Sorry for the delay folks – away for the weekend and there was no phone signal or internet!

I didn't get around to review replies this week either – please know I read and love every single one but this week just got away from me. Hopefully back to review replies this week.

As always thank you to Iris, MidnightCougar and SparklyMeg for their help.

Chapter 14

Edward looks up as I approach. He blinks a few times, trying to focus before grinning up at me. He makes no move to stand and instead remains seated in the doorway.

"Bella!" he exclaims loudly. Too loud. "You're home. I've been waiting for you to come home. Why weren't you home?" He tries to stand by placing both hands against the wall, but he only succeeds in stumbling to the side and falling back on his ass again. He groans and leans back, his head making a thudding noise against the door.

"Ow," he mutters. "Your door doesn't like me."

"So it seems," I muse, trying not to laugh. "Edward?" I wait until he looks up at me. "How much have you had to drink?"

He grins at me, carefree and goofy. "I'm not telling."

I choke out a laugh. "No?"

He shakes his head vigorously before groaning and resting his head in his hands.

"Too much?" I ask.

"Yeah."

I close the distance between us and help him to his feet. I place one of his arms around my neck and hold onto his hand. "C'mon. You have to help me out a little. I can't take all your weight."

"Hmmm…"

I fight to keep us both upright as we stumble into my apartment, making me extremely glad I live in an apartment on the ground floor. Once inside, I help him over to the sofa, where he collapses in a heap with a grunt.

He looks around as if he doesn't have a clue where he is before he tries to focus on me again. "Well, that was fun."

I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it. "Fun?"

"Yes, of course." He tilts his head, his eyes wide. "Everything I do with you is fun, Bella."

Everything from earlier today comes flooding back to me, causing the smile to drop from my face. "Why are you here, Edward?"

He frowns and looks at his feet. "Am I in your apartment? I should take off my shoes." He leans forward, almost toppling off the sofa head first.

"I'll do it. Hold on." I push him back by his shoulders, and he goes willingly.

I slide his shoes off and put them to the side. When I stand up, he's watching me, a sad look on his face. I quickly go to the kitchen and grab us both bottles of water. He mumbles a quiet thank you and gulps down almost half of his. He slides to the side of the sofa, but I opt to give us some space and take a seat on the opposite side of the room.

"Better?"

He nods. "Thank you. I'm normally not much of a drinker."

"Edward, why did you come here tonight?" I try again.

He shakes his head. "I don't know."

"Bullshit," I snap. I'm sick of this always happening. It's the same thing over and over, and I hit my limit today.

He flinches and looks up at me. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"After how many beers?"

He laughs softly. "I don't know. The beer stopped, and I went to the bourbon. The more I had, the better it seemed."

"Why?" I ask again, but even I can hear the impatience and aggravation in my voice.

"Everything's such a mess. I wanted to apologize—"

"For what exactly?"

"Jesus, Bella. I'm trying here."

I sit back and make a sign of zipping my lips, making him smirk a little.

"Today… threw me for a loop. I guess I couldn't handle seeing you like that… standing next to you in my suit with you looking so b— perfect. It reminded me of everything I want and everything I can't have."

His words set off butterflies in my stomach.

"Edward, we've been here before. There's no point in saying things like this. We're just going around in circles." I sigh. "And it… hurts me."

"You felt it… that night in the bar…"

I nod. We've always danced around how I feel about him and what I thought about the night we met. "I know, but I won't be the other woman in your life. I won't do it."

He shakes his head. "God, I don't want you to be the other woman. I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't do that to either of you. I'm not that kind of guy. I just… I'm so confused. It's my—"

"Your job. I know."

"No! It's not as easy as that, Bella."

I stand up and pace the floor. "I know it's not as easy as that, but you're going to have to face the fact that you have to make a choice. It sucks and there's more to it, but it still comes down to one thing: It's me or Tanya." I look him straight in the eyes. "If it's Tanya, this—" I gesture between us. "—can't happen. You can't call me beautiful. We can't go for dinner after our appointments. Nothing. We remain professional as I continue to plan your wedding to another woman. And afterwards, we'll never see each other again."

He gets up, a bit wobbly, and comes to stand in front of me. "And if I choose you?"

"Then everything changes."

ooOoo

Tanya lingers between us as my words settle. Although she's not here, she may as well be. I can imagine her sitting on the sofa next to Edward, watching me and giggling at my ultimatum.

Like Edward would ever choose me.

The atmosphere becomes tenser as neither of us says anything. I sit back in my chair, processing what I just said. I never intended to make Edward pick between us; it just came out. I can't feel sorry, though, because that's exactly what it comes down to. He seems to be keen on something developing between us, but I'll never be someone's mistress.

My eyes are drawn to him as he stands in the middle of my front room, defeat pouring from his body. He looks so broken, and it takes every ounce of strength I have to remain seated instead of pulling him into my arms.

"Maybe… you should go. Nothing's going to come of tonight, especially since you've been drinking. We should have this discussion when we're both sober."

He nods and sits on the sofa. "You're right. I shouldn't have come here."

It hurts, like he's already made his decision.

"Can I get some more water before I go? I'll call a cab to come and get me."

"Sure." I stand. "I'll be right back."

It's when I'm in the kitchen that the tears fall, and I let them. Everything from the last few weeks comes flooding back, and I bite my fist to stop the sobs from coming out. The last thing I want is Edward walking in to witness my meltdown.

I grab Edward's water and compose myself. All I need is long enough for Edward's cab to arrive, and then I can lose it completely.

I check my reflection, wipe away any trace of tears, and take a deep breath.

"Here's your—"

A mixture between a sob and a laugh leaves me when I see Edward passed out on the couch.

Instead of trying to wake him, I pull his cell out his jacket pocket — ignoring the fact he doesn't have a cliché photo of Tanya as his screensaver — and scroll through his contacts until I come across someone I know can come and collect him without any questions being asked.

ooOoo

About an hour later, my doorbell rings. Edward, who's barely moved since I found him passed out, grunts from his space on the sofa and rolls over. I've spent the time alone with my thoughts, adamant that whatever I have with Edward has to stop. We've been in limbo ever since Tanya left, and maybe it's a good thing everything came to a head tonight.

The doorbell rings again, and I rush to answer it.

"Emmett?"

A large guy stands in the doorway, almost blocking the whole space. He's tall — about the same height as Edward — but what makes him more intimidating is the muscles. He looks as though he could easily bench press at least three of me. He's wearing a tight black t-shirt, with "Emmett's Cars"written on it, and ripped dark jeans.

"Bella?" he says with a smile. "I was wondering when I'd get to meet you. I never thought it'd be while collecting my drunken brother."

I shrug but remain silent. I hadn't thought I'd be meeting any of his family.

"Where is he?"

I step back and let Emmett in. "He's just through there." I point to the front room. "Still passed out."

He shakes his head and chuckles. "He rarely drinks, and I don't think I've ever known him to pass out."

I smile politely at Emmett and don't comment. At this point, I just want them both to leave so I can go to bed and forget this day happened.

I follow Emmett inside and watch as he laughs, kicking his brother's foot. "Totally out. He must've had a lot on his mind, if he drank enough to put him into a stupor like this."

I look away. Edward said he spoke to his brother, but I have no idea what he told him. When I look back to him, he's still watching me.

"I should, uh… I should get this lump home."

"You're taking him back to yours?"

"Yeah. He's… been staying at mine for a few days. Said he had to clear his head." I can feel his gaze on me, but I avoid it, trying to process what this could mean − if anything.

"I didn't know that," I mumble.

"No, I imagine you didn't. Not many people know… for obvious reasons."

I nod, because he's right. The wrong people finding out could mean questions I don't know he has answers for yet.

"Edward? Edward, c'mon, man." Emmett gently slaps his face a few times and puts him into a sitting position. "You're not gonna hurl, are you?"

Edward groans and leans forward resting his elbows on his knees. "No… I'm good. Just gimme a minute."

He looks up at me. "You called Emmett?"

"Yes. You said you were going to call a cab, and when I came back in, you were asleep."

"Thank you."

"I… I didn't want you staying here."

He flinches. "Right."

I start to explain that I mean I don't want him dealing with any unwanted attention but decide to leave it. Maybe it would do Edward good to think the worst.

He stands on shaky legs. "Man, I'm never drinking again."

Emmett laughs and slaps him on the shoulder. "Right! Okay. Let's go. Bella, been sweet meeting you. I'm sure I'll be seeing you again."

I nod and force a smile. "You, too, Emmett."

Once we get to the front door, Edward lingers as Emmett leaves. "I'm sorry. I don't usually behave like this."

"It's okay." I smile and hide behind the door a little. "It happens to all of us..." I trail off as Edward steps closer to me, leaning forward so our foreheads are almost touching.

"I need you to know one thing before I leave."

"What's that?" I whisper.

"I'll be thinking about what you said. And I think I might be ready for everything to change."

ooOoo

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Fic Rec: SoCal by Krazyk85 - Being with them wasn't the problem, but losing me was. A life filled with sandy beaches and sunshine, I felt safe here. Nothing bad ever happens in SoCal, except maybe bad Mexican food. Or so I thought. This isn't your everyday love story. Based on the movie Savages. For Kninut, an Edward, Bella, Jasper- polyfic