Half on a Baby
Chapter Twenty-Five
E
It had been a month since my `dream´ about Bella and things were in a nutshell, awkward between us. Iz was quiet and withdrawn when she was around me. Seemly always lost inside her own head. I couldn´t put my finger on it, but something was definitely off.
She didn´t say anything, and it took me a while to notice that Paul hadn´t been around and she hadn´t been to his place in a while; it also didn't take me long to figure out that she never got that ring.
I would never say this to Iz, but I was fucking ecstatic, even though I wanted to kill the bastard for hurting my girl. Several times, I caught her staring off into space, and it broke my heart that she wouldn´t come to me.
But, I wasn´t going to push her, I would just bide my time and eventually, she´d come to me. And I´d be right there, waiting, with open arms.
Sighing, I stared at my girl curled up in a tiny ball on the couch. She looked so vulnerable and small. Pulling Nana Swan´s quilt from the back of the couch, I covered Bella up.
Gently, I stroked her hair, and she whimpered my name in her sleep. I turned to leave, but Bella´s sniffling stopped me in my tracks. "Sorry, Edward..." she murmured. "Don´t hate me..." tears ran silently down her cheeks and her brow furrowed as if she was having a nightmare.
Kneeling down beside her, I whispered in her ear, hoping that she would somehow hear me. "Shh...Sweet Girl," I cooed, stroking her hair again. "I´m here and I could never hate you. I love you, Iz." My words seemed to calm her as she burrowed deeper into the covers and leaned into my touch.
"What did he do to you, Angel?" I asked, knowing that I wouldn´t get my answer.