A/N- Hey everyone. This is an outtake from The Affair. You need to read that before you read this or else it won't make any sense. Okay you have been warned.

Disclaimer—No recognizable characters are mine, they all belong to the wonderful Stephanie Meyer.

CPOV

I pulled up outside of Edward's dorm. I was about an hour early to meet him for lunch so I thought I would just walk around the campus for a while. I had been meeting Edward every Tuesday for lunch since Bella had left. Edward seemed unsure of how to handle my divorce. I was taking it in stride.

I had loved Bella but her choices had made our age difference stand out. Her immaturity was no longer endearing to me as a man.

I glanced around the parking lot and met eyes with her. She was as breathtaking as the last time I had seen her. Her caramel hair cut shorter framing her face perfectly. I hadn't spoken to her in so long and yet I could remember her voice clearly. My Esme. Only she was not mine anymore.

I walked over to her wanting to say hello, to be polite of course. The wind picked up just as I was about to reach her and it brought her scent to me. She smelled of mint and honey and it made my heart beat stronger in my chest.

"Hello Esme" I said unsure of whether to hug her or shake her hand.

"Hello Carlisle" she responded.

"Edward and I were meeting for lunch, but if you are here to see him….."

"Oh no" she replied quickly, "actually I'm taking a class"

"Really? That's great. What are you taking?"

"Just a painting class, but I am really enjoying it"

When she said this her face lit up and I remembered the joy I felt when I was the cause of that smile. Esme had always wanted to learn to paint but she always said she had no time when Edward was little. I was happy that she was following her passions now.

"That's really great" I responded honestly.

"I'm really terrible but I think I am getting better. My bowl of fruit is much better than my naked man" her hand shot up to her mouth as she realized what she said. I chuckled a little at her embarrassment. It was something that I would have been jealous about as a young man but now I could see the humor in a situation such as this.

"Well let me know if you need a practice model" I said winking at her in jest. She gave me a playful slap on the chest before returning to her neutral position.

"How are you doing? Edward told me about Bella leaving" There was no malice in her voice only genuine concern.

"I'm doing okay. I lost the love of my life, I think I can handle losing my companion" The words were bold but true.

Esme looked at me curiously as if trying to decipher if what I was saying was true. I knew she would find there was no deception in me. It was true; Esme was the love of my life. I think even Bella knew that, maybe it was even the reason that she strayed. I never felt the fire with Bella that I did with Esme and maybe it was unfair of me to hold her back. I wanted to hope that she would find that someone who sets her on fire but I wasn't quite there yet.

"So how is the clinic going?" She asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.

"It's going well. I really enjoy the hours but sometimes I miss the buzz of the ER"

"I'm sorry" she said so quietly that I almost didn't hear her.

"What for?" I asked.

"I know you left the ER because of me. I was young and insecure and I'm pretty sure I was wrong"

"Thank you" I said simply. I knew it must have been hard to apologize, and I didn't want to spoil it with anymore defensive comments. I wondered if Edward had any influence in her changing her mind about our past. I always thought she must have been crazy to think I would touch another woman when I had her. She was my goddess.

"I would like if maybe we could get coffee sometime. It would be nice to be friends again. I miss you" her words were polite but her tone was raw.

"I would like that" I said smiling at her.

"Well I should let you go meet up with Edward. I think he might be dating someone but he won't tell me, see if you can get anything out of him" her voice playful as she tried to lighten the mood.

"I'll do my best" I chuckled.

She stepped in and gave me an awkward hug that felt like heaven. I turned to walk away.

"Carlisle?" she started and then paused.

"Yes Esme" I said taking her hand.

"Could you forgive me?" she asked shakily.

"In a heartbeat"