Author's Note: Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.

I'll keep this short since I doubt anyone is reading it. Seems like the most popular guess is that Bella is going to Phoenix… with a stop in St. Louis for some nookie on the way.

Chapter 13

Friday, May 3, 2013

It was late afternoon when I finally reached the exit from the interstate. I followed the instructions from my Garmin, turning right at the next stoplight.

Finding the entrance, I made my way up the winding road through the trees, following the signs carefully once I reached a fork in the road. Spotting several apartment buildings off to my right, I parked my car and walked into the nearest building.

"Can I help you?" asked a pimply-face young man who seemed to be on his way out the door.

"Um, yes, I'm looking for Apartment 27?"

"Next building down and up the stairs."

"Thank you."

Entering the next building, I climbed the stairs, knocking on the door. When no one answered, I knocked again. Still no answer.

Sighing, I walked away. I felt weird just hanging around inside the building, so I took a seat on the bench just outside to wait. Maybe I should've called first.

I sat there lost in my own world, until I heard the sound of a woman laughing. Looking up, I saw an absolutely gorgeous woman with long strawberry blonde hair walking toward me. She was talking with a companion to her right whom I couldn't quite see behind her tall thin figure.

They stopped just outside the turnoff to the second building, hugging each other before she continued down the path to the next building. Once she was out of the way, I saw him: Edward. His head was down as he walked up the sidewalk, the sunlight making his reddish hair seem to glow. Suddenly he stopped and glanced up, looking straight at me.

"Bella," he whispered.

I stood up quickly, making my way over to him. God, he was even more gorgeous than I had remembered; he took my breath away. But that girl he was laughing with and hugging — he'd moved on. I was too late.

Tears streaming down my face, I could barely choke out a "hello."

"Bella, why are you crying?" Edward asked, an adorable confused look on his face.

"You've moved on," I whispered. "You found someone else your own age."

"What?"

"That girl you were hugging. She's beautiful, Edward."

"Yeah, I know she's beautiful, but we're not together."

"You—you're not?"

He shook his head. "She'd much rather be with you than me."

"Huh?"

"She's a lesbian, Bella. Tanya is my best friend."

"You — and her — you're not?"

"God no," he replied, taking a tentative step toward me. "You're the only one I want."

I rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly with everything I had. I'd really missed his hugs. Edward kissed my forehead tenderly when he finally pulled back.

"Should we go inside?" he asked, tipping his head toward the door.

I nodded, unable to speak.

Edward led me into the building and up the stairs, opening the door and motioning for me to go inside first.

"Do — do you have a roommate?" I asked as I looked around the small apartment.

"Yeah, for the next few days anyway. Riley's going home soon since the semester is over, but I'm staying on for the summer. I signed up for a couple classes, hoping to graduate early. Sit," he directed, pointing toward the couch.

Edward retrieved a couple bottles of water from the kitchen area, handing me one as he took a seat beside me.

"So… what are you doing here, Bella?"

"I quit my job."

He just stared at me for a long moment. "You did?" he finally asked.

"Yeah, um, I received a huge blow about three months ago and it caused me to re-evaluate a lot of things. I wasn't really happy working at such a large company. And then my mom told me that she was getting divorced — again — and moving back to Phoenix, and I began to think about trying to repair our relationship. It just started to feel like it was time to move on," I finished with a shrug.

"So you thought you'd stop by for a booty call on your way to Phoenix?" Edward asked angrily.

"What? No, no — that isn't what I meant."

"So what did you mean?"

"Please don't get upset, but… I tried dating someone, back in March. Mike was a nice guy, we had a lot in common, but… when I tried to kiss him, there was just no chemistry at all, no spark. He didn't make me feel even one tenth — one one-hundredth of what you do."

I paused, looking into Edward's eyes before continuing. "I'm still scared. I worry about the backlash we're going to get from people who think you're too young for me, but I miss you, Edward. Not just the sex — you. I know I treated you like shit, and I probably don't deserve you — but I'm ready to give us a real chance… unless you've changed your mind."

In a flash, his lips were on mine — aggressive, possessive. I never wanted the kiss to end. Before I could even process what was happening, I was lying on the couch beneath Edward.

"Wait," I panted once he moved away from my lips. "Wait a minute. There's something you need to know. Can you sit up?"

"What is it, Bella?" he asked, taking my face in his hands tenderly once we were both vertical again.

"The news I got three months ago… Jasper came by to see me."

"Oh," he replied, a sullen look on his face. "Yeah, I know he's getting married again. He sent me a letter telling me that he forgave me for going after you."

"Did he tell you why he was proposing?"

"I assume because he loves her," Edward replied with a shrug.

"He didn't tell you," I whispered.

"Tell me what?"

"His girlfriend is pregnant."

Edward stared at me for a moment, before his eyes grew huge. "So — so that means…?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it means our fertility problems were all my fault — officially. Do you — do you still want me if we can't ever have kids?" I asked, holding my breath.

"Bella, medicine can do amazing things. Maybe you won't be able to get pregnant naturally, but there are other ways we could explore when the time is right."

"But those other ways are so expensive…"

"I have money, Bella. Between my dad's life insurance and my parents' estate, I have plenty of money. Spending some of it so that you can be happy holding a baby — our baby — in your arms would make me very, very happy."

"Now," he began, standing up and extending his hand to me, "I want to show you my room."

As he winked at me, I placed my hand in his, rising to my feet and letting Edward lead me to his bedroom.

"I want you naked, now," he growled, pulling up on my top as we made our way to the — fuck, twin! — bed. "God, I've missed you." Once I fell onto my back, he unzipped my jeans, yanking them and my panties down my legs while I told the part of my brain that felt this was all happening too fast to shut the fuck up.

"Oh God," I screamed, as his tongue went to work between my legs. It felt so, so good. I was squirming and writhing before he placed his forearms on my hips to hold me down.

"Don't stop… don't stop…" I chanted as I felt the tidal wave starting to build up. Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, I crested the wave, coming harder than I had in months.

"God… Edward…"

He released my hips, lifting his head and grinning at me as I lay there panting.

"What the hell are you doing still fully dressed?" I asked once my breathing returned to something almost normal.

He shrugged. "I'm supposed to meet Tanya and a bunch of other people for dinner to celebrate."

"Celebrate?"

"Yeah, it was the last day of classes."

"So you don't want to…"

"Oh, I do, but I plan to spend hours worshipping your body. We don't have time right now for me to have you the way I want. I just needed an appetizer," he finished with an adorable grin.

Oh fuck, my body was already tightly wound in anticipation of that one.

Fifteen minutes later, I was re-dressed and my hair was fixed. I came out of Edward's bathroom and he was on me like white on rice, kissing and fondling me.

"I just got myself presentable," I laughed, removing his hands from my breasts. Instead of giving up, he took control, holding my hands up above my head and continuing to kiss me.

"Edward," I sighed, once he moved on to my neck, "I'm going to throw you on the bed and have my way with you if you don't stop."

He smirked as he pulled away. "We'll eat fast, yeah?"

"I don't even know why we have to go," I pouted.

"Because Tanya will give me so much shit if she finds out why I'm not there. And I need some food so I have more energy for tonight," he added with a wink. "You — you want to go, right? I mean, I'd like you to meet my friends, but if you aren't comfortable…"

"I want to meet your friends," I agreed, kissing him softly.

Edward led me out the door and to his car, the silver Volvo I remembered seeing in Forks.

"So where are we going?"

"A sports bar, it's not too far."

Parking the car after a five-minute drive, Edward led me inside, his hand on the small of my back. We made our way through the tightly packed tables to a back room with a reserved sign near the doorway. We both easily spotted Tanya sitting across the room, with one seat open next to her.

"I'll find another chair for you," Edward whispered in my ear.

We sat down together next to Tanya, who was even more stunning up close. I felt old and mousy by comparison. All of the other students around the table eyed me like I was some sort of animal in the zoo.

Finally, Tanya spoke. "Who's this, Edward?" she asked, nodding at me.

"This is my girlfriend, Bella," Edward replied, laying his arm across my shoulders possessively.

"Your girlfriend?" a black-haired boy asked. "I thought you and Tanya were together."

"Oh please, like I'd date him," Tanya responded with a wink.

A waitress came by then to take our drink orders.

"Um, can I get whatever you have on tap," I ordered, looking nervously over at Edward for his reaction. I was a little uncomfortable since no one else had ordered alcohol, but I really needed a beer — especially after Edward had referred to me as his girlfriend.

She nodded, moving on to the next person. I kind of wished she'd carded me.

"It's ok if you drink even though I can't," Edward said quietly, his thumb tracing comforting circles on my shoulder.

I nodded, feeling my face heat up. I hated reminders that I was so much older than Edward.

"So how long are you in town for, Bella?" Tanya asked.

"Um…"

"She's here for as long as I am," Edward replied for me.

"You're moving here?" Tanya asked.

"Yeah, I quit my job in Chicago."

Tanya's eyebrows rose nearly all the way to her hairline, and I wondered just how much of our story she knew. From the look on her face, she knew everything.

Edward introduced the other students at the table, but I was too distracted by his fingers to really catch most of the names.

"Hey, where's Jared?" one of the girls asked.

"Hotshots, playing pool with some of the upperclassmen who are 21 or have fake IDs," Tanya answered.

Fake IDs… Jesus, I had one of my own back in college, but it seemed so long ago now. These kids felt like a separate generation.

Once the waitress delivered our meals, I dug in to my turkey melt and fries, knowing that the sooner we finished, the sooner we could leave and get naked. Maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to just jump back into bed with Edward so soon, but I left Chicago to go after what I wanted. And I wanted Edward — all of him.

As we ate, I began to feel horribly out of place, listening to the chatter around the table of finals and three months of goofing off. I needed to spend my summer finding another job.

As soon as we reasonably could, Edward and I stood up to leave. Tanya stood as well, whispering something in Edward's ear and patting him on the back. She seemed like a good friend to him, and I was glad that he'd found her. She must've been the friend Edward had mentioned in his Christmas card.

As soon as we were out the door, Edward grabbed me in a passionate kiss, his hands grasping and squeezing my ass. "Don't get us arrested now," I cautioned as he grinned.

We held hands across the console for the five-minute ride back to the apartments, my body humming in anticipation. "Where's all your stuff, Bella?" Edward asked once we'd parked his car.

"There are some suitcases in my car, but the rest is in storage in Chicago. Angela is going to send it to me when I find a place."

Edward offered to help me carry everything inside. I was shocked when he opened the door and a tall young man with light brown hair was sprawled across the couch watching television.

"Hey, man," he called, his eyes darting between us.

"Riley, this is my girlfriend, Bella. She just moved to town. Is it ok if we store her suitcases and stuff in here so she doesn't have to leave them in the car?"

"Yeah, sure — I'll be out of here on Monday anyway," he shrugged.

After one more trip, we had all of my things inside. But now we had a problem — Riley.

Edward pulled me into his bedroom, closing the door. "Do you want to get a hotel?" he asked quietly. "I plan to make you scream my name more than a few times and I doubt you want Riley to overhear."

I laughed. "Promise?"

Edward grinned crookedly in response.

"Sure," I agreed. "Let me just grab the stuff I'll need for overnight?"

After Edward packed an overnight bag as well, we emerged from his bedroom. Riley looked up at us, grinning at the bags in our hands.

"Uh, I'll see you tomorrow, Ri," Edward said.

I felt my face heat up, knowing that Riley knew exactly why we wanted privacy. "Sure, man," he replied, snickering.

"Are you going to have another roommate for the summer?" I asked as we made our way to the parking lot.

"Nah… the apartments aren't full in the summer. They're mostly rented to students from other schools who are doing internships in St. Louis.

"Is it ok if I drive again? There's a Marriott real close, but it's kinda confusing to get to, so it's probably easier for me to do it."

After a series of complicated turns that I knew I'd never be able to follow, Edward pulled into the parking lot for the hotel. We got out of the car, making our way to the front desk hand in hand. Edward had barely stopped touching me since our conversation on the couch.

"We'd like a room for the night," Edward stated.

"Do you have ID?"

Edward pulled his driver's license out of his wallet, handing it to the man behind the desk.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but we can't rent a room to someone under 21. It's against our policy."

I pulled my own wallet out of my purse, handing my license to the man. I knew I was blushing again, wondering what he was thinking, seeing a 30-year-old woman rent a hotel room with a 19-year-old.

"That'll work," he said, punching several keys on the computer. "Credit card?"

"I don't have a credit card," Edward whispered in my ear. I'd figured as much, and was already reaching into my wallet. After the front desk clerk handed me an envelope with two room keys, he pointed out the elevators. I thanked him as we hurried across the lobby.

Inside, I barely had time to press the button for the fifth floor before Edward accosted me with his lips and hand under my shirt.

A/N: Yes, I stopped it there, go ahead and call me all sorts of names. But it was already the second-longest chapter!

Is everybody happy now? :) Is Edward still adorable? And what does everyone think of Tanya?