Adventures In An Alternate Dimension Book 2

Chapter 48 - A Crash Course in Cullen-Sloane Chaos

Tristan's POV

The late afternoon sun beat down on my truck, turning the cab into a furnace. Sweat already clung to my t-shirt, sticking uncomfortably to the faded Guns N' Roses logo across my chest. I hopped out, the heat a slap in the face, and surveyed the scene before me. The Cullen-Sloane house loomed large, a sprawling three-story affair that seemed to swallow my beat-up Toyota Tacoma whole. Pale yellow, a vibrant yellow in the declining light, climbed enthusiastically around the porch railings, threatening to engulf the entire structure in its fragrant embrace.

A beat-up minivan, overflowing with what looked like football and hockey gear, sat precariously in the driveway. Three figures wrestled a precariously tall potted plant out of the back – Edward Cullen, Amber's dad, a man known by everyone inside and outside of Forks as a literal legend. Beside him, Sky, Amber's other dad, a man built like a linebacker with a surprisingly gentle smile. His hair, like his demeanor, contrasted Amber's fiery curls. Beside him, her younger brother by ten full minutes, a lanky kid with a mop of blonde styled hair sported a faded Beatles t-shirt and ripped skinny jeans.

"Hey, Tristan!" Edward boomed, his voice warm despite the strain of maneuvering the teetering plant. "Welcome to the madhouse!"

I chuckled, hoisting a box from the truck bed. The cardboard was damp with sweat from my grip, threatening to split under the weight of textbooks and old band t-shirts. "Thanks, Mr. Cullen. It's good to be here, finally."

Edward chuckled and replied, "No need for formalities, Tristan. You've been dating my daughter for over two years and you've come to every family event since then. You're practically family now, so please call me Edward, or whatever you're comfortable with."

I nodded in agreement and gave him a grateful smile.

"Finally, huh?" Hunter smirked, nudging the plant towards the porch with his hip. "Took you long enough."

We exchanged playful shoves, the tension that had coiled in my gut easing a fraction. Amber had told me about the teasing I could expect from her siblings, and Hunter seemed like the resident prankster. His eyes, the same gray as Amber's, held a mischievous glint that promised future shenanigans.

"Here, let me get that," Edward said, taking the box from me with surprising ease. "You must be beat. Bella's got a feast cooking up inside – enough to feed a small army, knowing her."

The mention of food made my stomach rumble. We hadn't stopped for lunch on the drive over, and the only sustenance I'd had was a gas station coffee that tasted burnt and suspiciously like battery acid.

As we entered the house, a cacophony of noise assaulted me. Laughter, shouts, and the unmistakable sounds of video game warfare filled the air. A gaggle of teenagers sprawled on the couches, controllers clutched in their hands, faces illuminated by the flickering glow of a giant flat screen TV mounted on the wall. Behind them, a roaring fire crackled merrily in the stone fireplace, casting a warm, orange glow on the room.

I recognized a few from Amber's descriptions and countless family events – Raven, her husband Connor, sat sprawled out across the couch with his arm draped casually around her shoulders, and a trio of identical triplets Jaxton, Jeremy and Jason who, according to Amber, were almost impossible to tell apart. They were currently locked in an intense game of Mario Kart, their shouts of victory and defeat echoing through the room.

A tiny blonde girl with a determined frown toddled past, clutching a stuffed bear ten times her size. Her blonde curls bounced with each step, and a smear of what looked suspiciously like chocolate decorated her cheek. I guessed this must be Olivia, Bella and Sky's oldest. She gave me a shy smile before wandering off, her mission apparently of utmost importance.