A/N: S. Meyer owns Twilight.

Here's a long one for you :) I'm really excited about this story right now, which probably shows since I update so often :) I'm working on my other stories too, don't worry! I plan to post atleast one new chapter per story before Christmas. (yes, that includes Inconvienient Switch that has been on hiatus since august...)

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10

One and a half hour later, and a sip from the emergency bottle of tequila I kept hidden in a desk drawer, I called Alice for some pep talk.

"Hello?" she answered on the first ring, sounding as cheerful as ever.

"It's me. I need support."

"What is it honey?" her voice immediately grew concerned.

I sighed and banged my head on the desk before answering. "It's you know who. He's driving me crazy, Alice."

"Ah, I see. What has your man-crush been up to now?"

"Man-crush? Is that even a word?" I bet she could hear my eyes rolling at this point.

Alice laughed, "Yes, of course it is. I just made it up, therefore, it's a word! It's like a normal crush, only it's on a man instead of a boy and you're a woman and not a little girl."

"Then why isn't it just a normal crush?"

"Bella, when have you ever been normal?" she deadpanned, and now I was the one who heard eyes rolling.

"I'm gonna try and see that as a compliment."

"That's the spirit! Stay positive!" she cheered.

I so wanted to hit something right now.

"Can we get back to the point?" I prodded, looking at my clock and seeing the minutes tick away freakishly fast. I was beginning to wonder if someone had been messing with my clock, or if it was just the tequila kicking in.

"Sure, sweetie. Now, answer me this one thing."

"Yes?"

"Just one little question, that's all it takes."

"Yes, Alice?"

"If you just give an honest answer, we can solve this right here and now."

"For fuck sake Ali, spit it out or I'll-"

"Okay, okay!" she interrupted, "the question is; what do you want to do?"

Oh. Good one.

I cleared my throat while tapping my foot faster and faster against my desk, trying to push the images of what I wanted out of my head. It's kind of hard to think with a naked Edward clouding your thoughts. Try it, I dare you.

"Shit, Alice. Why must you always ask these questions? It's no fair." I grumbled, and then started chewing on my nails.

And there went that 100 dollar manicure. Fuckingtastic, Bella.

"It's not rocket science. I think you're making this a bigger deal than it actually is." she went on, and I could tell that she was in I'm-going-to-nag-you-until-you-see-my-point mood.

"Ali, please. Don't start with-" I began, but she cut me off again.

"I'm going to lay it out for you, so just listen." I could practically see her holding her hands up to silence me, all the while glaring at me with her evil-stare, which she only used on special occasions. "Girl meets boy, girl fucks boy, girl finds out that boy is her client and that she should stay professional, boy wants to get into girl's pants, girl wants to get into boy's pants, both are idiots and the most stubborn people I've ever fucking met."

I flinched slightly, "Ouch, Ali. No sugarcoating it, huh?"

"No. There's been enough of that and you know it. Maybe you should just get it over with and then maybe you can move on." she sounded like a stern professor, and for one former high school troublemaker, she kind of scared the shit out of me.

"Easier said then done." I mumbled. I was pretty fucking sure that there was no moving on after having had sex with Edward Cullen. Twice.

She sighed, "Then don't move on! Get to know the guy and see if he's really worth spending your time on, and if he's not… Well, then, good riddance!"

I looked at the clock and saw that I had only 20 minutes before I needed to be at Edward's place. Since I wanted to take a quick look in the mirror before I went, I realized that I was in a fucking hurry.

"Ali, thanks for the advice."

"But you're not gonna take it, are you?"

I ignored her question since I wasn't sure myself what I was gonna do. "I'll call you tonight, and then I want to hear about your date from this weekend, okay?"

"Oh, Bella! Jasper is amazing, he's got this wicked body and his hair is just to die for! Not to mention that he's a really-"

Now it was my turn to interrupt, "Ali, I really need to run. I'm sorry hun, but we'll talk later!"

"Okay, sorry, I just get to carried away when I think of him." she laughed, and I couldn't help but to smile at the sound. She was so taken with this guy, already. Typical Alice. She falls fast and she falls hard. Luckily she also recovers quickly. It just takes one Cosmoreos night, and then she's out there again, looking for the next guy.

"I get it, believe me."

"Hey, maybe Rose and I can come over tonight instead?" Alice asked, and I immediately liked the idea. A night with my girls was just what I needed.

"Sounds perfect, Ali. I'll see you later."

"Bye sweetie." she chirped, and then we hung up.

oOoOoOo

25 minutes later, I was outside Edward's apartment. It might have taken me an extra 3 minutes or so to get my hair right, but I was almost on time.

Plus, my hair looked amazing. So there you go, totally justified.

I rang the doorbell and waited, staring menacingly at my foot so that it wouldn't start tapping again. That thing had a life of its own, I tell you.

It only took 16 seconds for him to open the door. I know that, because I counted. A strange, unfamiliar feeling was spreading through my body. Kind of like how I felt when I couldn't find my tequila bottle or when I thought I had missed an episode of Dancing with the stars.

Wait a fucking second… Was I nervous?

"Hello again." Edward greeted me in the doorway. He was still wearing his suite, and the sight of him made my heartbeats pick up, something I only thought happened in cheesy romance novels.

"Hello Edward."

I wanted to purr his name, but that would be a tad dramatic, wouldn't it? Edwarrrrrrd… Mmm, sexy…

Clearing my throat, I took a step into the apartment and began to take off my jacket. "I trust you had a pleasant lunch?"

He shrugged and helped me with the jacket. My eyes closed as his fingers accidentally, or probably not accidentally, graced the skin at my neck for the shortest second. Then I shook my head slightly, intent on not falling into an Edward-coma at that precise moment.

That wouldn't be professional! Morals whined while good judgment nodded in agreement. I was pleased that my noble senses had returned since I would probably need them during the following hours. But when Edward looked at me from under his long, dark lashes, making my entire body ache with desire, I realized that sex addict and hoohah had accompanied me as well. They stood in one corner of the boxing ring, making fist punches as they waited for brain to surrender and ring the bell for the fight to begin. Good judgment was giving morals a pep talk while handing her the teeth guard, and hoohah was fastening sex addict boxing gloves with a wide grin. She was sure this would be a slam-dunk, and sadly, brain agreed with her.

Edward gestured for me to go first, "After you, Miss Swan."

"Thank you." I walked through the foyer, which was very grand, and into the vacant living room. The entire wall to my right was made out of glass, and the view from up there was spectacular. I could practically see every inch of New York. In the far right corner was a grand staircase, artfully crafted out of beautiful white marble. The wall straight across from where I was standing had 3 standard sized windows, and to the very left were the doors that lead out onto the large balcony, visible through the windows. I imagined spending my evenings out there, cuddled up next to Edward under a blanket with a cup of tea in my hand, watching the sunset and…

What the hell, now I was fantasizing again. And about tea? I didn't even drink tea! If I had been in charge of that fantasy, there would have been tequila in that cup.

Clearly, heart was messing with me now. Of course she would have joined the game sooner of later. I could see her standing in the middle of the boxing ring, trying to make peace while brain sighed and shook her head.

"So what made you buy this apartment?" I asked, trying to make small talk so that I could focus on something other than the crazy sexual attraction between us. It felt like a magnet, and I was pretty sure, judging by the looks Edward was giving me, that he experienced the same feeling.

"Well, it's spacious, I have two floors all to myself, it's a perfect location and, in the words of my realtor, it has the best view in New York city."

"You don't miss having neighbors?"

He chuckled, "I don't like neighbors."

"In general?"

Shrugging, he walked ahead of me to the balcony doors and opened them. "I find that they often are opposed to late night activities."

I rolled my eyes, "Speaking as a true bachelor."

And now we were beginning to leave professionalism behind. Well, what was left of it anyway, which wasn't much at all. I figured that I had earned a few points back when I closed two buttons on my shirt, but those points were quickly slipping away as we entered into this all too familiar territory.

"The most eligible bachelor in New York."

I thought I heard a note of sarcasm in his voice, but I couldn't be sure.

I followed him out onto the balcony. It was pretty windy but not cold at all, and I excitedly took in the sight of the pulsing city below, trying to make out shapes of the people crowding the street but noticing that I was way too high up for that.

Edward was leaning against the railing much the same way as I was, and I quickly realized that it was much more rewarding to stare at him instead of the tiny pedestrians. His gaze was fixed on something in the distance, and I didn't know if he was really looking at something or if he was lost in thoughts, kind of like I was when I was looking at him.

Creepy Bella moment.

"Do you like it here? Up in your sky castle?" I asked, still looking at him. It was kind of hard to stop once you had started, believe me.

He smiled slightly, not shifting his gaze from whatever he was staring at. "Yes. It's an amazing feeling to have the whole city at your feet."

I was just about to put in a snarky comment when he turned to me with a crooked smile on his face. This time when he advanced, I didn't step back. I waited until he was standing straight in front of me, only inches away.

"Besides," he whispered, mesmerizing me with his stunning green eyes, "I like to be on top."

Total womanizer alert…

He leaned in closer, and I reached up to meet him. Brain rang the bell and heart sprinted out of the ring as sex addict pounced on morals, quickly knocking her unconscious.

My lips touched his while brain counted to ten, but morals didn't get up again. She was out cold, and now hoohah joined sex addict in a frantic victory dance. Heart stood in the corner, shaking her head in surrender.

Edward kissed me deeply, and somehow, the kiss felt different from others we shared. I couldn't make out what it was, but the way his hands caressed my face and how his lips moved against mine was not like the other times. It felt more intimate, not like the introduction to foreplay, but as if the kiss itself was the main part. I kissed him back, and was getting lost in the sensation just as he suddenly broke the kiss and stepped back, looking apologetic as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

"Bella, this is my friend Jasper."

I frowned at him, confused. "What are you talking about? Have you named your dick Jasper?" I glanced down at his crotch, "That's original. I mostly hear Krull the warrior king or Bruce Allmighty, but I guess Jasper has a ring to it."

A loud laugh coming from behind me had me spinning on my heal to face the doors, and I came face to face with a gorgeous, tall, blonde man looking to be in his early thirties.

"Hi there. I take it that you are the famous Bella Swan that I have heard so much about?" the man said, and I could see Edward gesturing wildly in my peripheral vision.

I turned to Edward, raising one eyebrow, "Famous, huh?"

"Jasper is good at exaggerating." Edward shrugged, looking a bit embarrassed. Wow, that was a highly uncharacteristic look for him.

"Of course he is." I laughed, secretly pleased that he had talked about me with his friend. "So what has Edward been saying about me? Not all lies, I hope." I said to Jasper, who smiled deviously at Edward.

"I think I pretty much know everything there is to know by now."

"Ah, but you see, there is so much that not even Edward here knows." I extended a hand to shake Jaspers, and I thought I heard Edward say "yet…" in a low voice. I couldn't be sure though, and when I looked back at him his expression revealed nothing.

"So, Bella, what are your plans for Edward's apartment? I heard something about a shower in the living room?" Jasper asked as we walked back inside. Edward stayed one step behind, and I thought he was being a bit careful now that his friend was here and was threatening to expose just what Edward was saying about me. Jasper seemed like the type of guy who would love to mess with Edward like that, just for the fun of it.

I liked him already.

"I had to rethink that idea, actually. The plumbers didn't think it was a good choice." I looked back and winked at Edward, and he smiled his crooked smile at me, causing me to almost stumble over my own feet.

I showed Edward the plans I had drawn up for his place, and we discussed the different color schemes I had suggested. After going through the samples I'd brought, we decided on the one that was secretly my favorite. I did a little mental happy dance at that. Jasper looked impressed over what I had come up with, and luckily so did Edward. He didn't really have any objections, so after going through everything he told me that he liked it all and that I was free to move ahead with the development.

We spent a few minutes making small talk after that, and all the while Edward chose to stay out of the conversation. I didn't know why but he seemed to be contemplating something, he had a speculate look on his face the entire time.

When Jaspers phone rang and he excused himself to answer, leaving me and Edward alone upstairs in the room that was supposed to be turned into the bedroom, I decided to try and figure out what it was he was thinking about.

He was pacing around the empty space, humming quietly to himself. I didn't recognize the tune, but it sounded really beautiful in his soft, velvet voice. Of course the man could sing, what had I expected? I already knew he played the piano, since one of the requests on the documents I had been given stated that there needed to be made room for a piano in the apartment. My fucked up brain had immediately conjured up visions of me cuddled up on a huge, red sofa while Edward sat by the piano and played a song he had written just for me. The moonlight would shine in through the windows, and he would have eyes for nothing but me as we sat there, together, communicating with our eyes what we couldn't say in words. He would play the most beautiful music, only for me…

Sex addict jumped up from her bench and gave brain a well earned slap in the face.

"Edward?" I asked softly, walking over to where he was now standing across the room. He turned to look at me, and there was an uncertainty in his eyes that I had not seen before. "Are you alright?"

He sighed, closing his eyes for a second before opening them again. When he met my gaze this time, his eyes were different. The uncertainty was gone, replaced by what looked like fierce determination. I took a step back, suddenly scared of what he would say.

"I need to tell you something, Bella." he said, his voice serious.

I stepped back again, swallowing hard before forcing words out. "Please don't." I whispered, because I now knew what he was going to say.

Brain, morals, good judgment, sex addict and hoohah all watched as heart backed into a corner, hiding her face and starting to shake.

Edward looked slightly taken aback, "Why?" he asked, taking a step towards me. I matched it again and stepped back, holding my hands up to shield me.

"Please don't." I said again, my voice trembling.

"Bella," his hands reached to capture mine, and then he pulled me to him. "I want you, and it's in a way I haven't felt before, not with anyone. I can't stop thinking about you, and I want to be with you all the time, it's like I'm addicted to you. I can't explain it because I don't recognize it. It's new to me, and I want you to know how I feel. It's not just sex or desire, it's you. You are what I want."

Everyone was lined up in defensive positions in front of heart who was still crouching in the corner, terrified. I remembered words that I had thought were long forgotten, but that came back to me now.

I want you, and I promise that I will never hurt you, Bella.

Those had been his words, when we had first started going out together. He was probably already sleeping with Lauren at that time, but I had known nothing about that. I had trusted him, and I had fallen in love. Hard. And unlike Alice, I wasn't the girl who fell and then picked myself up two seconds later. Believe me, I wish I had that strength, but I didn't. I fell, and then I got scarred too deep to ever trust again.

Edward was still holding my hands in his, and when I tugged on them he let go quickly. I could feel the panic begin to build, and I suddenly felt claustrophobic. I needed to get out, now.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered and saw his face fall. I began to back away, and the hurt in his eyes became more and more prominent with each step I took.

So I turned and ran out of there, leaving Edward behind.

oOoOoOo

Hours later, I was still pacing along the streets with no idea about where I was heading. My mind was at total chaos, I couldn't even begin to make sense of the mess up there. Apparently, brain had checked into rehab along with heart.

Why did he have to say those words? Why couldn't we have just continued the way we were, and avoided this? Feelings just fucked things up. I knew that better than anyone. And now he was feeling something for me? How was it possible that I had broken through his shell in such a short time? I knew exactly what kind of man he was, and he was supposed to be impenetrable, unreachable.

But now he was proclaiming that he wanted me as something more?

Too much, too confusing and too risky. This had heartbreak written all over it.

He had already called 5 times, but of course I hadn't picked up. What was I supposed to say to him, anyway? That his words scared the shit out of me and that I didn't trust him simply because he was a man? Yeah, that would be a hit.

My phone buzzed again and I glanced at the screen. It was Alice who was calling this time, and I decided that I'd just as well pick up. She'd keep calling until she got hold of me, I knew that for a fact.

"Hi Alice." I said, walking slowly and glancing into the store windows I passed. I contemplated spending a bunch of money to get my mind of things, but I didn't really believe that a new dress or an expensive pair of shoes could make me feel better.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked immediately. I wasn't surprised that she knew something was up, she had probably known even before she called. Alice was freaky like that.

I hung my head, shuffling my feet as I walked, "Same old, same old. Rich, gorgeous men telling me that they can't stop thinking about me and shit. You know, the usual." I tried to make light of the subject, but it was a lost cause.

"He finally admitted it?"

Wait, what?

"What do you mean, 'finally'?" I prompted, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and earning a few sour looks from my fellow pedestrians. "Alice, what are you talking about?"

She hesitated a bit before answering, "You know the guy I was out with the other night? Jasper?"

"Jasper? As in Edward's friend, Jasper?" I gaped. How the fuck could I have missed that? The name wasn't that common, and still I hadn't made the connection. Probably because I had been too preoccupied with thinking about Edward... God damn, how stupid could I be?

"Yeah," Alice said, and I could tell that she was stalling.

"Out with it." I demanded. I wasn't in the mood to play guessing games with her.

"I didn't know he knew Edward when I agreed to go out with him after we met at the gym, but then he mentioned Edward's name while we were having dinner, and I asked his last name and… Well, turned out it was your Edward."

"He's not my Edward." I grumbled, kicking an abandoned coffee cup out of my way. I didn't know if I liked where this was going.

Alice sighed, "Okay, I'm sorry. It turned out that the guy he was talking about was Edward Cullen and by the time I realized that, Jasper had already told me plenty about him."

So my hunch had been correct; Jasper was the type of guy to share stories about his friend's inner thoughts. And not just to me, but to girls he went on dates with. Good to know.

"What did he say about him?" I paused outside a second hand store, staring aimlessly on the items in the window. Did I need a sewing machine? Or an ancient VHS player? Probably not, I decided.

"He said that his friend had finally met a girl who could take him on, and that he was fairly certain that he was falling in love with that girl."

And there it was. The L word. Feared, dreaded, earth shattering, filled with promises of disaster and angst. All in four seemingly innocent letters. It was when you put those letters together and placed them in a sentence that things got ugly.

I mean, what couple had ever loved and then lived happily ever after? Romeo and Juliet both died due to stupidity and bad timing, Rose lost Jack because she would make room for him on that wooden thingy, Noah had to spend day after day trying to make Ali fall in love with him again and risk her throwing a fit the entire time, Will and Elizabeth only gets to see each other once every ten years and I'm pretty fucking sure she hooks up with Captain Jack Sparrow while he's away.

Loving someone was just waste of time, obviously. Or at least in Hollywood, but everyone knows all movies are based on true stories.

"Alice," I began while dragging my feet forward, "I don't want this, I don't just…" I paused, not sure what I really felt. When I turned my head to the left, I saw that I had stopped in front of a pet store, and in a little basket in the window was my salvation. It was white, fluffy, pink nosed, big eyed and perfect.

A teeny, tiny little kitten, looking at me with sweet, dark eyes.

"Bella? Are you still there?" Alice voice reminded me that I had been saying something. I didn't take my eyes off the kitten, and it never looked away from me either. So freaking cute, I just wanted to hug him and bury my nose in that soft fur.

"I'm here, but I have to go Alice. Something just came up, I'll call you back in a few minutes." I said and hung up, striding purposefully into the shop.

I had used my 'have to feed the cat' excuse for as long as I could remember, so why not actually have a cat to feed? I needed someone who would keep me company, and what would be better than a cat?

Men were overrated. I decided that the cat was the new boyfriend, except without all the drama and dirty socks lying around.

oOoOoOo

Later that night, Alice and Rose sat on my living room floor, gushing over the tiny little fur boll that was wobbling around, sniffing and examining every inch of my apartment. Turned out that it was a she, which was perfect. I didn't really need another man in my life after all.

I'd named the little thing Nugget, and the reason behind it had had Rose and Alice howling with laughter for a long time after I told them. After I had bought Nugget and all other things I thought necessary, which was pretty much everything in the entire store, I realized that I was starving and needed to eat. I arranged for the things to be delivered to my apartment, and left the store with Nugget in a blue carrier thingy I had also purchased. The first thing I saw when I got out on the street again was the golden archers of a McDonalds, so I went there and got take out, all the while petting and cooing at my little kitten. When I arrived home I ate my chicken nuggets and fries while watching the little fur thing tread carefully around my kitchen. She was just about to climb into my wastebasket, or more likely tipping it over herself, and I called out "nugget" in pure reflex to stop her.

What can I say? The name stuck.

"You're so random, Bella." Alice was swinging one of the toys I'd bought for Nugget, making the cat run back and forth in a feeble attempt to catch the little fake mouse. "I mean, when most girls have guy problem, they either get new clothes or a manicure or something. But you go out and buy a cat? You're way weirder than I've given you credit for." she laughed, scooping up Nugget in her arms.

"I know, I know. But I couldn't resist her, it was impossible."

Rose reached out and took Nugget from Alice, and I could tell that those two would probably be spending more time here than usual. She tickled the cat behind her ear, shaking her head in amusement.

"She's adorable, for sure." Rose said, putting the cat down. Her paws barely touched the floor before Alice picked her up again.

"But…" Rose continued, frowning, "What are you gonna do about the Edward situation? I mean, Nugget is wonderful, but she won't solve your problems."

Sighing heavily, I got up from the couch to go to the kitchen and refill my wine glass. "I don't know what I've gotten myself into, Rose." I said, loud enough for her to hear from the other room, "I can't even think straight when he's around. It's insane, and quite frankly it scares the hell out of me." I shook my head in exasperation while pouring the wine. When I got back, both of them were looking at me with sympathetic eyes.

I sat down again took a deep breath, trying to find someway to put in plain words what Edward's presence did to me, and how he made me feel.

"It's like, he's the man I've always dreamt about, you know? He's gorgeous, charming, he's not intimidated by my smart mouth and he does things to me that… I can't explain it, it's like we're connected on some weird intense level. And when he touches me…" I trailed off, trying not to get lost in the memories, "I want him. Not just as in that I want to have sex with him, but I want… something more, and it frightens me."

They knew of my past with Jacob, Alice had been there the day I found out that he had been cheating on me, and she was the one who called Rose and told her to come over and bring the booze.

And therefore, they both also knew about my trust issues.

"Bella, I think that you already know what you have to do." Alice said, stroking Nugget's back gently. She was sitting on the soft carpet with her legs crossed, looking up at me with a kind expression on her face that told me that she only meant well. "Can you honestly tell me that you would be okay with not seeing him again?"

My stomach churned as I imagined never feeling the way I did when he touched me. I immediately pushed that thought away.

"No. I wouldn't be okay with that, and I hate that. I hate that the one man who has been able to get under my skin is just as big of a control freak as I am! I hate that he's probably the last person I should ever trust. I hate that when I'm with him, I feel like nothing could ever hurt me, because the rest of the world stops existing. I hate that I love bickering with him, and that he enjoys it too because it's us. Already, it's our thing. And that's the other part that scares me, that I feel this way after such short time. But every time we meet, it's so intense, the passion is beyond anything I've ever imagined I could have with someone." I stopped for air, and tried to ignore the stupid tears that were threatening to spill over.

Bella Swan doesn't cry, especially not over men.

"But, honey, has he given you any reason for you not to trust him? I know that's the last thing you want to hear, but I need to say it anyway." Rose put in, leaving her spot next to Alice on the floor to join me on the couch.

I was about to protest, but she held up her hands to stop me, "You don't really know him, Bella. You can't just assume that he's an ass that will end up doing the same thing that that shithead Jacob did. I'm telling you this as your friend, okay? You should give him a chance."

My head was spinning, images of Edward and I clouded my mind. Edward and I walking down the street together, hand in hand. Edward and I sitting together at my breakfast table, Edward sleeping in my bed, his arms around me.

Did I want that? Could I have that?

"I'm not saying you should marry the guy and have kids, but I'm saying that you should give him a chance to show what kind of man he is. Instead of sneaking around all the time, go out on a date! Take a walk or go for coffee or anything, just try, Bella." Rose said, giving me a reassuring smile.

I thought about it, and tried to ignore the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach, the fear of allowing Edward to get closer than he already was. If you let people get close, you risk getting hurt when they eventually show their real selves.

And I knew that if Edward turned out to be just what I feared he was, it would be so much worse than if it had been anyone else.

"I don't know, Rose. What if he won't want it when he can actually have it? What if it's just the fact that I resist him that makes him curious? If I give in, he might decide that he's not interested anymore and simply leave." I was feeling uncharacteristically insecure, and I didn't like it at all.

Brain was tugging on heart's hand, trying to get her to get up from her hiding place under the table.

"Bella," Alice said, "any man who looks at a girl the way Edward looks at you, won't ever say no to something more."

Rose nodded in agreement. I groaned and fell back on the couch, grabbing a pillow and burying my face in it.

I was so fucked.

oOoOoOo

The next day I woke up with Nugget sleeping peacefully on the pillow next to my face, and as I moved I realized I had a well deserved headache. It wasn't surprising since I had finished the bottle of wine after the girls had left, and since I hadn't really eaten during the entire day except for some nuggets and fries.

Thanks to Blondie, I remembered. That bitch had stolen both my lunch and my date, so she was really to blame for the headache, I reasoned. And in my newly awoken state, it made total sense.

At least I had come to a decision during the night. I had thought and rethought, and finally realized what I had to do.

I would continue working on Edward's apartment, because there was no way I was pulling out from that. My promotion depended on that job, so I would see it through to the end. There wasn't much more face to face contact with the client required by this stage, so I would be alright. We had got plenty of work done when I had been to his apartment yesterday, and I had left him my sketches so if he would come up with any questions or complaints he could simply call. From now on my job involved getting hold of the contractures and calling manufacturers, as well as supervising the whole thing. Since Edward still lived in his current apartment, he wouldn't be hanging around the construction site.

Okay, so maybe I was fooling myself a bit. I would need to consult with him on a regular basis, but there was no reason for why that conversation couldn't be over the phone.

Yeah, sex addict sneered, rolling her eyes at me, 'cause there isn't a little thing called 'phone sex' that you two will most definitely end up having.

She never gave me any credit, that one.

I got dressed and gulped down a huge glass of water, then gave Nugget her food and played with her for a while. Alice would come over in a little while to look after her until I got back at lunch. I was lucky that both my friends could arrange their work schedules pretty much however they wanted, and that they also had eagerly agreed to help watch my little Nugget in the beginning when she was still so young.

I picked up my bag and headed for the door, but just as I was about to open it, someone knocked.

Once again, why the hell didn't I have one of those peephole thingies? I stood frozen with my hand outstretched, afraid to open and find out that I had another surprise visit from Edward. He seemed to have developed a habit of showing up when I least expected it.

"Hellsbells, are you dead or passed out in there? Better not be dead, you still owe me 12 bucks since that time you dared me to eat that green, slimy-"

I flung the door open and threw myself into Emmett's arms, hugging him fiercely. He was just what I needed; a living proof that not all men were scum and not to be trusted. Emmett was enough reason to start believing that there was hope to be found in the male species.

"Wooa, hi to you too, Bells. Had I known you would throw yourself at me like this, I would have come shirtless." Emmett laughed as he hugged me back. As usual, he didn't realize his own strength so I ended up gasping for air within seconds.

"Need…air…" I croaked, struggling to get free.

He let go of me and reached to tousle my just styled hair with one of his big paws, chuckling in his classic Emmett way.

"You're so tiny, Bells. I forget that I can't hug you the normal way."

"If that's how you hug other people, I'm surprised you have any friends who aren't in wheelchairs with their spines and ribs broken." I pushed his hand away and tried to smooth my hair back down. Typical guy move, they had no idea the time and effort that went in to making a girl's hair look good in the morning. Emmett probably just got out of bed, had a mayo sandwich and wiped the excess mayo off on his head.

"Now that you mention it, a few have actually complained about sore ribs from time to time." he mused, then grinned widely at me. "I guess I'm just that strong."

"Yeah, yeah, you're nothing but a bit pile of muscles and abs." I rolled my eyes, "But anyway, what the fuck are you doing here this early? Shouldn't you be sleeping for at least…" I looked down on my watch, "four or five more hours?"

"Yeah, but I went to bed early yesterday." he said, looking pleased with himself.

I made a cross over my torso and pretended to gasp in shock, "Who are you and what have you done to Emmett? The Emmett I know never sleeps before 4 am, and he definitely isn't awake and dressed at 9 in the morning."

"I'm meeting Rosalie for breakfast at a place down the street." he beamed. I guessed it was the combination of seeing Rose and not having to fix breakfast for himself, because he looked really excited.

"Oh, so that's what it takes to get you up in the morning? And your poor mother who though that bribing you with action figures would do the trick." I stepped back inside and grabbed my keys from the table, then joined Emmett in the hallway, locking the door behind me.

"Yeah, I feel bad about that." he grinned as we started down the hall. "So, what's new with you? Have you bagged Edward Cullen yet?"

"No. There will be no bagging, and don't make me explain why."

He let out a low whistle, "Wow, do I sense a little girlish thinking from you? That's fucking unexpected; I thought that under all that hair, there actually was a man."

"And I thought that behind all those burly muscles, you were a 7 year old girl."

"Uh, snappy comeback!" Emmett chuckled.

I elbowed him in the ribs, probably hurting myself more then him. "You haven't seen snappy yet, punk."

We kept chatting as we walked out the building, and I was really glad that he had showed up. Emmett was perfect when I needed to keep things off my mind, he made it so easy to forget the heavy shit and just be.

"I'm heading this way." Emmett gestured in the opposite direction to where I was going, "It was good seeing you, Bells. I have a few job interviews this week, but maybe we can do something this weekend?"

"Job interviews?" I beamed, "Does that mean you're staying in New York?"

He winked and started walking backwards, "You didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily, did you?" he waved and turned around, heading down town.

Well, at least I had one man who I could actually trust here in New York., except for my hairdresser and my gynecologist of course.

It would probably become clear very soon if I could add another man to that list.

The man feels! Who knew? Now we just have to hope that Bella gets her head our of her ass and starts seeing what we all see..

Thank you so much to all of you who keeps reviewing and leaving me such wonderful feedback, you have no idea how much that means!