A/N: Here it is guys as promised... The next chapter will be considerably longer. Thanks to those who have reviewed, I really appreciate you giving a few moments of your time to comment. It's a great help! xx
Disclaimer: Same faces, new places.
Chapter 7 – Lunch
BPOV
Are you ready? E. x
I tapped out a quick reply, pulled on my cardigan and headed down to the street.
Edward was leaning against his silver Volvo when I approached and he couldn't contain his grin when he saw me.
"Good afternoon," he beamed, opening the passenger side door open for me, "You look pretty."
I blushed as I slid into my seat and he headed back around the car. I was just wearing a knee length skirt, some silver flats and a tank top under my cardigan. Nothing glamorous.
"What time do you have to be at work?" I asked as I observed his black pants and light blue shirt.
"Not for a few hours. I'm on the late shift."
"Yeah, you said last night. You must get real tired."
He started the engine and carefully pulled out onto the road.
"I'm not going to lie," he grinned, "Some days I just want to crawl into bed and never leave."
That sounds like heaven.
"But what's the point in studying all those years for a better life if I'm not going to live it?"
We'd reached the first set of lights and he turned to look at me.
"Why waste away in my apartment when I can take a beautiful woman out to lunch?"
Cue more blushing.
I was sure I must resemble the tomato on my baguette by now. Our food had arrived a few minutes ago and Edward had complimented me no less than five times since I'd been in his company. I felt like I should say something back, but all I could seem to mutter in return was a small 'thanks' along with the deepening redness of my cheeks.
"Are you ok?" he asked, and I realised I didn't know what he had just said.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," I nodded unconvincingly.
He played with his napkin as he spoke. "It's just; you seem uncomfortable when I say something nice."
I was quiet for a few seconds.
"I don't doubt your sincerity Edward, but when you tell me my clothes suit me… it just reminds me how in a few weeks I won't fit in them anymore."
His mouth popped open and he dropped his gaze to his plate.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive."
"No, it's ok. I'm just being silly. Probably the hormones, right?"
The silence was awkward and I sensed that Edward was struggling with what to say. I decided to intervene.
"Alice says she's taking me shopping soon for maternity clothes. She knows a place in the city that might allow me to at least look presentable," I joked, though Edward didn't laugh.
"Why do you say that?" he asked me seriously, no longer paying any attention to his lunch or his napkin.
I was shocked by the intensity of his gaze. He looked almost… hurt.
I shrugged. "My stomach's gonna swell out so far I won't be able to see my toes. I won't be able to walk straight. I'll be sweaty and irritable-"
"You'll still be the most beautiful woman in the room," he cut me off.
I stared at him.
"Edward…" He was being ridiculous.
He reached over the table and gently laid his hand over mine.
"And I'd be honoured to be by your side; sweaty, irritable or otherwise."
I was speechless. He tilted my chin up with his finger and he was smirking at me.
"Say it," he commanded, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Say what?" I replied with a nervous laugh.
"That I, Bella Swan, am the most beautiful woman in the room."
I frowned and shook my head. "You're crazy."
"Maybe," he grinned. "But if I am then I blame you for making me so."
He raised his eyebrows when I didn't say anything.
"What?"
"Say it," he repeated with his adorable smirk, "Out loud."
I looked around us to find that nobody was paying us the slightest bit of attention.
"If it makes you happy…" I conceded.
"It would," he smiled crookedly, softly stroking a finger over the back of my hand.
I took and deep breath and closed my eyes.
"I… Bella Swan… am the most… beautifulwomanintheroom."
I opened my eyes again and couldn't help but laugh. His hand was still on mine and we both laughed together at our silliness. And still, nobody was paying us any attention and I hadn't combusted on the spot.
"How did that feel?" he smiled warmly.
I shook my head and bit my lip. "Kinda good."
"Yeah?" he glanced down at my lips then back up to my eyes.
"Yeah. You should do like motivational speeches or something."
We both giggled again and I found myself going from having Edward's fingers against mine to loosely holding his hand on the table between us.
"So, how did this morning go?" he leaned in. I knew he was referring to the scan. I'd briefly mentioned it on the phone last night.
"It was good. The sonographer said everything looked fine and he gave me a print-out to take home. I keep checking that it's still in my purse… thinking I'm gonna leave it somewhere."
That was totally something I would do. Lose my baby.
"So you have it now?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Uh-huh."
He didn't want to see it, did he?
"Mind if I see?"
Apparently so.
I reached for my bag. "Aren't you tired of looking at this sort of stuff at work?"
I pulled it out of the envelope I'd placed it in at my apartment and slid it across the table.
"I wouldn't compare this to work," he smiled, lifting the scan from the table and carefully holding it at the edges, "I don't have lunch dates with my patients."
He dropped his eyes from mine to the slip of paper in his hands. He studied it for a few moments.
"Amazing, isn't it?" his eyes twinkled, and I imagined that was what I must have looked like this morning. Incredible that Edward, a doctor, would have a similar sort of reaction. It was nice to see.
"I know," I gulped. "I can't believe he's inside me."
Edward caught my gaze. "You think it's a boy?"
I hadn't even realised I'd said 'he'. "Uh, I don't really know. I guess I'd rather say 'he' than 'it'. He looks like a real person now."
Edward placed the scan back on the table but continued to look at it.
"He looks great," he said simply.
I couldn't help but smirk, "Is that your professional medical opinion?"
He grinned back. "In my medical opinion, he looks boringly normal. In my personal opinion however… he looks every bit as beautiful as his mother," His lips turned up at the side, "Though I'm sure he'll be twice the trouble."
I laughed at his assessment. My baby's eyes don't even point forward yet and he's already dishing out compliments, but in good humour, of course.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
"Hey, Alice mentioned on the ride home that she spoke to you last night…"
His face dropped and he looked worried. "I didn't just come out with it… She kept pushing about what I was doing for lunch as she wanted to meet up so I said we'd already made plans together and you know Alice… She interrogated it out of me. I didn't say we'd hung out before though."
"No, I don't mind," I shrugged. "I guess I was a little surprised though. I'm hardly ideal dating material right now and she must be protective of you. I would've been surprised if you'd brought it up yourself."
"Bella," he leaned back in again, "the only reason I was being evasive was because I didn't know how you felt about me telling her; she's your friend as much as she's my sister. And for what it's worth, she was over the moon. In fact, she warned me to take good care of you else she'd kick my ass."
"Alice said that to you?" I was in disbelief. Blood is thicker than water. Everyone knows that.
"She cares about you a lot. And I'm finding that I do too," he smiled shyly. "I'd really like for us to get to know each other better, if you're happy to meet up maybe sometime next week? If you're free?"
This was it. Edward was asking if I wanted to see him again. Of course the answer was yes. The hour had flown by and I'd have to get to my afternoon classes soon.
"That would be nice, Edward," I smiled, "It's the last week of the semester so classes might have moved around a bit but I'll tell you as soon as I can arrange something."
"Great," his eyes shined. "I look forward to it."
"Me too."
A/N: Your review is appreciated! What do you think? xx
