The Lemonade Stand has spent so many years bringing you the best the Twilight fandom has to offer, and we are very excited to have the chance to offer you even MORE. We've watched stories grow and develop from first post through COMPLETE, and now we're lucky enough to share previews of the stories that will soon be your new addiction.
This week we are featuring aushapasha, author of Best of Us, Hollywood Drive, and The Truce. She's sharing an excerpt from her upcoming new fic, Jilted.
banner by Lizzie Paige
Jilted
by
aushapasha
Summary: After getting left at the altar without a word, Bella Swan treats herself to a beach holiday for one. The poolside oasis is perfect for sipping drinks, some attempted healing, and meeting a handsome stranger with a not so different past.
~oOxOo~
Edward
Hours later, I’m sitting on my little terrace, enjoying some peace and quiet, when I hear Jessica’s stupid bird whistle. It’s something she picked up early in life, and she only uses it when she wants to get my attention without really bothering me. She knows if I hear it, but don’t answer, I want to be left alone.
“What do you want, butt-face?” I’m on the ground floor, so when her head pops up over the plants around my little patio, I’m not surprised.
“Really? ‘Butt-face’? You’re 33, come up with a better insult, Edward.” She gracefully climbs through the foliage to sit down across from me and sighs.
“How was your spa day?” She smiles. Jess and I have always been closer than Marcus and me. My brother and I are closer in age, but he’s a perpetual frat boy. Jess is almost 40 and has always been the most mature person at the table; our parents included.
“It was glorious. Did you know James upgraded us? We got the works.” She smiles, and I don’t even want to think about how she’s going to thank her husband for that later. “I saw your friend Bella.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I cock mine at her.
“Why does everyone keep calling her my friend? I barely know the woman.” I throw my hands up in frustration. I know almost nothing about this woman, but I keep finding myself in her presence, and I’ll be damned if—
“You’ve got that look on your face again.” Jess breaks me out of my thoughts.
“What look?”
“The look that says, ‘I don’t know anything about the pretty lady’.” She smirks, and I flip her off.
“That’s not a common look for me.”
She laughs heartily. “You had it all last night. But I have info for you; for all of us really. Bella is joining us for dinner. Well, she’s joining you, me, James, Mom, and Dad. M and M are watching the kids tonight.”
I side-eye her. “Are you trying to set us up?”
“As entertained as I would be at the idea of you having an island fling, no, I’m not trying to set you up. She’s got baggage. She seems to be carrying it quite well but baggage nonetheless.” My sister cringes, and I turn to face her.
“What’s Emerald Bay?” Her eyes go wide. I tried not to put too much thought into what Bella said earlier, but half of the reason we came here is because Jess and James came here on their honeymoon, or more specifically, they came to one of the sister resorts.
“Edward, Emerald Bay is a Sandals resort for honeymooners in the Bahamas, I think. It could be Antigua.” She’s avoiding my eyes until I kick her lightly in the shin. “Ouch! Bella got stood up at the altar … a week ago.”
Jess is rambling on about how she hasn’t even spoken to her ex and how she went ahead and had the reception, and then decided to come on the vacation anyway because didn’t she deserve it? I sit back, letting that sink in.
“Edward? Edward, don’t let this change how you approach her. She’s a nice person, and honestly, I think she’s handling it pretty well. I’m sure the situation is different.” Jess gives me a sympathetic smile.
What a terrible thing to happen to someone. How humiliating and devastating.
I should know.
I left someone at the altar too.
~oOxOo~
Be sure and put aushapasha on alert so you don't miss out. Jilted will begin posting later today.
