The Landlord
Chapter 2
I spent the next two days fuming nonstop. I knew it made no sense but I was totally furious at Edward. I couldn't really put my finger on it. Parts of the fast conversation of that night were already gone from my memory; I just remembered the tremendous ire he made me feel and how releasing it had been to smash that bottle.
I still was unsure if he had been drunk. Maybe he acted like this when his girlfriend wasn't around. Maybe he wanted….. what? A fast roll on the sheets? I wasn't innocent enough to believe he was interested just in taking a sip of champagne.
At 2 A.M.? Could it be? Nah.
That idiot. I hated all men. Idiots, all of them, and blast them to hell!!!
It was Friday. I strolled down the street with hands full with bags of groceries. I expected Mike later--we planned a homemade dinner and movie, as usual.
I checked around to see if Edward was around but I couldn't see him. Was he hiding from me or what?
I flickered on the news in the living room as I started putting away all the stuff in the freezer. I usually watched a local network on channel six as background noise.
My cell phone beeped. "Hello?"
"It's me, I am outside," said Mike. He had to call me as my bell didn't work. I didn't hurry to open the door.
"Hey Bella." He leaned to kiss me softly on the lips.
"You're early. I haven't started to prepare dinner yet. Come on in."
He followed me, chatting about his having to finish an essay and if it didn't bother me to help him to understand the basic concept of gender issues in Modern Art.
I met Mike on campus. He was my first boyfriend and, I had to admit, he managed that by being a force of nature. The first day he had walked me to every class, he made himself useful and simply was friendly. After a whole year of constant presence, I finally gave him the big yes.
Our first kiss had been not what I expected. Rather an anticlimax. It had gotten pleasantly comfortable with time and we never moved beyond an agreeable hugging and snuggling.
"So, how is Charlie doing down there in Florida?"
"He called today and said he is still living in a hotel. I hope it doesn't take him too much to find a small house. The prices are really low right now, he should be able to get a deal. I might go down there to give him a hand."
"Really? That would be fun. Maybe I could go with you."
I stared at him, wondering why the prospect didn't excite me at all.
"Maybe. However this wouldn't be a pleasure trip, we would spend most of the time house hunting."
I saw his face go down so I hoped he would let it go by now.
….and now the news of the spectacle with our new reporter. Let me introduce to you our new star Edward Cullen.…
My eyes turned automatically to the TV screen. And there he was. Edward was in the news. He was some kind of reporter.
…Edward comes from a sister network in New York. How do you like it here Edward?
Love it here, Jake. Thanks, I am looking forward to working with you all, he said to the other commenter.
"Edward will be in charge of the gossip of Hollywood and also critic movies and arts."
He looked ravishing, as usual. His smile was contagious, friendly and excited. Part of his smirk that I knew well by now, was visible.
Great. Now he had also invaded my living room. At this pace….
Mike looked at me a little surprised.
"What Bella?" Why are you watching with your mouth open?" he laughed.
"That man there? That is Edward, the landlord." I pointed my finger at my TV set, Edward was then talking about the difficulty of getting tickets to the Elton John's concert of Saturday.
Mike frowned. "You didn't mention he was in show-business."
"I didn't know. He and I are not exactly friends. It is his life."
"I wonder why he moved from New York. Sounds like a downgrade."
"Yes, maybe he was real bad," I said with a note of hope in my voice.
Mike laughed. "Yeah. You should tell him to fix your bell, you know."
I put Gone with the Wind on the DVD again. I really liked the fact that Mike was happy to watch whatever I fancied. He never complained that it was a girlie film. God bless Mike. By the first half hour, he was snoring softly.
This was our usual pattern. He fell asleep on the sofa, I finished watching the movie. He slept over and prepared breakfast the next day.
I was too tired to see beyond the stairway scene. I had always had a big thing for Rhett. There was a time when men had been like this: romantic, strong and swept women off their feet. Nowadays, they fell asleep on the couch watching TV.
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"Who the hell are you?"
I woke up, startled, and sat automatically on my bed. My eyes were prickling as I knew I needed at least another hour of sleep.
That was Edward's voice. Why did it come from my living room?
"Are you the new landlord?"
"I asked, who are you?"
I jumped to the door and opened only to see Edward looming dangerously over poor Mike, who was a good foot shorter.
"Edward, this is Mike, my boyfriend," I said while I strained my eyes to see something.
He moved his eyes from my disheveled appearance, my long t-shirt and socks, to Mike's messy hair and shorts.
I could practically see him passing judgments in his brain. I had to act before he said something real stupid.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to repair the bell." He put his hand up and showed me a lot of cables.
"You could have called," I said with sarcasm. "We were busy."
The finality of my tone told him that he had interrupted an intimate moment. At this, I saw Edward go red. He turned his face away.
I wasn't sure if it was because he was mad or self-conscious. I hope it was both. I almost laughed.
Take that Mr. I-am-a-TV-personality. There is at least one man who wants me.
"I don't have other time. You will have to support my presence right now."
"Sure, no problem. We'll try to stand it."
I went to sit by the table, where Mike had already put a plate of fruit.
"Where is my coffee?" I said in an irritable tone.
Edward chuckled soundlessly. I gave him a dirty look.
"Give me a minute," said Mike. I saw him study Edward with the corner of his eye. I knew he hadn't especially liked him.
"Make that two coffees, please," Edward invited himself.
"Sure, no problem."
Edward came close and gave Mike a big dazzling smile. "I am sorry for my tone before. It is just that Charlie asked me to take care of Bella and I promised I would. Like a big brother you know"
"No problem man." Mike now looked a little confused.
Edward extended his hand and my boyfriend took it automatically.
"I am new in the city and don't know anyone. I am glad to meet new people, especially Bella's friends."
"We saw you last night on the news." Answered Mike with a timid smile.
"Oh you did? That is great. Hope that did go well. That kind of job has some rewards. I always get the best tickets to every game for free."
I got up and came behind Mike. I had never done this but I thought this was the perfect time to start. I hugged from behind and kissed his ear.
He dropped the egg he was breaking.
"Look what you did, darling." I knew Edward was examining us now. Not that I expected him to get jealous. I just wanted to brag.
"Sorry, I will clean it right away."
Edward came and grabbed a towel before either of us could move. He was quite fast.
Mike finished the coffee and Edward took his and sipped it while leaning against the wall.
"Have you two been dating for a long time?"
"Very long," I said.
"Just a year," answered Mike.
Edward nodded, apparently not having anything else to ask. He looked quite extraneous in my kitchen.
"I have three tickets for the concert of Saturday. Why don't you two come with me?" It was more of a statement than a question, I noticed.
"What about your girlfriend?" I said automatically.
"Rosalie is not moving to Portland just yet," he smiled.
"Mike and I had planned to study that day, but thanks."
Mike looked at me alarmed. He wanted to go to the concert but the tickets had sold out immediately. I wanted to tell him to go with Edward if he wanted to but I bit my tongue. I could tell, somehow, that he wasn't offering the tickets out of the kindness of his heart. I didn't know this man at all but I felt he had an ace up his sleeve.
"You may study Sunday and this weekend. What say you, Mike?"
Mike looked undecided. "That would be neat. Maybe we can. Bella?"
"I will have to think about it. I'll get back to you on this one."
He nodded and turned back to work. I just watched as he crouched on the floor and did the job efficiently. He was wearing black T-shirt and jeans. I watched him deal with the wires with ease.
In all honestly, the house was old and needed quite a lot of quick fixes. Especially the pipes. Charlie never had the time or inclination, nor the money. I wondered if Edward saw it as his responsibility to fix the old problems.
Edward muttered that the batteries had not been included and would be back later. His eyes as he stared at me were serious and told me something I didn't understand or want to understand .
Oh my God, I hated him. I fumed as I saw him then walked away without saying goodbye.
"You didn't tell me he was so cool, Bella. Maybe I can get him to invite us to the hockey games."
"You know I don't like hockey."
Cheap Mike. Bad cheap Mike. I didn't like the look of it by far. And oh boy, was I right.
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Notes: Thanks to Leon for his plugging this story at his Hunter and for the encouragement and editing prowess.
Review please. Reviews make me work much faster in updating stories. Thank you! Don't worry we have some real good stuff next chapter. *evil laughter*
