I hadn't done a walk of shame since...well, ever. It was a good thing Edward's building didn't have a doorman, or I would have been horribly embarrassed. As it was, I cringed when my cabbie smirked at me as I slid into the back seat.

Luckily, no one expected either Edward or me in the office that day. We had been working overtime to get the Donovan property squared away, and had earned a mental health day.

He'd never look for me at work.

So, after picking up my car, taking a long, steamy shower, and chugging about a gallon of black coffee, I swung into the office. Ostensibly, I showed up to say hello and gloat over my big fancy commission. In reality, I was hiding.

"Bella!" Alice stared at me in shock. "What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you be sleeping off a hangover or something?"

"I bet she didn't even celebrate last night." Lauren looked up from her game of spider solitaire with a scornful sniff.

"As a matter of fact," I started indignantly, before I caught myself. Bragging about the best sex of my life with a coworker was probably not work appropriate.

Lauren waited, eyebrows raised. Alice's eyes widened a little and she leaned in, as if she could smell a juicy bit of gossip being dangled in front of her.

"Edward and I got a drink, but then I went home."

Sure, that's what happened. Except I didn't go home until the morning.

Alice visibly deflated. Lauren just smiled.

"Of course you did. Bella Swan, go after that tall, handsome, redheaded piece of ass? Never."

"He doesn't have red hair," I muttered lamely.

"Thank you, Bella. It's nice to know someone around here has my back. I'll have you know my hair is auburn, Lauren."

I could have died. Edward had decided to come to work, too. Because the universe just worked that way.

Stupid universe.