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Chapter One

Bella

June 29^th, 2019

I watched my sister and her new husband, Jasper, dance on the parquet floor. Alice looked like a cupcake of epic proportions with a dress that practically engulfed her with more sparkles than one of those sparkly vampires I’d ogled over when I was a tween. She was blissfully happy with her soulmate, beaming up at him giddily as they shared their first dance as husband and wife.

I should have been happy.

Don’t get me wrong, I was. My sister deserved nothing but all the happiness in the world, but I had an empty hole where my heart used to be.

The man who I thought was going to be my forever, my soulmate … he’d decided to play hide the sausage with his assistant.

In my bed.

On the brand-new fucking sheets that I’d bought.

There was a lot of body oil involved, and suffice it to say, the sheets were torched. Along with the mattress.

And the ex-forever.

Pffft, I wish.

I’d be in jail for murder if I’d torched Jacob after he’d fucked Nessie in our bed, staining the sheets with their disgusting body oil. But I think it would have been justifiable. My dad would have helped me hide the body. Jacob, despite being his best friend’s son, was dead to him since he’d broken his baby girl’s heart.

Hell, my dad, Chief Charlie Swan, threatened Jacob’s life when he had the gall to come back to the scene of the crime, begging for me to take him back when Nessie dumped him for Jacob’s boss’s boss. Charlie leveled his rifle at Jacob, aiming for his dick as Jacob sobbed like a bitch baby.

His tears were a hit on TikTok. My post went fucking viral, and Jacob became of laughingstock.

And you’re not bitter at all, Bella. Nope. Never …

“Here’s to love,” I slurred, holding up my champagne flute in the direction of my younger sister and her hubby. “Give him ten years and he’ll fuck you over, just like Jake fucked me over.”

“I think you’re cut off, Bells,” said Jasper’s older brother, Edward, as he took the flute from my hand.

“Party pooper,” I grumbled.

Edward was absolutely gorgeous, with chiseled features, a jaw that could cut glass, piercing green eyes that were emphasized by chic-looking glasses and riotous bronze hair. He and I worked at the same school in Seattle. I taught high school English to juniors and seniors and Edward was the resident science nerd, teaching AP Chemistry and AP Physics.

“Now, now, “ Edward snickered, sitting down next to me gracefully. “Don’t rain on our siblings’ parade. It’s not every day that they get to have their fairy tale happily ever after.”

“The fairy tale is a lie,” I said, arching a brow at my friend. “Yes, I agreed to be the maid of honor, but when I did so, I was blinded by fake love thanks to Jake, the snake. And then, he …”

“I know what he did, Bells,” Edward replied placatingly. “He’s an asshole and you deserve better than Jake. But don’t shut down your heart to what could be.”

“Don’t be getting all mushy, Cullen,” I scoffed, hiking up the purple strapless gown my sister forced her bridesmaids to wear. “You’re a scientist. You’re supposed to think with this.” I pushed my pointer finger into his forehead. “Not this.” I poked his chest, just above his heart. “I don’t trust that anymore.” I put my head down on the head table. “Ouch.”

“You okay?” he asked.

“I have more bobby pins and shit in my hair than hair,” I grumbled. I sat back, trying to reach for the champagne flute. “Edward!”

“Let’s get some coffee and some fresh air, Bells,” he said, taking my hand and gently pulling me to my feet. I stumbled out of my heels, sticking my tongue out at the implements of torture. “You’re so done.”

“I was done after Pastor Weber said, ‘I do,’” I huffed, following Edward out into the cool night air, overlooking the sound. It was early summer and chilly in the evening. I shivered, crossing my arms over my chest and staring sightlessly at the water. Tears welled in my eyes at what I’d lost six months ago when Jacob had betrayed me in the most ultimate way. “Why did he do it, Edward? Why did Jake throw me away?”

“I can’t give you a definitive answer, Bella,” he answered quietly, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “I’m not Jake. But it’s his loss for losing one of the most amazing people I know.”

“I thought I was done with dating,” I sighed, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I put up a profile on Tinder … So. Many. Unsolicited. Dick. Pics.” I shuddered, wrinkling my nose. “Gross. Why do guys think that women want to see a picture of their junk?”

“Because, it’s what men want to see,” Edward replied. He led me to a bench and slid off his tuxedo jacket, draping it over my body. “Don’t go onto those awful sites.”

“How else am I supposed to get dates?” I asked. “At work, there are three eligible men, including you. While I think you’re hot, we’re friends. I don’t want to mess up our friendship.”

“I feel like a side a beef,” Edward deadpanned. “I can whip out my cock for an unsolicited dick experience.”

“I’m drunk, but not that drunk,” I snorted. “If it weren’t for you and Alice, I wouldn’t have gotten through the dark time after Jake … I really don’t want to lose that. You’re one of my best friends, Edward.”

“Just like you’re mine, Bells. Hell, you saved me from Tanya and Peter,” he grumbled.

“Tanya and her diseased snatch can stay up in Alaska,” I snarled. “And Peter? He was a two-faced lying liar who lies about everything. He was married and had two kids, all while professing his love to you?”

“Let’s just say a little bird shared all about our relationship to Peter’s wife,” Edward smirked, arching a brow over his frames.

“You didn’t?”

“Jasper, using his hacking for good, sent Peter’s wife incriminating pictures of all of Peter’s indiscretions. I was one of many,” he shrugged. “In a way, I’m with you. I’m over the whole dating scene. There’s no quality out there.” We sat in quiet, listening to the water gently lap against the shore. Music from my sister’s wedding floated around us, bathing us in sappy romantic love songs. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“What’s that?” I asked. “We get more alcohol?”

“No,” he replied flatly. “Just think about this … we’re both thirty.”

“No, you’re thirty. We celebrated your thirtieth birthday a couple of weeks ago, getting sloshed at the Mariner’s game. I’m still in my twenties,” I argued, batting my eyes at him.

“I’m older than you by four months, Isabella Marie,” he growled, poking my side. “So, you will be thirty in September …”

“Don’t make me pummel you with my heels,” I grumped.

“They’re under the head table, Bella. Focus on me,” he sighed. “We try dating, but if we don’t have anyone who gives us the ‘tingles’ …” Edward looked at me, giving me a shy, crooked grin. “We try it. We get married.”