The Next Chapter teaser

“Don’t talk to me, Edward,” she seethed. “I’m so fucking mad at you.”

“I’d rather you be mad than a fucking zombie,” I snapped. “I get that your mom is a bitch and she hurt you. But, you are falling into yourself. Why?”

“Because my mom pretty much told me that I was not worthy of you, Edward,” she screamed. “I mean really, Edward. You’re a fucking GOD and I’m the evil troll that lives under the god damned bridge.”

“Bella, you are the most important woman in the world to me. And you’re gorgeous. Your mom is a fucking lunatic who is insanely jealous of what you have,” I spat as I ran my fingers through my hair. “Think about it, Bella. She can’t keep a husband. She’s jealous. She wants what you have, love. A large home, children that love her and a husband to come at her beckoned call.”

“I just know that she’s going to fuck everything up,” Bella said as she threw our clothes into the washer with a little too much gusto. I walked behind her and stilled her hands. She slumped against me. “A mother is not supposed to compete with her daughter. That’s all we did, Edward. Compete.”

“What do you mean, compete?” I asked as I kissed her shoulder.

“She always wanted to be my friend. Not my mother. She wanted to have the same friends, wear the same clothes, battle for the same boys, that kind of thing,” she pouted. “I pretty much let her have the boys because I really didn’t care. At all. I didn’t really notice guys until I was a senior in high school. Once I did notice a boy, she was all over him like white on rice. He was my boyfriend and my forty year old mother was fucking flirting with him. It was disgusting. She’ll stop at nothing to ensure that she gets what she wants. Right now, that’s you. She wants you, Edward. She’s going to steal you away from me and I’m going to be all alone.”

“Bella, love, I’m not going anywhere. I am not even REMOTELY attracted to your mother,” I said as I cupped her tear dampened cheeks. “You’re my girl. My beautiful girl whom I love immensely. I will never leave you. Ever, baby. You and our children are my soul purpose for living. Breathing.”