Summary: Edward Masen is a single father, ex-con, and an ex drug user. He and his child move to Forks for a fresh start. Bella Swan is a straight edge young woman. When these two people meet, the attraction is inexplicable. AH/M.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Stephenie Meyer and Summit own the right. I just play around with the characters.
A/N: I appreciate the love and support you give to this story. I'm always so humbled and amazed at the readers. Thank you for reading and I hope you can understand that RL takes precedence. The semester will be winding down, but that doesn't mean the assignments will stop coming. This week and next week I have papers to write. =/ Hope you all like this chapter, and forgive me if I'm gone for a few weeks at a time. I promise I still write and will not leave this story.
Big thank you to my beta acrosstheskyinstars for cleaning this up. We should totally take Vanessa to the park and feed her sandwiches. I now have permanant betas assigned to this. So thank you to ShowtunesJesus and Woodlily for their work and help with this. :)
Soulmate
EPOV
"We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude."
-Charles R. Swindoll
I woke up in the middle of the night to Vanessa's crying. I got up and checked on her. She typically woke up past midnight, either for a glass of milk or a diaper change. I learned to change her when my mom was still alive; she had taught me, and I can still remember how awkward I felt when I first tried. It was actually very simple, but for someone who had never been around children, it was weird.
Vanessa was almost three, and I knew I had to potty train her. The only trouble was that I didn't know how to potty train her. It wasn't like I used the toilet the same way a girl did. Potty training shouldn't be that daunting, but I was helpless. I couldn't seem to do anything about it. I guess I'd have to search some parenting websites like Jasper suggested.
After I changed her, I placed her back on her bed. Vanessa was sleepy, but she was fighting it. It was a little strange because she normally didn't fight it.
"Sleep, angel girl," I said softly.
She looked up at me with her beautiful green eyes.
"Vanessa," I said warningly. "Baby, you have to sleep."
"No," she said stubbornly. She yawned but kept her eyes wide open. When she tried to get up, I gently pushed her back down to sleep.
Fuck! She had never done this to me. She never gave me an attitude like this. What the fuck was I going to do now?
I pulled the sheets and comforter over her little body and gave her a kiss.
"You have to go back to sleepy land, baby. Its night time, and you need your rest so you can play tomorrow."
Vanessa tossed and turned and huffed in annoyance. She was yawning and closing her eyes, but she still fought it.
I ended up wrapping her in a blanket and holding her in my arms until she fell asleep. I sat down on her bed and cradled her to my chest; looking down at her angelic face, I felt a small wave of victory wash over me. She had put up a small fight, and although I knew there'd be more fights and tantrums, I was glad I'd handled this one well. I wouldn't say I was the best parent, but I was a parent who tried his best to do what was needed to be done to take care of her. I really worked my ass off for her. My only hope was maybe my mom was looking down at us and was pleased.
After putting her down, I retreated back to my room. It took me a while, but I was able to get a decent amount of sleep. When I woke up, it was half past six. Vanessa didn't usually wake up until seven. I set about doing my normal morning ritual: shower, getting breakfast ready for her, and putting the TV on Nick Jr. I carried the baby monitor with me all the time now. I learned right away that if I couldn't see her, I'd better at least be able to hear her.
Vanessa woke up crying, and as I rushed upstairs to get to her, I said a silent prayer that she wasn't hurt or too cranky.
When I got to her room, I found her sitting up, crying in frustration. I could tell these tears weren't the 'I'm scared' or the 'I'm sad' tears. She wasn't shaking, and she wasn't pouting. She needed her diaper changed and she was hungry. I got her changed, and carried her downstairs.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and gave a cute little yawn. I sat her down on the counter and gave her a sippy cup of milk and her Cheerios.
Although Vanessa had a rough night and morning, her mood significantly changed after she was fed and taken care of. She went back to being my sweet little girl. When I told her that Bella was going to the park with us, she got really excited. The morning passed by quickly. I was able to keep Vanessa occupied with Nick Jr. and her playpen. I was always able to keep an eye on her, but at the same time, I cleaned up the kitchen.
"Go, Daddy! Go!" Vanessa cried as I put her Disney Princess Velcro sneakers on. She was squirming and anxious to see Bella. I loved how well she had taken to Bella. I could see they had a special connection with each other. Bella and I got along great, too, but her growing relationship with my baby girl was beautiful to see.
"Baby, you need to put your shoes on first," I said, laughing at her enthusiasm. I managed to put her shoes and coat on.
"Bella's coming to park?" she asked.
"Yes, baby. She's coming to the park with us," I answered as I grabbed her little petite fours from the fridge. I hadn't had time to give her one yet, so I thought Bella could share one with her or something.
Vanessa and I went outside, and when she noticed the box of little desserts, I told her it was a surprise for later. I was glad she didn't linger on it. Vanessa was an inquisitive girl sometimes. She'd ask questions, and I'd answer them to the best of my ability. Sometimes, I couldn't really tell her things, like for instance when she wanted to know where her grandparents went, I just told her they'd be back later. I knew that wasn't the best way to answer her, but it was the only way I knew how.
We arrived at Bella's bakery in minutes. Vanessa recognized the bakery now. She always clapped her hands happily when she caught sight of the red glittered letters.
Instead of letting me carry her, Vanessa insisted on running through the store like a crazy little child. She greeted Bella by hopping into her arms and giving her a tight hug.
"Bella!" she said, squealing happily.
"Hey, pretty girl! Are you ready to go to the park?"
"Yes!" she cried, giving Bella another hug.
"Hey, Edward," Bella said brightly, shifting Vanessa on her hip.
I said hello to Bella and gave her a side-hug-you know, one of those semi-awkward hugs you'd give people when their hands were full or something. Bella said she was ready to go, and that Jasper and Alice would be filling in for her during the day. I sort of felt bad that we were taking her away from work, but when I started voicing my concerns, Bella brushed them off. She assured me that Jasper was more than capable of handling the business, and then she asked me to grab the picnic basket that was sitting on the counter. Apparently she had made us a picnic lunch, too.
Bella carried Vanessa to my car while I carried the picnic basket. Once I unlocked the door, I placed the basket opposite Vanessa in the back. Bella was a pro at getting my baby in her car seat. She deftly strapped her in, and then joined me in the front. In a matter of minutes, we were cruising down the road toward the nearby park. Bella instructed me where to go, and when I pulled into the park, I told her about the petite fours.
"I thought you two could share them today."
"That's great, Edward. I'd love to share them with her, thanks," she replied with a smile.
As soon as I parked the car, Vanessa started jabbering about the swings and how she wanted to go on the slide.
"You like the swings, don't you, pretty girl?" Bella asked as she got out of the car.
"Yes, I do!" was Vanessa's chirpy reply.
Bella grabbed the picnic basket, and I took Vanessa out of her car seat. We walked together to a bench and picnic area, located right by the sandbox. Bella suggested I take her there while she set up for lunch. I agreed that getting Vanessa situated in the sandbox was the best thing to do. Vanessa was eager to play, and this outing was really for her. No matter how much I wanted to see Bella again, I knew that wasn't exactly possible. She didn't seem ready to be alone with me, not that I thought she was afraid, but there was some hesitancy on both our parts. She was shy, and I was not sure I wanted to go down that road. When I moved to Forks, I considered myself 'off women'. I thought that would be best, but since meeting Bella, my resolve had dramatically changed.
I walked to the sandbox with Vanessa and encouraged her to play. There were a lot of toys available, and since no one else was playing with them, I picked up a small shovel and handed it to her. She sat down in the sand and just played with a toy truck and the shovel. As I watched my baby girl, I thought back to our first play dates. That was a time when we didn't really know each other. I had just barely gotten used to the idea of Vanessa, and my mom was trying to get us better acquainted. Our first times at the park were actually good. Vanessa loved the park, and it was easy to play and interact with her. I liked playing with her, and I liked watching her play. She looked so happy and carefree when she was playing. It was like she was lost in her own little world.
I saw her dump and load sand in the toy truck. She was making funny noises and laughing. It seemed she was caught up in playing her own games. Since she was so content to play by herself, I took a seat on the edge of the pavement and stretched my legs out in front of me. When I looked back at the picnic table, I saw that Bella was finished setting up. She had an assortment of containers and Tupperware boxes. She was sitting down facing us, and she had a sweet smile on her lips. It was like she was admiring the view, and when I realized that we were the view, I flashed a smile of my own.
Bella liked me; I knew that. I could tell. She liked my baby, too, and that was what really made me want to be with her. Last night was great. I had a great time getting to know her friends, but the icing on the cake was when she stayed to help me put Vanessa to sleep. She listened to me sing, and then she stayed to talk with me. I had never known someone who could just talk to me, and get me. My old friends were not really friends. They were just drug addicts like me. But Bella was real. She connected with me on a whole different level. I liked how well we got along. I liked how I could just be me. I liked how everything just flowed.
Despite the fact that I was attracted to her, I was also attracted to the way she was with my baby girl. She wasn't mean or phony. She genuinely liked Vanessa, and I couldn't be happier that the woman I liked got along with my daughter. That smile sealed the deal for me – I had to tell her about everything one day. I needed to because she deserved to know before I took a bigger step in asking her out, and I was planning to ask her out. It was more of a compulsion. I needed to ask her out, or I'd go crazy.
"Baby, are you hungry?" I asked Vanessa as I turned to face her. She was now almost covered in sand. Her little legs had sand on them, and she was squishing it between her fingers.
Vanessa didn't verbally answer. Instead, she got up and jumped toward me. She sort of fell forward, laughed, and got up to walk to me.
I guess that meant 'yes', so I crouched down and brushed the sand from her legs. She opened her hands and turned around so she could drop the remaining sand to the ground. Once she was tidied up a little, I took her back to Bella.
"Hey, you two! Are you guys hungry?" she asked, handing me some baby wipes. I thanked her and used them to clean Vanessa's hands.
"Did you prepare all this?" I asked her, looking at the simple table spread in front of me. There were sandwiches, a fruit and vegetable dish, muffins, and cookies from her bakery.
She smiled and shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "I had some free time. Oh, and I've got those petite fours, too."
Bella went on to explain the food she chose to make. She had made grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches. The funny thing was Vanessa loved grilled cheese. Her favorite was the Swiss cheese, and that was what Bella had made.
"This is her favorite," I said, chuckling as I handed Vanessa half of a sandwich.
"Oh, I didn't know that. I just made something I thought she might like," Bella said, surprised. She watched as Vanessa demolished the sandwich and got the gooey cheese all over her fingers.
I laughed at the sight before me. Vanessa never ceased to make me smile or laugh during the day. Sometimes it still amazed me how quickly my life had changed. Prison was an experience I'd never forget, but it served as the catalyst to get my life back on track. After being released, I was surprised at how different my life was.
"You have a child-like quality about you," I said, stating my observations aloud. "I've seen you with her. You are a natural, Bella."
"That means a lot to me, Edward. I really like her, and you. I like you, too. Uhhh, I meant to say I like you both because you know, I have fun and…yeah," she said, stammering slightly.
I laughed. Bella was adorable when she got flustered.
"I know what you mean," I replied kindly.
Vanessa got messier, and Bella and I continued our conversation over mundane things. We were simply enjoying the day, and I was trying to find the right moment to tell her the truth about me. I didn't know how she'd take the news to me being in prison, or the fact that I took drugs and was a dealer for a while. It was a lot of information to take in, and although I wanted Bella to accept me as a person, I didn't know if she would. I knew her, but not nearly well enough for my liking, which was why I wanted to see her again, and again, and again.
After lunch, I got Vanessa cleaned up, and Bella packed away the food. Vanessa had tried the little petite fours, and she and Bella ended up eating four of them. The three of us went back to the car to put things away, and I ended up changing Vanessa's diaper in the backseat. When she was all cleaned up and ready to go, she hopped out of the car and took Bella's hand, leading her to the swings.
I followed behind them and admired how well they looked together. They looked like they belonged together. Like mother and daughter. The first time I noticed, I sort of internally freaked out, but now I liked it. I thought it was cute how my baby girl could potentially have a mother figure in her life again.
Bella picked her up and strapped her into the little baby swing. I went around the back and stood with Bella as she began swinging my baby. Bella stepped back and motioned for me to push Vanessa.
"I'm sorry," she said, apologizing. "You probably want to play with her." She stepped back to move away, but I stilled her with my arms.
"Go ahead. She wants you to push her, don't you baby?" I asked Vanessa.
She replied by squealing with happiness. She didn't really care who pushed her, as long as she got pushed.
Bella smiled, giving me an appreciative look before she pushed Vanessa on the swings. I watched my two girls playing. And yeah, I thought to myself, they are my girls. It might have been a little presumptuous of me to refer to Bella as 'my girl', but I planned on making that happen anyway.
After the swings, I took Vanessa out on the slide. Bella waited at the bottom, and Vanessa and I slid down together. I hadn't been on a slide in years. Although I sort of felt ridiculous, the look on Bella's face when we got down was worth it. I'd go on the slide again if it meant Vanessa and Bella would be that happy.
Bella picked her up from my lap and held out her hand to me. She helped me stand, and then she said she wanted to get a blanket from the car so that we could sit down and relax. I jogged back to the car, leaving my girls to find a good spot on the grass to rest.
When I came back, I found them standing around the opposite side of the sandbox. They were waiting for me, and after I laid out the thick wool blanket on the grass, Bella sat down, still holding Vanessa in her arms. Vanessa was tired. She'd had a busy morning and an even busier afternoon. The activities wore her out, and she was now clinging onto Bella and asking for Ellie. Already anticipating her needs, I handed the stuffed elephant to her. I had grabbed it when I retrieved the blanket. With Vanessa holding Ellie, and Bella holding Vanessa, I thought it was the absolute perfect moment. I was seated here with two beautiful girls whom I couldn't see my life without.
Vanessa was asleep in minutes, and I was actually surprised. She had never gone to sleep that quickly before. Maybe it was because she was tired, or maybe it was Bella. Whatever the case, I gave my compliments to Bella.
"She's out like a light. You must be really comforting to her."
"She's adorable. I like her so much, Edward. It'd be so hard to not like her."
"Bella, I want to thank you for today. Somehow you knew this was exactly what we needed. Last night was special for me, and I was really looking forward to seeing you again today."
"I wanted to see you, too, Edward. I'm glad you both had fun today," she replied. She gave me a warm smile, and she started rocking slightly, back and forth, in a soothing motion. She really was great with my baby.
"Bella, there's something I have to tell you. I know we're friends, and I am grateful for your friendship, but I have to be honest with you." I stopped to gauge her reaction, hoping she wouldn't freak out or something. When she gave me a tentative smile, I continued. "I like you, Bella, and I want to see you again, but not as friends."
Bella gasped; her eyes grew wide, and she looked surprised. But then she quickly recovered and looked…happy? She bit her bottom lip, and her eyes danced. I'd never seen her eyes convey such an emotion. Usually, they looked so sad, but not anymore.
"Do you want to go out to dinner sometime?" As soon as I asked, I mentally face palmed myself. I was supposed to tell her about myself first. Fuck!
"Sure, does Vanessa have a favorite food or something?"
Wait! She said yes! But she thought Vanessa was going to go, too? I had to clear some things up first.
"I meant could I take you? Without Vanessa this time?" I asked, clarifying.
"O-okay."
Wow. That was easier than I thought it would be.
"Yeah?" I asked, smiling a little.
"Yes, Edward," she said, smiling, too. "Did you really think I wasn't going to say yes?"
"Well…" I hesitated.
"What is it?"
"I can tell you don't go out a lot. I was nervous you'd say no because…I don't know, maybe you only saw me as a friend?"
She chuckled under her breath. "That's probably the impression I give, but I assure you, I like you, too." I noticed her voice dropped when she said the last statement, but it didn't really matter. She liked me, too.
"Bella, wait…there's something else I need to tell you." Shit. I had almost completely forgotten I had to tell her about my prison time and my addiction. She needed to know before she went out with me. Hell, she needed to know before she even agreed to say yes to me.
"What is it, Edward?"
I sighed and closed my eyes momentarily, trying to gain another ounce of courage. She needed to know some things, but not everything. Not yet because it was too soon. I might end up overwhelming her, and I wasn't ready to let everything out in the open.
"Before you agree to go out with me, before you even consider going out with me, you need to listen to what I have to say. You don't know me very well, and if you knew me, you probably wouldn't want to go out with me," I said somewhat bitterly.
"Edward…"
I interrupted her. "No, please let me say this. I used to do drugs, Bella. I was a drug addict and a dealer, and I was recently released from prison."
Her eyes widened slightly. She looked surprised, but not alarmed or scared.
Bella's reaction was not what I expected. She didn't gasp in horror. She didn't look surprised. She just continued to rock Vanessa gently, waiting patiently for me to continue.
"Before Vanessa was born, I was in school. I was studying music and composition when I took meth for the first time. After that, I became addicted and started dealing. I was like that for years until I got caught and was sentenced to jail. I've spent the past two years behind bars. I've done terrible things…to myself and to my family. I was very messed up. You needed to know that before things between us go any further. I owe it to you," I said, finishing.
"Edward, we have all done things in our past that we're not proud of. We make mistakes, and we learn from them. Some mistakes require bigger consequences than others, but the important thing is that we have the ability to change and rise up from our failures. I can see how conflicted you were about telling me, and for that, I have to thank you. You didn't need to tell me. You didn't owe it to me, but thank you."
She surprised me again. Really, was there nothing ordinary about her? She was otherworldly. She had to be.
"Are you serious?" I asked, almost not believing her.
She smiled mischievously. "What did you expect me to say?"
I shook my head. "I was thinking you'd run and never look back."
Bella frowned. "Is that the kind of person you think I am?"
"No, of course not!" I cried. "But it's not normal for someone to understand and accept a person like me so quickly and so nicely."
But maybe you're special. Maybe you're perfect for me.
"Edward, you are a good person. What you did in the past is in the past. I see the way you are with Vanessa. I like what I see. Honestly, I do know you are so much better than who you think you are. Regardless of what you've told me, I'd still like to go out with you, if you're still offering."
"I'm still offering," I said hastily, "but I don't know how you could possibly want to go out with a guy like me. I'm not good for you, Bella. I can't stay away from you anymore. I've really enjoyed everything we've done together. You're amazing with my baby girl, and she likes you."
Bella gave Vanessa a gentle squeeze, looked me in the eye, and said, "I like the both of you. I mean that, Edward."
I moved closer to Bella so that we were facing each other. I reached my hand out and rubbed Vanessa's back.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?"
"For being you," I said simply.
Bella moved one of her hands so that it was resting atop mine. She gave my hand a small squeeze, and that was when I had an overwhelming urge to kiss her. Bella was the only woman who had ever stirred up this mixture of feelings within me. I felt happy, nervous, scared, and sad, all at the same time. Our day at the park was nice and fun, and then it turned into something serious and difficult for me, but she changed it quickly back to something sweet and tender. Bella had the ability to make me lost in the moment.
I was about to go in for the kiss when she retreated her hand and tugged on my arm.
"Do you see that couple over there?" She was pointing out a young-looking couple. The man was a bit on the shorter side, not even six feet, with blond hair and blue eyes. The woman was also short, probably as short as Bella, with dark hair and dark eyes. They were holding hands, walking through the park.
"Yes," I answered. "Who are they?"
"That is Pastor Mike Newton and his wife, Jessica. I went to high school with them. They're not so different than you or me, Edward. All I can say is that they used to be totally different people in high school. They were the popular crowd, but things changed. They're expecting their first child now."
"You can't even tell she's pregnant," I said.
Bella laughed quietly. "That's because she's only reached the halfway mark. She probably won't show until she reaches eight or nine months."
I was about to comment when Pastor Newton and his wife saw us. Bella waved to them, and they waved back, walking toward us.
"I'll introduce you," she said as they neared us.
"Mike, Jessica," Bella greeted them kindly. "This is Edward and Vanessa Masen. They recently moved here from Chicago. Edward, this is Pastor Mike and his lovely wife, Jessica."
"Hello," I said, standing up to greet them and shaking their hands.
"It's so good to meet you, Edward," Pastor Mike said.
"She's so cute. How old is she?" Jessica asked, looking at Vanessa.
"Thank you. It's nice to meet you as well. She's almost three," I answered them.
"I'm sure you have lots of fun with her. You must have tired her out," Mike said teasingly to Bella.
Pastor Mike and Jessica talked for a few minutes, and then they continued with their walk. As I watched them leave, I wondered what Bella had meant when she said Pastor Mike and Jessica weren't any different than me or her. I knew people all had their dirty secrets, but the way Bella subtly hinted at them made me think they were a lot like the old me.
"They're going to make great parents," Bella commented, bringing me out of my reverie.
"I'm sure they will," I replied.
"You'd never believe it, but Jessica never wanted kids. Back in high school, she absolutely hated kids. Whenever we had to visit the elementary school for our Big Brother, Big Sister program, she always threw a fit; now look at her. She's about to have her first baby."
"What happened?" I asked, referring to Jessica. "She got married, and all of a sudden she wanted kids?"
Bella shook her head. "No, something happened in our senior year of high school. There was an accident, and Mike and Jessica got a rude awakening. After that, they went and got help, and they've completely transformed themselves." She sighed and apologized for being so vague. "I'm sorry, Edward. I know I'm not giving you much, but it's really their story to tell."
I nodded. I wouldn't want everyone to be talking about me and my past, which was why I only told Bella, and I only told her the watered down version.
"I get it. You were right, though. We have all done things in our past that we're not proud of. The only thing good that came out of everything was her," I said, pointing to Vanessa.
Bella smiled warmly at me and shifted so that she had Vanessa over her shoulder. "I'm glad you have her. You have every right to be proud of her. She's beautiful, inside and out."
So are you, I thought. But when Bella blushed and said, "thank you," I realized I had said that out loud.
Fantastic, not only did she evoke all sorts of feelings from me, but she rendered me a fool with no verbal filter. Fuck, I really liked her.
"So, this weekend? Dinner?"
"Yeah, would Saturday be okay?" she asked.
"Perfect. How about six-thirty? Vanessa goes to sleep at eight, but I don't want to be out too late, you know?"
"I understand. Do you have a sitter?"
I grimaced. I didn't, but I had an idea about who I wanted to look after Vanessa. "I was thinking about asking Alice," I said.
"That's great. She'll definitely say yes."
Bella and I agreed to leave then. We had been at the park for almost two hours, and Bella really needed to get back to work. I got up and smiled at my girls. They looked so cute sitting on the blanket, Vanessa all curled up asleep on Bella's shoulder. I helped Bella up and gathered the blanket as we walked back to the car.
I unlocked the car, and while Bella placed Vanessa in her seat, I tossed the blanket aside and put my seatbelt on. When Bella took her seat, I slipped the keys in the ignition and said, "Thank you for listening and for making this time special."
She let out a sweet sigh. "Awww, Edward. I always feel really happy when I'm with you two. You guys make it special for me, too." She leaned forward and gave me a swift, soft kiss on my cheek.
I smiled as she pulled away. It was nice gesture, and it made me really want to feel her lips against my own. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming again, but I knew she wasn't ready for that. It had to have taken her a lot of courage to kiss my cheek. I had to acknowledge that.
"I liked that," I said, trying not to smirk too much. I was happy she kissed me. Even if it wasn't on the lips, it was still a kiss.
Bella didn't respond verbally. She blushed crimson, and I chuckled at her modesty.
"All right, let's get you back to work." I started the car and slowly backed out of the space.
The short drive back to the bakery was silent. Neither one of us needed to speak because we'd said everything that needed to be said. She knew who I was before, and although I had changed, I still felt guilty for everything I had done. Bella accepted me for who she thought I was. The truth was, I was not the person she described. I'd done terrible things in prison, too, which was why I was let out earlier than expected.
I snitched on some of the dealers and druggies to get out of prison. I led the authorities to all the places where they'd be and even led them to James. He was a notorious dealer and handler. His expertise was in drugs and women. I knew that if James found out it was me who led the police to him, then I'd be a dead man walking. That was one of the reasons I steered clear from my old friends when I got out. But since I'd moved to Forks, I felt like I was safe. Although my parents' death was in the local paper, the chances of my old friends actually reading it were slim. I had been trying to be the best person I could be for Vanessa. I tried to let the past go and to forgive myself for what I had done, but it was difficult. I could try to move on, but I could never truly forget.
I pulled up to the bakery and said goodbye to Bella. She gave me another kiss and planted one atop Vanessa's head.
"I'll see you soon," I said, promising to her.
"See you."
I began to drive away when she called out to me.
"Hey, Edward!"
"Yeah?"
Bella grinned at me knowingly. "Don't worry."
It was like she could tell what I was thinking. How the hell did she do that? Was I that transparent, or was she just perfect for me in every way?
"I'll try not to," I promised her.
She waved, walked into the bakery, and then I left, thinking that maybe one day Bella could be mine.
A/N:So, Edward was a little forthcoming, right? Don't be mad at him for not spilling his guts out to Bella right away. He may like her, he may trust her, but he still has a few guards up. He doesn't want to overwhelm her, and he doesn't want to give her a reason to bail on him and Vanessa. Also, let's just say Edward had a good defense attorney. Edward also cooperated with the authorities, so he was out a tad bit early. Bella will continue to think about Vanessa's mom. She's interested because Edward never talks about it, and neither does Vanessa. Next chapter is BPOV and it's their date.
Till next time
Tina
