August 16, 2010

Leigh just laughed, “You’ll get used to it. Besides, you can’t be poisoned. You,” he said very directly, “are already dead.”

Virgina pursed her lips at the reminder. She flagged down the bartender, a thirty something year old with more tattoos and piercings then Virgina had ever seen, and quite a few she couldn’t see.

“Can I get a Coke?” she asked sweetly. He shook his head. Virgina wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue. Leigh rolled his eyes and pulled a bottle out of his jacket. Virgina’s eyebrows shot up until she made out the red and white label.

Leigh winked, his long eyelashes making shadows on his high cheekbones, “Don’t you think I know you by now, Porter?”

That name didn’t bother Virgina as much as it used to but she still hit Leigh on the shoulder, “Remember, Renwick, Gracie Porter is dead. You’re stuck with me. Virgina Reel.”

“Well, Virgina Reel,” Leigh said, hopping off his stool, “may I ask for the next dance?”

“Dance?” Virgina repeated in disbelief.

“A successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music. You are in AP English, aren’t you?”

Virgina hadn’t moved, “I know what dancing is idiot. Where I… was they taught river dance, tango, and the waltz. I don’t think they do these here.”

Leigh did not argue with that extremely valid point, “So. It’s New Year’s Eve. Have fun. You don’t want to drink, or party, or see the ball drop. Then let’s dance. Come on, Reel,” his Cupid’s Bow lips formed a smirk and Virgina knew he was going to use on of his infamous Reserved For Her Only lines:

“Live a little.”

Virgina opened her mouth to make a snappy comeback when he cell phone rang. She almost missed it because of the obnoxiously loud techno music. The screen flashed with the reminder of why Virgina could never ‘live a little’.

“It’s my uncle,” Virgina said to Leigh, “I-I’ve got to get home. It’s k-kind if late.” That wasn’t actually the case. On a night like tonight Virgina and Gabriel had souls to reap. But Leigh wouldn’t fall for the false pretense that Virgina was just a girl with an overly protective uncle.

“I know what it really is. He can do it himself. Relax and be a teenager for once!” When Virgina stayed where she was Leigh grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the bar and into the club’s flurry. Between the flashes of crimson, purple, and aqua lights Virgina caught young teens and young adults in tight, elaborate outfits, make-up running from the exertion of what Virgina hoped was dancing. She was hopelessly under dressed in a black tee shirt and long denim skirt and, she was afraid to admit it: scared.

Virgina tugged on Leigh’s hoodie until he stopped. He gave her a quizzical look.

She shook her head and shouted over the music, “I can’t!”

“Why not!”

“I just can’t! I don’t get to do ‘normal’.”

“The Gracie I knew wouldn’t have given it a second thought!” he yelled back.

That was it. Virgina wretched away from Leigh and crossed her arms, “Don’t you get it! Gracie Porter is gone! She didn’t want to be but she is! And now I’m here and I’m not used to any of it and cut me a break! I will never, can never be her and I’m sorry!”

Leigh was quiet for a long time, letting the beats embedded themselves in Virgina’s head. There was a flash of white in the green lights: Leigh’s grin, “Most emotion I’ve ever seen from you.”

Virgina did not take well to this, “You- agh!” She turned on her heel and was about to march off, take the bus for goodness sake when Leigh grabbed her again and pulled her close so he wouldn’t have to scream. He was warm, Virgina noted. And she found herself unwittingly moving closer to him. To life.

“Come on, Reel. I was just kidding. I don’t care if you’re still Gracie or you’re now Virgina. Tonight is a new year and it’s all about you and me. Be whoever you want to be and I’ll be whoever you want me to be.”

A lump formed in Virgina’s throat as she thought of Blake, the girl Leigh should being saying such things to. Leigh let her go and stepped toward the surging crowd of dancing, giving Virgina a look of ‘what are you waiting for?’ Virgina didn’t even know. She stepped forward and Leigh gave her an encouraging smile.

Virgina noticed two things at once. It was warm. She didn’t get how some people could wear the clothes they did. Drinks sloshed in hands, like they were trying to add alcohol to a fire. These humans practically illuminated the room with their fervor. Virgina wondered how many of these souls she’d one day claim. The second thing she noticed was the music, again. The florescent painted walls shook and the light up floor wasn’t steady beneath her Nikes. Leigh led her to a slightly less… energetic section, for which she was thankful.

“Ready?” he asked, the corner of his mouth turning up.

Virgina bit her lip and shook her head. Leigh threw back his head and laughed. He’s said something that was either ‘you’re adorable’ or ‘you’re atrocious’. Virgina decided it was the former. Leigh wrapped his arms around her waist as the song switched from Gwen Stefani’s ‘Bubble Pop Electric’ to a majorly adapted ‘Curse of Curves’ by Cute Is What We Aim For. Virgina hesitantly laid her hands on Leigh’s chest. He nodded good-naturedly,

“That’s it.”

Virgina laughed as he started swaying side to said and singing along in a melodramatic matter. And Virgina grew more comfortable in Leigh’s arms and sang along,

“Her bone structure screams
“Touch her! Touch her!”
And she’s got the curse of curves
So with the combination of my gift with one liners
And my way
My way with words”

Leigh leaned down, Virgina assumed to her ear but he aimed a bit lower. His curly brunet hair tickled her nose and his lips brushed Virgina’s jaw as he said,

“What kind of curse do you have, hm?”

There was nowhere for Virgina to go as they rocked together, as if the sounds around them had slowed. The music stopped altogether as the club goers started to countdown to midnight.

“10…” Leigh whispered and Virgina was glad he was holding her up.

“9…” Gabriel would kill her. Any maybe she wouldn’t mind.

“8…” Just being there, Virgina was betraying what, er, little trust Blake had put in her.

“7…” Would Gracie have wanted this?

“6…” Did it matter?

“5…” Virgina Reel was alive, if only for the moment.

Before Leigh could say ’4′ Virgina spoke.

“This isn’t right, Leigh,” but he caught that she was still trying to convince herself that, “Will you let go?”

“2… no.”

“Then I won’t either,” Virgina Reel promised. And her lips were on Leigh’s before he could say ’1′.

Which included a certain Edward Cullen.

Just thinking about him made my heart stop for a second and then resume beating at a furious pace.

Now, who was this Edward Cullen?

He wasn’t a popular kid or the golden boy of Forks. He wasn’t a rebel, nor was he a geek.

No, Edward Cullen was none of them. He was, in reality, just a normal boy. A normal boy, with normal looks, and a normal family.

He was just Edward. Tall, lanky, shy.

He was all awkward limbs and long fingers. He had weird hair and the greenest of eyes. He was polite and silent.

He wasn’t boisterous like Emmett, but he wasn’t brooding like Jasper either.

And, he was the object of my affections.

So, I braced myself for a flailing arm or two, and tried lifting the she-devil off the couch. Which, for the record, wasn’t particularly easy, because-

So I very carefully tackled her onto the couch and trapped her chubby form with my skinny one. All this while she continued to cause me bodily harm.

Finally Lucifer grew bored of killing me and resumed watching SpongeBob dance around and poke people.

I removed my weary form off her limp one and was on my way to the kitchen to wipe some spit off my face when I saw them.

Edward and Alice Cullen.

Alice was Edward’s really tiny, really cute 7 year old sister.

She had black hair, wore pink constantly and always hugged everyone. Even random strangers.

How did I know that? Well, let’s just say I had been on the receiving end quite a few times.

Now, if only the elder Cullen kid would learn a thing or two from his sister and let me feel that absolutely flat and non-muscled, prepubescent chest against mine…

“Bellllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”. And the she-devil strikes again.

“Yes, Lauren?” I ask, because frankly, what else can I do? It’s not like I can tell her to shut the hell up.

“I don’ wanna drink this. Gimme candyyyyy” she cries. Like literally, cries – in her nasally voice, no less. And she drags out the letters, which makes her even more annoying.

“ Lauren, you have to finish off your cereal and your milk. Mommy’s orders”, I say and even smile at her. See? I’m making an effort.

But of course she has to go and scream her stupid little head off.

“I want candy! I want candy! Candy!”

And I can take no more of this.

See, normally, I’m not a pushover. I’m quite stubborn.

But this annoying, irritating monster has used up all my patience. So, I relent.

“Fine. Finish your milk and I’ll give you a lollipop, alright?” I say all this in an extremely even tone, which is quite an accomplishment.

You know, considering Lucifer is slowly and painfully destroying my ear drums.

I watch, with fingers crossed, as she takes the glass of milk, and smells it.

She smells it.

“It doesn’t smell good”, she whines.

“Then don’t smell it. Just cover your nose and drink it all in one go”, I manage to tell her through my clenched teeth.

Then she complains that it’s cold.

Of course it is, she spent the better half of the last 15 minutes refusing to drink it.

So I warmed it up for her, like the little slave that I am.

Finally, after a hundred more whines, she drinks the whole glass- with much coercion on my part.

And just when I thought that the ordeal was over-

“Yuck!” she spat.

She. Spat.

And I was supposed to clean that up. Like the little slave that I am.

Just like that, all my dreams of having a moment of solitude to myself were shattered.

After spending a solid 20 minutes cleaning the whole mess up – because apparently, Lauren could hold a lot in her mouth at one go- I had to go search Mrs.Mallory’s cabinets for a piece of candy.

Lauren had good memory and pestered the hell out of me until I finally caved and agreed to let her have her beloved candy.

I’d almost given up on the task, when I came across a lone lollipop in a jar. I guess little Lauren had already finished the rest. No wonder she threw a tantrum for candy all the time.

I fished it out of the jar and handed the pink lollipop to her, seeing her cranky face transform into one of joy at the very sight of it.

As I wandered back into the living room to keep a watch on her, my gaze fell upon the Cullen siblings.

They were playing catch, with Alice running after the ball every time, but stopping on the way to try to catch a butterfly.

I could see Edward’s face and he looked extremely bored. An idea planted itself into my head.

Mrs. Mallory had told me to take her out on the lawn if Lauren got bored inside.

My mind made up, I called out to the little monster-

“Hey Lauren, you wanna go out and play for a bit? ” I asked, with the first genuine smile upon my face.

A smile that only grew wider as she wore her shoes and followed me out into their lawn.

Right besides the Cullen siblings, who both looked up and saw us coming out.

For the first time ever, I looked right into the green eyes of Edward Cullen.

As Emmett and I drove to school Friday morning, I went over the plan I had spent all of last night formulating. It had been weeks since I’d last had a decent night’s worth of sleep, and it was because all thoughts of mine were consumed by none other than Isabella Swan.

After overhearing her conversation with Alice and Rosalie over how she wanted a guy who would actually take the time to romance her instead of trying to get into her pants, I couldn’t help but think, I could be that guy. I could be the guy that cared for Bella and made her feel like the beautiful girl—no, woman—that she was. I wanted to be the one that made all her dreams come true.

I made the mistake of sharing my feelings with Emmett and Jasper; it resulted in the two knuckleheads teasing me for two weeks straight. Who knew? Had I not given them a good beating to show that I still was a man, they might’ve eventually told Bella that I’ve been holding a torch for her since the second grade.

I took a deep breath as Emmett parked the car in his designated “spot.” The parking space literally had Emmett McCarty spray painted on it, and it just went to show that he was someone in this school.

I wasn’t sure how today would go. The original plan was for me to just march right up to Bella and plant one on her, regardless of who was around us. Of course, I knew that would be impossible, considering I didn’t have the balls for that. The second was for me to start a conversation with her and drop a few hints here and there, subtly letting her know I was interested. I wanted to let her know I felt something for her, but I also wanted her to be the one to come to me.

I must’ve spaced out; Emmett socked me in the shoulder and snapped his large, sausage-like fingers in front of my face. “Um, earth to Edward. You’re not going all pussy on me again and thinking about Bella, are you?” He smirked at me, and all I wanted to do was kick him in balls.

Sighing, I told him exactly what was on my mind. I knew I couldn’t hide anything from him. Like his girlfriend, Rosalie—who happened to be one of Bella’s best friends—Emmett could tell when someone was lying. They were abnormally good at reading people’s faces. Maybe that was why the two clicked so well. Neither one of them bullshitted the other.

“I’m thinking of making a move on Bella today.”

He grinned and whacked me on the back, something that was sure to send a small person flying across the room. “It’s about damn time! I was wondering when you were gonna man-up. So, how’re you planning on telling her?”

I explained ‘the plan’ to him, and he seemed to think it was a good idea. “That’s nice, bro. You don’t wanna seem too desperate or anything. It gives chicks the impression that they have the power to control you.”

We met up with Jasper and walked to our first class, discussing when and where I would work my magic—not that I had any—on Bella.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Right before lunch, I was attacked by Alice. She practically jumped me when I walked out the door. She had so much energy in that tiny body of hers, and it could be overwhelming.

“Edward! Why didn’t you tell me you were into Bella?! Well, not that I didn’t know or anything. I mean, I totally figured it out. It was so obvious…just the way you would look at her sometimes. I wish Jazz looked at me like that. Bella is so lucky!”

I placed a hand over her mouth before she ran out of breath. I wasn’t sure whether I should be worried or not about the fact that she realized I was crushing on Bella. I racked my brain and tried to remember anytime I might’ve given away something that would make it seem as if I was love-sick for her when I realized something.

“Wait a minute…who told you I liked her?”

Her eyes grew wide and she tried to run away before I could question her any further.

“Not so fast, Squirt,” I said, grabbing her arm before she could escape. Ten bucks said she heard from Jasper.

She sighed dejectedly, “Fine. It was Jazzy.”

Ding ding ding

“I’m gonna fucking kill that bastard.”

Alice looked scared. Though she knew I wouldn’t really do anything more than give him shit for spilling to his five-foot tall girlfriend, she still didn’t like it when I, or anyone else for that matter, threatened to hurt her precious Jazzy.

“Edward, you know he tells me everything. It’s your fault for telling him in the first place.”

She was right. I gave her a crooked grin and threw my arm over her shoulder, leading her down to the cafeteria.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I paid for my tray of food in the lunch line and sat down right across from Bella. I handed over my fruit cup to Rosalie, and she thanked me for remembering the diet she was on and complained over how Emmett never cared about that stuff. He glared at me for showing him up in front of his girl, and I winked at him.

I glanced up at Bella and she seemed to be lost in thought; it gave me the time to admire her appearance, something I did quite frequently.

She wore her hair in that messy ponytail that I loved, and she was sporting a new shirt that I heard her gushing to Alice about two days ago. Around her neck was the necklace I had given to her on her sixteenth birthday nearly two years ago. I swelled up in pride, glad that she still wore it.

I looked to my right and saw Emmett staring at me, giving me a look that I knew said: What the hell are you waiting for? I nodded and looked away, focusing back onto my target.

I coughed. “I, uh, like the new shirt, Bella.”

She looked up and smiled kindly. “Thanks, Edward. I’ve been wanting to get it for a while, and Charlie finally gave me the money to buy it yesterday.”

“That’s nice.”

She looked back down at her food, and I wanted to smack myself. The idea was to get her to fall for me, and I could barely manage to keep a five-second conversation with her. What the hell was wrong with me?

I noticed our whole group was watching me with disappointment. Jasper patted my back in encouragement, urging me to try again.

I took a huge bite of the sickening school lasagna and said, “Bella, have you seen the new George Clooney movie yet?”

She shook her head.

I was just about to ask her to go see the movie with me when I sneezed, cause a huge chunk of chewed up lasagna to fly right out of my mouth and straight towards her face.

“Yuck!” she spat.

I stared, horrified, and all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and die.

She ran to the restroom before anyone could say anything.

I looked over at my friends, face red with embarrassment. I almost wanted to cry. Jasper looked sorry, Rosalie looked disgusted, Alice had a frown on her face, and Emmett looked at me with pity, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

Bella came back a few minutes later, her face red as well.

Before I could grab my stuff and leave, she said without even looking at me, “Oh, Edward? I’d love to go see that movie with you.”

I gaped at her in shock with my mouth wide open.

She threw her trash away and disappeared down the hall, leaving me confused as to what just happened.

“I guess your plan—in a way—worked out after all,” Emmett piped in.

But Edward drove slowly, carefully navigating the snow covered roads. I’d never seen so much snow in my life. It was beautiful, and a little eerie.

As if he was reading my thoughts Edward inclined his head toward me. “You don’t see this in Phoenix.”

“No,” I laughed softly. “We don’t. I love it.”

“You’ll get over it. Then you’ll hate t like the rest of us,” he snorted.

“You really hate it?”

He shook his head, smiling. “Nah. It gets annoying but I don’t hate it. There’s still stuff to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like snowboarding,” Angie piped up from the backseat. “Edward’s ready for the X Games.”

“Shut it, Ange,” Edward chuckled, but I could see the pleasure on his face.

“Yeah? You snowboard?” I asked.

He shrugged, nodding.

Angie’s voice was suddenly right by my ear, a quick whisper. “He’s really good.”

I made a mental note to scour his Facebook a little more thoroughly.

Edward swung into a cul-de-sac.

“You have two minutes,” he said, looking over his shoulder at Ben. “I’m serious.”

“Okay, okay,” the younger boy muttered, hustling out of the backseat with Angie. They trotted up to the front door. Poor kids had no privacy.

Edward fiddled with the heater. “You okay? Warm enough?”

“Yeah, I ‘m good. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Silence fell over the car. It was a little awkward, but not too bad. I watched him surreptitiously as he scrolled through the songs on his iPod. The streetlight we were parked under
bathed him in a warm glow… he really was awesome looking. I wondered what it had been like for him in high school, if the girls had been flocking or if he’d been the chill type.

Honestly, I could see him in either role.

It had been over two minutes but I wasn’t saying anything. Those kids deserved a little time and frankly, so did I.

“Yo, I’m getting hungry,” he sighed suddenly, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “Friendly’s?”

“No, that’s okay. I don’t have my crutches remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” He leaned back, chewing his lip. “We could go to IHOP…”

I made a face, wondering how that was any different.

“Get it?” He was laughing a little now. “IHOP? I hop? No crutches?”

I laughed so hard I snorted, which just made him laugh more.

“That’s really dumb,” I snickered.

“Yeah, yeah, you laughed.”

“I did.”

“I’m still hungry though.”

“Well… isn’t there anyplace with a drive through?” I asked

“Yeah, but it’s not the same, you know? I want to sit down… and talk to you.” He cocked his head flirtatiously. I had a feeling that face had gotten its way more than a few times.

“We’re in the middle of a snow storm. And I don’t want Alice to worry.”

He whipped out his phone and began texting.

I grabbed for the phone but he kept it out of my reach. “What’re you – is that Alice?”

“Yup.”

“Not cool, man. Not cool.”

He gave me puppy dog eyes. “So you don’t want to go out with me?”

My stomach flipped at the choice of his words.

“I do, I just…”

His phone beeped.

“She said whatever, to just keep you safe,” he said.

“You do realize we’ll have Ben with us,” I reminded him.

“What the… that little – “ he jumped out of the car.

I watched in amusement as he approached his little sister and her boyfriend, shoved her inside, and shooed him back to the car.

“Are you always like this?” I asked once they were back in the car.

“Yes, he is,” mumbled Ben.

“We’re going to a diner,” Edward announced.

Turns out, that wasn’t too far either. There were hardly any cars in the parking lot though, probably because of the snow. Edward pulled up right in front and raced around to my side
to help me, easing me on to his back again. I felt like an idiot, even though I secretly also loved the physical closeness.

The waitress showed us to a booth, poor Ben trailing along behind us.

“Just let me know when you’re ready,” she simpered, apparently oblivious to the fact he’d come in with another girl on his back.

I had to admit, once my pancakes came the munchies madness really set in. We ate and goofed off, cracking jokes and being obnoxious. Turns out Edward and Ben were actually
friends.

Once we’d finally finished the waitress same back, setting the check down with a lollipop on top to anchor it. I rolled my eyes inwardly at her tactics. She’d been flirting with Edward
from the get-go. I mean, he didn’t belong to me but yeah, I was feeling a little possessive.

He tried to push my money back at him but I insisted. “Come on. I’d feel better.

Shaking his head, he accepted it begrudgingly and jammed it into his wallet. He moved the lollipop aside to pay the bill, making a face when he saw it.

“What?”I whispered.

He held it up so I could see. ‘Heidi – 772-555-7297’.

I glanced over at her. She was near the hostess station, taking to another waitress.

“Well there you go.” I gestured toward the paper. Edward slapped the on my down and scooped my up so that he was almost cradling me.

“Edward,” I hissed, feeling the giggles coming back.

“Just hold on,” he said.

I hooked my hands around the back of his neck as we left.

“Bye Heidi,” he called.

She turned a little pink and gave a half hearted wave. “Bye…”

I am ready to go on the wild ride as promised by one Edward Cullen when my conscience runs amuck and kills the glory of his kiss with guilt.

“Edward,” I mumble, pushing at him. His body is deliciously firm under my hands and I moan in distress.

He takes that as the come-on I wish it were. I want a spur to push into his side to keep romping along but superego screams her fool head off again and that unmistakeable word pops forth. “Stop,” I gasp.

Immediately he stops. It’s magical, that word. It makes all good things come to an end.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“I don’t want to have one iota of worry or guilt when you make me scream,” I explain breathlessly.

“Why would you?” he asks, and really, he seems genuinely confused. Could he have forgotten about Jacob so easily.

Just like I did?

“I want to be completely free from other entanglements,” I explain, recovering the tiniest bit of detachment.

This is good – detachment is good – maybe I can back away from the yummy boy and do the right thing. I start to move little bits of myself away from Edward’s bits to create some breathing room.

“When?” he asks.

“When what?” I reply.

“When will you be free to tangle with me?” he asks. His eyes are a dark greenish-gray color and I desperately fight the urge to tangle with him again right now.

“Tomorrow,” I answer.

“I’ll come for you tomorrow night,” he says decisively. It sounds a little like there’s a ‘ready or not’ sentiment behind it.

I feel more a little giddy with excitement.

- – - – - – - -

Breaking up with Jacob is efficient, to say the least. He takes it stoically at first, acting like we’re talking business with his brow furrowed seriously. I say something about being his friend and touch the sleeve of his jacket and then his warm hand covers mine.

“It’s okay Bella,” he says. “I was friends with you before and I’ll stay friends with you now. I have a lot of respect for you and I know Carlisle does too. We make a great team and I’m happy that I have had the experience of knowing you on another level. I think it’s safe to say we were both more ‘head in the game’ than ‘heart in the game’ so no worries, okay?”

His smile is open and genuine and it’s been guarded for so long that I give him an impulsive hug and he holds me solidly before letting me go with the same smile.

“Thank you Jacob,” I say.

“I have to ask Bella – Is there someone waiting in the wings?” he asks, his eyebrow raised.

I regard him for a moment to see how he’s framing his question. There’s a twinkle in his eye so I knows he’s gaming me.

“I don’t know yet but the possibilities are there,” I say cautiously.

“I don’t mean to meet you tit for tat here, but I happen to find myself in the same situation oddly enough,” he admits.

“Good Jacob,” I say honestly feeling the burden of guilt lift. “Good. I hope that whatever it is turns out to be everything you want.”

“I hope the same for you Bella,” he answers sincerely. “I’ll see you in the board room.”

“Right,” I say.

- – - – -

I’m sitting in the Mini, checking my ever-growing list of emails and tweets and desperately trying to catch up when there’s a tap on the glass. I know who it is before I even look.

Still, my throat closes up with nearness of this perfect person. He’s dressed for floor mopping in some seriously tight skinny-leg jeans a la Russell Brand, black Converse and a plain white v-neck tee. I am shameless in my once-over before rolling down the window.

“Can I help you?” I ask.

“No,” he says.

“Then what do you want?” I continue.

“I want candy,” he sings in low voice.

I think my nips just got hard. I’m instantly assaulted with images of Edward teasingly licking a lollipop

“I have some yummy candy in my car little boy. Wanna go for a ride?” I crook a finger at him, playing Stranger Danger.

Instead of coming around and getting in through the door, he leans in the window, capturing my mouth in a scorchingly slippery kiss that leaves me panting and desperate.

“I have a Pixie Stick,” he says, growling the words against my mouth. “Want some?”

I might just have to get out and throw him on top of the Mini and hike up the skirt. It would hold us, right?

“I want you now,” I say.

“You corporate types are all alike,” he says. “Demanding, direct, forceful.” His smile is enough to make me grab him and pull his mouth to mine.

“You love it and you know it,” I say.

He is delicious in every way possible. “It’s true,” he murmurs before theatrically adding, “Hurt me, hurt me!”

“Are you going to follow me home?” I ask, hoping against hope that his answer is yes.

“I have to finish up here and then I’ll swing by,” he says.

“Finish up here?” I say. “You can’t just go?”

“Bella, if the job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well,” he smirks.

“Mm – I like that sentiment,” I say. “Don’t be late?” I beg as he pulls himself back out the car window.

- – - – -

He’s not late – he’s right on time and I’m all ramped up with excitement to see him. At eight o’clock sharp he’s at my door knocking and when I whip it open I’m crushingly disappointed to see that he’s brought Rosalie and Emmett.

“Oh,” escapes my lips.

“Nice to see you too Bells,” says Rosalie, sashaying into my front room. “I know you’ve got wine – bust it out.”

Emmett follows and then Edward and after I half-heartedly wave a distant ‘hi’ to him, I go to the kitchen, pull out four glasses and grab the wine opener.

“Not Bordeaux,” I say, “But it’ll do.”

Edward takes over with the bottle opening and I turn to him and say, “Make me understand.”

He looks at me pleadingly and says, “I’m sorry. Emmett is an unstoppable force and they insisted we were going out because it’s Friday.”

“But I wore something special for you,” I say, sticking out my lip like a little kid.

“If you let me, I’ll come back here after the bar,” he says.

“Fine,” I spit out. Then I put on a happy face and walk to the living room to give wine to my unexpected guests.