~ 10 ~

The black smudge blazed on my blouse like a scarlet letter the rest of the day. Even though I made up a somewhat believable story for Rose and Dad—something about stepping under one of the lifts at the wrong moment—I knew the truth about what it represented and so did Edward. He'd branded me with my own lust and called me out for my games. Every time I caught sight of the grease, I remembered his hand on my chest and the burning need down below.

Mom told me not to worry, she'd bleach it right out, but I knew that Edward Cullen was not a problem that could be solved nearly as easily. The wolf pack mechanics were no match for him, and he knew it. I needed to step up my game.

For a fleeting moment, I considered flaunting Jake in front of Edward, but even I couldn't act that convincingly. Besides, if I showed Jake the least bit of attention, he'd be attached to me for life. No, I needed something more believable, someone far more threatening.

Guilt crashed down on me seconds later. What the hell kind of girlfriend was I? Not only was I scheming how to get another guy to pay attention to me, I was planning to use my supposed boyfriend as a pawn?

Wow, Bella, new low. This Edward guy is really bringing out the best in you.

Even as my stomach churned with all the ways my plan was so wrong, I knew I was going through with it. I waited 'til my folks were snuggled on the couch together for Magnum, P.I., and I slipped up to my bedroom and dialed James's house.

My gut twisted a little bit when his mother answered and seemed all excited to hear from me. After asking me a bazillion questions about my summer and my family and my job, she finally went to get James. He was out of breath, like he'd run to the phone.

"Hey, Bella. It's great to hear your voice."

"You too, James. How's your job going?"

"Ah, it's good. Busy, long hours, and the work is demanding, but I'm really enjoying it. How about you?"

Oh, great. I fantasize day and night about this crazy-sexy guy who, incidentally, had his hand on my boob today.

"It's good," I echoed back. "Kind of lonely though." God, I was a creep.

"Mmm," he hummed, "is that an invitation?" Just for a second, I took his hope for my own and had an optimistic pang that Mr. Right could cure me of my most unhealthy Mr. Goodwrench obsession. Maybe I wasn't such an awful girlfriend after all. Maybe this was a perfectly legitimate . . . non-booty booty call.

"Yeah." My voice sounded funny—sexy. This wasn't how I talked to James. This wasn't how I'd talked to anybody before Edward.

"Well, well, well," James chuckled. "I think you just made me an offer I can't refuse."

We chatted for a bit longer before getting down to brass tacks and plane schedules. By the time we hung up, I was sick to my stomach about what I'd set in motion. The one thing I knew about Edward was that he hated being backed into a corner. I didn't even want to think about how James would feel if he found out my true motivation.

Meanwhile, I had a couple parents to convince that a visit from the boyfriend they disliked was a great idea. I waited for the closing credits before joining them in the family room and sinking into the recliner. "So did Magnum solve the crime?"

They looked over at me like I had three heads. "Yep," Mom answered. "Thanks for asking."

"Can we help you with something?" Dad asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

"Actually, yes. I was just talking with James, and—"

"Oh boy," Dad moaned. Mom gave him a firm nudge with her elbow. "Mmhmm?" she encouraged.

"He wants to come visit."

"That's great!" Mom said cheerfully. Dad gave her one of his Really, Renee? looks, and she nodded at him and kept nodding the whole time she was talking, like she was reasoning with a mental patient. "Yes, I think it'll be great for Bella to see her boyfriend. Don't you, dear?"

"Oh, yes," Dad answered, nodding like a loon himself. "Right. Yes. Her boyfriend. Your boyfriend. Yes."

I watched the two of them closely, wondering if they'd hit the Boone's Farm before their TV show but not really wanting to ask too many questions since this was going my way. "Okay, then. It's settled. James has the Fourth of July off. He's watching fireworks with his family on Thursday, but he can come up after that. I can pick him up at the airport Friday morning and bring him to work with me—"

"Bella, you don't have to work on Friday. James will be bored silly at the lot all day. You should show him around town, take him to Quaker Square."

"No, Dad, I think he wants to talk to you about a new car anyway, so it's all good. Plus, he kind of wants to see where I've been spending my time."

"That's so romantic," Mom gushed.

Dad gave her a confused look, and I didn't even try to figure out what the hell was going on between them. It was settled, and that's all that mattered.

A/N: Oh, Bella, I think you might be onto something here. Yes, this is a fine plan! Bahahaha!

In the late 70's, a developer purchased the old Quaker Square silos in downtown Akron, Ohio, and converted them into a beautiful hotel, the gimmick being that all 196 rooms are ROUND! I worked in the hotel's back office my last summer before college, so it has a special place in my heart. The attached mall features a general store, where they bake fresh oatmeal cookies all day long. I'm not saying it's worth a trip to Akron or anything, but if you DO go, don't miss the cookies!

I hope you're enjoying the blast from the past, a bit of flavor from my "formative years." :) Does anyone remember when you actually had to go to the phone to answer it? Or when all the inhabitants of a house actually shared one line? Or when you had to call after 11 pm because it was cheaper? Yep, I'm almost old. :)

I love you guys and your theories and flaily fun responses to these two and their bad behavior! MWAH! Thanks for being here and playing with me in the patch!
XXX ~BOH