Don't get used to this update schedule, please! I'm on a roll right now but school is starting to come down to the wire as finals week approaches, so I might be a little MIA then.
Still no update schedule figured out, but I think I'll nail that down once I get my school stuff together. But as soon as I know, you will know, I promise!
Thank you so much for the outpouring of support and love for me and this story. I appreciate it more than you know. I'm trying to reply to all reviews and I'm doing great so far. I know it's not a huge deal but I really do want to let you guys know I read every single one and they mean the world to me. Even if I just send a generic reply, please know that I cherish every review and those that write them.
…
We kissed tenderly for a long moment, and when Edward eventually pulled away, he looked down at me a little bashfully. "I don't want to say goodbye yet," he said quietly.
"Then don't," I said coyly, looking up at him through my eyelashes. It was the truth, but I was surprised by it. We barely knew each other, but I suddenly craved his presence, and it seemed like he felt the same way. "You could drive me back to the hospital," I suggested. "My car is still there."
"I'd be honored," Edward said, leaning down to kiss me again. This kiss was brief, but I felt the electricity all the way down to my toes. "I'm parked this way," he said, gesturing towards a side street. "On Lindell." He didn't let go of my hand, and we held onto each other as we walked down the street. The conversation was light, but held the same chemistry as before.
We reached his car and he made sure to open the passenger side for me, and all too soon, he was pulling into the parking lot where I had parked my car at the hospital.
"When do you leave for Cincinnati?" I asked, wanting to prolong our time together but also find out when I could see him next. We were still holding hands, and I really didn't want to let go.
"Tonight," Edward said ruefully, looking at the time on the dash. "In just a few hours, actually. Can I see you when I get back on Sunday? It might be a little late, but-"
"I don't mind," I said quickly, not caring if I sounded too eager. "That would be great."
Edward just smiled and brought my hand up to his lips, kissing it gently. "Well, I can't wait."
"Good luck on your roadtrip," I said. "Win one for me?"
"Of course," he replied, leaning in to kiss me one more time.
He waited until I was in my car and had it started before giving me one last wave and driving off.
It sat in my car for a minute, my heart pounding wildly. I brought my fingers up to my lips, which were still tingling from Edward's sweet kisses. Never in my life had I been so head over heels so quickly. We barely knew each other, but there was something between us that crackled with electricity and bound us together. I had never experienced feelings like these before, especially not so soon. It scared me, but it was also exciting.
The drive home was long, thanks to traffic, but I didn't mind. Edward was on my mind, and that took precedent.
…
"How'd the date go?" Tyler asked as he sat next to me on the couch.
"Good," I said, not looking up from my paperwork. "Really good."
"Good for you, Bee," Tyler said, ruffling my hair. "You deserve it."
I looked up from my work then, smiling slightly. "Thanks, Ty. That means a lot." He just grinned back at me and turned on the television while I remained lost in my thoughts.
When Tyler and I had dated, it was more like we were friends. The platonic part of our relationship was ten times better than the romantic part, even though it had taken us both a while to realize it. It was almost like we had never really been a couple, and that we had always been just friends. We are so much better that way, and so much happier with other people.
Tyler had been dating Camille for over a year now, and I had never seen him happier. And now that I had started something with Edward…maybe I would be that lucky, too.
…
August 5, 2015
I checked my watch as I left the hospital, sighing when I saw that I was running late. It was nearly five o'clock, too late to call Edward before the game tonight. He had called me late last night after he had gotten to his hotel room, and he had been down in the dumps. The Cardinals had lost, and he'd had a bad day at the plate.
I had hoped to leave work by three or four so that I could have called him and wished him good luck tonight, but I had gotten caught up with patients and paperwork.
We were barely even dating, and I was already realizing how hard this was going to be. Not only was I a doctor, trying to finish up a demanding residency at one of the best hospitals in the country, he was a major league baseball player trying to break out. St. Louis loved baseball, and already loved Edward, but last night he had told me that he felt he still had a lot to prove, and that he was letting everyone down.
As much as I had tried to assure him that he was just a rookie, and that there would be plenty of time to prove himself, I knew it hadn't really helped. There was only so much I could say, and it probably wouldn't change what he was feeling.
I brought home a pizza for dinner and ate with Camille and Tyler in front of the television, watching the game.
The Cardinals ended up winning in extra innings, even though Edward still seemed to be struggling a bit, going 0-5 at the plate with a strikeout.
"Congratulations on the win," I said when I picked up. "I was watching."
"Thanks," Edward said, but he didn't sound too happy. In fact, he sounded upset.
"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting down on my bed. "You lowered your strikeouts tonight, and you did great in the outfield."
"I know," Edward said after a moment. "I'm just frustrated. I'm sorry, Bella. I don't mean to be such a grump. Tell me about your day, instead."
We talked for close to an hour before I regretfully told Edward that I worked early in the morning, and I had to get to bed.
"I wish it wasn't like this," he said, still sounding frustrated. "I can't wait to see you again."
"I know, me too," I said honestly. "But I'll see you on Sunday?"
"Yes," Edward said quickly. "I'll text you when I get in. And I have an off day on Monday…maybe we could spend it together? You could show me more of the city."
I smiled to myself, happy that Edward seemed just as desperate to spend time together as I was. "That sounds great."
…
August 9, 2015
Today couldn't have come fast enough.
My week was busy at work, but also busy trying to keep up with Edward. It was a little exhausting, but I felt that the payoff was worth it. Now he would be back in St. Louis for more than a week, and I hoped that we would be able to fit in some more time together.
It was late when Edward's flight got in, just like he had warned, but I didn't mind.
He had asked me to meet him at a small but fairly popular restaurant in Soulard, and when I walked in, he was at my side in an instant.
"I'm so glad you could come out," Edward said, hugging me tightly. "I've missed you."
His straightforwardness might have been considered a little jarring by some, but it was one of my favorite things about him. "I've missed you, too," I said softly, standing on my tip tops to kiss him briefly on the lips.
When I pulled away, his chees were a little red, but he leaned down to kiss me again without hesitation. We kissed for a long moment before a loud "Woohoo!" brought us back down to earth.
"Sorry," he said, shaking his head at me. "This is Emmett, Alec, and Sam." Edward held me close as he introduced me to some of his teammates, who seemed to already know a whole lot about me.
"Bella, it's nice to finally meet you," Emmett stepped forward and shook my hand first. He sounded like the one who had interrupted our earlier kiss, but I wouldn't hold it against him.
"It's nice to meet all of you," I said, shaking the other two's hands as well. "Congrats on your winning roadtrip."
"Would've been more winning if they'd had me with them," Emmett said teasingly. The other guys rolled their eyes and groaned at his joke, and I remembered hearing that Emmett, a first baseman, had undergone season ending surgery a few months ago.
"You should've come along, Bella," Sam, a relief pitcher, said jokingly. His Spanish accent was a little thick, but he had a very melodic voice. "Maybe Edward would have done-"
Edward cut him off with a playful punch in the shoulder, rolling his eyes.
"He thinks he's funny," he said, shaking his head at me. "C'mon, let's go sit down. Are you hungry?"
"A little," I said honestly. We walked to the host stand and were seated right away in a booth not far from where Sam, Alec, and Emmett were seated at the bar. "They seem really nice," I said, nodding over towards the guys.
Edward nodded, scanning the menu. "They are," he said. "Alec and I played together in Class AAA and became really close. We really feed off of each other; push each other to be better. But we're really different, too. Sam balances us out pretty nicely, and Emmett…well, Emmett is just always fun."
We ordered food and drinks, and I was surprised when I looked around hours later and saw that the restaurant was practically empty. Even Alec, Sam, and Emmett had called it a night.
"Are they closing?" I asked quietly, looking around.
Edward laughed, checking the time on his iPhone. "It's almost one thirty," he said. "Yeah, I guess they are.
"I didn't realize it was so late!" I said, gathering my purse and jacket. "Do you want to head out?"
"Yeah," Edward agreed, dropping some cash on the table to cover our bill.
He took my hand again as we walked out of the restaurant and towards the parking lot, and I loved that he wanted to hold my hand. It felt romantic and very sweet, just like him.
"This is me," Edward said, gesturing to his car. Our cars were some of the only ones left in the parking lot, but were parked at separate ends. "Thank you for coming out tonight," he murmured, brushing his lips against mine.
"Thank you for inviting me," I replied, gently putting my arms around his neck.
We embraced for a long moment, and I decided to speak up before I lost my nerve.
"Do you want to come over?"
…
The restaurant they went to this chapter was a New Orleans inspired place called Molly's…it's a couple of blocks away from the famous Soulard Farmers Market, and it is delicious. I recommend it if you are in the area. The food is great, and the atmosphere is really awesome and beautiful.
Like I've said before, add me on facebook if you haven't already- Cynosure Fanfic. I try and post teasers for every chapter, and I also post updates or news there occasionally.
Thanks for reading. Leave a review if you enjoyed! I'm heading to the game tonight, and I'll be thinking about our Edward while I am there : )
P.S. Bonus points if you know who all the characters are based on!
