A/N: I do not own Twilight

I got 13 reviews on the last chapter guys! Not the 15 I was hoping for :( but pretty close. So I decided I could wait for 2 more reviews or update to thank those that did review… I chose to update! :)

Chapter 10

Bella

It had been five days since I'd last seen Edward. I hadn't spoken to him since he'd turned up at my work and I had the feeling that something was wrong. I'd called him repeatedly since then and every time his phone had either been off or not answered. I contemplated turning up at his house but I didn't want to seem too eager. However I desperately needed to see him… for two reasons. Firstly I needed to find out if I cared for him enough to leave Mike so I had to spend as much time with him as possible before this month was over. Secondly I missed him. It had only been five days and I felt like a year had gone by without me seeing him. I felt empty and like there was a void inside me that I needed him to fill.

"Honey is everything okay?" asked Mike. We were eating our Sunday dinner together and I wasn't in a particularly talkative mood.

I decided that telling him I was fine would be a too obvious lie. "I don't really feel that well," I replied finishing my food and putting my knife and fork together, "I think I'm going to have an early night."

"I thought you looked a little pale," he took my hand in his, "why don't you go to bed and I'll clean up here."

"Thanks Mike," I replied. These were the kind of moments where I realised why I did marry Mike. He was always so sweet and caring and I hated the idea that I could be breaking his heart some day soon.

He smiled caringly at me as I went to get myself dressed for bed. Once I was in my pyjamas I slipped under the sheets and drifted off into a restless sleep.

Edward

"Come on come on! YES! I knew we had this in the bag."

It was a Monday night and as routine Emmett and I always met up to watch the baseball game.

"They don't stand a chance," Emmett shouted at the TV while drinking his beer. Unfortunately tonight I didn't share his enthusiasm. My thoughts were dominated by other more important things.

"Dude, what's up?" Emmett asked, "We're crushing them man," he gestured to the TV "and you don't seem very thrilled."

"No I am. It's just…" I trailed off.

"Just what? Oh I know… women troubles."

I didn't even bother denying it. My face was too obvious.

"It's that new chick you've been seeing isn't it? The one that's been making you act all high at work." He turned the television down.

"Yeah, Bella."

"And what's the problem?"

"I gave her some flowers and she threw them away."

Did that sound as pathetic out loud as it did in my head?

"And…" Emmett probed.

"And nothing."

"That's all? Well did you ask her why? Have you seen her since?"

"No I haven't talked to her since. She's called me and stuff but… oh I don't know."

"Oh," Emmett looked shocked, "do you love her?"

I didn't say anything.

"Ha-ha," he erupted into laughter, "you love her. Little Eddie boy is in love."

"Call me Eddie one more time and I swear you'll be sorry."

"Ok ok calm down. You know she could have a reason. Maybe she didn't like them."

"They're her favourites."

"Well stop being a pussy and call her to find out. Since when have you been afraid of women?"

"Never," I let out a resigned sigh.

"Good now get on the phone," he turned the TV back up and rested his feet on the coffee table.

I walked into the study and picked up the phone to dial Bella's number.

Here goes nothing.

She answered after two rings, "Edward hi. How are you?"

"Fine you?"

"Good. I called you loads and you never answered. I left lots of messages too."

"Oh." I didn't know what to say to that without making it obvious that I'd been blanking her calls, "are you free tomorrow lunch? You know if your boss is okay with that?" I hope she didn't catch the edge in my voice.

"Yes I am."

"Okay. Meet me at the restaurant opposite your office at one."

"Okay see you then."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone. Why was I feeling so nervous? I was definitely looking too much into this. So what if she threw the flowers away. I'm sure she had a reason. I tried to forget about it and made my way to the living room to finish watching the game.

Bella

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

I couldn't keep my eyes off the little clock on my desk. It was Tuesday and I was meeting Edward in exactly 17 minutes and 24 seconds… 23 seconds… 22 seconds…

Ah God. I couldn't concentrate. He had seemed so strange on the phone yesterday. It confirmed my earlier suspicions that he was angry with me for some reason. I had no idea why but I guessed that he was planning to break up with me. I was terrified. I didn't want to end what we had. I knew that it would be a solution to my problem as both Mike and Edward would be happy. But I wouldn't be happy.

However my feelings didn't matter. I had gotten them into this little mess and if they could both come out of it unscathed then that would be great.

I decided that it was now a respectable time to leave and make my way to the restaurant. I closed the programmes on my computer and left the office. I arrived at the restaurant before Edward and took a seat at a table in the corner waiting for him. I could feel my heart thumping in my chest and was nervously playing with the ends of my scarf. I heard footsteps coming over to my table and looked up to see Edward coming towards me. He looked his usual gorgeous self and was wearing a simple blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. But I didn't fail to notice the pained look in his eyes. It wasn't hard to miss.

"Hi," I smiled timidly.

"Hey," he sat down opposite me still looking troubled.

"How is work?" I asked awkwardly unsure of how to start the conversation.

"Work is fine. My friend Emmett keeps bugging the hell out of me. He has a thing for my sister and won't do anything about it."

"Oh," I replied lamely.

"Yeah," he trailed off.

There was an awkward silence and I could have cut the tension with a knife. So I decided to get straight to the point.

"Is everything okay? You sounded a little off on the phone and you didn't answer any of my calls?"

"Yeah I know. It's just… I'm just going to say it," he groaned, "why did you throw the flowers away I gave you?"

Flowers? The lilies. How did he know I threw them away?

"How…?" I started.

"I came back to see you and saw you throw them in the trash. I mean I know I'm overreacting and they're only flowers but I just want to know why."

Why? Oh God, how could I tell him why? I needed an excuse and fast. Luckily I was interrupted by a blonde waitress with big breasts coming to our table.

"Hello. My name is Andy and I will be your sever. Here are your menus." She passed us our menus keeping her eyes fixated on Edward while fluttering her eyelashes and sticking her chest out at him.

Did she not see me or something?

Edward didn't even notice and she walked away irritated. "So?" he probed.

I tried desperately not to look down and just said the first thing that came into my head, "I'm allergic."

"Allergic?" He didn't look convinced.

"Yes, I get a rash if I have them near me too much. I know they are my favourite flowers which is so annoying because I can't have them," lying was becoming more and more easy, "maybe that's why they are my favourite flowers. Because they are 'forbidden fruit'. I don't know. But it was nothing against you or anything. It was so sweet of you and thanks so much. It's the thought that counts, don't forget that."

He contemplated what I'd said for a moment and then his features rearranged almost instantly as he smiled. I could tell that he believed me and relief washed over me. Wow. I should become an actress.

"Really?" he asked.

"Of course. Why else would I throw them away?"

"I don't know. I just assumed, well I don't know what I assumed. I'm sorry."

Oh God don't apologise.

"Don't be."

"No I should be. I made an assumption."

At that point the waitress came over again and it didn't escape my notice that she seemed to have hoisted her skirt up higher, "are you ready to order?"

"Not right now," Edward dismissed her as he took my hand in his, "Bella I have to tell you something. I should have told you this before but I'm saying it now."

"Ok," I waited unsure of what he was going to say.

"I love you."

I was stunned into silence. My hand went limp in his as I just stared vacantly at the wall behind his head. He loved me? Really?

"I'm not expecting you to say it back," he continued, "I just wanted you to know." He looked contemplated and produced a satisfied smile, "now are you ready to order?"

I nodded carefully as he gestured the waitress over and I just stared expressionless with no words coming out of my mouth. He ordered his food and I forced words out to order mine.

"Bella? Are you okay?" he asked once the waitress had gone.

I continued to stare. Was I? Was I okay? I had no idea what to say. He loved me and I didn't know what to say to that. Did I love him?

I felt lost without him and found him utterly amazing but did that mean that I loved him?

I felt drawn to him like a bee to honey, like a moth to a flame, like metal to a magnet…. Words couldn't describe how much I needed and desired him.

I tried to imagine not being with Edward. Not going out with him. Not having dinner at his house. But I couldn't. In every thought or fantasy Edward was there. Not Mike. Edward.

This is it.

This is that feeling I've been searching for.

Is it love?

Of course it is.

I love Edward.

The words sounded so right in my head and until I'd said it to myself I hadn't understood how true that statement really was. Edward is everything to me. I love him an unimaginable amount. I know that now.

"I love you too," I whispered loving how amazing it sounded saying it out loud.

"What?" asked Edward as I continued to stare down at the table.

I looked up and into his sparkly green eyes, "I said I love you too," I spoke it so clearly. I wanted him to know how much I truly loved him.

"Really?" he asked his expression a mixture of amazement and extreme delight.

"Yes," I started laughing, "I really love you."

"I-I didn't expect you to say it back. I-I don't know what to say…" he looked elated.

"Don't say anything. Just come over here and kiss me." I stood and pulled him into the little corner behind our table as he wrapped his arms around me. We stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds and I simply ran my hands through his tousled hair. I reached up to gently kiss him and smiled against his lips.

It felt so right.

He ran his hands down my back stopping at my waist and pulled me closer to him as we kissed more passionately. Our tongues mingled and I could taste how sweet he was. He'd never tasted so sweet.

He slowly pulled away but his lips still touched mine, "hey Bella," he said.

"Yes?" I replied.

"I love you."

"Hey Edward."

"Yes?"

"I love you too."

-

I didn't get 15 reviews last time… sadly!

…but a few more people have added me to Story Alert now so I should make it easily.

Yes? No? Possibly? *bites lip*