Chapter 11

What a difference one day made. What a difference one man made. Bella floated. All day the next day. She had no idea the gruff, almost angry exterior of Wild Man hid such a sensual and kind man. Her smile refused to fade. Shortly after Edward left, she'd received a photo text from him. In the photo was the top half of his face, as if he'd taken it with his arms extended, with a townhouse in the background that looked similar to hers. "Told ya" he'd written. She couldn't get over his gorgeous new look and knowing he lived down the road made her just want to squeal with delight. His last text had been to ask her usual wake up time. After she'd replied, the phone had gone silent. She may have glanced at it every two minutes until she fell asleep.

Early this morning, while she was getting ready for work, her doorbell rang. With one eye mascara'ed and the other naked, she ran down to open the door. He was already dressed in a light blue polo shirt with dark jeans. "Hello, beautiful," he said holding out two cups with lids on them. One coffee and one tea since he didn't know which she preferred. She surprised him by taking both since she had no preference.

With her hands busy, he gave her a wink, then slid his fingers into her hair on each side of her head; his thumbs caressed the apples of her cheeks. He looked at her as if he wanted to tell her something.

Instead, he kissed her. Lips closed. Sweetly, to say good morning. Then meltingly, his mouth opened a bit as he touched his tongue to hers; softly, to say I want more, but willing to wait. He lifted his head too soon, his breath warm and lingering on her lips. She wanted to drop the cups in her hands and pull him back. "Good morning, Edward," she loved the sound of his name on her lips.

He was on his way to Olympia, it was around an hour and a half drive, but from there he would be making two more trips further east. He wouldn't be back until Thursday, if all went well. He had to see her one more time. Before he left, he gave her a long look and said in a low, quiet voice, "Bella, you're doing something to me. I've felt it since the first time I saw you." Then he was gone and she hadn't heard from him since.

She was meeting Alice and Rose at McCarthy's after work. She'd never had close girlfriends to go out for drinks like the characters in the show "Sex in the City". In college she had been too terrified to lose her scholarship to party and have fun, being more of a recluse. In North Carolina, when she did go out, it had been the usual lab partners and coworkers, never anyone outside the academic or professional environment. Since coming back from Africa, she was starting to feel like a young, professional woman who had a social life.

Bella spotted her friends as soon as she walked in. Alice was wearing her usual chic and trendy clothes, Rose was still turning heads with her supermodel good looks. Their heads were close together as if they were discussing something. "Hi, guys, I'm here. How are you both?" Bella said as she slid into a chair opposite from them.

Alice's eyes were as wide as her smile, "Bella, you made it! So... how are you doing today?" Her tone just a little too chirpy. Even for Alice. Bella paused, wondering if there was a double meaning in Alice's words? Alice didn't know about her and Edward already, did she? Had Edward said something to her?

Rose smiled and starting pouring her a beer. "About time you got here, girl. We've already got a head start. Get chugging." She slid the full glass over to Bella. "So, how are you? Anything new to share?" Rose's face gave nothing away, but something fishy was going on. Bella took a drink, looking from Rose beaming to Alice's smugness. They knew! Somehow, they knew! In her head, Bella imagined jumping up and pointing her fingers at Rose and Alice yelling AHA!; but she remained nonchalant.

"Oh, I'm fine. Same o same o, you know. Work, home, work. What about you guys?" They weren't going to get it out her that easily.

"Bella, we're married. It's always the same. Work, home, sleep, work, home, sleep, and maybe a fuck or two in there somewhere," Alice said flippantly, raising her glass to her lips.

Rose and Bella burst out laughing. "Speak for yourself," Rose said, "Emmett doesn't get home until late and is gone before I stir. I don't know if we're fucking in our sleep or not!" They giggled again.

How much of a head start had they have? Bella wondered, amused.

Both faces turned to Bella expectantly. She blushed, of course. "Well, I'm not fucking anyone so nothing here to tell." She took a drink to hide her face.

Alice was looking at her curiously. "Bella, have you ever fucked anyone?"

I'm so not answering that! Thought Bella. She could get through this, "Well, perhaps I'm not the fucking type. Maybe I just like making love." That sounded reasonable, right?

"Psssh," Alice rolled her eyes, "with the right guy, making love and fucking is the same." Rose nodded her agreement.

"Bella," Rose added,"with the right guy, doing both should be natural and fun." It was Rose's turn to give her the curious look. "You don't have to answer, but are you a virgin, Bella?"

Bella was sure that her bright red face had already given her away. She nodded, looking down. Rose's hand covered hers, "It's okay, Bella, this will stay between us. It's nothing to be ashamed about. Quite the opposite, actually."

Alice's hands plopped onto of Rose's. "Yep, I agree. And we're here if you have any questions."

"Com'on, let's finish this pitcher," Alice said, refilling their glasses. At this point, something must've caught Alice's eyes because she slammed the pitcher of beer down, "Holy shit, Bella! You work at Harborview? I thought you worked at the children's hospital!" Alice pointed a finger at Bella's work badge; clipped to the side of the purse she'd laid down on the table.

"So did I," Rose laughed, "This is interesting. Bella, you already know our father, Dr. Cullen." Bella could feel her mouth drop open at that new revelation. These were Dr. Cullen's children? Dr. Cullen and Esme's children?

Their table was suddenly filled with excited chatter as both Alice and Rose took turns filling Bella in. Bella sat back with a befuddled look on her face. Dr. Cullen and Esme were the parents of Edward, Alice, and Emmett? Edward definitely took to their mother's side with the hair and eyes. Alice and Emmett had their father's darker coloring. Bella was stupefied at the new information. Edward Cullen. She liked the sound of that.

Alice was still in the middle of retelling something to Bella, "...and my mom said that she already knew who you were! She was your interior d...". Bella only half listened to Alice as her mind was swirling with bewildered thoughts.

Edward Cullen. Why hadn't she asked what Edward's last name was? Or even the new friends she'd made? Every time she was with Edward, things just seem to never go the way she expected. A startling thought entered her mind, she didn't know a lot about Edward Cullen. She'd been too blinded by his physical awareness each time to keep her wits about her. There was a lot to Edward that she wanted to know more about. She vowed to talk to Edward about it soon.

"You've met the whole family, Bella," Rose pointed out, breaking into Bella's thoughts.

"I can't believe I never made the connection," Bella said flabbergasted, shaking her head.

Her phone beeped with an incoming message, interrupting them. She glanced at the message.

Your blush has been on my mind all day. And it's been a really long day.

She pressed her lips together, to keep from smiling like an idiot at her phone, feeling a warm sensation spread through her chest.

"Who's sexting you, Bella?" Alice teased. "Nobody blushes like that for any old text," Rose quipped. They had silly grins on their face.

"Someone. But he's not sexting me, Rose."

"Oh, is it that Riley fella? He looked kinda cute." From Rose. "He wasn't that cute." From Alice.

Another message came through.

Did you know your hair was the first thing I noticed about you?

"Look at that smile," Rose goaded,"I only smile like that when Emmett is sexting me."

"Someone is definitely sexting Bella," Alice piped and they both snickered as they gave her knowing looks.

"Ok, fine. It's Edward, but he is not sexting me."

"I knew it!" Alice jumped up doing her pogo routine. She came over and hugged Bella. "You are so perfect for my brother, I just knew it!"

"So how did it happen?" Rose asked.

"Wait," Alice said, holding both palms up,"text my brother back that you're with us and will talk to him later. This is important girl time."

Bella just wanted to go curl in the corner with her phone. Forget girl time! But did as requested. She rather speak with Edward in private anyway. Placing the phone down, she looked up to see Alice and Rose with their chins resting on the palm of their hands. They looked like children ready for bedtime stories. She rolled her eyes.

"So? How did it happen? This from Alice.

"Alright, but don't you guys dare laugh." She told them about her embarrassing slip and Edward's reaction.

"Oh my god! On your naked ass?" Rose and Alice laughed. "Did Edward know you were laying sprawled out in nothing?"

"I was stupid, I told him I ran out of the tub." Bella palmed her face, as Rose and Alice continued laughing.

"That's priceless, Bella! I would have paid to see Edward's reaction. You're just what Edward needs."

"So he asked you after finding out you were conversing with him au naturel?" Rose teased.

"Um, no. Actually, he asked for my address. Then came over to check on me." There was a collective "awww" from Rose and Alice. "He said I had five minutes to put something on."

Bella looked at her friends with narrowed eyes, "Why didn't you tell me that Edward looks fucking fine when he's cleaned up? I slammed the door in his face!" Another blast of laughter came from Rose and Alice, "Anyway, he asked me if we could do dinner some time and I said yes, then I kissed him."

Alice looked all choked up from approval while Rose leaned in closer, "Ooo, now we're getting to the good part. Do tell, Bella."

"I only kissed his cheek to thank him for checking on me, he kissed me."

"And how was that, Bella?" Rose urged her, Alice nodding along.

"It was fantastic! Mind blowing... it was so good. Ugh, I think I fainted a little after he left."

"Wow, you two have instant chemistry," Rose sighed, "That's hard to find, you know."

Alice looked like she was going to cry, "Edward couldn't take his eyes off you all night, Bella. I'm so happy for you."

Bella stood up, "Ok, I need to use the ladies room. Alice, please order another round, my treat." She walked away feeling buoyant and jubilant. She had her phone with her. She couldn't wait any longer to talk to Edward.

She had just entered the ladies' room when someone else walked in behind her. Bella glanced backward with a small smile trying to give the lady some privacy.

"So you're Edward's new play toy, hmm?" The blonde woman casually asked, walking to the mirror as she smoothed her hair.

Bella looked up at the mention of Edward, "Excuse me?" She looked around to see if the lady was talking to her. It was just the two of them.

"I apologize, it wasn't my intention to eavesdrop, but that tiny woman was just so loud, I couldn't help but hear that you're with Edward Cullen?" At Bella's confused look, the blonde held out her hand with long, dark red acrylic nails. "I'm Tanya, Edward and I go back a long way." Bella could not have known the innuendo in Tanya's remark.

Bella's face brighten at that, shaking the woman's limp fingers, "Oh, are you a friend of Edward's?" Already delighted at the thought of meeting a friend of his.

Tanya threw her head back, she let out a fake peal of laughter, "My dear, Edward is more than a friend, if you know what I mean." She gave Bella a sly look. Malice brewing behind the grin as she looked down from her stilettos at the plain little girl trying to look fucking sweet and innocent. She wouldn't know what to do with Edward's cock if it slapped her in the face.

"Whenever my Eddie is back in town, he knows exactly where to find me. He can't get enough." Tanya looked down at her enlarged chest, reaching out to barely cover one breast and massage it. She leaned into Bella's shocked face and whispered in a conspiratorial voice, as if sharing a dark secret , "Why, it was just last evening that Edward fucked me out back in this very same place." She shivered as if remembering. "He had me bent over calling out Bella over and over again while fucking me. You should have heard him begging me to let you join us."

Tanya looked Bella up and down then into her wide, shock-filled eyes, "You're not his type, but I get it. Sweet, innocent, virginal... we'd have so much fun with you." Her red lips turned down into a pout, "Won't you let us play with you, Bella? By the look on your face earlier, I'd say he already accomplished his goal." Tanya giggled.

Bella had heard enough, she was going to be sick. She ran into a stall with her hand over her mouth and barely made it to the toilet. She heaved and retched as tears spilled down her face. Going over Tanya's words again and again. Oh my god! Edward had been trying to seduce her into a sex orgy!? Edward had fucked Tanya last night?! Before or after leaving her place? He'd gone silent for the rest of the night. Oh my god! She was so disgusted! Her stomach rolled and turned as the images of Edward and Tanya played furiously threw her mind.

"Bella? Oh my god! Bella, what happened?" It was Alice. "Rose! Get me a some paper towel!"

Bella's mind was a confused mess. She had to get out of here. She couldn't be around these people. Didn't they know who Edward was? He was a freak! What did she know about any of them?! She stumbled to her feet and made her way to the sink. She threw some water on her face and blocked out Rose's and Alice's questions and concerned looks.

Rose grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her around, "Bella, did something happen? Are you okay?" She was looking Bella up and down to make sure she hadn't been assaulted.

GET OUT NOW, BELLA! GET AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE!

"I'm okay, I'm FINE! I just need to go home now." She ran out the bathroom door and remember just in time to grab her purse. She didn't look back as the tears continued to fall.

No one noticed the blonde woman in the corner table with a malicious sneer on her face. Her hateful blue eyes filled with vicious bitterness. She'd recognized the tiny woman and the tall blonde as soon as she arrived earlier. They were the people Edward Cullen hung with. She had gotten a table close enough and heard everything that stupid virgin was telling them. Edward had turned HER down yesterday because of that?! Tanya's last thoughts before choosing her flavor of the night was fuck you, EDWARD CULLEN!

Alice and Rose stood with confusion and concern looking up and down the darken street.

"Rose? What the hell just happened?"

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Yeah, yeah, I know. Bella's smart, why is she acting this way? Because it's a shocking reaction, she can't be level-headed all the time.