if you want to kiss me you'd better hurry up." I whispered.
That was all the encouragement he needed. "Your wish, my command." He replied with a smirk before licking his lips and brushing them against mine. My breath caught in my throat as his hands gently cupped each side of my neck, pulling me closer before claiming my lips in a passionate kiss. The world surrounding us fell away, leaving just Edward and me. I realized that's how it had always been, and how it always would be.
As Edward's lips moved against mine, I felt his hands move down my body and grasp my hips. His warm tongue traced the edge of my bottom lip as his hand moved to cradle my bottom, pulling my body even closer.
"Aw geeze. Now I have to bleach my eyes." Emmett whined. We broke the kiss, and I proceeded to bury my blushing face in Edward's shirt, peeking out to look at my brother with one eye.
"Never do that shit in front of me." Emmett continued. "As much as I like you Eddie, I find I'm conflicted. I mean, I think of you as a brother, but it's hard not to want to pummel the shit out of you when you're grabbing a handful of my sister's ass cheek."
"Emmett, shut the fuck up. They're engaged." Rose snarked. She then turned to us. "We'll wait in the car. Don't be too long." She added with a grin.
We were both chuckling as we climbed down the ladder.
Once we were seated in the car, Emmett took one last look at the blue whale before starting the engine. "Next to having my photo taken with Mater earlier, this has been the highlight of my day." He grinned. "Well, except for the last part." He muttered before shooting a glare at Edward. "It's a shame the whale doesn't have a name though." He pondered as he pulled back on to the road. "Maybe I could come up with one." At this point, I wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or to us. "Not 'Big Em', that's already been done."
Unfortunately, for reasons known only to God and Emmett himself, I knew that the term 'Big Em' was my brother's pet name for his junk, more specifically his…well, whatever.
"I know for a fact that I will regret asking, but what are you talking about Emmett?" I asked.
Rose shook her head in disbelief. She usually just ignored him and let him rattle on when he was like this.
"Well, someone's already named a whale after their dick Bella." He answered in a condescending tone. "Although why Melville had such a lame-ass name for his dick is beyond me. Reminds me of that idiot with the shaved head who calls himself a musician." He continued to babble. "So, since I can't name it after my dick, and it's blue, maybe I should name it after my balls." He announced with a chuckle.
I heard Rose start to cackle. "This is the summer of blue balls after all." He shot her a goofy smile as she continued to laugh.
Edward was laughing too while covering half his face with one hand. I wasn't certain if the cause was my brother's idiocy or the fact that my jaw had dropped onto my lap.
"The only problem with that is I don't have a pet name for my balls… I'll have to think about that one." Emmett continued.
"Emmett! You are such a cretin. I wasn't positive before, but now I am. I would rather be driving across country with Rain Man." I barked.
"And for the record, Melville did not name his most famous literary character after his….penis." I whispered the last word although I was not in very polite company. Well, with the exception of Edward.
"Bella, Bella, Bella" He sighed. "I actually wrote a paper about this in college. Melville would never explain the reason for choosing the name "Moby". The dude's name was Herman Melville. It stands to reason that he wouldn't have named his dick something lame like 'little Herman', and he didn't have me around to suggest 'Big Mel', so he just made up some shitty name like 'Moby'."
I stared at the back of his head in disbelief as he continued. "As soon as I found out that Moby Dick was a sperm whale, I knew I was right. He should have just titled the book 'My Dick Moby'."
"There is most definitely something wrong with you." I muttered.
"Why?"
"Because you seem to find something sexual in every situation. Not everything in this world pertains to sex." I argued.
"I'll agree that not everything does, but you're naïve if you can't see how most things do."
I glanced at Edward, and he shrugged, seeming to agree with Emmett.
All I knew was that Emmett had ruined one of my favorite books for me.
I decided to let it go, and refrained from sulking as Eric Clapton sang us into Tulsa:
So there I was in Hollywood,
Thinking I was doing good,
Talking on the telephone line.
They don't want me in the movies
And nobody sings my songs;
My mama says my baby's doing fine.
So then I started winking,
Then I started thinking
That I really had a flash this time.
That I had no business leaving,
And nobody would be grieving;
You see I'm on Tulsa time.
Living on Tulsa Time.
Living on Tulsa Time.
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know that I've
been through it.
Living on Tulsa Time.
-V&V-
"Wow" That was the only word able to slip past my lips when I opened the door of our room to find Emmett standing there in cowboy hat and boots. "New look for you?" I asked with a grin.
He smiled. "When in Rome little sister. You ready?"
My heart sank a little at the prospect of leaving Edward, but he had assured me that as soon as his interview was over, he'd meet us. "Give me a couple minutes." I asked with a pleading look.
Emmett nodded and gave me a little smile. "We'll be in the car."
I closed the door and turned to find Edward standing right behind me. "Bella, I want you to go out and have fun. This interview would be boring for you. I promise I'll be there as soon as I can."
"But you don't have Sidney or Lou with you." It was my turn to worry for his safety.
"The television studio is having someone pick me up here and drop me off at the club after." He assured. "I'll keep in touch by text I promise." He said as he pulled me against him and kissed my forehead.
I sighed. "I'd rather stay with you and we could ride to the club together."
Edward frowned. "If you must know, it is precisely because Sidney and Lou aren't with us that I feel better knowing you're with Emmett and Rose rather than waiting for me in a studio full of strangers." He admitted.
I gave him a small smile, not willing to challenge him. I liked to think I'd learn my lesson when it came to scoffing at Edward's overprotectiveness.
"I love you" He said as he tenderly kissed me goodbye.
"I love you too. Hurry please."
-V&V—
We were sitting in a dark corner of a comedy club in downtown Tulsa. Emmett and Rose thought it would be fun to do a little something different tonight.
I smiled to myself when I realized that Emmett in his cowboy attire actually fit right in. Even the comic was wearing cowboy boots.
I listened as he droned on about different news stories, making fun of the latest celebrity mishaps. I laughed uncomfortably along with everyone else at his take on the antics of Mel Gibson, Lindsey Lohan and Charlie Sheen.
'You know sometimes I wonder if there are any sane people in Hollywood' He continued. 'Even if some of them are sane when they arrive, it seems like they don't stay that way for long.'
I wondered if that was how the outside world viewed Edward and me, as just another couple caught up in the insanity of Hollywood. They probably thought we were crazy too.
Maybe they were right.
After I thought about that, I realized that the most insane and traumatic events of both our lives had taken place far from the glitz and glamor of tinsel town. Neither of us could blame those events on Hollywood.
I sighed. It was getting rather late and I hadn't heard from Edward since we'd arrived. His interview had been just about to start then, and he promised to text me as soon as he was on his way to the club.
I excused myself to visit the ladies room. "I'll come with you." Rose informed. On the way back to our table, I glanced at my phone again. No messages.
"I'll be there in just a minute; I'm going to text Edward." I told Rose.
And I want a little peace and quiet to do it.
She looked hesitant. "I shouldn't leave you alone."
"I promise I'll only be a minute. I'll stand right here by the doors."
She thought about that before nodding her head in agreement. "Okay, but if you're not back in five minutes, I'm going to come looking for you."
I smiled. As soon as she disappeared, I sent my text.
E-
Where are you?
-B
Less than a minute later, I received a response.
B-
Miss me already?
-E
I sighed.
E-
Always
-B
I glanced around and noticed that two women were eyeing me while whispering to each other.
B-
On my way. Interview ran longer than I expected. Are you texting during the show?
-E
I smiled.
E-
No, I stepped out into the hall.
-B
B-
I'm phoning you.
-E
Less than thirty seconds later my phone lit up with an incoming call.
"Edward." I whispered into the phone.
"Hey Baby." He answered in a breathless voice.
"How was your interview?"
"It was as I expected, kind of boring." He answered. "I did run into a couple of fans as I was leaving."
"Oh?"
"I'm certain that my photo will be on the internet tomorrow, I only hope that the press won't figure out what we're doing."
"I hope not. We don't need paps following us all the way to California."
"I have to admit I've enjoyed being able to escape all of that, especially with you. You're my favorite travelling companion." He chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be averse to repeating this entire trip again sometime after we're married, so that I can make love to you in every state along the way." He whispered.
Yes, please.
"Uh.." was my brilliant response. I could hear him chuckling. "Are you toying with me Mister Movie Star? Because if you're trying to get me all hot and bothered, I'll have you know that it's working."
He chuckled. "I always mean what I say Bella, and if you think I'm getting you hot and bothered now just wait until our wedding night."
I… I….
I could hear him continue to chuckle as I tried to regain the power of speech.
"Bella, are you alright?" He asked.
"Aside from the fact that you just melted my panties, I guess I'll live." I said, proud that I'd remembered how to string a sentence together, albeit a rather silly one.
Edward blurted out a laugh.
"I really hope the driver didn't hear what you just said to me Edward." I admonished slightly.
"He didn't. You shouldn't worry so much Bella." He said in almost a whisper.
"How much longer until you get here Edward?" I was growing impatient.
"I'd say the estimated time of arrival is just about now." He whispered in my ear as I felt his arms wrap around me from behind.
I spun around to face him and threw my arms around his neck. After he kissed me thoroughly in full view of the club employees, I sighed and rested my head against his shoulder.
Eventually Rose came looking for me, and dragged us both to the table.
Later that night as I lay curled against his side in bed, I brought up the subject again. It was a stupid idea considering where we were, but I tended to do a lot of stupid things since falling in love with Edward.
"Did you mean what you said?" I asked in a whisper.
"Hm?" Edward breathed.
He must have been almost asleep. "Oh sorry, go back to sleep. We can talk in the morning." I whispered.
He cleared his throat and turned his head to face me. "No, that's okay. What were you asking?"
"I just wondered if you really meant what you said tonight, on the phone."
I could see his smile in the dark. He reached for me and pulled me closer. "Most definitely."
I sighed.
"Bella, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it will be like when we finally make love. It's become my new obsession." He chuckled darkly.
"I'm sorry I'm making you wait."
"You're not making me do anything baby. I want what's best for you, for us. I agree that it would be hypocritical to plan this big church wedding and then break the church rules right before. I mean, we've waited this long…" He sighed. "If waiting makes you feel more comfortable, then we wait."
"You are too good to be true." I said sincerely as I wrapped my arms around him, needing to be as close as possible.
"Sleep baby." He breathed.
-V&V—
It was Sunday morning. We checked out of the hotel early in order to attend Mass at Tulsa's gorgeous Holy Family Cathedral before hitting the road once again. Although we tried to be inconspicuous by sitting in the back, Edward and I were immediately recognized during Mass. We slipped out soon after Communion, knowing we didn't have a lot of extra time to spend with Edward's fans if we were to reach Amarillo before sundown tonight.
"Please tell me that the next hotel has a pool." Rose pleaded with Emmett as we drove along toward Arcadia Oklahoma. I'd come to realize that most of the older motels along Route 66 did not have swimming pools. That was an amenity added to the more modern ones years later.
"As a matter of fact, it does. The Big Texan has a pool shaped like the great state of Texas." Emmett stated with a dimpled grin.
Edward and I laughed from our spots in the backseat.
"Oh thank God. It just doesn't feel like a summer vacation if I don't get a little time to relax poolside." Rose answered with a smile.
We arrived at the Round Barn in Arcadia before lunch. It was built over a hundred years ago, well before Route 66 even existed. We had our obligatory photo session and visit to the gift shop where Emmett bought another t-shirt and I bought another refrigerator magnet as a memento. We continued our trek a very short distance up the road to the giant soda bottle.
After those relatively silly excursions, our next stop would be a sobering one: Oklahoma City. We had discussed whether or not to do this, and had ultimately decided that it was necessary.
Paying a visit to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial brought home the fact that the history of our nation was fraught with hardships, struggles, and sometimes tragedy. Although places like Route 66 are a welcome diversion from the horrors of the evening news, you couldn't escape the fact that the road itself had its roots in another American tragedy, the Great Depression.
As we road along, I preferred to think of the thousands that had driven it for fun in the last sixty years. But if I were to let my mind travel back just a bit further, I would think about the families of migrant workers who used the road to escape the certainty of starvation, while searching for a new life in California.
A few minutes after entering the museum, I realized that I had not mentally prepared myself for what was to come. And then I understood that there was no way to adequately do that. How do you prepare your mind and heart to witness the aftermath of pure evil?
All four of us drifted apart, needing space to process the images that greeted us. I was able to keep the tears at bay until I saw the gallery of faces belonging to those lost that day, every one smiling, frozen in time. I allowed a few tears to escape then. I didn't let myself think about the madmen responsible. I chose to spend the time there thinking about the victims and their families.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rose head for the exit when she couldn't take any more, followed closely by my brother. I sighed and turned to find that Edward was right beside me. I slipped my hand into his as he looked down at me with a sad smile. Without a word, we left the building together.
We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.
The next leg of the trip was spent in relative silence, none of us in the mood to listen to music. Over lunch a short time later, Rose and Emmett quietly shared a little of their visit to ground zero in New York with Edward and I. Understandably, because of what happened to me while they were on that trip, just a few weeks before, this was the first time they'd spoken of it.
We weren't exactly glum on the ride to Amarillo, but we weren't as light-hearted as we'd been the day before. The sight of the Big Texan Restaurant and Motel did much to life our spirits.
After checking into our rooms, we walked over to the restaurant to eat. Emmett was thrilled to have his photo taken with another large fake animal. "I still think I'm a little partial to the Blue Whale, but Big Moo here is pretty fucking awesome." Emmett said as he posed, holding the reins to the giant bull.
"And I think it's safe to assume that this one's not named after somebody's dick." Edward added sarcastically, drawing forth laughter from Rose, Emmett and I.
"Edward, I believe you are going to get along just fine as a member of this family." Emmett announced with a smile.
"So, Eddie you gonna take the challenge?" Emmett asked as we sat in The Big Texan restaurant, perusing the menu.
"Yeah, ah, that would be a no Emmett." Edward answered with a smirk. "I have no desire to prove myself a glutton and possibly be in agony for the next twenty-four hours just to give you a good laugh."
Edward was of course referring to the special offer made by the restaurant that, anyone who could eat their 72 ounce steak dinner, complete with all the trimmings, would get it for free.
I was proud of Edward; he was definitely learning how to handle my brother.
"You disappoint me bro." Emmett sighed and returned to reading the menu. "Well, I'm not doing the challenge alone, so… how about we share an order of fried mountain oysters to start?" He asked with a dimpled grin.
"Oysters?" I asked. I didn't care for them, but I wondered if Edward did.
Edward chuckled. "Nice try Emmett. Again, I don't feel the need to prove anything to you by eating bull testicles."
Emmett guffawed.
"Emmett that is just nasty." Rose chastised. "If you eat that in front of me, you are sleeping in the car."
-V&V—
After dinner, I lay across the bed in our room, checking my e-mails. When I felt the bed dip, I turned to find a smiling Edward sitting beside me. He casually reached for my laptop and slid it away before moving closer to me.
"Let's go for a swim." He said in a low husky voice.
"It's late Edward, I'm pretty sure the pool is closed."
"So?" He winked and then stood up abruptly in order to remove his shirt. It was then that I realized he was wearing his swimsuit. I felt my mouth go dry. It had been quite a while since I'd seen so much of Edward. I sat gaping at him for a moment before recovering my wits.
"Uh" was all my brain could force my mouth to utter.
As soon as I realized that going swimming offered the opportunity of making out with a wet and practically naked Edward, I bolted off the bed, headed for my suitcase. Unfortunately on the way my foot caught on the leg of the chair and sent me sprawling face down on the shag carpet.
Shit
"Bella!" Edward exclaimed as he hurried to help me up.
"I'm okay" I muttered through my embarrassment as I struggled to my feet.
This time I took my time as I made my way to retrieve my swimsuit from my case. I looked at my bikini clad body in the mirror before re-entering the bedroom. I looked no different than usual, aside from the red rug burns now gracing both knees, courtesy of my tumble.
Oh well, at least all the bruises are gone.
Upon exiting the bathroom in my royal blue bikini, I pretended not to notice how Edward's gaze lingered on my newly exposed skin. As we neared the pool, I silently hoped that no one else had the same idea, and that we would be alone. Imagine my delight when my wish was granted.
I sat on the edge of the pool, as Edward slipped quietly into the water. It was a silly notion, but for some reason I felt that if we were quiet, we would remain unnoticed and maybe the outside world wouldn't intrude on our little bubble.
Edward swam across the pool and then back to be. Once he was close, he gripped the edge of the pool one hand on either side of my knees. "Come in" he coaxed.
"I will in a minute." I smiled.
He looked curiously at my knees then. "Was this from your fall just now?" He asked, gesturing to my red knees.
"Yes" I sighed, annoyed by my moment of klutziness.
Edward leaned in and gently kissed each knee before tugging on my hands to pull me into the water. I slid down until I was immersed up to my shoulders. He closed the distance between us, and the next thing I knew his arms were around me and he was kissing my neck, then my shoulder, before attacking my lips.
I wrapped my legs around his waist as he moved us both into deeper water.
The kiss quickly became heated. Edward's lips on my lips, Edward's tongue finding mine, and Edward breathing in my low moan as I pulled my legs tighter around him. One hand ran through his hair, and other moved down his back until my fingertips touched the waistband of Edward's swimsuit. One of his hands settled on my bottom, holding me firm against him while the other ran up and down from my waist to the top of my ribs, lightly grazing the side of my breast with each pass.
The air around us became charged as we breathed our 'I love yous'. It was times like this that had my brain busily calculating, down to the minute, how much longer it would be until our wedding day.
"Well now, this is all kinds of fucking uncomfortable for me." Emmett's voice sounded from the direction of the pool entrance.
Edward broke the kiss and heaved a frustrated sigh, but I refused to let go of him.
"I know now that I am being punished." Emmett muttered with a frown as he heaved himself into a chair.
"Where's Rose?" I asked.
"She'll be here in a minute." He answered, never losing his frown. "You two are killing me."
I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Emmett."
He smirked then and shook his head. "Don't lie to me Bells. You are most definitely not sorry." He let out a big sigh. "I'm going to start announcing myself three minutes before I enter a space. That way maybe I'll be spared from witnessing your next round of PDAs."
We both smiled sweetly at him.
As usual, he was easily distracted. As soon as he got a good look at the pool, he smiled happily. "Damn, it is shaped like Texas. I'm taking a swim across the Lone Star State." He boomed as he whipped off his shirt and jumped in.
Nothing ever put a damper on Emmett's good spirits for long.
****A/N****
LONG-ASS Author's Note:
First off—explanation of 'nickel between the knees' from last chapter. It's an old saying..If a female holds a nickel between her knees, she is not able to spread her legs apart and therefore not able to Have Sex / Get Pregnant. There you have it. Emmett finding yet another way to completely embarrass his sister in public.
The quote at the Oklahoma Bombing Memorial is from their Mission Statement.
Song recs: 'Milkshake' by Kelis ; 'Tulsa Time' by Eric Clapton
LRM is up next with a double chapter…I will try not to repeat the events already covered in V&V…We'll get to see what Edward was up to at the television station, and there will also be a funny phone call between Esme and Edward, which may be referenced in V&V later.
Thanks as ever for your thoughts…and your reviews! Laters, baby.
For those keeping track: Countdown to B&E Wedding..as of the end of this chapter...48 days.
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