Day 8: Canyon
EPOV
We had a long day ahead of us. Unfortunately we stayed up too late yesterday, singing songs in the summer night air. Well, mainly just me singing and her smiling.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw that we needed to get moving. I had a six hour drive planned and then we would take a tour in Glen Canyon, a less touristic version of the Gran Canyon, equally beautiful as far as internet pictures go.
I let Bella sleep in, grabbed a pack of biscuits and got behind the wheel.
After an hour, I was joined by Bella, also chewing on the biscuits and yawning. I was a little sick of the driving every day, my back was hurting and the view was monotonous today. Only two more days, I told myself. Tomorrow we would be in Vegas, and the day after in LA, where we would stay in a hotel for almost a week.
I decided I wanted our driving to be over with for today, so I drove six hours straight, all the way up to Big Water, the town near Glen Canyon where we wanted to camp. Bella noticed that I was bored, and she kept bringing me food and distracting me with car games. It didn't really help, but I appreciated her effort and was in a good mood anyway.
The one who did manage to distract me was Lauren. I was really surprised to see her number on the screen of my phone. I didn't pick it up.
"Who was it? Why didn't you answer?"
"Lauren. I'll call voice mail later to find out what she wants."
I expected my text alert tone but instead she called again. I wondered what she wanted.
"Want me to go to the back so you can talk? Or park?"
"I'll call her back later if it's important. I don't want to lose time."
However, when she called a third time, Bella ordered me to answer, and she disappeared in the back, resting on the bed that was still unfolded because we hadn't eaten on the table today. She was probably pretending to be asleep, to give me some privacy.
"Hello?"
"Edward?"
"Yes, I'm on hands free. Driving."
"How is your road trip? Where are you?" she tried to sound enthusiastic, but I knew that's not why she called. She was never the chatty kind of girl. I wouldn't have lasted two months if she was. In any way, it was nice hearing her voice again.
"In Utah, a couple of miles from Arizona."
"Waw." she was silent for a few seconds "Can Bella hear me?"
"She's sleeping," I answered. She could be.
"Oh." and silence again. Sure she had something to tell me if she kept calling until I picked up the phone.
"Why did you call?"
"I just wanted to hear you. I miss you."
"Lauren, look…"
"I know you broke it off, but you see, I've been thinking. I've had plenty of time now the finals are over. So hear me out okay?"
"Okay."
"When you broke up with me, you told me you just didn't love me. But I don't really believe you. You don't spend months making love to somebody – several times a day – if you don't care for them. You can have anyone you want, and still you wanted me time and time again. So I think you do love me, and that you had different reasons to run."
I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say. So she continued.
"If it's about you going to college, I can live with that. Our relationship would be different, but different doesn't necessarily mean bad. If it's about Bella, I know you're best friends, and I don't want to get in between. Have I ever as much as made a jealous comment about how close you are?"
"No." That's true. She's probably the first girl that tried to like Bella, even though everybody can see we are very very close. Too close.
"I give you all the freedom you need, Edward. What have you got to lose? Can't you give me another chance?"
I stayed silent.
"Tell me this, you were in love with me, correct?"
"Yes."
"We never even had a fight, we got along great, I never got on your nerves, correct?"
"Yes."
"We had some crazy hot sex, and you were very satisfied with me, correct?"
"Yes."
"So what's the worst that could happen if we got back together? I really miss you."
"I miss you too." I said softly, and I surprised myself. I meant it.
"So what do you say?"
"Um. I'll think about it, and we'll see when I get back."
"Is this your way to get rid of me? Let me down easy? Because you sure didn't bother last time."
"Hey honey, you can call me a coward, or a bastard, but I'm no liar. I never told you anything that wasn't true."
And that was the truth. I didn't make her promises. And the months we were together, I never even touched Bella. One could say that I was satisfied enough to even consider it.
"You're right. Anyway… It's really good hearing you Edward."
"Likewise."
"So can I call you tomorrow?"
"I'll call you, okay? I'm driving a lot."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
After the phone call, Bella didn't come back out front. I guess she really did fall asleep after our short night.
Soon enough, we reached our destiny, but I let her sleep some more, crawling onto the bed against her.
When she woke up, we had dinner outside, another hot day, and then changed into our hiking clothes. We walked for about two hours at Glen Canyon, me ecstatic about the magnificent views and her enjoying my joy. It was really sweet that she wanted to go through all this trouble, just to do me a favor. She doesn't feel as if she's missing out on something, she hears the waterfalls and breathes in the nature, delighting in the sun on her skin. We both were getting some tan, even though a lot of time is spent inside the camper. We would make up for that next week, in LA.
And her generosity still wasn't over. When we got into bed, she offered to give me a back massage, because she felt guilty that I had to take all the driving on me. She shouldn't feel guilty, but I never let a chance like this pass me by, so I quickly threw myself on the bed, arms lifted above my head and eyes closed in anticipation. Bella is a natural at this.
When I lay there enjoying her masterful fingers on my back, kneading my muscles, my thoughts drifted off towards Lauren. I think I have missed her, and she surprised me by her insightful summary of my concerns. She knew I cared for her, and that I was scared. And she asked me the big question. What have I got to lose? My pride? Some self esteem? Is what she has to offer not worth the risk? And I don't mean just the sex, although with her, that is definitely a valid argument, that girl has a massive libido. She is right when she says that she gave me enough freedom, never whined when I wanted to just hang out with Bella, never made a jealous remark when at a party I was tailing Bella like a good dog. She was different than all the other girls I've gone out with. Should I give her another chance?
I sighed deeply and moaned a little as Bella was giving my muscles a little more pressure. I was putty under her hands. She rubbed my back for almost an hour, until I was floating somewhere in blissful laziness. I wanted to reciprocate, but she reclined, telling me to go to sleep. Another long day ahead of us.
I didn't protest, making a mental note to give her a massage tomorrow. After all, she was stuck in a car seat as much as I was.
I was asleep even before I could finish that thought.
AN: So how about this Lauren girl? Is Edward ready for an actual girlfriend?
