EPOV
We drove around for a bit, talking. She kept asking me where we were going but I wanted it to be a surprise. I had found this place a couple of days after I had gotten relatively settled in at my new place, not to far from here. I had gone for a run that night, like I used to do ever night at home before I moved, and found a dirt track that was almost invisible under all the overgrown vegetation. I decided to follow it and about 10-15 minutes later, it opened up to a huge, beautiful meadow.
There was a J.B LOVES R.C. carved into one of the bigger trees that I passed and I realized that although this place had obviously been special to someone at some point in time, they must have moved away or forgotten about it because it was obvious it hadn't been visited in a long while. I didn't know whether Bella would like it or not, but I hoped she did.
"Are we there yet?" she asked innocently.
"Patience is a virtue, you know." I said with a laugh. "And no, we aren't there yet." 5 seconds later I pulled into a small parking lot. "Now we're there. Well, almost. We have to walk the rest of the way." She narrowed her eyes and I smiled at her before getting out of the car to open her door.
"So where exactly are we walking to?" she asked as I helped her out of the car.
"I told you, it's a surprise."
"Oh, fine, be that way." She huffed. I popped the trunk and grabbed the blanket and cooler I packed earlier then closed and locked the car.
"Ready?" I offered her my hand. She took it tentatively.
"Exactly how far are we walking? Because I should warn you that I am not much into hiking." She said as we started off.
"Don't worry. It's just up the trail here. And it's flat the entire way." I assured her. We started on the trail and got to the meadow a few minutes later. I watched her as she took in the sight.
"What do you think?" I asked after a moment.
"It's beautiful. How did you find it?" I shrugged.
"I went for a run one night and came across the trail. You think its pretty now, you should see it at sunset."
"I can't imagine." She was still turning her head, taking in the whole scene. There was a patch of clovers towards the center that I lead her to then unfolded the blanket and spread it on the ground.
"Have a sit while I unpack." I gestured towards the blanket and then busied myself unpacking the cooler. I wasn't exactly sure what kind of food she like so I tried to cover all bases. I had several different kinds of fresh fruit including pineapple, strawberries, cherries, and blackberries and a few different sandwich selections. I also made sure to bring some Gatorade. I figured wine would be a little much on a first date. Or was this the second date?
"I didn't know what kind of stuff you like to eat, so I brought it all."
"I'll say. It's a good thing I'm not a picky eater or you would be eating leftovers for weeks." She said eyeing all of the food I was pulling out of the cooler. We spent the next couple hours talking and laughing. She told me more stories about Emmett and Rose and I told her about my family. Both my parents worked at the local hospital where I lived. My dad was one of the head surgeons, and my mom was a nurse in the pediatrics ward. We talked about how it was for her growing up in Phoenix and then moving to Washington. Before I knew it, the sun was starting to cast shadows around us and I realized what time it was.
"We had better be going. I didn't realize what time it was. Your brother is going to think I kidnapped you and he is really not someone I would want angry at me."
"Surprisingly, he actually seems to like you." At that, I raised an eyebrow and she laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that, Emmett has never approved of any guy that I have ever dated. He always found something wrong with them. Course, in the end he was usually right. But still, you are the first guy he has ever liked right off the bat."
"Well, maybe not right off the bat." I thought, but wisely kept that comment to myself. No need to let her in on the secret just yet. We got everything packed up and loaded back in the car and were headed back to her house.
"Today was fun. It's nice to have someone else to hang out with besides Emma and Emmett. Don't get me wrong, I love them both to death, but there is only so much spit up one can handle, and Emmett isn't one that handles other peoples bodily fluids well, oddly enough." She said with a laugh. I somehow couldn't imagine Emmett being squeamish, and it was a funny thought.
We reached the house a couple minutes later, we said goodbye and I waited until I saw her unlock and open the door before I put the car back into gear to pull away. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye before I pulled out and turned to see her coming back down the stairs towards me so I rolled down the passenger side window.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked with a blush and I grinned. She was so cute when she blushed.
"I would love to." I put the car back into park and turn off the ignition then followed her inside.
"What are we having?" I asked as she headed towards the kitchen.
"I have no idea."
BPOV
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Would you like to stay forever was what was really going through my mind which caused me to blush, but I wisely kept that comment to myself.
"I would love to." He turned the car off and got out as I headed back into the house.
"What are we having?" I wracked my brain and couldn't think of a single thing to cook for dinner.
"I have no idea." I started rummaging through the fridge and cupboards and had a flash of genius. Ok not really, but I needed something easy that I didn't have to think about. Having Edward around was doing a serious number on my brain activity. I couldn't seem to help it, but I always seemed to freeze up and blubber when he was near.
"How does fried chicken sound?" I asked to double check.
"Sounds good to me." I went around gathering the ingredients and had the chicken seasoned, breaded and frying by the time Emmett and Rose walked in the house an hour later.
"So what did you two do today?" Rose asked after she set Emma in her stationary jumper toy.
"Edward took me for coffee and then we had a very nice picnic. Which reminds me. Since my date didn't show up, it looks like I get free reign of your clothes and $100, thank you very much." I said with satisfaction.
"Well, actually…" she trailed off and the silence made me turn my head to face the 3 other people in the kitchen. Rose sent a knowing glance between Emmett and Edward. And then it hit me.
"You planned this didn't you?! All 3 of you?! How?" I spun around, the dripping tongs in my hand flinging hot oil all over the counter tops. They all laughed at my outburst even as Edward came up behind me to relieve me of my weapon.
"It was my idea. Rose and I met at a photo shoot my first day here and when she started talking about her family, I remembered what you had said about your brother and his wife and the whole thing just kind of…unfolded from there."
"That is so not cool!" I tried to be mad, but it was just too hard with Edward so close, looking at me with that smile on his face. He came up next to me and kissed my cheek.
"I'll make it up to you for losing the bet. I promise." He whispered in my ear. Yeah, definitely couldn't be angry with that.
Emmett and Edward set the table while Rose grabbed Emma and put her in her highchair. We sat down and started eating a few minutes later.
"So, Emmett, where do you wanna go for vacation?" Rose asked smugly after a few minutes.
"You don't have to rub it in you know. And I don't think it's exactly fair that you both knew I was going to lose the bet from the start anyway." I complained.
"I guess your right. And I really should feel bad about it but I have been waiting for this vacation for months."
"You are heartless, you know that."
"Yep." She grinned at me and the turned to Emmett. "So I was thinking Scotland. Or maybe Greece. What do you think?" I tuned them both out and turned to Edward.
"You had better come up with something really good to make up for me losing the bet, mister." He laughed.
"I'm sure I can come up with something."
"You had better." I huffed and then added, "and if you really want me to forgive you, it should be sparkly."
The rest of the night was mellow compared to the night before. Was it really just last night that we had dinner at the restaurant? It seems like that was ages ago. Before we knew it, Edward was saying he had to go, and I was begging in my mind that he stay just a few more minutes but I walked him to the door anyway.
"Well, I guess this is goodnight. Again." I didn't want to say goodbye. It almost felt to final, like I would wake up tomorrow to find it was all a dream. I ducked my head at those thoughts, but I felt his fingers on my chin pull my face up to meet his deep emerald gaze.
"I'll see you soon. My schedule is a bit hectic for the next few days but I will find time to see you. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep mister. Good first impressions are key when you are making new friends. I may not forgive you." I said playfully.
"I don't just want to be your friend Bella." He said in all seriousness but before I could reply he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek and then turned and walked down the steps to his car.
"Goodnight Bella." He called before he opened his door and got in. I was still a little dazed but came back to earth in time to wave at his tail lights in the distance.
"Goodnight." I whispered. I stood there for a few moments just watching his car drive off before I was pulled back to reality again. For the third time that day, I got the feeling that someone was watching me and it sent chills down my spine. Maybe I was just paranoid and tired but I scanned the street a second before I turned back into the house and closed and locked the door.