Many thanks to shouvley and Project Team Beta for the improvements they suggested.
Let's see what's in that pretty little head of Edward's...
September 7 from Edward's point of view
She's here.
I kept coming back to that single thought. It was my mantra that evening.
She is here.
I hadn't been sure that I'd see her again. Having her in my house, at my table…it made me feel something I couldn't explain. I just knew I wanted more of it.
Here.
If I had looked for a photo or allowed myself to check up on her just once or twice, I might have been better prepared. Instead, I was leveled by her. She was stunning. Beautiful. Well-spoken. Her brown eyes were still as warm and observant as they had been that long-ago summer. Even at fifteen, I'd thought her pretty rather than gawky. But now…
It took all my strength—all of it—to keep from staring at her, touching her. I wanted to touch her. I needed the proof that she was real, that she was there with me. Maybe I had earned another chance by doing the right thing last time.
I decided to start with becoming her friend again.
September 30, EPOV
I couldn't believe I was following her. It was something a creep would do. I'd spent years of effort avoiding behavior that would put me in that category. But there I was, watching her walk down the street, trailing along six storefronts behind. I mean, did it count when I was already headed in the same direction?
I decided I should call out to her. Say hello. She would be glad to see me, right?
Probably she had been too busy to get in touch. Moving to a new town, starting classes, making new friends: all of these things took time. I got it. Besides, Bella put a lot of herself into friendships. I could give her another week or two to settle in.
But…why waste the opportunity? She was here. I was here. Besides, an accidental meeting was more casual than a phone call. I wanted to be casual at the beginning.
Then she stopped in front of…ScoreKeepers Lounge? Of all the run-down bars that catered to underage drinking, that place was the hands-down worst. What was she thinking?
A couple of guys greeted her. They were obviously frat boys, complete with Abercrombie clothes and shiny hair. I didn't like the idea of her hanging with them. The ferret-faced blond one got in her space immediately. That kind of guy…was not right for her. Anyway, I knew too much about how badly people behaved when they were drunk.
They disappeared into the bar.
Shit. How was I going to "casually" bump into her, now?
I pulled out my phone and scanned the contacts shortlist. Maybe I could get someone to meet me. Not Emmett. He might remember Bella's name. Not Alice. She would see my feelings right away. Jasper was only a half-step removed, and he told Alice everything anyway. Rose, then.
I hit her number on speed dial. "Rose? Can you meet me for a drink?"
October 7, EPOV
I unearthed a copy of Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal and blew a layer of dust off the cover.
"Rose," I called, holding it up so she could see. "Interested in this one?"
She shook her head. "That tool? No thanks. Get him alone in a conference room and all he can talk about is how my looks are a real asset."
I nodded my head at the idiosyncrasies of my friend and business partner and went back to looking for first editions of leadership autobiographies. If I'd known this would be Rose's quid pro quo for meeting me at ScoreKeepers last week, I'd have gone in alone.
I decided to try the next aisle.
Voices registered as I walked. I felt strangely compelled to listen to one in particular. It sounded like…Bella. Words began to take shape as I moved closer, and then all at once the situation became clear. It was her. She was here. On a date.
She was on a date with someone who was not me.
I had to frown and clench my teeth to keep from growling with frustration. At myself. At the situation. Of course I wasn't the only guy interested in Bella. She was a beautiful, amazing woman. It wasn't like four summers ago, when we'd spent our time mostly with each other. I huffed out a long, irritated breath.
Then she stumbled out of the aisle right in front of me. She was pale, but beautiful. I wanted to wrap my arms around her the moment she came into view. I could tell she was upset.
I had something to say to whomever she was with, for making her feel that way.
October 7 from Rosalie's point of view
"Who was that, Edward?" He looked wrecked, so I made it my business to find out why.
"No one. Are you ready?"
Was he serious? I had ears and eyes. "Are you trying to change the subject?"
He frowned slightly and shook his head. "I'm not." He wouldn't meet my gaze.
I heaved a breath. He was really trying my patience this week. Not like before, when he was as bad as one of those self-absorbed reality show contestants on Real Celebrity Businessmen of I-Have-My-Head-Up-My-Assville. But still.
"Bullshit. You were talking to someone. Two someones, actually. Now you look like someone just stole your ten-speed. You've been acting strange all week. And phoning it in at work, I might add."
"I don't want to talk about it, Rose."
The girl he spoke with—she looked familiar. Where had I seen her before?
"That's too bad, Edward, because I do. I'm your friend, remember? I care about you." There was a time when I would have backed off, but I'd had the experience of watching Edward turn into "The Face of Oodles"—and a person I really didn't like. Thank God he had seen the error of his ways. He was back to being his old self now; I was going to make sure it stayed that way. "You know what? I'm changing my end of the deal. In return for meeting you at that disgusting dive, I want to know what's going on with you." Mentioning ScoreKeepers jarred a memory loose. That's where I'd seen the girl before.
"Fine. I ran into someone I used to know."
"Well, I can certainly see how that might be upsetting for you. We should go get a drink, help you relax."
He rolled his eyes, but I keep going.
"Maybe we should go to ScoreKeepers since she seems to hang out there. What's her name again?"
He sighed in defeat. "All right, Rose. Her name is Bella." He ran a hand through his hair. "I knew her a long time ago. She's really great. Things ended badly, though. I was hoping, now that she lives here…" He trailed off.
Wow, I felt dumb. "Oh. Sorry, Edward. I thought maybe she was a fangirl or something. Trying to get a date with Edward Cullen."
"Nope, she wasn't. Do me a favor, Rose?"
Yes. I wanted to make up for my faux pas. "Sure. What?"
"Don't mention this to anyone. Not even Emmett. It was a rough time for me. I'd like to keep it private."
"Yeah, okay. Done."
And just like that, my curiosity was sparked. I intended to keep an eye on this.
Thanks for reading.
