Better The Devil You Know.
âDo we get across by the stepping stones?â She asks in a tone filled with hesitancy.
Edward laughs softly and pats Bella on the shoulder. âYouâll be fine, Belle.â
"Youâve met me, right?" She deadpans, her eyes widening with horror. "Iâm accident prone. I will fall right on my ass and my poor camera will end up in the water!"
"Iâm highly amused you care more about your camera than yourself," He snorts.
Bella points her finger at Edward. âHow dare you!â She accuses with mock outrage. âThis is my baby.â
Edward laughs and Bella narrows her eyes in response. âDonât laugh at me! If I drop my camera, Iâm throwing your guitar in the river!â
Edwards eyes shine with amusement, his brows lifting in surprise as he brings his guitar around to the front of his body. âShe didnât mean it, baby.â He whispers, petting it lightly.
"Oh yes, she did." Bella scoffs, her lips pulling back into an evil grin.
"Donât listen to the mean lady," he grins, pulling the strap on his shoulder, slinging his guitar around to his back as he closes the distance between him and Bella. "Come on, youâll be fine," he says, slipping his hand into hers and tugging her along. "I wonât let go, I promise."
Bella links their fingers together, tightening her hold on his hand and clutching her camera to her chest in protection with her other hand. âYouâd better not.â
Theyâre halfway across the stepping stones when Edward says, âNow donât panic, but I have to let go to get to the next four stones.â
Bellaâs eyes widen in horror. âWhat?â
"Theyâre too far apart." He explains. "Youâll have to jump a little to get to them."
"You promised you wouldnât let go!" Bella tightens her hand around Edwardâs.
"They werenât like this last time I was here!" He defends. "We canât be holding hands or weâll both end up in the water."
"Oh my god." Bella closes her eyes, swallowing nervously as Edward extracts his hand from hers.
"Iâm right here, Bella." He assures. "Youâll be fine."
Everything is going smoothly until Bellaâs footing slips on the second stone. It all happens so fast, she thinks she had to have imagined it. One minute, sheâs screaming and Edward is three stones away, then heâs right behind her and her voice is being cut off by the feel of his arm snaking around her stomach, saving her and her camera from going head first into the water.