Im going to aim to upload a chapter every 2 weeks now and Im thinking there will probably be about 3/4 chapters left =)
little-miss-twilighter
xx
Edward's POV
I couldn't bring myself to move more than 3 steps from the house. Walking any further would be confirming to myself that she definitely couldn't be a part of my life and I wasn't ready to do that yet. Suddenly, the door opened and Bella's...partner came running out, almost falling over. In his haste, he ran straight into me and we both fell to the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there"
He paused and his expression turned to one of confusion.
"Have I seen you before?"
I shook my head
"Oh, you just look like someone....never mind."
"Don't worry about it"
I smiled at him, he was still staring. It was making me uncomfortable
"Why are you standing here?"
"I....I came to see someone"
"Who?"
"It doesn't matter "
His look turned to one of frustration
"You either came here to see my girlfriend or her best friend. Either one is relevant to me"
I realised he was right. It wasn't fair for me to make him worry.
"I'm a friend...of Bella. My name is Edward Cullen"
Mike's POV
As soon as he said Bella's name the confirmation I was dreading hit me straight in the face. I knew who he was, I'd seen the pictures of him and it was him who she was always talking about. The one that broke her heart. Both their hearts. Looking at him made me think of how he had slept with Bella on holiday, made her love him and then ran back to his wife, leaving Bella lost and alone and making Tanya feel like she was wanted. I felt horrible sleeping with the two of them at the same time but they both needed me so much right now that leaving either one of them would have been inexcusable and cruel of me. Tanya was my secretary at work and it was me who she turned to for comfort when Edward walked out on her for his other woman; my girlfriend Bella. Yes, my life was fucked up and I was kind of a bastard but the arrangement worked best right now. I wasn't sleeping with Tanya that much anymore and I was sure she would move on soon and I could settle down permanently with Bella; after all, Tanya was the only reason I hadn't proposed to Bella yet. But now, still looking at Edward, I didn't know what to say. He had obviously came here to see Bella, to get back together and it wasn't fair of him to do that. I had to make him believe she had moved on without him.
"Yeah, Bella's told me about you. How you left her. Heartbroken and alone. And yet you still come back here to find her. What right do you have to come and destroy her now happy life!?"
"I know...I was just leaving. I didn't expect to find her..."
"Find her what Cullen? Happy? With someone?"
"Both"
"Well she is both right now so why don't you just fuck off and leave me and my....fiancée alone to live our lives"
His face crumpled, anguish ripped across his features but I didn't care. He was no good for Bella and I had to make damn sure he never came near her again. He looked up at me, defeated.
"I'm sorry. I'll just go"
"Good"
I watched as he turned and walked back to his car and he drove off without turning around to glance at either me or the house. I remained for a few moments, making sure he didn't come back. He didn't. Smiling smugly to myself, I walked away towards my office. Towards Tanya, who had called earlier, saying she urgently needed to see me.
Bella's POV
I woke up the next morning before the alarm and gently unwound myself from Mike's arms so not to disturb him. He mumbled something in his sleep and I just smiled at stroked his hair and he soon shut up again. I lay there for a while, just thinking. Edward had come back into my mind after I saw that picture at Alice's and he had been all I could think of since. My head was full of images of us together; the fun we had, the way his smile made my heart beat twice as fast, the way his body would mould effortlessly to mine....I shook my head. The memories were all I had left of him and now a part of me wanted him back again. I knew I couldn't though. He was married, maybe even with children and it wouldn't be fair of me to take that away from him; no matter how much I wanted it. Right now, all I wanted was to be with Edward forever. Yes, he had hurt me, tore me down but I still loved him and I knew that I always would. I couldn't- wouldn't- destroy his probably happy life; it would be too selfish. I could only dream of being with him. I sighed as I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen to start breakfast.
He woke up about an hour after I did, sneaking into the kitchen while I was cooking and wrapping his arms around my waist, kissing my neck. I jumped a little and stroked his face,
"Good morning"
"Yes, I think it might be"
With that he turned me round completely and slowly pushed his lips to meet mine. My arms snaked around his neck and he hitched me up onto the counter, kissing me deeper and with more passion than before. I giggled and then gently pushed him away
"Mike, I need to finish the breakfast. We can play later" I winked at him as I said the words and sauntered back over to the oven; shaking my rear a little more than I needed to. I heard him chuckle as he went over to make the coffee. A few minutes later and we were sitting down at the table, him reading the paper and me absent mindedly daydreaming. He suddenly looked up at the clock, put the paper down and looked at me with a mysterious smile on his face
"So, what are your plans for today then Bella?"
"Well I was gonna tidy up a little bit, do the washing and then settle down to write some more of my book". Right as the last word left my mouth, the doorbell rang and before I could stand up to answer it Mike surprised me by saying,
"No Bella. You got your plans wrong. What's actually going to happen is that I'm going to answer the door for Alice and she's gonna take you to the city for the day to go shopping while I tidy up at home and then go and then go and help Jasper with the baby. And then...well, you'll have to wait till later"
He winked at me as he got up to answer the door, leaving me sitting at the table puzzling over what he had planned for me. Alice skipped into the room less than 30 seconds later and greeted me with a peck on the cheek before getting straight onto business
"God Bella, why aren't you ready yet? Shops open in less than an hour and we need to get there first!"
I laughed
"I'm not ready Alice because up until about 2 minutes ago I had no idea I was even going out"
She considered whether or not that was an acceptable excuse.
"Fair enough then. Well, hurry up anyway"
I smiled at her and went to get ready
----
6 hours later
"Alice, please give it up. We must have been to every dress shop in town, we're not gonna find this 'perfect dress' you keep insisting I find."
"Patience Bella, we will persevere and when we find it you will thank me. Trust me"
It was pointless arguing. I hated shopping. I hated being dragged around shop after shop and forced into a million and one different dresses. Each one apparently 'flawed'. Too many buttons, not enough buttons, too long, too short, black but too black. I mean, how can something be too black?! Alice had found fault with every dress so far. She didn't give up though and was pulling me into yet another shop. This was new ground for me though; this one was designer.
"Alice!"
"What?"
"This is pointless, even if we do find this dress you insist I must buy today, I can't afford it from here!"
"Chill Bella, Mike gave me money and told me to buy you something extra pretty. We're covered"
I just stared at her with my mouth open. Why would Mike give Alice an unlimited budget for shopping? Surely he knew it was financial suicide. However, Alice wouldn't take no for an answer and I soon found myself surrounded by clothes and bags and shoes which all cost more than I really wanted to know about. This was just a waste. Suddenly, Alice stopped dead and squealed. Yes, squealed.
"Oh my God Bella! You have to try this. It's perfect! Exactly what I've been looking for"
She picked it up off the peg and took us over to the changing room, forcing it into my hand. I sighed as I put it on, vowing that this would be the last time I would be forced to dress today. I turned around and looked in the mirror and my mouth dropped open. Alice was right. It was perfect. The black fabric hugged my body, emphasising a shape I didn't know I had. It clung to my chest, with the low neckline giving the illusion my boobs were a lot bigger than they were and it just reached above my knees, sexy but classy. I opened the curtain to show Alice, a huge smile on my face. Her face was one of disgust.
"Eugh, I take it back. It looks awful. Sorry Bella."
"But...but...." I couldn't think of what to say and was about to cry when she suddenly doubled over in hysterics.
"Oh Bella, I was only kidding. It looks wonderful, stunning. We're buying it"
I just smiled at her and got changed back into my jeans and shirt. When I came out, Alice was still deep in thought.
"Hmmm, I'm thinking you will need shoes, earrings, a necklace and a bracelet. Can you think of anything else?"
I raised an eyebrow; wasn't the dress enough? Her eyes suddenly widened
"Oh! And a bag of course. How silly of me"
"Alice, I don't need another bag, I have plenty of black ones at home that will be fine"
She looked at me as if I suggested using a carrier bag and I took that as a 'no' to using my own, already owned things. We trailed around the shop, Alice picking up various items of jewellery and adding them to our filled basket. When we finally got to the till and the total cost appeared on the screen I stared with shock. Surely Mike hadn't given her that much? I was wrong. She handed over $100 bills as if they were small change. This made me wonder...Mike never really bought me anything extravagant; we lived in comfort, not luxury so...what did he spend his thousands on?
-----
A few hours later, all suspicions had gone. I was standing in front of Alice's floor length mirror, staring at the beautiful woman in front of me. Her hair had been carefully curled, her face perfectly made up and her outfit was...unbelievable I couldn't believe it was me. Alice was standing behind me, her expression one of satisfaction. She nodded.
"Yes. Perfect"
"Now I'm officially ready" I turned to face her "Do you mind telling me exactly why Ineeded to be treated like a Barbie for the day?" She just laughed and winked at me before skipping off to the door and calling me to grab my coat (the new, $1200 designer one). I gave the unfamiliar face in the mirror one last glance before turning away and following my best friend out to the unknown.
Less than 20 minutes later, we pulled up outside one of the most expensive restaurants in town. I looked at Alice questioningly but she just told me to go inside and refused to tell me anything else. She said the words with a smile playing at the edges of her mouth. I was getting quite annoyed with being the only one who didn't know anything. Alice kissed me on the cheek before driving away. I turned away from the spot where she was parked and walked through the main doors.
I stepped onto the plush carpet and immediately saw Mike in the far corner of the room. He was sitting in a corner booth and my mind was suddenly full of images. Flashbacks to Edward waiting for me in a restaurant such as this. My heart ached and I wanted nothing more than to turn around and run from the memories of a life I could never have; of a man I could never be with. I couldn't though; I forced a smile onto my face and made my way over to Mike. As I approached, he took a deep breath and his face lit up. I took that as a good sign and sat down opposite him.
"Wow. Bella, you look...amazing. I've never seen you look so beautiful"
He leant across to kiss me on the cheek before calling the waiter over and ordering our starters; a fancy fish thing with salad. I just smiled politely, not wanting to hurt his feelings by telling him I detested seafood with a passion. He turned back to me once the waiter disappeared and we chatted about our day while I subtly tried to figure out why we were actually here. I mean I liked dining out as much as the next person but this just seemed unnecessarily extravagant. Our food arrived and I was delighted to see that the fish to salad ratio was weighted heavily in favour of the latter and I managed to consume the nastiness by eating it with large helpings of salad. It really was revolting and I felt bad for saying it to him but I knew that I had to do it,
"Mike, as lovely as this place is and as thoughtful as the ordering ahead was....you should know that I hate seafood."
As his face crumpled, I instantly wanted to take it back but before I could say anything the waiter reappeared.
"Sir, the lobsters you requested earlier will be served shortly"
I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? I looked at Mike, more than ready to apologise and tell him I would eat a whole aquarium to make him happy when he suddenly laughed at the waiter
"Don't worry about them, turns out my girlfriend is a fish hater. We'll have some...." He looked at me and I realised that he wanted me to finish and order for us.
"Erm...mushroom ravioli?"
"Of course madam"
I smiled to Mike,
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have made such a fuss about it and if I could-"
He cut me off before I could finish my planned apology
"Bella sweetheart, don't worry about it. I want tonight to be perfect for you and I'm glad you told me"
I slid around the booth to be closer to him and he placed his hand on my thigh. I smiled and leant into his shoulder as his draped his arm around me. His hand started to stroke my skin and disappeared underneath the smooth fabric, rising higher and higher until he was at the edge of my underwear. I jumped slightly; taken by surprise. He didn't stop though and as much as I was enjoying it, I couldn't bear to do anything now. It would hurt too much; bring back memories of unwanted restaurant encounters. I smiled apologetically and slid back round to my original seat and we sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes until the waiter brought us dinner. The food perked us both up and we laughed and joked while we ate and when both our plates were clear, Mike cleared his throat.
"Bella, I'm going to confess something to you." He gestured for the server to come over and he took our plates and replaced them with a bottle of champagne and a pyramid of chocolate strawberries. "There was a reason I arranged this whole day and evening for you. I want you to know that I love you more than I thought was capable." He handed me the strawberry at the top of the pile and gestured for me to break it in half. "I would give up everything I own for you, do whenever you ask me and I want to love you for the rest of my life." As he said the last words, the chocolate broke and a ring fell into my waiting hand "Isabella Swan, will you marry me?"
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