From previous chapter...

Regardless of that fact, I still felt broken.

My crush had hooked up with my best friend.

I stood by the door waiting. What I was waiting for I had no idea. The second I heard Marlene knock on the door and call for me I bolted to my room and threw myself on my bed. I knew why she was knocking on my door. She always came over after her latest conquest to tell me. I knew I wouldn't be able to sit there and listen to her tell me about how great of a guy Edward is. She didn't need to tell me though. I knew he was a great guy. But none of that mattered anymore.

I stayed in bed long before Marlene stopped knocking on my door. Once I was sure the coast was clear, I headed out of the apartment and towards the zoo.

I didn't want to call my mom. I was in no mood to talk. And somehow the animals could sense that I was in no mood either. The monkeys just sat down and looked sad too.

The next day I was still depressed that I called in sick to work. Marlene called and sent me text messages almost all day for the following three days. By the third day I had almost forgot why I was ignoring her until I read her latest text message.

I need to talk to you about Edward.

I deleted that sucker. It was too soon.

Even Edward attempted to call and text me. I listened to his voicemail a couple times just to hear his voice. It didn't sound like he was guilty for sleeping with my best friend. In fact it didn't even sound happy either. They were just bland statements.

I just called to check in on you and see how you been. Can you please call me back Myra?

I deleted those voicemails too. It was still way too soon.

I couldn't help but think that on the third day, Marlene was probably done with Edward. Hopefully I could get over him by that time and then confess to Marlene that I had been totally into him. That was the thing though. Edward just didn't seem like the type of guy who would want a quick fling with a girl. Then again I was wrong about thinking that our 'date' was a real date.

Hopefully in time, Edward and I could be friends. But I knew that wasn't true either. The feelings I had for him for still fresh and would probably affect me for a while. If I ever did find the courage to tell Marlene then I would also have to tell her that we needed to find another bar for her to go to. There was no way I wanted to run into Edward again.

Five days went by and I had managed to avoid Marlene for all of them. By this time Edward didn't call me yesterday and something told me that I was forgotten about. I wouldn't even ask him to make good on the bet and pay up. I would continue to avoid the two of them until I could handle that all I ever was and all I ever was going to be was the hot girl's best friend.

At work I even cancelled a couple appointments in the afternoon because I couldn't think about anything other than Edward and it hurt. I even thought about getting another kitten. I'd just be the single girl with a lot of cats. I already had Kevin, what's one more?

"What's on the schedule today," I asked the girl in the front.

"You have a new client that requested for you," the girl smiled. "The rest of your afternoon looks open."

"Good, I think I might go home early again today," I sighed walking towards the back.

A new client, huh? Well maybe they had some cute puppy or something that could make me smile. I really needed to get over this. I had just finished prepping the table and took out some new forms to fill out while I talked to the owner when the door opened.

"Come on in and have a…" I looked up and almost dropped my clipboard. "Edward?"

"Hi Myra," he smiled. "I want you to meet Whiskers."

"What are you doing with a kitten? Better question what are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you. You weren't answering your phone and you're never home. So I figured I get a kitten and come to check you out at work," he held the orange kitty next to his face and smiled.

Don't melt, I yelled at my heart. Don't you dare melt! Instead of allowing it melt, I hardened it.

"Marlene doesn't really like cats. Or did you two split up already?"

Edward set the kitten down on the table. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw you leaving her apartment," I looked away and clicked my pen. "And Whiskers is a pretty lame name for a cat."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't know that you would be getting her a kitten. If I did I would have said so earlier."

"No," Edward touched my hand causing me to look up. "Why didn't you say anything when I was at Marlene's?"

"I didn't want to interrupt your after sex conversation," I tried to look away.

Edward groaned. "I was over there asking her about you."

"Asking if I would mind the two of you getting together," I questioned. I could really be a brat sometimes. "I approve. I offered to set you two up earlier, remember?"

"Oh God Myra," Edward exclaimed. "You're the one that I like!"

"As a friend," I finished. "And as said friend I give you my blessing to date Marl…"

"Myra, please stop," Edward took the clipboard out of my hand and set it down by the kitten who decided to take a nap. "I like you, Myra, more than just a friend," he said softly looking into my eyes. "I mean I really like you."

He smiled and there were those dimples.

"I knew I thought you were pretty when we first met and I liked that we got along so well. Then I realized that I definitely liked you when I saw other guys trying to ask you out. I couldn't let that happened. And then the whole thing with my brother," he shook his head. "I would die knowing that I blew at my chance to be with you only to have you end up with him."

I took a step back. "I still don't understand why you were at Marlene's."

"Because it's so hard to talk to you," he said with a smile and shook his head. "Every time that I tried to tell you it was a date last week, you kept turning it into some kind of joke," he chuckled. "I went to Marlene's because I wanted her advice."

"You really didn't hook up with her?"

"No, I didn't hook up with her," Edward sighed. "Myra," he began softly, "I'm not interested in her. I never was. I know you feel protective of her but come on the girl is shallow and has a list of guys she wants to devour and then spit out the next day," he shook his head. "When I met you, it was just you."

"How can that be, you seen her and me," I motioned to myself.

"Yes, I've seen you," Edward took my hand. "And I like what I see."

I shook my head, pulled my hand away and took another step back. "At dinner you didn't seem like you liked what you saw?"

"I was nervous Myra. I wanted to tell you that night but then Celeste showed up and reminded me why I didn't put myself out there more. She is the whole reason why I play it safe when it comes to girls now. I didn't want to get hurt again. I mean what if I told you that I liked you and you made a joke about it like you always did? It may have been funny to you but this was serious for me."

I turned around and picked up the clipboard because he did seem so serious right now. I still didn't want to give in because these things never happened to me. A guy never went out of his way to talk to me or brought a kitten just because he had to see me.

"Edward I thought you invited me out on that date because you felt sorry for me," I stated closing my eyes.

His hands landed on my shoulders and then ran down slowly to my arms. "Think of whatever excuse you want to this time, Myra. To be honest and yes I'm being completely honest. I want to be with you Myra."

My body spun around to face him. "This isn't some type of joke?"

"No," Edward shook his head, "this is one hundred percent truth and nothing but the truth."

And that was all I saw when I looked at him. There was sincerity in his eyes. This wasn't a joke. This wasn't something he was doing because he felt pity for me.

"I like you Myra. I just hope that you like me, too," his hands moved down and took my hands in his.

"I do," I smiled at him taking that last step towards him, leaning into his chest. "I really do," I sighed.

Edward pulled one hand out of mine and lifted my chin to look at him. We had been so close before but I knew what was happening now. I had pictured this so many times before and right now this was ten times better. Edward's lips brushed against mine softly before I exhaled causing him to wrap his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him and pressed our lips harder together.

It was totally amazing. My hands were around his neck. One of his hands were tangled in my hair while the other gripped onto my waist. Edward had just backed me up into the table when I realized that we were doing this at my workplace.

"I can't," I pushed him.

"What," Edward panicked. "I thought..."

"I have an appointment with Whiskers," I picked up his kitten. "We'll have to continue that when I'm not working," I finished trying to control my breathing.

Edward chuckled behind me before wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing a kiss into my hair. I never thought being held like this by him would feel this delightful.

"For a moment there I thought you were going to give me some excuse like you were moving," Edward said leaning in and kissing my cheek.

"I have plans to join a convent," I joked which made him chuckle.

"As long as you don't start a list like Marlene's."

"I really need to apologize to her," I said carrying the kitten as Edward started to sway our bodies. "I haven't been answering her calls either."

"You should call her back," he moved his head tucking it into the crook of my neck as I sighed. "She's been calling me as well, dying to know what's become of us," Edward replied.

I let out a small laugh inside because for the first time in a while I had a story to tell Marlene.

After a few 'real' dates there was one that started with a 'forget the date and come inside' as I had thought about a while ago. It was confirmed to his parents when we had dinner with them that Edward and I were a couple. Whiskers was adopted out by Edward's mother because a couple weeks in his apartment and the little thing was starting to turn on his master.

"What kind of name is Whiskers anyway," his mother teased as she looped her arm around my waist when he had dropped the kitten off.

"It's a perfect name for a cat," Edward protested.

"They do have whiskers," said his Dad.

"See with that sort of thinking it means that us girls got to stick together," his mom hugged me closer.

We have been dating for three months now and although Marlene insisted that I purchase some lingerie to celebrate mine and Edward's three month anniversary, I decided to pay up on the bet that we had made when we first met.

I walked into the Pit by myself since Marlene had gone out with some other guy only to see a line of girls around the bar counter vying for Edward's attention. But true to his words he only 'sees' me. I smiled at him and threw the small gift bag at him.

"What's this?"

"Payment from a bet we made so long ago," I shrugged.

"I'm taken," Edward smirked pulling out the shirt.

"What, really," asked one of the girls with a sad pout on her face.

"Sorry. Well I'm not sorry that I'm taken," Edward turned back to me.

"Oh aren't you a sweet thing," I smiled. "It's such a shame that your girlfriend is crazy."

"Super crazy," he agreed, "I think she's been admitted once or twice."

"To jail," I asked.

"The asylum," Edward finished.

"She even made you that shirt didn't she," I smiled.

"She does sound crazy," one of the girls said. "Why are you with her?"

"Because I like her that way," Edward turned to me, "I like her for just being her. She's amazingly funny, stunningly beautiful and definitely crazy."

I leaned over the counter and Edward leaned in as well, pressing his lips to mine.

"Stop being adorable and put the shirt on," one of his co-workers yelled out.

Edward smiled at me, kissed me again before pulling back, taking off his shirt and putting on the one that said 'I'm Taken'. I couldn't help the smile on my face as every girl and guy in there knew that it wasn't the hot girl who had got the guy. This time it was the best friend.

The End

... for now

Myra and Edward will return.

Dauntless Relationship Chronicles
Part 2: Good Girl
should be posted shortly...