Chapter 7

It felt like we were being taken on a treasure hunt around the city.

A treasure hunt to see what the hell my kid was up to.

Our squabbling posse was losing patience, with this development, because we were almost back to campus.

"This was pointless," Tanya complained. "I could be at the Theta Chi mixer."

"No one is asking you to stay, Crazy," I pointed out, ignoring Heidi's pouting. "Go find the frat boy you'll be using this year to buy you beer."

"Sorority girl, Bella darling." Tanya fluffed her hair. "You'll thank me later when I will be supplying all of us with wine and margaritas courtesy of Buffy, Paris or Dakota."

"Do you think they know that we are following them and they are leading us on a wild goose chase?" Heidi asked.

Kate peered at the boys who stood on a sidewalk next to the Green. "No. Garrett is taking pictures. Edward is taking him on a nighttime city tour."

Those two boys weird. No wonder Kate and I were dating them.

"I guess we know Edward's secret, Bella. Dorky nighttime wandering. What a discovery," Tanya said sarcastically. "Wait...where are they going?"

There was a doorway next to an upscale clothing shop. Edward unlocked it and the boys went in. The mystery would be solved in there.

We crossed the busy street and rushed to the door, stumbling over one another. I grabbed the door. It was locked.

Damn it.

"I'll take care of this." Tanya pulled a bobby pin from her hair. She quickly unlocked the door. There was a small foyer with mailboxes and a staircase. "See! I am good for something!"

"Giving me a headache," I said, refusing to compliment her. It was somewhat cool trick.

Heidi gave Tanya an amorous gaze. "How did you learn how to do that?"

"I've been picking all of Bella's locks. Her truck, the front door of her house, her locker in high..."

Never mind. It wasn't cool at all.

"I should have you arrested." I felt Kate grab my arm.

"Bella, calm down," Kate said.

That was silly. I'm always calm. I would never hit Tanya. That would mean I would have to touch her. Revenge is better. I had some planning to do, but first...

"Let's see what my kid is up to." I looked at the mailboxes and written on one was, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. He better not have. "It's number three."

I stomped towards the apartment and arriving to the door I banged loudly. I could hear sounds of horses and sword play. The happy chatter I heard from the boys made me guess Lord of the Rings marathon.

"Mrs. Leibovitz, I promise we will turn down the..." My kid saw me and his eyes widened. "Oh shit."

"You better believe it, buckaroo." I pushed him inside with my finger. "You have some 'splaining to do, Lucy."

"It's our love nest!" He squealed. "I love you!"

I know. That's why he isn't dead.

"I thought we discussed we need the dorms, because of our scholarships..."

"That was you. I didn't need my scholarship," he admitted. "I have a pretty sizable bank account."

Not many things get a reaction out of me, but that did.

"What? Did someone die in the last couple days? A recent windfall inheritance?" Maybe I would kill him. You get three square meals a day in prison. I was scary. I could rule over the ladies of the big house.

"I had forgotten about my special bank account. I had sold the company when I was a sophomore. The money has been accruing interest," He said this proudly.

"You're company?" I guess you really don't know everything about someone.

He grinned, as I sat on the couch. The comfy and oh so soft couch. I wanted to sink into it and watch the big screen TV. "I sold medieval swords over the Internet. Dad made me quit and sell my business to a vendor we know on the Renaissance festival circuit."

"That is so bizarre," Heidi said. She added after looking around, "Wow! This place is really nice!"

It was.

That big screen TV was beautiful.

I needed to concentrate. "You never thought to mention any of this to me."

"I honestly forgot! Garrett was my partner and..." My kid started to say.

Kate grabbed Teeth's arm. "You were what?"

"I literally forgot about it, Kate Hudson!" Teeth looked panicked. "I have a pretty nice nest egg for us."

"We are going back to our hotel room and have a very long chat, Garrett!" Kate looked at me. "Girl, I'll see you tomorrow."

Tanya chuckled. "Trouble in paradise."

"Leave." I pointed to the door.

"I'll walk you back to the dorms, Tanya! We are neighbors." Heidi smiled.

Tanya took her hand. "Let's go cuddle in your room, Honey."

Gross. They all left and I was resigned that I had to stay here.

There was a giant fridge. My kid opened in up and it was filled with my favorite snacks.

He was tempting me.

"It was an impulse, Bella. I was worried about our roommate situation. Felix is horrible!" My kid pointed out sadly.

"You should have told me first."

"I know." He put on the pouty face, as he handed me a soda. He knew me so well. "I was just so excited that there was an extra room for Annie Oakley."

"She'd get her own room?" My bird liked her own space.

He was playing me like a fiddle, by using my Annie.

I sighed. "She can live here."

"What about you?" My kid sat next to me and pulled me into his devious arms. I kind of liked this side of him. It wasn't fun getting my way all the time. "I really am sorry."

"I will stay here part-time. Not for you, but having Tanya as a neighbor will be unbearable." I lied. He was a big part of me moving in.

Edward nuzzled his face into my neck and started sucking on it. He said into my skin, "I've missed this."

I turned off my kid's movie and started watching late night talk shows. "I've missed watching my shows on a big screen."

"Want to go see the bedroom?" He caressed my chest and I removed his hands.

"Nope." I pointed to the kitchen. "Being me some chips, wench."

Can't have him getting too cocky.