Author Note: Thanks to everyone who's excited about this story! Reader 2muchtrouble named the last chapter "GoldieBella and the three dicks" hehe.
Thanks to moosals and edwardisaputz for pre-reading! Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.
Chapter 7 – Here I Go Again
I stare at the email in my inbox — specifically the list of confirmed graders. Do I want to grade an actuarial exam question this year or not? I mean, not really, but I still feel like it's a good thing for my career for me to volunteer within our profession.
That isn't my only consideration though.
If I'm going to do it, I'll need Jake's help. Picking up my cell phone, I send him a text to ask if he's free tonight. I wait on pins and needles until I get back his reply that he'll come over with dinner.
Four hours later, we're sitting at my kitchen table munching on rabbit food… I mean, something from his favorite organic health food store.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Bells?"
"Um," I begin nervously, "I need to decide if I'm going to be a grader again this year. The exam is in two weeks, so they need to lock it down soon."
He stares at me blankly. "What do I have to do with it? It's your decision."
"I saw Tanya Stratten's name on the list of confirmed graders."
"Tanya Str—oh. So you mean, her boyfriend might be at the grading party."
"Right," I nod. "Edward might be there — if they're still together and he decides to come along for a vacation again. Do… do you think he'll remember me?" I ask in a small voice.
"Well, of course he will! You're pretty unforgettable."
I roll my eyes. Of course he has to say that, since he's my best friend. "He's in an open relationship. What if he has sex with dozens or even hundreds of women each year? Who am I out of all those women?"
Jake makes a frustrated noise. "Do you think most single men have sex with dozens of people a year?"
"No, of course not."
"So why should Edward? In fact, he probably has fewer partners than a lot of single men, since he has a regular partner in Tanya."
My brow furrows; I hadn't thought about it that way before, but it makes sense. I'd been imagining him taking advantage of their open status with multiple different women per week.
"OK, well, assuming he does remember me… what if he propositions me again?" I ask.
"If you don't want to have sex with him again, you tell him no — this isn't difficult, Bella." Jake seems exasperated, but he doesn't understand, not really. He's never met Edward, never seen him… he doesn't know how seductive Edward can be.
"I'm not sure what I want," I admit quietly. "I mean, right now I think no, I don't want to sleep with him again. But if I see him, and he asks me to… I'm afraid I'll fall right under his spell again." By the time Central Grading rolls around, it'll have been four months since my one-night stand. And I still remember the things Edward can do with his tongue and cock.
"Look, I know I gave you shit for it, but as long as you make him use a condom this time, then I don't know that there's any harm in giving in to him again — if that's what you want. People have casual sex all the time."
"But what if it isn't what I want, but my body betrays me?" I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "That's where you come in, Jake."
"Me? Why?"
"I need you to come with me to Central Grading… and keep me from doing something stupid."
Jake laughs loudly, then quickly quiets once he realizes I'm serious. "Where is it?" he asks. "I'm not flying all the way to Florida to keep you from having sex."
"It's not in Florida," I assure him. "We'd fly into LAX. The hotel is near Venice Beach."
Jake's ears perk up at that. I'm sure he'd love to go to Venice and check out the bodybuilders and other men at the beach. He and Alec only lasted six months, so he's a single man again.
"When is it?" he asks, pulling out his phone.
"The second weekend in December. Please, Jake?"
"Hmmm… that should be far enough out that I can move any appointments. OK, sign me up!"
Jake and I check into our hotel in Marina del Rey mid-afternoon, about a half hour before I need to meet the rest of our group in one of the conference rooms. After making sure we've got a room with two beds — Jake is the most restless sleeper I've ever met — I accept the keycards and we find our fifth floor room.
"Nice," Jake whistles, stepping out onto the balcony. We've got a view to the north, and I can spot the famous Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier, just a few miles away. "So what's the plan?"
"Well, I need to meet the others soon for the kickoff. Last year, the four of us grading the same question had dinner together in the hotel restaurant after a few hours of work."
"So if you're doing that again, I can walk down to Venice Beach and see you later tonight?" he asks eagerly.
"Yeah," I nod, rolling my eyes. Jake and his bodybuilders. "Stay close until I let you know?"
"Deal. I'll just go down to the pool until I hear from you."
I'm a little nervous as I head to the hotel conference room to meet the rest of the graders and the head of the exam committee. I know Tanya will be there — though we're not grading the same question this year — but will she even notice me in a room full of 75 people? Maybe I can avoid her.
As I take my seat in the back on the left side of the room, I look around, easily spotting Tanya's golden blonde hair toward the front, on the right. Unless she turns around, I won't be in her line of sight. After the introductions, we break into small groups and I meet the three other graders from my question, including my partner, a middle-aged man named Bob.
While we're chatting, my phone beeps with a text message. Apologizing, I pull it out of my purse, intending to ignore the message and set my phone to vibrate, when I read what it says:
I think I see your guy at the pool.
I'm still staring at the words when Jake texts me again, sending me a photo of a man sitting on one of the pool chairs, wearing nothing but a tiny red bathing suit. My breath hitches as I look at the photo — it's Edward, all right.
His hair looks like that weird bronze color you told me about.
That's him, I text back quickly, then slide my phone back into the side of my purse. It's him — looking even better than I remembered. And I'm even more thankful that I've brought Jake along with me as a buffer.
The four of us finish up our discussion quickly after our stacks of papers have been delivered. My phone dings a few more times, since I forgot to switch it to vibrate, but I ignore it. Bob and I exchange cell numbers, but no one suggests anything about dinner. Still hoping to avoid running into Tanya, I decide to retreat back to my room before texting Jake.
I pull my phone out once I'm safely in our hotel room, unable to keep from smiling as I read the string of texts from Jake.
Damn Bells! Holy shit the guy is hot!
I'd do him in a heartbeat.
You said his gf is bi right? Maybe he is too and would be up for a threesome!
Jake! I'm not having a threesome with you. And I have no idea if Edward is bi. He didn't mention anything about that.
Who said anything about you being part of the threesome? ;)
I chuckle, but before I can type out a response, he sends another message.
He just got up to go for a swim. Very nice package, wouldn't mind getting my mouth around that.
Jake! Stop checking out Edward's package before he notices you and thinks you're some kind of creeper. I'm free for dinner btw.
Ok I'll come back around six. I might need a cold shower first though.
Shaking my head, I put my phone away, then take a seat at the desk and get to work grading. Somehow I got put on a question this year that deals with health insurance, HMOs and PPOs, which isn't my thing at all, given that I work in life insurance. All I can do is follow the grading key.
I sit back and stretch when Jake comes barreling into the room after a few hours. Definitely time for a break.
"I imagine I've had more fun than you this afternoon," he says with a grin.
"I'm sure you have. Did you ever leave the pool?"
"Yeah, I walked around the marina a bit. So our three closest dinner choices are Killer Shrimp, a New York pizza place, and the Cheesecake Factory — which do you prefer?"
Mmmm… I love Cheesecake Factory, and Jake knows it. "You know which would be my top pick, but it could take two hours to be seated at six o'clock on a Saturday night. I don't have that kind of time."
"Good point. Shrimp it is." Of course he'd never pick pizza.
While Jake visits Venice Beach the next morning after breakfast, I finish up my grading. Bob and I meet around noon in the reserved conference room to reconcile our scores.
Once we've finished, I text Jake, who tells me to walk down Washington Blvd. toward the ocean and he'll meet me there by the pier.
It's nearly three miles from Venice Beach to Santa Monica Pier, but we've got plenty of time, so we take a leisurely stroll, stopping frequently at the various shops to browse. And I'm starving, so I stop at one of the kiosks for a quick bite.
After a great afternoon, we make it back to the hotel in time to shower and change for the group dinner. I'd never admit it to anyone, but I bought a new blouse for the occasion, to go with a cute skirt. If Edward sees me, I want to look good. Now I really start to get nervous though, knowing for certain that he's here.
"Bells, you can always skip the dinner and we can go to the Cheesecake Factory."
Oh, it's tempting. "No," I answer quietly. "I need to mingle and network."
Just like last year, a small bar has been set up in the conference room. I need to keep my wits about me tonight, so I order just a Diet Coke, while Jake gets a light beer. I spot one of the other graders from my question and talk to her for a few minutes. Jake, clearly bored with our conversation, wanders off to try some of the hors d'oeuvres.
Once I'm left alone, I go looking for Jake, but the room is pretty crowded with various waiters setting up the buffet in the center of the room. I give up, stopping to take a drink from my glass, when a hand falls on my left arm.
"Have you been avoiding me, Bella?" a sexy voice whispers in my ear.
Swallowing thickly, I turn around, looking up at Edward. "No, I—I wasn't even sure you'd remember me," I admit. Goddamn, he looks good up close; my memories did not do him justice. He's dressed similarly to last year, in jeans and a gray sport coat, though he's wearing a black polo shirt instead of a t-shirt.
His eyes narrow as he looks down at me. "You think I could forget what we shared? Or the promise I made you?"
"What promise?" I ask, my brow furrowed.
"For a repeat," he answers in a 'duh' voice.
"You're awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"You enjoyed yourself last year, didn't you?" he counters, and I feel my face flush.
"That doe—"
"Hey, Bella," Jake calls, walking over toward me. He smiles down at me, throwing an arm around my waist. "I was wondering where you'd run off to." Stopping, he looks up as if just noticing Edward standing a bit too close to me. "Oh, who's your friend?"
I decide to play along. "Jake, this is Edward. His girlfriend was my grading partner last year. Edward, this is Jacob Black."
"Nice to meet you, man," Jake says, holding his hand out to shake. Edward stares at it for a moment before grasping Jake's hand; I'm sure Jake is playing the alpha dog with a strong grip.
"The buffet is open," Jake says to me. "I'm starving. Please excuse us, Edward."
His arm still around me, Jake leads me away from Edward and toward the buffet line. "Thanks, Jake," I whisper. Edward was definitely getting to me.
"That's what I'm here for," he answers cheerfully.
Once we've got our food, we go to look for a table, sitting down at one that only has two open chairs left. Good thinking on Jake's part, since Edward and Tanya will be unable to join us.
"Are you OK?" he whispers, and I nod. This isn't the time or place to talk about it.
After we've finished eating, we remain at the table talking with the others. When my glass is empty, I excuse myself and walk over to the bar, this time ordering a vodka and cranberry. As I turn around, I nearly run straight into Edward.
"Excuse me." I try to step around him, but he reaches out his hand, wrapping it around my wrist.
"Does he treat you well?" Edward asks.
"Jake? He's my best friend." My eyes narrow. He sounds like a parent — or a jealous ex. "Is that… jealousy I hear in your voice?" I whisper. And then I kick myself for wanting it to be.
"It's not jealousy. I just want to be sure that you're with someone who deserves you."
"Are you sniffing around her again?" Jake asks, walking up to us.
"It's OK, Jake," I tell him quietly.
"I just wanted to be sure you're good to Bella," Edward answers. "She's special." While not as tall as Jake, he stands up to his full height, showing that he won't be intimidated.
"She is, but it's really none of your concern," Jake retorts.
Edward glares at him and I know it's time for me to jump in and tell the truth. "Edward, Jake is my best friend — my best gay friend."
He turns quickly to stare at me. "This isn't your boyfriend?" I shake my head silently.
"So I hear you're into threesomes," Jake says with a grin. "Does that include with other men?"
Edward's eyes widen. "I have, though only with men who prefer my female partner to me," he adds with a smirk.
"Worth a shot," Jake winks, and I roll my eyes, slapping his arm.
"Bella, could I speak with you… alone?" Edward asks.
A/N: Many of you wanted Edward to reach out to Bella, and he did… once they were in the same place once again. What should she do now?
Ah Jake, at least now he kind of understands why Bella fell under Edward's spell so easily.
Also this answered the question some readers had about whether or not Edward is also bi.
Next chapter's title: A 1984 #1 hit by a legendary female artist. No one guessed this one. Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn was the most popular guess.