"So, who is this you're meeting tonight?" James asks, pulling his tie tight. I'd love nothing more than to strangle him with it. He claims he's got a busy night at work and tonight, I actually believe him for once. I'm kind of glad he isn't coming, I need a night off from the overwhelming hate I feel every time he's next to me.

"A friend from high school." I pull my jeans up and button them. "I'll call myself a taxi."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll drop you off on the way to the office." He scrambles for his briefcase, and then his keys, and we're out the door.

"This case is just insane," he rambles on about his latest job and I zone out, watching the lights of the city come into view ahead of us. "Don't you think?"

"Uh huh." I nod, unsure of what he's asking me. "You can drop me off here," I say, as soon as I see the sign for Lannister's. He pulls over to the curb and reaches in his pocket for his wallet.

"Here's a couple of rounds on me for you two. Get some girl drinks or something." James hands me some cash. Normally, I would have felt the need to correct him, but at this point I don't feel like I owe him anything. I take the money and get out of the car, only to find Edward just walking up.

"Hey, Isabella Swan." He smiles, flipping his faded baseball cap backwards.

"Hey, Edward Cullen." I stick my hands in my pockets and hope that James just drives away. Most of the time he's too absorbed in his own world to see mine, but of course tonight is different. I hear his car door slam and in an instant he's right beside me.

"Is there a problem?" He asks, eying Edward.

"Not at all," Edward says, not missing a beat. He sticks his hand out in greeting. "I'm Edward Cullen. You must be the husband?"

James reluctantly shakes his hand and glares at me out of the corner of his eye. "This is your friend from high school?"

"Yes."

"I promise I'll take good care of her, Mr. Volturi," Edward jokes.

"He's cop," I brag. Why am I bragging?

"Is that right?"

"Sorry you can't join us," Edward says. And he's genuine about it because everything about Edward is genuine. He doesn't know any better.

"I've got work..." James nods and leans down to kiss me. I'm too shocked to pull back.

Then, we all just linger there, waiting for him to leave so we can go inside.

"Don't you need to get going?" I ask, impatient.

"Yeah, yeah." James rounds the car, keeping his eyes on us the entire time. "You guys, uh, have fun." He pulls out his phone as soon as he's inside the car and I finally feel like we can go inside.

"After you," Edward says, gesturing toward the door.

The bouncer at the front checks both of our IDs and allows us inside. The bar is crowded, packed with people from back to front. Edward spots a group leaving a table and snatches it quickly before anyone else can.

"You sit, I'll get some drinks. What can I get you?" He asks.

"A beer is fine."

God, this feels good. Just to get out. To break free from the routine of loneliness and pain. To feel normal again.

I watch Edward walk back from the bar with two beers in hand. So do the few women standing around our table.

"Lucky you," one of them says.

"Oh we're not..." I shake my head.

"Too bad." She smiles and walks away.

"One beer," Edward says, sliding my beer across the table. "So, he seems...nice. Do you guys have any kids?"

"No." Ouch. That one hurt. "You?"

"Nope. No wife, no girlfriend, no kids. Just a trusty dog that keeps me warm every night." He smirks and pulls out his phone. "This is Remy." He scrolls through a few adorable pictures of a young Husky curled up next to him. "Only lady in my life...for now, anyway."

We talk non-stop for nearly a half hour like best friends. Thankfully, he doesn't ask about James and for that half hour, I don't have to think about him at all. And I don't.

"How's your cousin doing?" I ask. "Didn't he get that football scholarship to some big school out east?"

He takes a sip of his beer. "He did. And two years into school, he tore up his knee and it was over. He's a good guy, I feel bad for him. He's coaching high school right now, staying as close to the game as he can."

"That's too bad. You guys talk much?" Edward and Emmett didn't seem too close in high school. Emmett and his parents are the reason Edward even moved to Forks. From what I remember, Edward's parents died in a freak car accident and even though his mom and her sister weren't close, she took Edward in until he was done with high school.

"Sometimes. We get a long a lot better when we're not under the same roof." He laughs. "How about you? How's Alice?"

I cock my eyebrow. "You actually remember her name?"

"I know, I know. Ruins my loner reputation that I remember the head cheerleader's name." He leans in towards me and winks.

"She's good." I smile. "You know something funny, we actually saw you-"

I'm interrupted by the last person I want to see right now.

"So, good news," James says, throwing his jacket over the chair. "I got off work early!" He puts his arm around my shoulder and smiles, his eyes bright and wild. "Next round is on me." He heads to the bar before me or Edward can get another word in.

I should have known. God forbid I have a good time without him. He couldn't have that. He has to own my happiness, keep it in a cage like an animal. And just when I feel like it's about to break free, he imprisons it again.

James returns with three more beers and begins to tell us about the case he just happened to get out of last minute. I start to wonder if Edward were Alice whether or not he would have gotten out of it. Something in my gut tells me no. Definitely no.

"You play?" James asks Edward, nodding to the pool table. Edward shrugs.

"A little."

"Come on."

"No, it's okay. I'll pass." Edward shakes his head.

"Aw, come on." James pleads. There's something dark in his voice. Not lighthearted teasing. More like a threat, like storm clouds rolling in on the horizon. "We'll put a wager on it."

Edward stares at him with disbelief. "Alright, fine." He stands and grabs a cue. "I'll rack, you can break."

James laughs, throwing his head back. He seems too drunk after one beer. I wonder if he had something before he showed up.

After James breaks, Edward easily shoots in three balls one after the other.

"Impressive," James says. Edward stands silent behind the table, rolling the cue in his hands. His eyes dart to me every once in awhile, never staying too long or uttering a single word. James circles the table several times before sinking one ball in, missing the next horribly.

"Aren't you going to cheer for me, baby?" He practically shouts in my ear as he wraps his arm around my waist and plants a disgusting kiss on my cheek.

"You're drunk," I whisper, tears stinging between my eyes. Everyone's watching us.

"Isn't that the point of going out and having fun? Don't be such a buzzkill."

Edward leans down and slides the cue between his fingers, sinking one more ball. James's game continues to go downhill and Edward remains constantly calm, making at least one ball each turn until he's down to the eight ball.

"Damn it!" James screams. "I'm losing to a big, bad cop, everyone! He was nice enough to ask my wife to come out tonight, now he's going to beat me in pool." He cackles, downing the last of his beer.

"I think you're done," I say, pulling the mug away from him.

He glares at me, suddenly angry. "I'm done when I say I'm done."

"You never told me the stakes," Edward says, pulling James's attention away from me.

"The stakes?"

"Of the wager. Since I am about to pocket this eight ball, I guess I should know what I'm winning." Edward stopped drinking after his first beer, and I see the lighthearted façade breaking down. He's annoyed with James, and he's probably annoyed with me. Guilt by association right? This is a complete disaster.

"Okay, Cullen, is it?" James saunters around the table, dragging his cue behind him. "Why don't we wager what you obviously wanted from the start?" His eyes circle to me. "You think I don't know what this was? I see right through you, asshole."

"You're sorely mistaken, friend." Edward sighs.

"Am I?" James taunts. "Miss the shot then."

Edward shakes his head, leans down, and quickly shoots, sending the eight ball square into the pocket. "I'm done with this." He reaches into his wallet and gives James some cash. "Take your wife home."

Edward brushes past me. "See ya, Bella." He grabs his coat and in an instant he's gone.

I want nothing more than to leave with him, but I don't. Instead, I load my drunk, miserable excuse for a husband into a cab and we ride home, a red Camaro following us the entire way home. James is half asleep by the time we get home. I help him upstairs and into bed, then I go back down to sleep on the couch. As I go to shut the curtains, I see the Camaro parked across the street and can barely make out Edward's face in the shadows. There are so many things I want to say to him. Like I'm sorry. Like I hate my life. Like...wait for me. Just a few more days and I'll be free. I need to be free.

A/N: Sincere apologies for taking so long with this update. Life got in the way and I was hoping to never go that long between updates. Hoping I can get back on track asap :)

If you're sick of James...okay who isn't sick of James, just know the next chapter goes out with a bang! *hint, hint*

Thank you all for reading and I hope everyone has a great weekend!