Bella:
"Boy, you almost got yourself shot—again." Dad barreled back into the dining room with his pistol aimed at the floor.
Edward poked his head out of the kitchen but quickly retreated when he saw my dad ready to take aim.
"Don't shoot, for God's sake! I was just dropping in to give Granny Edna a dessert that mom made. I'll knock next time; I swear!"
"Oh, your mother is such a dear. Holy Smoke is my favorite." Granny Edna shook off the fear and took her seat at the table again.
Dad and I still trembled like the last, lonely leaves on the trees outside, but Granny Edna smiled and patted the empty place next to hers. Edward peered around the doorframe to make sure my dad wasn't about to shoot. When he judged the situation safe, he complied with Granny Edna's wishes and approached the table with a massive dish of an incredible-looking dessert.
"Have you met Esme and Carlisle yet, Bella?"
She didn't wait for my response before standing and shuffling into the kitchen. I could still see her as she searched out bowls and spoons for the chocolaty goodness.
"Um, no. I…" I trailed off, fascinated by the blush the crept up Edward's cheeks.
I was about to say I'd never been invited, but Edward's embarrassment stopped me. I didn't want to make him uncomfortable, but it did hurt my feelings a little that he'd never introduced me. Our friends talked all the time about how nice they were, so he wasn't keeping them secret from everyone.
We both tried to hide red faces through the rest of dessert. Dad and Granny Edna seemed to take pity on us and changed the subject to the weather, of all things.
When the plates were cleared and in the dishwasher, I walked Edward to the door. He grabbed my hand and pulled me outside with him.
"Thanks for bringing dessert over," I said, desperate to start some kind of conversation. "You distracted my dad from the fact there was no meat in his lasagna. Saved me a trip to the grocery store."
"What?" Edward looked distracted and flustered. "Oh…yeah. Of course."
Silence descended, and I wondered why he'd dragged me to the front porch if we were just going to shuffle around awkwardly.
"Look, I heard what you said." He threw the words out like they burned him.
I wished the decrepit boards of the front porch would give way right then and let me disappear. I knew he'd been there. I just knew it.
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and gave me a half-smile. I'd never seen him look so nervous. If I hadn't been so mortified, it would have been really cute.
"You really think you like me more than I like you?"
My breath rushed out of me in a whoosh, like I'd been kicked in the stomach. For just a moment, the world fell away, and I stood alone on the front porch. No sound, no trees, no stars, no Edward. As suddenly as it all disappeared, it came rushing back with a snap, and all I could see was his serious, petrified face.
"Um, yeah." I had no choice but to tell him the truth.
The weight of my feelings for him filled me completely, leaving no room for anything else. If he liked me more than that, he'd have burst. That's how I knew my feelings were stronger.
"Impossible," he said, a relieved grin crossing his face. "There is no way."
I didn't want to argue with him, mostly because that would show my hand, let him know just how crazy-obsessed I was, so I just shook my head slowly.
"Yeah, it is," he insisted. "Look, there's a lot I should tell you, but I will soon. I promise. I just have to…you know…get brave or something. But until then, you should know I'm kind of crazy about you."
Before I could say another word, he grabbed my hand, pulled me close, and pressed a kiss to my forehead. His lips were soft and sweet and raging hot, all at the same time. Shock radiated from that point of contact all the way down to my toes, leaving me speechless until he was out of sight across the field.