Chapter 13:
Warnings
The next morning came peacefully. I rolled over to Edward who was facing the wall, and draped my arm over him. His even breathing was soothing until a shrill ringing sounded from the living room. I flinched in surprise and scooted back away from a still sleeping Edward.
I rose from the bed and quietly walked to my couch. The ringing had stopped. I frowned. My naked chest was cold, so I grabbed my old t-shirt from the floor and put it on. A beeping noise sounded. I glanced down to Edward's pants and started to fish through his pockets. His cell phone was in his back pocket. When I pulled it out, it started to ring again. It hurt my ears. My heart constricted when I saw the caller's name flash. Tanya. At first I thought it was his mother, but he said they didn't speak and he never mentioned having any siblings. It was the weekend so it couldn't be his boss. I waited the loud ringing out until it stopped. It beeped again, showing a new text message. I opened it. It was nosey of me, but what did he have to hide? There were two text messages.
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Edward, why aren't you answering? -Tan
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I need you here, NOW! -Tan
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I dropped the phone in sadness. Was he sleeping with her? Just then, Edward appeared at the doorway. He was groggy with sleep. I stood up quickly.
"Morning," He mumbled with a smile. His morning wood was at attention.
"Hi," I squeaked.
"Got any coffee?" He came towards me slowly. I noticed his tattoo of a random date. I needed to ask him about that.
"Yes," I told him. "Feel free to shower. I'll make some." Edward placed his hands on my hips and kissed my neck.
"Why don't you shower with me?" He suggested against my throat. I laughed nervously and pushed him away.
"Go shower, dork," I teased. Edward smirked and went to the bathroom. He didn't close the door.
I went to the kitchen and started the makings of coffee in the pot and thought of Tanya. I frowned at her signature in the texts. Tan? Who calls themselves that? Perhaps it was pronounced like "ton" short for Tanya. I laughed at myself and watched the coffee drip. His phone rang again. I glanced from it to the bathroom before running over and picking it up again. Edward was whistling. I quickly jogged over to the bathroom door.
"Edward, your cell keeps ringing," I told him nonchalantly.
"Can you take a message, babe?" He asked. I smiled.
"Of course." He continued his whistling and I ran back to the kitchen. I slid the bar on his iPhone across the screen just in time. I opened my mouth to speak, but was stunned into silence by a beautiful voice yelling at me.
"What the fuck could you be doing that is so important not to answer my phone calls, Edward Anthony? You are late!" She screamed. I flinched.
"Um, can I take a message?" I squeaked. My voice broke off. She terrified me.
"Oh, my God! I'm terribly sorry," She gushed. "Who is this?" I fought the urge to not tell her my name.
"Marie," I blurted. I threw my free hand in the air angrily. I was an idiot.
"Marie? Ah, Marie," She said the name with a hint of venom. "I didn't think Edward would ever decide to actually meet you in person." I didn't like her tone. Acid boiled in my empty stomach.
"Well, he did," I snapped.
Tanya chuckled, "Please tell him that it is very important to call me, Marie." She coughed into the phone. It was a deep cough.
"Okay," I answered once her coughs ended. Just as I pulled the phone away from my ear, she spoke again stopping me.
"You should really think about what you're doing with Edward before you let yourself fall for him," She warned. The line cut off but I didn't remove the phone from my ear. She stunned me frozen. What was it with all these warnings? Why was I refuting them? I got the distinct feeling that Tanya warned me for herself and not for my own good. I frowned, put the phone down and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard.
"Who was it?" Edward asked happily as he bounded into the kitchen. He went to the coffee pot.
"Tanya," I replied quietly. Edward smacked his forehead with his hand.
"Shit!" He yelled. He turned and jogged past me back into the living room. He dropped the towel around his waste and grabbed his jeans, flinging them on up over his hips before buttoning them. I watched in sadness.
"I gotta go," He said frantically. "What time is it?"
"Eleven," I replied in a daze.
"Shit, shit!" He cried again. He pulled his shirt over his head, put on his socks, and stuck his feet in his boots not bothering to tie them. He came back to the kitchen. I watched silently as he grabbed his phone off of the counter.
"Do you work today or something?" I asked nonchalantly.
"No, I actually only work three days a week."
"Oh. I didn't know that."
"Pays good, though. Got any to go cups?" He asked. I nodded and moved like a zombie. I poured black coffee into a travelers mug.
"I'll call you," He said quickly before kissing my cheek. He fiddled with his phone and stuck it to his ear. I placed the lid over the mug and pushed it in, then handed it to him.
"Tanya," He gushed. "Yeah, I know. I know! I'm sorry." He listened again. "Yes, ma'am," He growled. I knew who she was now. The older woman that showed him his sexual ways. I cringed. Jealousy flushed through me. Why was he still talking to her? I broke free from my thoughts and saw as Edward forced a smile to me. He left my apartment leaving me in ruins.
Just then, my own cell phone ringing broke me from my thoughts. I picked it up from the coffee table. My mother. I groaned but thought back to Charlie. I answered.
"Mom."
"Bella. Oh, I'm so glad you answered."
"Yeah," I replied dead panned. My mind was still on Edward.
"I wanted to apologize, baby." That got my attention.
"Really?"
"Yes. It wasn't my place to judge. It wasn't Rosalie's either. Please forgive me." I sighed happily, a burden was being lifted.
"I forgive you, mom."
"Good. Now, I don't need any deep details, I just want you happy."
"I am," I half lied. "I mean, I'm on my way to it."
"Good. Have you spoken to Ro-"
"No. I'm my ready to. I don't know if I eve will be."
"Okay, baby." I knew Renee would never cut Rose off completely. She loved her. Not more than me, but enough.
I spoke with my mother for over an hour on the phone. She didn't ask about Edward, which was good. I wasn't ready to discuss him just yet. We spoke of work mostly. She promised to come into my gallery soon to see some of Connie's work. It wasn't until I was alone again that I thought back to Edward and Tanya. I groaned. Just before falling asleep, I decided to text him.
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Miss you. -B
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It was all I could think of. At least it was honest. My phone buzzed.
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I miss you. -E
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Part of my worry floated away from me. I read his text over and over until I drifted off to sleep alone.
Oh, my! What did you think of that? And why would Edward still need to talk to her?! *smh*
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xx more soon!
