Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Two - My Twin's Wedding

Sunday, August 13th, 2006

I woke up sprawled on top of Jasper. I shifted so I was only half draped over him when he kissed my forehead.

"It might be time to get up," he murmured. "Maybe shower?"

He kissed my cheek before nudging me upright.

"But sleep," I whimpered, trying to roll back under the duvet.

"Alice would kill me if I didn't make sure you're ready," he said gently.

"Ugh, fine," I grumbled, shuffling into the master bathroom and shutting the door in quiet defiance as I stripped off my pajamas. I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up.

I glanced at my reflection—and paused.

My belly looked like it had the faintest curve to it. Barely anything. Probably nothing. Stress, maybe. My twin's wedding, the chaos, the lack of sleep.

Weird.

I shook it off. There was too much to focus on already, and I knew Jasper would be dragging me up to the main house soon to properly get ready.

I came out of the shower wrapped in a robe and wandered back into the bedroom to grab some comfy shorts and a hoodie, knowing Alice had my dress waiting for me at the main house.

I padded into the kitchen to find Jasper making me a small breakfast. I slipped up behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

"Thank you," I murmured.

He smiled without turning around, reaching back to squeeze my hand.

After that, we headed up to the main house, where Rosalie immediately claimed me for a full glam takeover. 

Rosalie sat me down with the kind of authority that made it very clear escape was not an option.

"Hands off," she warned, swatting me lightly as I reached for my hair. "I just curled that."

"I was just checking if it was still attached," I said innocently.

She snorted. "You'd survive decapitation at this point. Alice has you wrapped in three layers of fate."

"Comforting."

Rosalie tilted my chin, inspecting my face with narrowed eyes. "You look tired."

"I am tired."

"You're glowing," she added immediately, then paused. "Which is either stress, happiness, or something I don't feel like unpacking today."

I blinked at her in the mirror. "Rose—"

"Don't," she cut in, already reaching for moisturizer. "If there's something, you'll tell me when you're ready. Today is about surviving."

I relaxed a little at that.

She worked quickly but gently, fingers precise as she smoothed product into my skin. "You nervous?"

"Not really," I admitted. "Excited. A little overwhelmed."

"Makes sense," she said. "Your twin's getting married. To a mind-reading vampire with control issues."

"I know I should defend him but I can't."

"I said what I said."

I laughed, and she smirked.

"You're lucky," Rosalie added after a moment. "Most humans would kill for a day like this."

"Most humans don't have Alice Cullen."

"Exactly."

She stepped back to assess her work, then nodded once. "Okay. Hair next."