I know, I have been slack as of late, but I was away for four days. Cut me some slack.
MaggieMay14 is my beta-queen and Acinad816 and Risbee are the best pre-readers in the business. Happy belated Canada Day to my fellow Canadians and Happy Early July 4th to my US chums.
Alice and I are lying with our backs on her floor and our legs on her couch. It's an odd position, but we are drying our toenails and trying to relax a bit. She is nervous about a date she has with Jasper tonight and I'm supposed to be meeting up with Edward at the Canal Room for drinks around eight before we go over to the Carnegie Gallery for Renee's showing.
When I told my mother that Alice wasn't going to be coming to her show, she looked practically depressed – like jumping from the roof and cursing about how sad her life is – kind of depressed. She tends to be a little over dramatic and she thinks of Alice like her second daughter. However, the mere mention of me bringing someone else completely perked her up. Renee then bombarded me with question after question until I relented and told her I had met a guy at a party recently, which was technically the truth, and she began to ease off, but was eager to meet him.
I, however, was not as excited for Edward to meet my mother. I may be a wee bit concerned she will attempt to hit on him or drug and take advantage of him. The second option was much more her style.
It had been five days since we had our pseudo coffee date; I still wasn't sure it could be classified as a date, but I was trying to remain hopeful. During one of my shifts at the restaurant, he came in to visit and Esme, the meddling mother that she is, insisted I take my break and enjoy a cinnamon bun with Edward, which was a bit odd, though I enjoyed the fifteen minutes of attention from him. Of course, it didn't help that Leah had been all over me about what was going on with Edward and I, which led Esme to question me, too. I may have admitted that I liked her son, and then backtracked to confirm I liked the straight one.
Edward and I talked almost every night on the phone, or if he was too tired from his day, he would text me, but things were going... alright.
"Okay, so I am waiting for the other shoe to drop," I admit to Alice as she groans loudly and elbows my side. "I know, it's stupid and shit, but I can't help it. He seems too good to be true."
"Why can't you just enjoy the attention he's giving you, Bella? Don't look into this so much that you find something that isn't there. That's very soap-opera of you. This guy likes you; he told you so for fucks sake, so just go with it. Though, I'm starting to wonder why he likes you; you are high maintenance." I kick my toes, willing them to dry faster, as Alice rolls her eyes at me. "With Jasper I am just letting the pieces fall where they may."
"You're kidding?" I ask, completely shocked, since Alice prefers to have things organized to her liking. She's very anal-retentive, but don't say that to her. Anal is one of the top words she loathes. "Are you okay with that?"
"I'm trying to be, because Jasper is pretty laid back, but it's a challenge." Alice and I break out into laughter and I decide to try and get a little gossip out of her. After all, she's got a boyfriend now, I need to know details.
"So, Edward is pretty good kisser. What about Jasper?"
"He's good, too."
"Does he have soft lips?" I think of Edward's tentative first kiss, and then our second as he wrapped his hands in my hair and left me speechless in front of the apartment building on that Sunday afternoon after he walked me home. I miss his lips.
"Sure."
"Does he know how to use them?" God, I was hoping Edward would show me how well he could use his tonight. I mean on the lips, keep your mind out of the gutter.
"Bella... I'm not telling you."
"Oh for fucks sakes, would a little girl talk kill you, Brando?" I scramble to sit up, watching not to scrape my feet against anything and fuck up my pedicure. "I'm not asking you to send me a picture of his dick; I just want to know what you find attractive with him."
"Everything," she replies dreamily as I punch her in the shoulder and she flinches. I want to challenge her to a thumb war, seeing as this was how we solved things when we were little, but I remember how we are in our twenties now. A good old-fashioned staring contest should do. Unfortunately, Alice doesn't want to play.
"I give up." I throw my arms up and sit with my back against the couch as Alice turns over and follows suit.
"Listen, you can tell me about Edward if you want."
"Yeah, but you don't want to listen to any details."
"Then let's discuss something else. Have you told Edward about Garrett and the great age debacle?"
"Yeah," I reply, my teeth grinding in frustration. "He knows my mother likes to pretend that I am her sister, so I told him about how to act tonight. He seems ready for it all, I suppose. I just hate that he has to get wrapped up in my mother's delusions regarding her age."
"If he is willing to pretend like you are Renee's sister, he must really like you," Alice replies, trying to put a positive spin on things. I know that she is right – Edward likes me – but I just can't stop the self-doubt that wraps around me like a snuggie or a slanket. I'm borderline self-destructive in relationships. Hell, I have no idea how me and Marcus lasted so long.
I thought Marcus and I were solid, meant for each other, and then suddenly... he's gone. Sure, in hindsight he ended up being a massive douche bag, but it sucked getting dumped. I'm not looking forward to the inevitable repeat. "I can tell by the look on your face you aren't thinking straight, Bells. Edward is not Marcus."
"I know," I reply with a sigh.
"Listen, I have to be out of here in half an hour, so let's get dressed and I'll have the cab drop you off at the Canal Room before I head to Jasper's alright?"
When I get to the bar, I tug at the sequined mini dress Alice forced me to slip on. It's hers, so of course it's a bit small on me, but it certainly looked good when I saw myself in the mirror. It's a little flashier than I usually wear, but when she reminded me where I was going tonight, and with who, I decided to try and glam it up a bit.
The shoes are already killing me.
The club is currently dead since it's early, so I make my way past Tyler at the door and I look around, hoping that Edward has arrived. Just as near the bar, I feel a hand grasp my upper arm, taking me by surprise.
"You look... beautiful," Edward's smooth voice declares as I turn around and come face to face with what should basically be called perfection.
"You too," I reply in a haze as I shamelessly eye fuck him, taking in his dark suit, thin tie and suitably mussed up hair. I smack myself in the face for my stupid comment and Edward just laughs. Perhaps I am lovable with my stupid behavior after all. "You have a drink already."
"I do," he replies as he lifts his hand to show the amber liquid in his glass. "Let's go get you something. I think you need it."
"I had some drinks at Alice's. She made me wear this dress and these atrocious shoes."
"Remind me to thank her later," Edward comments before he waves the bartender over and I order a rum and coke, which he insists on paying for. After I get my drink, his hand presses at the small of my back as Edward guides me through the club to a private table near the back. It is here where I can't shut the fuck up.
"I saw you here a few weeks ago with some friends of yours," I state before I take a huge gulp of my drink. Edward's eyes widen and he looks completely shocked. "I was here with Alice and we were having a girls' night out. When I finally got up the balls to go and talk to you, you had already left."
"How did I miss you?"
"I'm fairly forgettable," I reply easily as Edward leans over and his lips brush against the shell of my ear.
"You are far from forgettable, Bella. You obviously don't see yourself clearly." I turn slightly, shocked by Edward's smooth words, but he simply moves closer to me, his hand now on the back of my chair. "Half of the men in here are eyeing you up in that tight dress, which flaunts all your best assets, trust me." I'm a little slack jawed at Edward's comment, so I take a sip of my drink and just smile at him. "So, what time do we need to be at the gallery?"
"I think we can make an appearance around 9:30 and then slip out unnoticed after about five minutes," I reply simply.
"You don't want to stick around for a bit?"
"These gallery openings for my mother are like one big train wreck. She has known these people for ages, and it's just one big excuse to get drunk on someone else's dime. The less time we are there, the better, really. Plus, I wouldn't put it past her to hit on you."
"Really? Is she cute?" I smack Edward on the arm but he continues to charm me with his smile and sweet words. "I'm kidding. I only have eyes for one Swan woman."
"Good answer."
"So... you mentioned that these people have known your mother for a while, right?" I nod, curious to where Edward is going with this. "Did you ever think that one of them could be your dad? Or maybe they know who he is?"
I lean back and feel Edward's finger graze against the bare skin of my back in a very soothing way. He's right; these people know Renee almost as well as I do, but they have been there since the beginning of her career, which took off right before I was conceived. Surely, someone in this crowd could know something right? Especially, since I haven't heard from Didyme yet. I'm still confident that she is the quickest and best way to find the information I want, but I'm not sure she is willing to help.
"There's a chance that I could get information, but I doubt any of the men could be my dad. After all, with the exception of Garrett and a few of the married ones, most of Renee's friends are gay."
"Maybe she got a sperm donor?"
"No, Renee would have shared that info with me and if it was a gay friend of hers who donated, she would have let me have a relationship with them. I can't help thinking that either she is ashamed of who my father is, or there is something else going on."
"Well, it can't hurt to test the waters, right?"
"I guess not," I answer as I watch Edward polish off his drink and then lick his lips.
We continue with random conversation about my mother and her past until Edward notices the time. We have to get going to the gallery or else Renee will never let me live this down. She was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement over the prospect of meeting Edward and though I am usually a disappointment to her, I won't be one tonight. Well, not on purpose.
Edward's hand is wrapped around me, gripping my waist, as we walk into the Carnegie Gallery. There are more people there than I expected, but Renee is clearly thrilled to be the center of attention.
She has a glass of champagne in one hand, Garrett is at her side, and she is waving madly to a painting of hers that adorns the wall. I see the little red sticker beside it, signaling that it has been sold, and I'm both proud and mortified, since it's a self portrait of my mother naked.
"Where do we start?"
"The bar, preferably," I answer, my body suddenly tense as I see a few more paintings and notice they are also nudes. "Jesus fuck, why does she have to paint herself naked?"
"The crowd seems to like it," Edward replies as I cringe beside him and fight off the urge to cover his eyes. A waiter walks by with a tray filled with champagne flutes and I quickly grab two before dragging Edward away from the area filled with Renee's work. "Easy does it," he urges as I down the first glass and try to take his away from him. "The booze isn't going to make this better, you know."
"Yeah, but maybe I will get so drunk I won't remember that I basically just saw my mother's labia on canvas. Oh my god, I am so sorry I dragged you to this." I suddenly hear the clacking of heels and a small squeal and I know my mother is approaching us. I can feel it in my bones. "Regardless of whatever goes down, I really do like you and for what it's worth... I am soooo sorry."
"Don't stress, Bella," Edward advises as he pulls me to his side again just as Renee comes to a stop.
"Bella, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Renee has her hands on her hips and her dress doesn't fit particularly well, so the top is hanging off in a very non-flattering way. I want to hand my mother a sweater or a garbage bag, to slip on. Anything would be better than the fact that if she bent over she would be flashing Edward her tits.
"Mo...Renee, this is Edward Cullen. Edward, this is Renee Swan." They exchange handshakes and quick pleasantries as Edward smiles down at me, trying to ease the tension.
"Cullen... I know that name from somewhere, don't I?" Renee questions as Didyme approaches, looking impeccable like always. "Did, do we know the name Cullen? Did I sell them something once?"
"God, I hope not," I mutter under my breath as Edward squeezes me and I fight back the urge to run.
"My parents run Forks Restaurant in TriBeCa. Perhaps you have been there before?" I blanche, because I forgot to tell Edward that I didn't want him to mention that I work there, and I can see that Didyme has the same expression on her face that I do. "It's across from the NYPD precinct."
Renee turns a very subtle shade of pale, but I can see something Edward said has affected her. I'm suddenly very curious about what it might be, but I don't get the chance to ask. "I know the place, but I can't say I know your parents. It's been a pleasure to meet you Edward. Enjoy the show."
I reach to grab Didyme's hand, wanting to stop her and question her about helping me, but Renee is pulling her away in the opposite direction. Didyme does raise her hand to her ear and give me the ol 'call me' move, but I'm still disappointed.
"That was weird and nothing at all like I expected. She wasn't nearly as bad as you made her out to be, Bella."
"That's because something is going on. You mentioned the restaurant and she grew quiet. She didn't even try to hit on you or flash her vag at you. Either she is sick, or she is up to something."
Have you been following PTB's Smut University this summer? I am one of the professors (though I use that term loosely) and will be interviewed on July 28th! I'm nervous and excited, so I'm nercited!
Also, I am donating an EPOV of the first E & B meeting from Dancing On My Own as part of Fandom For Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Donate at fandom4lls . blogspot . com or follow them on twitter at Fandom4LLS.
