Bella had always thought choosing Edward would feel like certainty.
Like finally stepping into the life she had been fighting for.
Instead, standing in the rain outside Charlie’s house, watching Edward wait beside the Volvo, all she felt was tired.
So unbelievably tired.
“Bella.”
His voice was soft.
Careful.
Like she was something breakable.
She hated that.
Maybe because some part of her knew she was.
“I can’t do it.”
Edward went completely still.
For a second, the only sound between them was the rain hitting the roof of the porch.
Bella wrapped her arms around herself.
“I thought I could.”
His face didn’t change much, but she knew him well enough to see it.
Pain.
Confusion.
Maybe even fear.
“You said you wanted this.”
“I did.”
She swallowed.
“I think I did.”
Edward took one step toward her.
Bella stepped back.
That was what did it.
His expression changed.
Not angry.
Never angry.
Just hurt.
“Is it Jacob?”
Bella closed her eyes.
Of course he knew.
Edward always knew.
That had once made her feel safe.
Now it just made her feel exposed.
“Yes.”
The word came out almost too quiet to hear.
Edward looked away toward the trees.
For once, Bella wished she couldn’t guess what he was thinking.
“I see.”
“You don’t.”
His eyes met hers again.
“I do.”
“No, you don’t.” Bella’s voice cracked. “Because it’s not about who I love more.”
Edward flinched.
She hated herself for it immediately.
But she kept going.
“It’s about who I am when I’m with you.”
The rain soaked through the sleeves of her sweater.
She barely noticed.
“With you, everything is forever. Everything is life or death. Every choice feels like it decides who I’m going to be for the rest of eternity.”
Edward said nothing.
“And with Jacob…”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
“With Jacob, I’m just Bella.”
Edward looked at her for a long time.
Then he nodded once.
It was so small she almost missed it.
“You should go to him.”
Her chest hurt.
“Edward…”
“If you stay because you pity me, I will never forgive myself.”
Bella stared at him.
She had imagined this moment a thousand different ways.
Edward angry.
Edward refusing.
Edward trying to convince her.
She had never imagined him letting her go.
Maybe that was the cruelest part.
Because she still loved him.
She always would.
Just not enough to disappear into him.
“I’m sorry.”
Edward smiled, but it was sad.
“I know.”
Bella walked past him.
She made it three steps before turning around.
He was still standing there.
Perfect.
Pale.
Frozen in the rain.
A beautiful thing from a life she no longer wanted.
Then she ran.
Jacob opened the door wearing gray sweatpants and no shirt.
Bella immediately forgot the speech she had practiced the entire drive.
He blinked.
“Bella?”
His hair was wet, like he had just gotten out of the shower.
There was a towel hanging around his neck.
For some reason, that almost made her cry.
Something normal.
Something stupidly human.
“You’re staring.”
Bella snapped her eyes back to his face.
“I am not.”
Jacob raised one eyebrow.
“You absolutely are.”
“Can you put a shirt on?”
“No.”
“Jacob.”
“This is my house.”
Bella rolled her eyes.
And there it was.
That feeling.
Warm.
Easy.
Like breathing after being underwater too long.
Jacob’s smile faded.
He finally noticed her face.
“What happened?”
Bella looked down.
“I ended it.”
Silence.
She could practically hear his brain trying to catch up.
“With Cullen?”
Bella nodded.
Jacob stared at her.
“Like… ended it ended it?”
“Yes.”
His mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
Bella almost laughed.
“You look like you’re malfunctioning.”
“I might be.”
Then his expression changed.
Hope was dangerous on Jacob.
It was too obvious.
Too honest.
“Why are you here?”
Bella’s heart started beating harder.
She hated that question.
Because now she actually had to say it.
“I don’t know how this works.”
Jacob leaned against the doorframe.
“What works?”
“This.”
She gestured between them.
His eyebrows lifted.
“You’re gonna have to be a little more specific, Bells.”
“I’m trying.”
“Terrifying.”
She glared at him.
He smiled.
That stupid smile.
The one that had gotten her through months she didn’t think she would survive.
Bella took a breath.
“I love you.”
Jacob stopped smiling.
Completely.
Bella’s nerves immediately got worse.
“I know I’ve said it before, but I don’t think I understood what it meant.”
He didn’t move.
“Bella.”
“I’m not finished.”
He shut his mouth.
Barely.
She kept going before she lost her courage.
“I kept thinking loving Edward meant I had already made my choice. Like there wasn’t room for anything else.”
Jacob’s eyes stayed on hers.
“But I love you differently.”
She swallowed.
“With you, I can picture being old.”
Jacob’s face broke slightly at that.
Bella almost cried again.
“I can picture Charlie complaining because we live too close. I can picture you destroying something while trying to fix it.”
“That happened one time.”
“Twice.”
“Not important.”
Bella laughed.
Then covered her mouth because the laugh turned into something dangerously close to a sob.
Jacob crossed the porch immediately.
“Hey.”
Bella looked up.
He was right in front of her now.
Warm enough that she could feel it without touching him.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
Jacob’s expression softened.
“Of me?”
“No.”
That answer came easily.
“Of choosing wrong again.”
Jacob was quiet.
Then he reached up and tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear.
“You don’t have to choose forever tonight.”
Bella blinked.
He shrugged.
“We can choose tomorrow.”
Her chest tightened.
“And then?”
“Choose again the next day.”
Bella smiled.
Jacob’s thumb brushed her cheek.
“No vampires. No weddings. No forever speeches.”
“You hate weddings?”
“I hate Cullen weddings.”
“That’s very specific.”
“I’m a specific guy.”
Bella laughed again.
Jacob looked at her like that sound alone was enough.
And that was when she knew.
Not forever.
Not eternity.
Not destiny.
Just now.
And maybe tomorrow.
Bella leaned forward and kissed him.
Jacob froze for half a second.
Then both of his hands were on her waist.
The kiss wasn’t careful.
It wasn’t cold.
It wasn’t perfect.
Bella nearly stepped on his foot.
Jacob laughed into her mouth.
She shoved his chest.
He pulled her closer.
And for once, Bella didn’t feel like she was walking toward death.
She felt alive.
Actually alive.
Jacob pulled back just enough to look at her.
“You realize I’m going to be unbearable about this.”
“You already were.”
“Fair.”
Bella rested her forehead against his chest.
His heartbeat was fast.
Strong.
Human.
Well.
Mostly.
She smiled.
Jacob kissed the top of her head.
And somewhere far behind her, in another version of her life, there was a wedding dress.
There were golden eyes.
There was forever.
Bella let it go.
For the first time, forever didn’t sound romantic.
Tomorrow did.