Chapter 11 – Taking a Chance

"Don'tbe afraid to make a decision that may not make sense today but feels right. Things that are right for us don't always make sense, but if we are not willing totake a chancewith them...we leave ourselves open to missing out on a lot of beauty." – Unknown

I chuckled. "I'm asking a bit more of you Bella. I really like you and I want to be with you. I know that you think I'm just a player and will sleep with anything with a nice body but that's not who I am. The guy you met at the bar that night was me. You brought all of that out of me. and since you've been in my life, I've felt myself changing into who I use to be, the man my mother had hoped I would be. All I'm asking for is a chance. Let me show you that this is not some trick. That I am serious about this and about you. Just give me a chance."

I leaned against the wall, taking in what Emmett was asking of me. This was something serious. I thought of Emmett that way but after our conversation I didn't think he would ever want to be in a relationship. But here he was asking me to take that step with him.

"You didn't drown in there did you?" he chuckled uncomfortably.

He was nervous. Emmett wanted me to say yes but he was nervous that I was going to say no. And shouldn't I say no? Nothing he has done since I've known him has proved to me that he knows what it means to be in a relationship. He's the type of guy who thinks sex on the first date is ideal, if it even gets to a first date. Everything about this situation was just…there isn't eve a word to describe it. I should just tell him no.

But what if he's the one? And he's being pretty ballsy with putting himself out there after having his heart broken. He wants to try it again with you of all people. He could have found a random stranger and attempted it with them but no, he wants to try it with you. Remember what your father always said, 'Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.'

I turned off the water and called out to him, asking for my towel. Once I had it wrapped around my body, I slipped out and wiped away the steam from the mirror. "If I do this, and I'm not saying yes. But if we go out, you have to break up with all your skanks."

He smiled and nodded swiftly stating he would get on that right away. I turned on the faucet and prepared to brush my teeth. "That included Rosalie."

I expected some kind of pause or falter then but there was none. As I brushed my teeth, I watched him curiously in the mirror as he stood there patiently waiting for me to say that three letter word.

I shook my head and smirk, telling him I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction that easily. "Before I say yes, you have to take me out on a date. A real date." I rinsed out my mouth and crossed my arms across my chest, looking up into his eyes. They were sincere and honest. I was really going to do this. I was going to date the one guy in the entire world aside from Riley that my brother forbade me to date. I loved it.

"You got a bit of toothpaste," he leaned forward and gently wiped away the smear of toothpaste clinging to my bottom lip before leaning forward to rinse it from his thumb. He was so close, I could see the veins in his neck pulsing and smell his cologne. When he returned, he was standing even closer to me. I leaned forward and wrapped my arm around his neck to bring him closer to me, kissing his lips.

It wasn't urgent but it was full of passion and purpose. Emmett's arms wound around my waist and pulled me into him, deepening the kiss. When we broke apart for air, our eyes were hooded and full of lust and wanting. I was breaking all of my rules but in that moment I didn't care; I wanted him and I was almost certain I wouldn't regret it in the morning.

"So where to? Your room or mine."

"Mine."