The live music was something Bella wasn't expecting that night. She'd only rarely seen any live bands, and this one wasn't half bad. Their mix of pop and rock drew her, and her newfound gal pals to the dance floor. They'd sung along to the familiar songs as the cover tunes blasted over the speakers and laughed as they did a strange kind of group dance, which was not at all coordinated. The other patrons who decided to get in on the dancing action weren't much better. She was sure the flowing alcohol helped to grease the wheels, so to speak.
Her lack of inhibitions wasn't from any alcohol, though. Knowing she had a long drive home, she hadn't had more than a single beer. No, her giddiness and willingness to cut loose had everything to do with meeting new people she didn't immediately want to run from. Alice and Rosalie were genuinely welcoming and friendly, something she wasn't used to. The cliques between girls in high school seemed to follow them into adulthood. All the older female staff at Port Angeles High had formed career-long relationships over the years, and Bella, being the newly minted teacher wasn't so quickly welcomed with open arms.
When the song changed from the fast pace of Everlong to the pulsing Radioactive, her new pals took a step back, gravitating toward each other. Not letting it get to her, Bella closed her eyes and enjoyed the music, swaying her hips and allowing the music to flow through her. The light touch of fingertips on her hips caused her eyes to pop open, and Bella gasped at the contact.
Tilting her head to the side, she knew that mop of bronze hair, the jaw so sharp she imagined it could cut glass. With her heart beating double time, she turned her head back to stare straight ahead. The bass pumped through the speakers, and while she knew she wasn't a good dancer by any means, she let the beat lead them.
The closer he got, the warmer she felt. His hot breath was blowing over her neck, and his hands held her firmly in their grasp. Too many sensations were buzzing through her; the beat of the music, the heat from his body, his scent filling her nose, and the feeling of his hands on her hips; they were all overwhelming her senses.
The song lasted for the little more than three minutes, and during that time, Bella let her imagination run away from her. She imagined the man she was dancing with was hers and they would end the night tangled in a passionate embrace, maybe waking up together as the sun rose. She turned to face him, his hands staying on her hips, but she kept her eyes closed, not willing to let the dream end. But when the song came to an abrupt stop, his hands pulled away, and her daydream was over.
"Thanks for the dance," his gruff voice mumbled over the notes of the band's next song. Before she could utter a reply, he turned and walked away, back toward the dark hallway leading to the men's room.
"I love this one," Alice enthusiastically said from beside her, the volume increasing as the next song began.
Bella smiled politely, but she couldn't hide her disappointment from the two women dancing alongside her.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Rosalie asked loudly over the music, gently tugging on Bella's hand.
"Nothing," she replied just as loud. "I just think I better head out. It's getting late, and I have a bit of a drive to get back."
"You sure? You could always crash at our place," Alice offered.
"No," Bella said with a smile and shake of her head. "I have my dog at home, and I couldn't leave him all night. I'd have all kinds of messes to clean up when I got back if I left him until morning."
"Okay, but promise us you'll come out with us next week?" Rosalie's pleading eyes matched Alice's, and Bella couldn't help but smile. She was amazed at how quickly she felt comfortable around these two women. Looking back at the table, seeing Jasper and Emmett talking and laughing, she felt as though she had finally found something she had been looking for.
"I'd actually love that."
Satisfied with her answer, Alice and Rosalie followed Bella back to the table, and they all exchanged numbers. After hugs all around, Bella made her way toward the door. It didn't escape her notice Edward hadn't returned to the table after their shared dance. She tried not to let it get to her, but deep down she was still the introverted, shy girl with no self-confidence she had always been.
Climbing up into her truck, she was overthinking the events of the evening. Before she could slam her door closed, Edward's voice echoed through the night air.
"Bella! Wait!" He jogged toward her, intent clear on his face. As he approached Bella, his eyes zeroed in on hers. "I was hoping I could catch you before you left."
"Oh? You didn't seem to be very concerned about catching me in there," she said as she pointed at the building behind him.
"Yeah, about that ... " Edward hesitated, his hand finding the back of his neck as he kicked at a rock with his boot. "Look," he finally said, looking up at her, "I want to apologize for kind of blowing you off in there. I wasn't trying to be rude. Alice said I was an asshole, running off like that and basically hiding in the bathroom."
Bella shrugged, not sure how to respond.
"I'm sorry for acting like that. You're a great girl and I ... "He blew out a breath. "I'd like to ask you if maybe you'd be interested in going to dinner with me." The words rushed out of him in a hurry, like he was afraid of losing his nerve if he paused. "I don't date very often, and well, you don't seem like the kind of girl that would do the casual, hook-up thing, especially if you're going to be hanging out with my sister and Rose. And I don't sleep with customers anyway, and you said earlier your dad was okay with the estimate, and—"
"Yes!" Bella almost shouted over his rambling.
"Yes?" he asked, equal parts excited and terrified at hearing the confirmation of her answer.
"Yes, I would love to go to dinner with you." Her fingers idly traced the edge of the truck door as she gave Edward a shy smile. The butterflies she'd felt while driving here were nothing compared to the pterodactyls that had since taken up residence.
"You would?" Edward had been so focused on getting the words out, he hadn't given much thought to the follow-up conversation that would need to take place.
"I would. And I understand if you need to wait until I'm not your customer," she said, her shy smile morphing into a cheeky grin.
Edward cleared his throat. "Well, I think that might be best if it's okay with you?"
"That's fine. Just don't make me wait too long." Hopping out of her seat, she rose to her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek before she scrambled back into the cab of her truck and fired up the engine. Slightly dazed at the turn the night had taken, he stood and watched as she drove away.
Emmett's booming voice broke the silence of the night as his hand landed on the shoulder of the speechless man. "So I guess that means we'll be working a little faster on the Stanley's addition, huh?"
"Emmett," Edward finally said, turning toward his friend. "I think I'll be promoting you to the foreman on that job. Looks like I have a fence to build."
