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Chapter 4

Three months. Three months was all it took to dissolve my marriage. Mike wasn't kidding when he said he would get on it. In three days James had been served the papers and we met a few times to distribute property and sign papers regarding the things that were in both our names. We officially signed our papers this morning. We are divorced now.

James kept his word and contested nothing. We amicably dissolved all our assets. He got to keep his car, his home office furniture and computer, the big screen in the living room, and I gave him half the furniture. He asked for copies of all our photos, so Alice took everything that was boxed up and gave them to him. I had the originals somewhere so I wasn't concerned. We didn't have any children who would want them down the road and I will always remember those days so the pictures just didn't seem important to me anymore.

James kept his word about Victoria as well. He broke things off with her and after a restraining order, he seemed to be free of her now. She called me daily for about a week. I never understood her need to contact me. She never asked for anything, but she would call and ask to talk as if we were friends or something. That chick was off her rocker. She put James through the ringer though. She tried every trick in the book to keep him around. He broke up with her the day we talked via text. He moved into an apartment downtown. She tried to get him to move in with her while he was looking for a place. He stayed with my parents for about a week. His family is in Texas so too far away to commute to work. We texted a few times a week for a while, less now though. He called me one time about three weeks after it all happened. He was in tears and having a breakdown. I could barely make out what he was saying but he managed to explain that Vickie, or Crazy Ginger Bitch as I call her, told him she was pregnant. She sent him a picture of the positive test and told him she was due in seven months. I was so angry at first but then I remembered that he told me he used condoms every time with her and that timeline would have gotten her pregnant the first few weeks they started their affair. I reminded him of those things as well. He was instantly pissed and apologetic for bringing the problem to me again. I just laughed. In a way, I guess we would always be connected somehow.

He told her he wanted to go with her to the appointment to have the pregnancy confirmed. She made an appointment and he went with her. He asked for a blood/serum pregnancy test because as dumb as he was, he was actually very smart. She freaked out and tried to say it was because she was afraid of needles. What it really was is that she brought someone else's piss to use for the test and now she couldn't use it. He found it in her purse when she knocked it off the table in her needle fearing distress. He was so pissed and ended up getting a restraining order to keep her away from him. Since then everything has been very drama free.

I started working out three times a week. I love it. I have found a way to let out my emotions without having to spend a fortune on a therapist. I go to a kettlebell class on Mondays and Wednesdays and then to a kickboxing class on Saturday mornings. I am strong and my thin body is getting to be quite muscular. I love the way I look now, I never had an issue with my body but the stronger, shapelier me is pretty freaking awesome. I got my long brown hair cut and colored. I still have the length but now I have layers that with my natural waves look even thicker. I had some bright red highlights put in my chocolate brown hair. It looks so different and I love it. I started wearing a make-up more often. I never used to bother with it because James thought I was beautiful without it, but I kind of liked the way it played up my features. I felt more confident with it, although I didn't seem to mind not wearing it either. My friends tried to hook me up with single guys they knew but I wasn't really interested yet. I was enjoying the time I had alone to do things I hadn't taken the time to do in years. I was reading again. I found a website that people used to rate the books they had read and I started reading every night. In three months I had finished four series' and had started a fifth. Work was great, I got a promotion and now I had an office of my own, with a new computer that never runs slow. I was in charge of the entire case management department and had the responsibility of placing new cases with a case manager or probation officer. It was exactly what I went to college for so I was thrilled to finally be using my degree.

I had a date in a few hours. I was nervous but ready. I had met Tyler at a bar on Beale St. during a night out with the girls from work. I never went to Beale St. cause it was such a tourist spot but a band that one of my co-workers' husbands was in was playing so we decided to go. I had a blast and got a little drunk. I met Tyler when I tripped over my own two feet trying to dance. He caught me before I could make a total ass of myself. He helped me to a seat and we talked while I switched to water for the rest of the night. He was a sweet guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes, like me. We talked every day for the last week and decided to meet up for a lunch date and see a Red Birds game. I wasn't really into baseball but Alice said it would be a good first date activity. She and Rose helped me pick out something to wear. I hadn't been on a first date in nearly nine years. They helped me pick out a short sun dress that we paired with Capri length leggings. The dress was a buttery yellow with white trim. I wore comfy canvas tennis shoes with it. I felt really young but the girls promised me I looked awesome. Rose French braided my hair and I put on a touch of make-up. After checking myself out in the mirror I had to agree, I looked pretty damn good. It was all very natural and very 'me' so I was happy with it.

I hugged the girls and gave little Aiden a kiss on the top of his bald head. Rose smiled as he searched for something to eat after the contact. The little guy was a big eater. He was two months old now and had beefed up super fast. Rose told Emmett that he was never touching her again after she pushed out a nine pound seven-ounce baby with no drugs. The woman was super human, I swear. She was nearly back to her pre-baby, supermodel body. I asked them to lock up the house and took off for Huey's to meet Tyler for lunch. Once I found a place to park I texted him to make sure he was there. He came out to meet me and walked me into the restaurant. He looked really good in his dark plaid cargo shorts and a blue v-neck t-shirt. We sat down and talked over the menu until a waiter took or order. Burgers and fries for both of us.

"So I feel like I already know so much about you," he says, starting the conversation off.

"There's not that much to know. I never thought to ask because we always have something to talk about but where are you from. You are definitely not a native," I say trying to find a way to get a conversation going. This was a little too awkward.

"Oh, I am from St. Louis. I have lived here for two years though," he says, and then stops.

I already know he works in sales as a medical supply dealer to hospitals and that he has a degree in business.

"Did you grow up there or is that where you went to college?"

"I grew up north of Chicago but moved to St. Louis to go to school at Webster University. How bout you, did you grow up here?"

"Yes for the most part. I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida until I was seven. I've lived in Tennessee ever since. I went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville," we had already discussed my education but the awkwardness was killing me. I couldn't help but think that maybe we had used up all our chemistry on the phone. He seemed kind of boring now that I was sitting across from him. We managed to talk about the weather, our jobs, our friends, and hobbies but it was all very superficial. I chalked it up to first date nerves. Soon our lunch was over and we now had a ball game to go to. I had hopes that the game would liven up the atmosphere.

I couldn't have been more wrong if I were a meteorologist in the Midwest. Tyler was boring and inattentive. He really liked baseball. I mean really, really liked baseball. He didn't notice me at all once the first pitch was thrown. I ended up texting Alice through the entire game. He did think to get me a soda when the vendor came around, once. He tried to hug me when the Redbirds first basemen hit a home run. It was awkward, to say the least. I caught a good looking guy watching me. I made eye contact and he smiled the most brilliant crooked smile I had ever seen. Tyler had no clue I was even there so I didn't feel bad when I excused myself to go to the restroom but really met this beautiful man in the line for the concession stand.

"Bad date?" he asked from behind me.

"Ugh, the worst," I said without turning around. He had a smooth voice, with a familiar Tennessee accent. "I don't even like baseball so I don't know enough about what I am watching to even enjoy the game."

"Well, come sit by me and you may learn something," he offered.

"I couldn't do that. Just skip out on a date?" I said even though I really wanted to.

"Suit yourself. I doubt he even notices you're gone," he says as he pays for my popcorn and soda and walks away without ordering anything.

I text Alice as soon as I am back to my seat to ask her what I should do; she doesn't even hesitate.

You go sit with the hot guy and learn a fucking thing or two.

I sit for a few more minutes before tapping Tyler on the shoulder and tell him that I am leaving. He doesn't care but he tries to kiss me, to which I turn my cheek and allow him to kiss only that. I don't tell him I will call him and he makes no effort to walk me out. So I am now pacing in the walkway trying to decide if I am going to go find the hot guy or just go home. Before I can over think it, I walk down the tunnel to the section he is in and make my way up to the seat next to him.

"I'm Edward," he says looking me right in the eye.

"Bella," I say smiling.

"Well, Bella. There are still three innings so what can I teach you about the game?"

"I'm a baseball virgin so I guess you'll have to teach me everything," I say, somehow keeping a straight face and not even blushing much. He grins and shakes his head.

"Nice."

I giggle and he starts explaining what is going on down on the field. I don't really care about it but he makes it sound interesting. After one inning with Edward, I am enjoying myself. We share the popcorn and he buys us both a beer. I'm not much of a beer drinker but it sure felt good to relax and just enjoy the company. I know next to nothing about him because almost all we talked about was baseball and my horrendous date but I am having the best time. We flirt and joke the whole time.

When the game ends he has his arm around my neck and we walk up the road to where I am parked. He gives me his phone and says, "Enter your name and number and I will get ahold of you this week if you're okay with that."

After I enter my info in his phone he calls me, "Now you have my number!"

I smile and save it as 'Hot baseball Edward'. He sees me and grins. "Hot, huh?"

I blush and smile. "Right, like you don't know that."

"It's been said before; I still get a kick out of it though."

He changes my name to 'sexy sundress Bella'. I laugh and he smirks. "I had another name in mind but wanted to keep it clean."

"So I will get ahold of you sometime this week. I don't know when because I have to go out of town tomorrow and won't be back until late Friday but I will try to text you or something. I'd like to see you again though." He says looking suddenly bashful.

"I'd like that," I say as my feet take a step his direction. I reach out, suddenly feeling quite bold, and touch his hands softly. He opens them to me and we stand facing each other holding hands. I want so badly to kiss him. I don't even know his last name but I want to feel his tongue in my mouth and hands in my hair. I take a shaky breath and step even closer. He bends his head down to me and when I tip my head up he brushes his lips against my forehead. I nearly melt at the contact and the spark that seems to crackle across my skin. He gasps and I allow myself to kiss his lips. It's a soft kiss that leaves no room for anything more. I can't let myself make out with a virtual stranger in a parking lot. He kisses me softly and then steps back.

"It has been nice to meet you, Bella. Look for my text," he says squeezing my hands before dropping them. He walks a few feet away and turns to look back at me. "Cullen. That's my last name."

He must have read my mind. "Thank you!" I say loud enough for him to hear me over the traffic. Then he is gone.

I get in my car and squeal like a school girl. Best worst date ever! I call Alice as I drive back to my house. We have a mini squeal session. As I am getting out of my car at home my phone chirps. I check it and to my surprise it's Tyler.

I'm sorry you had to go so soon. Would you like to meet me for dinner tomorrow?

I can't help but laugh. I don't want to be mean but I decide the truth is the best way to go.

I don't think that is a good idea. Thank you for the lunch but hopefully, you find someone who enjoys baseball as much as you do. I don't think we have much in common. – B

I walk inside and grab a bottle of water from the fridge before plopping down on my sofa and drinking half the bottle. My phone doesn't chirp again the rest of the night.

I check my email and see that I got a match from . He looks nice enough and he wants to talk. I don't feel up to it so I close my laptop and make myself a salad before taking a long hot bath and going to bed.

I dream of Edward and wake up feeling things that I haven't felt in a long time.