Love's Little Book

Chapter 21

"So have you two done it yet?" Alice asked raising her eyebrows at me.

"No, we have come close a couple of times, but have always stopped before the clothes come off."

Alice, Rose and Tanya looked at me in disbelief.

"What?" I asked defensively.

"Nothing, it's just that you guys have been going out for a while now, and most people would have gotten to the sex bit...earlier than you two. There is nothing wrong with waiting though, I think it's nice," Tanya said.

"Yeh, we are just surprised, you and Edward seem to match so well, we just figured you would have gotten to that part," Alice said rubbing my shoulder lightly.

"We are just taking things slowly, I mean we both want to, but what's the point in rushing. It will happen when it happens…I went to the doctors and asked to be put on the pill, so I'm prepared...I'm just happy with the contact we do have, just being around him is enough for now."

Tanya, Rose, Alice and I were sat in a wine bar. It was the third night that we had all been out together. Rose had called me up and asked me if I wanted a night out with her and Alice and I instantly thought of inviting Tanya.

The night had been so fun that we made it a weekly thing.

It was nice to be around women for a change. I loved Edward and Jake to distraction but sometimes I just needed a break from all the maleness.

It had been two weeks since the incident on Edward's sofa and meeting Esme. Quite a lot had changed, our physical relationship had not moved on much, but our emotional one had.

Edward had grown in confidence; he had no problem with instigating physical contact between us, which for me was a blessing. Kissing and touching Edward had turned into one of my favorite things to do, and having Edward start the contact was even better.

I couldn't wait to move things forward between us; I wanted him more than I had wanted anything in my life. Yet, I was prepared to wait. Edward and I were in our relationship for the long haul, I could wait if I had to.

"So, have you told your mom about Edward yet?" Rose asked.

The girls found it funny that I was so reluctant to tell her about Edward. They just didn't understand my mom. I knew that the second she found out I was in a serious relationship she would be on the phone to the first wedding planner she could find and looking at table decorations. Ok…maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. She probably wouldn't call them, but she would definitely be thinking about it.

I mean, who could blame me for being a little nervous about telling her?

I knew that she would want to meet Edward as soon as she could…and that was why I was scared.

Nothing put a man off more than a potential future mother in law who made Miranda Priestly,

from The Devil Wears Prada, look like an angel.

It wouldn't surprise me if Edward went running the second he met her, even if your in love there is only so much one person can take.

"Actually I am meeting her on my lunch break for a coffee tomorrow. I plan to tell her then. I'm dreading it. She will have me trying on wedding dresses before the year is over."

We all laughed.

"Well, judging on the look Edward was giving you when I came in to the shop yesterday I don't think he would mind," Tanya said.

I looked down at my lap and blushed.

The idea half appealed to me and half horrified me. It was a little too early to be thinking of marriage, but I would be a liar if I said I hadn't considered it. I had even found myself laying in bed at night imagining walking down the aisle towards Edward, I always brushed away the thoughts and told myself not to be so childish. I hoped it was something we would look at in the future, but it was not something I wanted to jump into straight away. I had made that mistake once, I didn't want to do it again.

After a few drinks at the bar, the girls decided they wanted to go out dancing. I protested for about two minutes before I caved.

The next day I really regretted it. My head was pounding, my eyes blurring and my mom was chatting at the speed of a freight train. She was gossiping like a pro, apparently the next door neighbors were going through a bad patch in their marriage. She could hear them arguing through the walls.

She swore she wasn't purposely listening in, it was just that they were so loud, she said. I suspected that she spent most her time with a glass pressed to the wall but didn't say anything.

"…and then she said, Martin, you are a big…"

"I'm seeing someone," I blurted out, cutting her off.

I hadn't meant to tell her so abruptly, but anything was better than listening to her go on and on.

She looked at me in shock, and at last was silent.

"I'm seeing someone and it's serious."

After a few more moments of her looking beyond stunned, she smiled. She reached across the table and took my hands with hers.

"Oh, Bella, I am so happy for you…May I ask who the lucky man is?"

"Edward…Edward Cullen."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Edward, your boss, Edward?"

"Yes,"

"Edward, slightly weird, Edward?"

I sighed.

"Edward is not weird…he is…just a little bit different," I said with fondness.

"To be perfectly honest Bella, I don't care if he is the strangest man in existence. I have never seen you smile as much as you have been lately and if he is the reason, then he is perfectly fine with me."

"He makes me happy," I said softly.

"Then I love him already…now when can I meet this man?"

"Well, I will have to talk to him and set something up."

"Nonsense, I will just come to the shop and meet him now. I have wanted to see where you work for a while, and that way I can invite Edward to dinner myself," she said chirpily.

She seemed overjoyed at her idea, I felt like I was stuck on a sinking ship with no way off.

"I don't know mom, I don't want to surprise him like that. Edward is very nervous."

"I know, I know, I promise I will be gentle. Now that you have actually found a man it would be pointless to scare him away."

I rolled my eyes.

I decided it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to come back with me. At least she would meet Edward somewhere he was comfortable and not at my parents house where mom would turn into the housewife from hell.

Also, he wouldn't have time to panic about the meeting.

Mom and I slowly walked to the book exchange, she had her arm linked with mine and I could tell she was excited.

"Look just don't overwhelm him, or push him into anything like dinner, or days out….or marriages," I said as we got to the shop.

"Yes dear, I promise to be on my best behavior."

I nodded having no choice but to trust her and entered the shop.

As soon as the door opened, Edward appeared from the back. He was smiling, happy to see me.

The smile froze on his face when he noticed I was not alone.

"Edward, this is my mom. Mom this is Edward," I said, wanting to get the whole thing over and done with.

My mom slowly walked towards Edward, who was clearly a little startled.

"It is really nice to meet you Edward and please call me Renee."

"Um…it's nice to meet you to." Edward replied timidly.

Mom went up to him and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek leaving red lipstick marks in her wake.

"Bella only told me today that you two were dating. It would be lovely if you could join us for dinner one night, if you wanted to?" she asked.

Edward looked over at me and I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Yes of course I would like that."

"Are you free tomorrow night?"

"Um…sure, tomorrow sounds great."

Mom clapped her hands together happily.

"Excellent, now I'm very interested to hear about this place. Maybe you could show me around and tell me a little bit about it. I must confess I have never heard of a book exchange before."

At the mention of talking about books and the Book Exchange Edward perked up.

Some people liked fashion, or football, or movies….Edward liked books and my mom had picked the best subject to get him to open up.

They walked away from me, for a short tour of the shop.

I was so thankful to mom. She had listened to what I had said and instead of forcing her large personality on Edward she stepped back.

I was pretty proud of her.

Edward seemed to be reacting well. I knew he must have been surprised, nervous and probably uncomfortable, but he handled himself well.

Mom did not stay long, they returned from their small tour, she kissed my cheek and left.

Edward let out a sigh of relief as soon as she was out the door.

"I'm sorry, I know your weren't prepared to meet her. I have kept her in the dark about us for so long, and she wanted to meet you so much, it felt kind of wrong to say no to her."

He wrapped his arms around me.

"Don't say sorry, she has a right to know the man her daughter is dating. I just wish I could be a little more…normal for you, she must think I'm weird."

My arms that were wrapped around him tightened, as though I was trying to squeeze all his negativity out of him.

"Mom does not think that. She thinks that you are the man that makes her daughter happy and that is good enough for her. I wish you were not so hard on yourself but I know I can't change that. I like you, weirdness or not, I like you." I said almost desperately.

I looked up at his smiling face and he lightly kissed me on the forehead.

"Thank you," he whispered.

He was thanking me for accepting him for who he was, which for me was the easiest thing in the world. It wasn't Edward's looks that had attracted me to him. It was his personality, his complete honesty about who he was.

I hoped that with time I would be able to show him how wonderful he was, but knowing Edward he would never truly accept it.

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Thank you for all the reviews for not just the last chapter, but the whole story. I hope you all got the teasers I sent out.

One thing, a few people asked me questions in their reviews. I am more than happy to answer any questions. However, if you do not sign in when you review, or if you have turned off your private messages then I cannot reply. I am not ignoring you…promise : )

If you would like a teaser from the next chapter then please review.

I am halfway through writing a new fic! It is a rom com called Searching For O. The pairing is Edward and Bella again, it is a lot more adult then this story is. I am hoping that you guys will find it really funny (that's the intention anyway). I have sent the first chapter off to be pre-read and beta'd. As soon as I get it back, I will be posting! If you are interested, please put me on Author alert. : )