Love Me

Chapter 1

BPOV

"SHIT!" I yelled at myself as I stood in front of my car. I looked and there were my keys, sitting in the passengers seat, they must have fallen out of my purse again. Damn it!

As if that wasn't bad enough, my boyfriend would be pissed because I was home late, he wouldn't care that I locked my keys in my car, he wouldn't even offer to drive the 15 minutes over here to unlock my car for me, by grabbing my spare key, he'd bad mouth me and call me names like he always did. I pulled out my phone to call and let him know that I'd be late getting to his house tonight.

"Mike, hey. Um. I have to work over a little, so I'll be about half hour late to your place, one of the girls called in late on short notice and they just asked me to stay." I lied. "What? You know you were suppose to be here to have dinner ready! My boss will be here at 7:30, what the fuck am I suppose to do now!" he yelled at me. "Mike, I'm sorry. I can't just bail on my job either!" I yelled back. "You know what, don't even come over tonight, I'll call Jess, she'll fix something and give my boss something to look at to lock in my fucking promotion!" he hung up on me. I stood on the sidewalk with my hands on my car, my head resting on top of my hands lightly crying.

"Excuse me miss, did you need some help?" I turned around and expected to look into someone's eyes and all I got was chest, I blushed and got a deep chuckle, I looked up, he was about 6'2, muscular, dark hair and blue eyes, a wonderful, warm smile and cute dimples. "Um, yeah, I uh, locked my keys in my car." I shrugged and blushed. "Oh, no problem, give me a minute, I'll call my sister in law, she works for a car dealership, she should have a key for this." he smiled. He walked to the back of my car and started talking "Rose listen, I need a favor, yes, just listen damn it! I need you to look for a key to an (he looked at me and asked if my car was an 08 or 09, I held up 9 fingers and he smiled and winked at me.) 09 Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5 SR" he smiled again. "Rose what does it matter the color damn it! It's Maroon, are you happy. Yes, with a sunroof." he was getting frustrated. "Fine call me back. Sorry, it will take her a minute to look and she'll call me back, want to grab a coffee?" He asked and motioned across the street. "Yeah, that sounds good." I smiled.

"Hi. I'm Emmett McCarthy, I'm still kind of new to this town, I've only been here 2 weeks and I still keep getting lost. My sister in law and brother keep telling me they're going to show me around, but they're always busy with work and kids." he sighed.

"I'm Bella Swan. I grew up in a town about 4 hours from here, my dad is Sherriff there and has been forever, I've lived here for 6 years, 4 going to college and the last two a working slave." I joked.

"So, what do you do Bella?" he asked with the kindest eyes I've ever seen. "Well, I work across the street there in the little book store just for something to do. I worked there in college and they were always good to me, so I stay on now just to have something to do, but mostly I'm a writer." I shrugged. "A writer. Huh? What have you written? Anything I would have read?" he smiled.

"Um, probably not. Your sister, maybe, if she likes romance novels, but maybe not." I shrugged again. "Have you sold a lot?" he asked. "Yeah." I smiled. "Elaborate a little?" he smiled and damn those dimples. "Um, I'm on the Fiction Top 20 Sellers List." I put my head down, I knew I was 10 shades of read, I hated talking about my success. "WOW! That is something! You know you do look familiar to me." he smiled. "Have you done a lot of T.V. promos?" he asked.

I nodded my head yes, blushing to much to speak. "Shit! You were in my station in Chicago!" he smiled. I looked at him confused, I was in several stations in every city. "You did a show called 'Good Day Chi Town.' I didn't get to officially meet you that day, I'm ashamed to say I lost a bet and my buddy got to work the floor and I got the control panel, you heard my voice, but didn't see me." he smiled.

"Yeah, that was the worst city for me." I sighed. "I'm sorry. Why?" he asked. "Well, when I was there, my dad called and told me his best friend was in a car accident and was now paralyzed, my best friend had to take a leave from the NFL to come help his dad, which he's not upset over, I just know how hard he worked to get there and he's to stubborn to hire the help for his dad. And I come back to find my boyfriend kissing another woman." I sighed. "Wow! Yeah I guess I'd hate Chicago too." he gave a small smile, right as his phone rang. "Did you find it? Can you bring it?" he asked. "Fine, we're at Starbucks at 5th and Port. See you in a few, thanks." he smiled. It'll be about 20 minutes, is that O.K.?" he asked. "Yeah, good." I smiled and sighed. "So, you said boyfriend, he's still in the picture, I take it?" he frowned. I didn't like that look on him. "Yeah, he is, but not for long, trust me, after what he said and did tonight, he's to the curb." I gave another weak smile. "Really? What did he say? If you don't mind me asking?" he asked. I sighed. "Well, I called to ask him to go by my place and get my spare key to come help me out, he screamed at me and yelled only about his dinner with his boss and how I should be there and have dinner ready and other choice words, he then proceeded to say that he was going to get Jessica to come over and cook and not only would she cook, but she'd give the boss something to look at as well and that would seal his promotion! I should have let my brother beat his ass a long time ago." I was red again and tears were prickling my eyes, he handed me a tissue. "I'm so sorry. That's a terrible thing to say and do, why would you want your boss looking at your girlfriend, that's just gross!" he shook his head.

My phone rang and I jumped, I looked at the called ID and rolled my eyes, flipped open my phone "Hey Alec, what's up?" I asked. "No, I'm not at Mike's, it's a lomg story, I locked my keys in my car and I'm waiting for a spare to brought from the dealership. I'm in Starbucks, I'm safe, yes. If you want to. Fine, see you in 5." I sighed and hung up. "My brother will be here in 5 minutes and he's a cop, you might not want to be around, he and his partner can be assholes." I shook my head. "I'm not scared, I think I'll stay, besides, I think I might have something in common with your brother." I looked at him in question. "We both seem to have a dislike for this Mike guy." he smiled.

"Bella!" 2 voices shouted in the very quite coffee shop. I dropped my head and heard Emmett laugh "Alec? Jasper? This is your brother and his partner? The assholes?" he whispered to me. I shook my head and looked at him "you know them?" I frowned. "Jasper is my brother in law and I met Alec last week at a BBQ at their house, he was complaining because you weren't there.." They made their way to the table and once they saw Emmett they looked between the two of us. "Emmett. What are you doing here with my sister?" Alec pulled out a chair and put an arm around me. "I saw a damsel in distress and helped. Rose is bringing the spare key." he smiled. "Bells, why didn't you just call me? I have a damn spare key." he frowned. "I didn't want to bother you why you were working." I sighed. "Why didn't your precious Mike go by the house and gt the other one then?" Alec snapped. "Alec, really, not now!" I glared at him. "Why? Jasper knows what an ass he is and Emmett heard about him last weekend, keeping you from the fucking BBQ, that's fucked up. What did he have 'planned' for you 2 any way?" Alec snapped again. I rubbed my temples, knowing where this was headed, "Nothing, after the BBQ was half way over, right before we were due to leave for our 'reservations' he wasn't feeling well, so he went to bed and I left and went back to my place, of course the next morning, he called screaming at me for leaving his place without cleaning it." I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. "Look, Alec, just unlock my car and let me get home, please. I want to be alone." I looked at my brother with tears in my eyes. "Do you want Jane to come over?" he asked. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!?! Your wife hates me! NO! I don't want her at my place. I've got a date with Chinese take out, Jim Beam and Ben and Jerry, my favorites." I gave a small smile. "Damn a woman after my own heart." Emmett smiled and grabbed at his chest. "Would you like to join me?" I asked. What? Where in the hell did that come from? I never say things like that. Shit! I can't renig now. Damn it! "Yeah, If you'd like to have the company, that'd be great. I can pick up the Chinese and meet you there, but I need your address." he smiled. "The hell you do!" Alec barked. "Calm down, man." Jasper placed a hand on Alec's chest. "She'll be fine on her own Emmett." Alec growled. "Damn it Alec! If you want to be pissed at someone, go fucking break Mike's nose or wait outside his place and arrest him for some stupid shit, he'll screw up soon enough! I'm an adult and if I want someone at my place then I can fucking invite them." I stood up and reached for Emmett's hand, he placed it in mine and I said "We'll wait outside for your sister in law." I flipped my hair and pulled Emmett behind me without another look towards my brother. Once we arrived back to my car, I apologized to Emmett "I am so sorry for Alec. He gets all big brother on me and it pisses me off." I gritted my teeth together. "Hey, I was way worse when Japser and Alice started dating. He was my best friend. We got into a big fight one night and I ended up beating the shit out of him, Alice didn't speak to me for 3 weeks, I was miserable!" Emmett sighed. "I met Alice once, when Alec made me go to a get together last year, she is way to energetic for me. I'm much more of a wall flower." I smiled. Right then I saw a beautiful blond walking down the sidewalk towards us in a seriously small black leather miniskirt and a red halter top with black leather knee high boots. "Some women have all the luck." I mumbled to myself. Emmett turned to look at who I was talking about and laughed. "Rose!" he yelled and waved his arms. She smiled and men parted like the Red Sea for her. "Bella, this is Rose, Rose this is Bella." Emmett stated. We greeted each other politely, she unlocked my door and I thanked her several times over "Rose, please allow me to buy you lunch this week, you didn't have to come all this way, I'm so thankful for you." I smiled. "Bella, better yet, we're having a get together this weekend, just show up with Emmett and we'll call it even, we're tired of him being the odd man out." she winked. I blushed and agreed only after saying if Emmett wanted me there. Emmett scoffed. "Duh, We're going back to your place for Chinese, Jim Beam and Ben and Jerry's how could I NOT want you?" he laughed. I blushed again and Rose smiled saying "Oh, God. You speak in food too?" I laughed and shook my head. "Yeah, I love food. I love to eat, but mostly I love to cook. I always cooked for my dad and brother, so it's something that's become second nature to me. I almost went to culinary school, but decided to go to journalism school instead." I smiled. "Yeah, Rose, I bet you've read her book. It's some kind of smut filled fantasy." he wiggled his eyebrows. "Are you Alec's sister?" she smiled wide. "Yeah?" I questioned. "Oh! My! God! I can't believe he's never properly introduced us. This is crazy. I guess because he's always with the guys and he said you're always with some asshold guy…" she stopped short and shot a look to Emmett. "No, it's O.K., really I understand the entire look. Yes, I am dating someone, not for long. I will be breaking up with him, Emmett's a great guy and I just wanted to repay him with dinner and icecream for waiting with me. I couldn't send a big bear like this home hungry." I smiled. Rose looked at me and pulled me to the side while Emmett got my keys out of the car. "Look, don't hurt him. He just got over his ex fucking him over big time. I'm not going to go into details, but it was bad, really bad! That's why he's here. We're very protective of each other and if Edward or Alice were here, he wouldn't be going anywhere with you, he would listen to them when they said no and trust me, they would. They trust no one when it comes to their brother, unless they've gotten to know you first. Alice is easy, she likes everyone. My husband Edward, not so much. He can be an ass, he's very serious and loves his brother, but once you're in, you're in, he'll offer you guys the world." she smiled sincerely at me. "Thans Rose and I understand, trust me. Alec is the same way. He wanted to punch Emmett already." she smiled and laughed "Emmett does have that effect on people sometimes. Well, I have to get back. I have to finish up, I've got a hot date tonight with my hubby." she winked and Emmett shook his head. "Don't go making baby number 3 please." she laughed a beautiful laugh and walked away. "She's got two kids?" I said amazed. "Yeah. And they're beautiful like her and Edward. Edward Jr. or E.J. as I call him is 4 and Annabelle is 2. They look like they mini-me of each parent, it's scary." Emmett shuddered. I giggled. "Now, what kid of Chinese do you like?" he asked. "Anything except egg rolls and shrimp dishes." I smiled. "O.K. I just need your number and address and I'll be there in 30 minutes?" he smiled. "Yeah. That sounds good." I grabbed his phone and put my phone number and address in for him. I gave him a thank you hug and he felt good, I wanted to stay there forever, I looked across the street and there were Alec and Jasper just leaving Starbucks, Alec shaking his head and Jasper talking him down. I drove home quickly and made sure my condo was decent, which thankfully it was. I changed into jeans and a tank top since we were staying and was barefoot, I lit a fire and opened my blinds to let in the night sky and Seattle's lights.

I had a huge condo, it's one of the things I bought with my book money. It was paid for. It was 3500 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 3 ½ bath a hugh open living/dining/kitchen area and then I had the far back corner glassed off into a small library/office for me, it was out of the way so it really couldn't be seen unless you walked deep into the condo.

I wasn't sure what type of music Emmett liked so I put on KOL and hoped for the best. I opted for wine instead of hard liquor, it just goes better with Chinese and was getting ready to sit down when my phone rang, a strange number. "Hello?" I asked. "Bella!" the voice boomed. "Emmett hey." I shouted, it was infectious. "They're busy, I'll be about 20 minutes, is that O.K.?" he asked. "Yeah. No problems, you got there during dinner rush, should of guessed." I laughed. "O.K. see you in 20." he laughed and hung up.

I decided to get the nerve to call Mike and tell him to fuck off. I walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of liquid courage, threw it back, let it sting and then dialed. "What Bella?" he answered. "Mike, it's over. You treat me like shit. Call me names, don't want me to be with my family, tell me you have plans and then break them, you insulted me tonight and then invited that slut Jess over and you were happy your boss would be looking at her? That's just fucking sick Mike!" I took a breath. "You have no right to tell me what we're going to do Bella. I'm the one who decides and I don't want to break up with you. Jess is only good for one thing and that's when you don't want to give it up or won't please me in the right ways." he stated. "Mike you know what. You're a good for nothing dog! You'd better watch your back. Alec is not happy with you after today and he's watching you." I snapped. "We are over!" I hung up on him. A few minutes later my phone rang and continued to ring, it was Mike, surely pissed. Five minutes later a knock at my door and I was nervous, I was hoping Mike couldn't get hee that fast, on a good day it took him 15, so I was praying, I looked out the peephole and it was Emmett. I sighed with relief. I opened the door and he had 3 bags, I looked at him questioningly "What in the world?" I asked. "Well, I wasn't really sure what you liked, so I got a little of everything, no shrimp and no egg rolls and then I bought more ice cream because I wasn't sure how much you had and I love ice cream." he laughed. I smiled, he was like a big kid, a sexy fucking big kid. "Your phone is ringing." he said. "Yeah, it's no one." I stressed. "Ah. No one being the boyfriend." he looked sad. "Actually, No. While you were out, I did a shot, called him and ended things. It was bothering me so I just did it. I couldn't take it anymore. I don't know why I was with him. I guess lonliness will do that too you, huh? Seeing everyone else happy and in love, you'll stay miserable just to think you're happy." I sighed and fought back the tears. "Hey, I truly understand. I had a bad breakup in Chicago. It's why I came here. But, I was in love with her, we were engaged. She left me for my best friend, he fucking knocked her up, I was pissed. She knew how bad I wanted kids and she kept telling me she wasn't ready and now, they'll be having a kid in a few months. I had to get out of there, besides, all my family is here now. Once Edward and Rose moved here, mom and dad followed. Alice has always been the free spirit, she was gone away at 18 and never looked back, only home for holidays until Jasper came along and then it was for short visits. So, I truly understand. How long have you been with Mike?" Emmett asked. "Almost a year. Nothing serious, he came into the book store buying something for his mom and asked me out. He was sweet at first, then with in a few months it went down hill, we didn't see each other all the time, so I didn't do anything about it. I was still on and off with my book tour, it was about 8 months into our relationship that I caught him, he swore it'd never happen again and then tonight on the phone he just admitted he fucked her when I wasn't available or willing to satisfy him." I scoffed. I sat my plate down feeling sick. "Excuse me a second Em, I need to go to the restroom, make yourself at home." I ran to my bedroom, so I wouldn't embarrass myself. I came out a few minutes later to find Emmett standing face to face with Mike at my front door.

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