Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I own 28 Hard Rock Café tshirts and red snakeskin high heels.
Chapter 12
BPOV
We had been at the piano bar about an hour now. Edward was right, it was better than I'd expected. The piano guys were really funny, telling lots of jokes, and they played well-known music that we could all sing along to. My favorite was bursting out with everybody on "Livin' on a Prayer," but it was pretty amusing watching the drunk guys bat a tear away when we saluted the troops with "Proud to be an American."
Edward was being very attentive, making sure my glass was filled and that I was included in the conversation. He'd scooted closer and closer to me until his arm rested along the back of my chair, and his nearness was doing funny things to my breathing. Every once in awhile, he would lean over and comment on something in my ear, and his low, sexy voice made my stomach do somersaults. I'm sure I was grinning like the village idiot, and I didn't miss the glances Rosalie and Alice were shooting my way.
Finally Alice stood up. "I have to go to the restroom." She looked at me meaningfully.
"Uh oh!" Emmett exclaimed. "Translation: I need to talk girly talk to Rosalie and Bella without the guys hearing."
I smiled and stood up. "Or she wants a little girl-on-girl real action before she goes home with Jasper tonight." My smile grew wider as Emmett's mouth dropped wide open.
"Bella! I'm surprised at you!" Alice squealed, clapping her hands.
"I know, Bells, I would be offended at your jab if I wasn't so impressed by your witty repartee," Jasper commented.
"Are you girls into that? Because in that case, don't feel the need to hide on my account," Emmett said, gesturing to us to keep our seats. I could tell he was running some pretty raunchy images through his brain as he spoke.
Rosalie grinned at Alice and me before speaking. "When I'm with Bella and Alice, I can't be distracted," she said, coming to stand by us and linking arms.
Emmett's mouth gaped open again. "Really?" he asked quietly, in awe.
We all burst out laughing. "Believe me, Em, when I get with Rosalie you'll be the first to know," I told him. I winked at Edward before we turned and headed for the ladies' room.
Alice did a beeline for the first available mirror and immediately began reapplying lip gloss. Rosalie, much taller than tiny Alice, simply stood behind her and fluffed her gorgeous blonde hair. I used the restroom, washed my hands, and was preparing to leave when I felt manacles clamp onto my wrist.
I looked
down. Man, who knew Alice's grip was so strong?
"Where do
you think you're going?" she asked.
"Back to the table?" I asked sheepishly. Was there some part of the girls-going-to-the-restroom-together ritual I'd forgotten?
"Without dishing about the steamy looks between you and Edward? You've got to be joking," Rosalie said, hands on her hips. Ah, there was. I had neglected the time-honored gossip portion of the ritual.
I blushed. "We're just friends."
Rosalie cocked an eyebrow. "Friends who toast to 'crazy nights of passion,' huh?"
I looked anywhere but at them. If they saw my eyes, they'd see just how deep I'd fallen… and I couldn't admit that even to myself. "I guess," I shrugged.
Alice pulled slightly on my wrist to get me to look at her. "Really, Bells, what's going on? I thought you were too embarrassed to even be in the same room as him, and now he's leaning over you like the Tower of Pisa."
"Yeah, what happened when he raced after you last night?" Rosalie added. "All he told us was you guys made a deal."
I looked at them then, in surprise. "He told you about our deal?" I asked, blushing even harder.
Alice grinned. "Oooh, it must be something good," she exclaimed happily.
"Tell us, tell us!" Rosalie chanted.
I knew there was no way out of this one. Once these two got a sniff of some good gossip, they were worse than bloodhounds after a fox. "Well, he said that I was more confident than I give myself credit for," I began.
"True," Alice agreed, encouraging me.
I took a deep breath and said the next part as fast as possible. "And to prove it, he promised not to touch me but I had to promise to touch him every time I felt the urge."
Alice startled me with a giant squeal, releasing my wrist to clap her hands. Rosalie just smiled so brightly I thought Miss America would die of jealousy. "What an evil genius," she said after a moment.
"I know!" Alice agreed. "My brother is so sneaky!" She looked at me then. "He must be pretty sure you're dying to touch him, though, for his plan to work."
My shoulders slumped. "Oh, I definitely am."
Rosalie put her hand on my arm. "What's the matter with that, sweetie? Edward's a very attractive man. Hell, I'd do him if it weren't for Emmett."
I looked at her with tears in my eyes, wondering at how fast they appeared. "That's just it, Rose. Women as sexy and smart as you are meant to do him. I'm meant to be the plain, boring teacher of his hot kids. I'll never be good enough for him, never."
Alice wrapped her tiny arms around me. "Don't you ever say that again, Bella! You're too good for my stinky old brother. You're smart, beautiful, and have a wonderful sense of humor. Look at what you did to poor Emmett out there! He's probably still wondering exactly what we're doing in here."
That made me laugh a little. "Bella, I'm glad Edward has finally come up with a way to make you see what the rest of us have always seen: a woman confident and sure of her own abilities and appeal," Rosalie said, smiling at me.
I thought about that. Everyone seemed so certain that I was all those things Alice and Rosalie had just said. Surely, if so many people were convinced of it, I should be too?
"Come on," I told them. "Let's get back. I'm sure they're wondering what's taking us so long."
Rosalie laughed. "I bet Emmett isn't!"
We got back to the table, and Edward was immediately standing up. "I've missed you," he said, grabbing my hand. "You girls were in there forever."
"I know," Alice said, looking up at the stage. "I hope we didn't miss it…."
I looked at her suspiciously. "Miss what?"
She looked at me, her eyes wide… too wide. "Huh?"
"Don't play that with me, Alice! I've known you too long. What have you got up your sleeve?"
At that moment, I heard the current song end and one of the piano guys got the room's attention. "I understand there's a birthday boy in the house!" he screamed.
My eyes widened as Emmett, Alice, Rosalie, and Jasper started yelling and pointing at Edward, who just sat there, grinning and blushing slightly. No fair! How come he looked so good with red cheeks? I only ever looked like a tomato.
"And there's to be a serenade!" the piano guy added. What?!
The next thing I knew, Alice and Rosalie were behind me, shoving me towards the stage. Oh, hell no! I may be working on my confidence, but getting up in front of hundreds of people and singing a song to Edward is not the first step!
I fought them every step of the way, but those two were stronger than they looked. I was hustled up on stage, blinking in the bright lights as they positioned me in front of a spare mic obviously meant for these types of things. I looked at them in panic, and Alice whispered, "Don't worry, we'll be up here with you."
I relaxed… a little. I was still about to make a fool out of myself in front of a roomful of strangers, two of my best friends, and the hottest guy I'd ever seen.
No biggie.
I heard the familiar notes start, blasting over the speakers, and I swear my whole body blushed. Who picked this song?
Alice leaned up, into the mic. "Come over here!" The crowd went wild, recognizing the song, too.
All
you got is this moment
The twenty-first century's yesterday
You
can care all you want
Everybody does yeah that's okay
So slide over here
And give me a moment
Your moves are so raw
I've got to let you know
I've got to let you know
You're one of my kind
I was letting Rosalie and Alice sing, just kind of bobbing along next to them, while I kept my eyes trained on Edward's handsome face. He was smiling so brightly at me, obviously loving it, and when the chorus came, I decided to sing along too. After all, the lyrics were extremely fitting:
I need you tonight
Cause I'm not sleeping
There's something about you boy! (we laughingly changed the gender)
That makes me sweat
I winked at Edward, and the crowd got louder, obviously enjoying our performance. Rosalie and Alice began dancing then, rubbing all of our bodies together, and we got more than a few catcalls. I could see Edward, Jasper, and Emmett squirming in their seats, which only encouraged us more as we continued with the song.
So slide over here
And give me a moment
Your moves are so raw
I've got to let you know
I've got to let you know
You're one of my kind
Rosalie and Alice stopped before the last line, letting me say it by myself, and I blushed wildly as I heard my voice echo over the speakers. The crowd went crazy applauding us, the boys included, and I flushed with happiness. I did it!
"Happy birthday, Edward!" Alice squealed into the mic. The whole room turned toward where we were pointing and clapped at him, too.
We made our way back to the table, getting big smiles and pats on the back from various audience members. One guy even pinched my ass, but before I could say anything, Rosalie (who was behind me) growled, "Dream on, buddy."
Edward enveloped me in a hug. "That was amazing!" he said. He leaned back and kissed me soundly, his tongue dancing with mine, and only pulled away when we heard a few people around us whistling. He grinned at them while I hid my face in his chest.
"I thought you weren't allowed to make any moves," I reminded him when we sat down.
He grinned at me, unrepentant. "I had to thank you for your present. I can't imagine any better birthday present than a hot, sexy woman singing me "I Need You Tonight" by INXS."
"That's right!" I exclaimed. "That could be your birthday present."
He winked at me and leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "I hope that's not the only one." My body instantly reacted to his tone and I blushed for the hundredth time tonight.
Alice and Rosalie, who had been watching our exchange, smiled at me knowingly. They knew I'd have a hard time resisting him tonight, especially if he thanked me like that more than once. That one kiss still had me reeling minutes later.
I found myself wishing he would thank me again… only this time in private, where we could explore the fullness of his gratitude.
Yeah, I was totally going to bang him tonight.
