Prompt: stench
Dialogue flex: "What movie should we see?"
My office is a 10x12 room that barely fits a desk, two roll-y chairs, a table between those two chairs, and a small set of shelves. I have a window that overlooks a patch of grass and a portion of the parking lot. The walls are painted a pale shade of Robin's Egg Blue and nailed to those walls are black and white prints of funky designs that I'm sure when the artist created them he was stoned.
No immediate thoughts come to mind when you see them, like "Oh, this looks like a maze" or "It kind of reminds me of water" or "Hmm. It could be a bunch of flowers smooshed together." No, it's as if Tim Burton and Piet Mondrian got together and made crazy print babies, and I love them.
I love my whole office, especially when I close the door, switch on my iPod, shut out everything else and just work. But that's hard to do when Edward is in my every thought (Not complaining. Not. At. All.), and Rose and Angie are sitting in the roll-y chairs across from me shooting out all kinds of questions about him.
"You two were pretty chummy Saturday night."
"His wedding band is missing. Did you notice, Ang?"
"He's in a really good mood this morning, Bella. Know anything about that?"
"Huh. So is Bella. What do you make of that, Rose?"
I look up at the picture that, to me, is kind of cyclone-esque, and shake my head. "I don't know what you guys are talking about." They both roll their eyes as my phone buzzes with a text.
Get them out of your office so I can see you. xo ~E
I laugh and text back.
Aww. You sent me an x and an o. Hang on. They know something's up. I want to see you too! XOXO ~B
Does it matter if they know? Capital x's and o's? You must really like me. ~E
I don't know. Does it? Eh. You're okay, I guess. ~B
"Who are you texting, Bella?" Angie asks.
"Hm? Oh, it's Mrs. Whitlock confirming our meeting today."
"Angie," Rose says, smiling. "Open a window. The stench of lies in this room is too much to bear."
"You're too much to bear," I say. My phone buzzes again
I'm just okay? Get into my office so I can change that ridiculously false opinion you have of me.
I smile.
"I think it's her lovah."
Hurry up. I need to see you.
"Must be. Only lovahs can make cheeks turn that red."
LET'S GO!
I'm trying! XXX!
Triple X? Are you sexting me?
"Come on, you guys," I say sternly. I stand and walk toward the door, hoping they'll take a hint, but with a smile plastered on my face that's so big it would be impossible to convince a blind man that I'm trying to be serious. Yet I continue, "Whatever is or isn't going on with Edward, I think you need to respect that."
"Bullshit," Rose says.
"Rose!"
"Girl, please. You mean whatever's going on with you and Edward. It all adds up! No ring. The two of you holding hands Saturday night. Yeah, Angie saw it. Edward's been miserable for the past few weeks, and even before then the only time he seemed honestly happy was when you were around."
"That's not true," I say. Is it?
"Uh, yeah it is," she says. "Look, we're not saying we think anything was going on between the two of you before, but there's definitely something happening now."
I sigh. "But, it doesn't look good, does it? I mean, he just split up with Leah." It feels strange saying her name so casually, like it should be whispered or something. Angie and Rose side-eye each other. "What?"
"Sweetie…no, it doesn't. But really, who the fuck cares?"
Oh, I don't know. Leah, maybe?
But she's right, of course. Rose and Shelly are both right, and judging by Edward's text I don't think he cares who knows about us. I can't worry about Leah. In fact, the only person's opinion that matters is Garrett's. I've gone out a couple of times, but I've never introduced him to anyone. It's always been Garrett and me, and I have no idea how to do this the right way.
Edward and I talked about him Saturday night. Different scenarios, gradually bringing Edward in, me sitting down with Garrett and telling him that I'm involved with someone. But Garrett's recently seen Edward with someone else, and that'd be confusing to him. Not to mention if Sam messes up again. It would be too much for him to take. I'm not sure what to do, or when the right time will be if there even is one. So, we're going to wait a little while.
"We're behind you, Bella," Angie says, and then my door flies open and we all jump.
"You two. Out. Now," Edward says. He looks at me and shrugs then focuses back on Rose and Angie. Both of them wide-eyed and shocked. "Stop badgering Bella. It's really none of your business, but since we're friends I'll fill you in later, all right? Good. Now please get the hell out of here." He glances at me and smirks.
"Well," Rose says as she and Angie walk past me out the door.
"Really. Don't ever interrupt the lovahs 'cos you might just get your head taken off," Angie says.
"Seriously. He didn't have to go all Thor on us. Hey, what movie should we see tonight?"
I close the door behind me, silencing their giggles. "Oh my god, they're twelve."
"So, they know," Edward says, and I nod. He reaches out for my hand, pulling me with him as he walks backward to my desk. He sits against it and positions me between his legs. "That's good because I've recently discovered how much I hate pretending…Hi."
"Hi." Edward has his hands on my hips; I'm playing with the collar of his shirt, his tie.
"How'd they take it?"
"Fine, clearly."
"You okay?" he asks, gliding his thumbs over my hips.
"Better than okay."
"Talk to me about that triple X."
"Ha."
"No? Can I kiss you now?" He has the best smile.
"Yes."
Edward yanks me up against him and I laugh, then his mouth is on mine.
This man… kissing him is like snowflakes and a crackling fire on lazy Sunday mornings. But it's also like tipping the highest point of a rollercoaster. He overwhelms me. I want to burst and wrap myself up in him at the same time.
Edward's hands wander around my waist then separate, one moving up and the other drifting down. My fingers are in his hair, body pressed up against his and the few layers of material between us are doing a poor job of masking how much I can feel him.
"We shouldn't do this here," he says, his voice raspy. But he doesn't stop. He lips and tongue tickling and sucking at my neck, he mumbles that I smell good. He squeezes my ass and bunches up my hair.
"So do you." And then I pull back, because we shouldn't be doing this here, and if we keep going we're going to defile my desk. Maybe one day. He wipes the corners of his mouth, leans in and kisses me again, but his one hand is still on my ass. "You're going to wrinkle my skirt."
"I have an iron in my office."
"No, you don't."
He shakes his head, crinkling up his nose. "No, I don't." Edward doesn't take his hand off my ass.
At 12:56 I walk into the coffee shop where Alice decided she wanted to meet. She said our offices were too far and felt like meeting somewhere more casual. I didn't question her because well, it's Mrs. Whitlock and I've come to adore her and her eccentricity.
She's sitting in the corner, drumming her fingers on the table. She waves frantically when she spots me and I make my way over.
"Bella, dear! How are you?"
"Very well, Alice. How're you?" I place a manila folder on the table that contains a few papers she needs to sign. A report card, really. I've never liked this part of the job, but Carmen insists we do this. Ask the client to answer a few questions, see what could have been done better, if anything. It's awkward, but I suppose it serves a purpose. "So, did you enjoy yourself?"
"Oh, my, yes, yes, I did. I had such a good time. Members are going to be talking about that night for years! And, we met our fund raising goal and then some! It was all so, so lovely," she says. Alice pauses for a moment and reaches across the table clasping her hands around mine and her eyes glass over.
"Are you, all right?" I ask.
"I'm going to miss you, Bella. Really, really miss you. I've had such a wonderful time planning this event with you. The work you put into that party, putting up with me!" she laughs, shaking her head at herself, "well, I…I…oh, here." Alice lets go of my hands and slides an envelope across the table. She dabs her eyes and sniffs as I open it.
Oh.
"Alice, I can't accept this. It's too much."
"Yes, you can."
"No, I don't think I'm allowed. And it really is too much." Not to mention she bought her own donation.
"Of course, you're allowed, Bella dear! It's a gift from Mr. Whitlock and myself."
"But Alice, not only is this the sailboat trip from the auction, it's for two weeks plus airfare. I can't take it."
She gets up then sits in the seat next to me, leans in closely and I'm once again transfixed by the size of her pupils. "You know," she says, her voice caked with sincerity. "Mr. Whitlock and I never had any children of our own, and it's been such a joy getting to know you. Take the trip, Bella."
"I—"
"Take it."
"Okay."
Alice claps her hands, snapping me out of my trance.
We hug, she gives us the highest rating possible, asks if we might be able to text once in a while. I tell her yes because otherwise, I'm really going to miss her, too.
a/n: wooo! Bella's goin' sailin'. Or will she...
Next one jumps ahead some. Thanks so much for reading, reviewing, adding to your lists AND thanks for voting over at TLS.