Just Say Yes
Edward stood in the doorway watching. She was struggling to zip herself into the black dress. Eventually she turned and pleaded with him with her eyes.
With a sigh he shrugged himself from the door frame and came up to her.
'Turn round.' He took the zip in his fingers and finished pulling it up.
'Thank you.' She smiled a tiny smile, her eyes still pleading. Edward just shook his head and turned to leave the room.
She growled and slammed the door behind him. Well fuck him then. What the hell right did he have to disapprove of this guy anyway? He wasn't her brother! He was supposed to be her best friend. And here came the tears. Oh great, now she would need to re-do her face.
Edward stalked down the hall into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He kicked the door shut and threw himself into the chair. Taking a long swig from the bottle he glared at her closed bedroom door. Could she not see this guy was a world class asshole? Clearly not, because she was letting him take her out.
When he heard her door open he refused to turn. He pulled on his beer and stared at the wall.
'Edward? Do I look ok?'
'You look fine.'
'And you would know that how? Look at me damn it!'
Edward turned to face her. His breath caught in his throat as he ran his eyes over her. He couldn't help the smile.
'You look beautiful.'
'Thank you, Edward.' She smiled back. 'Don't wait up for me. I have my key.'
Edward's face darkened. 'I wasn't planning to.' He snapped and turned back round.
'Fine.' She collected her bag and headed for the door. 'Later, Edward.'
When she didn't get a reply she slipped out the door and left him to his beer.
As soon as he heard the door close he let out a long breath. He fetched another beer from the fridge and fetched the Jack bottle and a glass on his way back to his chair. Grabbing his smokes he settled down and flicked the TV on. When Pretty Woman started he groaned. But he left it running.
It was gone midnight when she crept back in. The TV was still blaring away and the lights were on. She slipped off her shoes and tip toed into the room. Edward's feet were sticking out from the chair. She came around to face him. He was sound asleep with the empty whisky glass still in his hand.
'Baby.' She whispered. Gently she eased the glass from his hand and went to her room to fetch the throw from her bed. Carefully she tucked the blanket around him and kissed his forehead.
When she woke the next morning she could hear the shower running and there was the smell of coffee. He was up then.
Five minutes later Edward appeared in her bedroom doorway with a towel slung low around his hips and a mug of coffee in each hand. His mess of bronze hair was still wet and every now and then a drop of water would fall and run down over his shoulder.
'Morning sleepy.' He gave her his crooked smile and set the mug on her bedside table.
She sat up and shifted so that he could sit beside her. She yawned and smiled back. Well whatever was causing his mood last night had obviously lifted.
'Morning. Hangover?' She raised an eyebrow.
'Umm maybe just a little one.' He pinched his fingers together. 'How was your night?'
'It was fun.' She took her mug and cradled it to her, taking a sip now and then.
'Is that all the details I'm getting? It was fun? Aww come on. Define fun.'
'Fun, you know? Laughing, dancing...' She lowered her eyes and looked down into her mug.
'Kissing...touching...fucking?' Edward knew the answer from the look on her face.
'Not that it's any of your business.' She mumbled into her mug. Which was true. So why was she blushing and feeling like the naughty kid at school getting caught behind the bike sheds?
'So you and he...?' Edward shuddered.
'I'm not discussing it with you. But yes. He and I.'
Edward slumped a little and looked away. 'So you'll be seeing him again?' He whispered.
'I don't know. We haven't arranged anything.'
Without another word he rose and left the room. He closed his bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed. Suddenly he felt physically sick. He dropped his head and closed his eyes. There she was. Laying on the bed with him pistoning into her. He ran to the bathroom and threw up. He fell down onto the tiles and leaned his head on the cool bathroom floor. She'd heard him because there was a tap on the door.
'Edward? Are you ok?'
'Too much Jack last night. I'm fine.' He croaked back.
'Let me in. Let me help you.' She tried to door.
'I'm fine, babe. Really. Hangover.'
'I'll go and make more coffee. And you should eat something.'
Hearing her footsteps receding, he pulled himself up off the floor and leaned back against the wall. This new guy wasn't her first boyfriend. Nowhere near. Between then they had seen many relationships come and go. But they weren't living together then. Correction, flat sharing.
With a groan he heaved himself up off the floor and washed his face. When he glanced up into the mirror he saw a man that might have been him. Except his eyes were sunken and hooded, his skin even paler than normal. And his usual full, pinks lips looked almost grey. Coming down with a bug was the last thing he needed. Perfect fucking timing. He dried up and went back to his bedroom. Pulling on his sweat pants and a tee he wandered through to the kitchen.
She was brewing a fresh pot of coffee and had made a pile of toast. She'd also make a pot of tea. He smiled and shook his head. You didn't need to hear her speak to know she was British. Tea and toast if you're not feeling well. It was her answer to everything.
She turned and he saw her face flinch a little. Wow, he looked that bad huh?
'I saw the empty bottle in the rubbish.' She gave him those side eyes she did. He shrugged.
'Oh Edward.' She sighed. 'Tea or coffee? And eat something.' She pushed the pile of toast towards him. Reluctantly he sat and started chewing on a slice.
'I'm fine. It's a bug or something. It's nothing.'
'If you say so.' She poured him coffee and herself tea. She was leaning against the kitchen counter watching him eat. Watching over him, making sure he did as he was told. She was still mad at him, that was obvious. Yet she was still going to look after him.
'I've put two sugars in it.' She set the coffee down in front of him. 'Don't start. You need the sugar. Then you need to go back to bed.'
Before he could argue her phone started ringing. When she glanced at the screen her face flushed slightly and she hurried out of the room. It was him, it had to be. Edward pushed the rest of the toast away, his appetite had vanished.
On his way back to his room he had to pass hers. He couldn't help pausing by her door.
'No, I really don't think so.' She was saying. Edward lingered by the door.
'I'm sorry...no...no really...' Then she paused. Shit! He hurried on to his room and quietly closed the door.
Climbing into bed he pulled the covers over his head and screwed his eyes shut. This was way more than a hangover. He was beginning to shake now. And he was cold, so, so cold. The last thing he remembered was seeing her walking out the door in her black dress.