"That was better than good. If you keep feeding me like this I'm going to blow up like a balloon."
"Maybe that's my plan. I like my women soft and squishy."
"Eww," Bella cried slapping him on the shoulder. "As soon as I get my flight sorted out I'm going to walk about five miles to burn this off."
"I don't know if five miles will do it. These quiches are made with real butter, cream, cheese and eggs. They're probably about 1500 calories each."
Bella's eyes went wide and she looked down with horror at her empty plate. She had even dabbed up the flakes of crust because they were so good. She could feel her ass expanding by the second. Edward kicked back in his chair, laughing at her reaction.
"Chill out. Oh my goodness. We'll do something active if that will stop you freaking out. You should really see your expression right now."
She rolled her eyes and grinned at him. "Fine. But I can't eat like this anymore today. After dinner last night and breakfast this morning, not to mention the ice cream and beer, I won't be able to get my pants on tomorrow."
"Then don't," he replied with a leer. That earned him an exaggerated glare.
Bella helped him rinse the dishes and load them. He set the dishwasher going and offered her the phone again to call the airline.
They settled onto the couch. He pulled her feet into his lap and then started flipping through a magazine. She stiffened up at the familiarity of the gesture, but found herself relaxing a bit as he stroked the soles of her feet gently with his knuckles. Bella watched him reading for several seconds. He seemed content to sit with her just like that while she made her call. She wasn't entirely comfortable, but had to admit it did feel good.
Bella unfolded her itinerary in her lap and dialed the airline. She clicked through a dozen numbered prompts before being connected to the booking line. It was after 11 o'clock now and she had to wait on hold for several minutes. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the couch cushions, allowing her feet to wiggle a little bit, encouraging Edward to stroke harder. She heard him chuckle gently. He set his magazine across her shins and began to massage her feet with both hands. She hummed her approval with a soft smile on her lips.
Finally there was a break in the hold music and Bella was able to speak to a real person. She explained what that she was looking for the earliest flight to Seattle. As luck would have it, they still had two seats available on the Thursday afternoon flight. Unfortunately, the price had gone up even higher. Bella consoled herself with the knowledge that she would make up for the expense quickly and gave them her card information. When they confirmed her purchase she kicked her feet and pumped her fist in victory. Knowing that her card actually worked, that Bernie had managed to fix it, took an enormous weight off her shoulders.
Edward grinned at her little victory dance then quickly reclaimed her feet, rolling each of her toes between his thumb and pointer finger, then rubbing his knuckles firmly along her arch.
"Mmmm. If you are trying to make me regret leaving tomorrow, it may actually be working."
"Maybe. You have cute feet. I'll play with them as long as you let me."
"Hah. Feet aren't cute. They're weird looking."
"Not your feet."
"Awww. Foot compliments. The sure-fire way to win a woman's heart."
"Would you rather I tell you you've got an awesome rack or a scrumptious, bumptious derriere?"
"You are so weird."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Bah!" She pulled her feet away, blushing furiously. Beneath the goofiness, she could tell that he really was complimenting her figure. The warm feeling from breakfast was now a flip-flopping swarm of butterflies.
"Now that I've got my flight arranged, I'm going to go for a walk. A long walk. Wouldn't want my derriere to get any more bumptious."
"I've got an even better idea. Can you hang out for 15 minutes while I get ready?"
"Sure."
Edward vaulted over the arm of the couch and disappeared down the hallway to his room. Bella walked to the fireplace and stood examining the storm-tossed ship mosaic. This close and with the morning light flooding the room, she could match the different fragments of glass and glazed ceramic. Edward's mother must have used pieces from more than fifty different sources to create the colorful, three dimensional effects of the ship, waves and stormy sky.
The minutes sped by as she stood, lost in the scene, feeling a kinship to the imaginary crew being tossed to and fro by the elemental rage of the storm. She sensed Edward standing next to her. He smelled different, fresh from the shower and wearing a light cologne. She smiled shyly at him. He was dressed for walking, too, in jeans, a turtle neck and mostly zipped black jacket.
"Ready to go?"
"Yep. Let me just grab my wallet and coat."
"Don't you need your purse?"
"What for? I'll just put my wallet in my coat pocket. Why carry one more thing?"
"You are frighteningly practical for a girl."
"And you're frighteningly chauvinistic for a human being."
"I've found that stereotypes often have roots in truth. While we're outside, you count how many women are carrying purses, and I'll count the ones who aren't."
"Whatever."
"Hmm. How old are you?"
"Okay, funny guy. Let's go."
Despite his teasing, Bella enjoyed his company. Or maybe because of it. She found herself clinging to their banter, trying to one up him, finding excuses to laugh and flirt in an effort to block out the constant hum of disappointment and betrayal that simmered behind all of her other thoughts.
They walked several blocks from the condominium without her really registering where they were going. When he opened a glass-paned door and motioned her inside she finally looked around. It was as cold inside as out and the air was full of sounds of laughter over the swish and scrape of metal blades cutting across ice.
"Oh no. What are we doing here?"
"Ice skating. Obviously."
"No, Edward this is a bad idea. Really bad. I'm known as a world-class klutz in my hometown for a reason. There's no possible way I'm going ice skating."
"The way I see it, you just told me everything I need to know. There's no way we're leaving without ice skating now. First of all, if you're as klutzy as you think you are, I'll look talented and graceful next to you. Secondly, it's reassuring to know I'll have something to laugh about for days after you leave. What size do you wear?" Bella helplessly tagged along behind him as he paid for their entrance and skate rentals.
"Seven. But I'm not doing this. You are absolutely horrible. What could possibly induce me to strap on skates and go out there now?"
"First of all, you lace them on. Strapping things on is probably best discussed some other time," he said with a comical grin while rapidly tying his laces. "Secondly, if you just grab a pair and come out there with me you'll have a kick-ass good time and work up an appetite for the best Mediterranean food on this side of the Atlantic Ocean."
Bella felt her cheeks flaming in response to his brash innuendos. "Grab a pair, huh?" she asked while casting a hesitant glance at the pair of size 7 skates he dropped on the bench next to her. "Do they have dolmades?"
"Do they have dolmades, she asks. Yes they do," he replied while crouching down to help her put on her skates. "They have dolmades and calamari and lamb stew and shish kabobs and pretty much anything else you could want. Plus a pretty incredible wine selection. Now stop being such a chicken and let's go."
With that, Edward pulled her to her feet and didn't let go of her hands until they had tottered over to the rink and stepped onto the ice. Bella felt like a new-born foal. Her ankles wobbled alarmingly, but Edward coaxed her through the step-push-glide motion until she was able to make her way around the outside of the rink without falling. They skated for almost an hour before taking a break to get drinks and use the restroom.
Bella was surprised at herself when she pulled Edward back on the ice. Once she had gotten over her initial fear, she actually found it was a lot of fun. There were other obvious beginners out there, too, plus several couples skating comfortably together.
Couples. . . there was a scary thought. Since she met Edward last night, Bella had viewed her unanticipated layover as a welcome escape from reality. She would be flying back to Seattle tomorrow afternoon. She didn't want him to start thinking of them as a couple. Or even possessing the potential for being a couple.
She had so much to figure out, not the least of which was announcing her broken engagement to her friends and father. Did Mike's mom already know? They had plans to celebrate Christmas all together at Mike's parent's house in Everett. She hoped she could find the nerve to tell her Dad before he got the call from somebody else. A cold weight settled on her shoulders. Her focus was shattered and she slipped, arms wind-milling wildly.
"Whoa, whoa. I've got you. Where'd you go? You were having a good time a minute ago and then you just zoned out on me."
"I'm sorry. I think I'm a bit tired. This is the most athletic thing I've done in the last two years."
"Well, if that's the case, make sure you consult your doctor before doing anything really strenuous." He winked suggestively and Bella punched his shoulder. But he had at least managed to make her laugh.
They returned their skates and pulled their shoes back on. Bella was amazed she had escaped injury. Edward didn't let her fall once. However her legs and lower back were stiff and sore from the unaccustomed use. A walk back to the Mediterranean restaurant that Edward recommended was just what she needed to loosen up.
She was startled when they stepped outside and he took her hand, twining her fingers with his own. But she didn't pull away.
