EPOV

I ran to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I shouldn't have hit him, but I was too pissed off to care. I went over to my bed and collapsed on it. There, I was finally able to breathe. With my eyes clamped shut, I laid there, trying to take calming breaths. My fist slammed against the bed multiple times. I was doing it, hoping it too would calm me down, but it was useless.

I was enraged with my mind going back and forth while a part of me hoped Jasper didn't take me seriously. Yet, the other part wished he did and was packing his shit to get the hell out of my life as soon as possible.

What should I do? I wanted to see him. I wanted to hit him again. I didn't know what I want. Yes I did. I wanted him. And I wanted him to want me back.

Jasper was an enigma. How could every other guy want me and he didn't? At least not in the way I wanted him. Was I jumping the gun? Did he want me just as much but Ethan fucked him so much, he didn't know how to express that shit? Why was I laying here making excuses for him when he didn't give a shit about me?

I know I sounded like a confused, pouty fucker right now but I didn't care. The formula was simple. I wanted Jasper to want me back I should be the one he wanted to be with. Not Ethan.

I have considered playing dirty by using his job as my bodyguard to blackmail him seeing as we shared a brief intimate relationship and he answered to my dad who could be an asshole and if I made it seem like Jasper and mine's relationship was going to fuck with business, Dad would not be pleased. Look what he did to me. He was allowing Ethan the asshole to work with me despite me being vehemently against it because he was doing what was best for business and he needed the best of the best working with him at all times. Not even his kid's feelings could come between him and his money.

So I could get Jasper in some serious trouble. Maybe if I had played this card from the beginning when he was just an irritating asshole here to fuck up my fun, and I didn't feel anything for him besides contempt, I wouldn't be in this predicament with my heart smashed to pieces.

But I could not take back what I feel for Jasper, nor do I ever want to. That thought made me smile a little while I gave my diabolical plan a little more thought.

If I were to blackmail Jasper, I could force him to date me. I could control his life if I wanted to. I had the money and power to do it. For that, I wouldn't even need Dad's help because I was Edward fucking Cullen and I could have whatever I wanted.

But this was the problem.

I wasn't a soulless little bitch and I wasn't about to emasculate a man in order to make him mine. I wasn't Jasper's ex-husband, Ethan. I didn't want to control Jasper or manipulate him only to dump him like yesterday's garbage once I got bored. To me, shit like that wasn't love. And it made me feel sorry for Jasper. I don't know what he thought Ethan had with him. From what I have gathered, his cunt of an ex was not in love with Jasper. Jasper's love had been one sided.

Wait…

As soon as I thought it, my eyes popped open and I sprang up in bed. That was it! Jasper loved Ethan more than Ethan loved him.

I was so caught up with how I felt, as I should because he hurt me, but if I cared about him, I should care about why he did the things he did too. If I wanted him, I had to be willing to accept all of him. The good and the bad. Ethan was unfortunately a part of that so I should at the very least be willing to try and understand what was it about Ethan that made Jasper love him so much. I needed to know more about them and only two people could tell me, Peter and Charlotte.

I got up and started to pace the room.

Did I want to do this? Yes. Like I said, I was Edward Cullen and I got what I wanted and I wasn't about to let go of Jasper. Yes, it hurt. Yes, he didn't tell me yes I want you too when I told him how I felt, but he didn't say no either.

Why didn't he?

Holy Shit!

Why didn't I see this before?

I stopped pacing and went back to my bed, throwing myself down on it. I was too hurt to consider this before. While Jasper didn't immediately tell me he wanted what I was offering, he didn't outright refuse me. Furthermore, he has stayed by my side. When I went to Dad asking to have him removed, he looked shocked and hurt. And if I thought about what happened on the Monterrey shoot, Jasper was in front of me trying to calm Peter down, he wasn't intentionally defending Ethan. He was actually standing much closer to me than he was to Ethan. And if I thought back to when he got injured after taking the hit from that car trying to run me over, while I stood outside his hospital door eavesdropping on his and Peter's conversation, Jasper sounded like he had unresolved feelings for Ethan, not eternal love. He was confused about the love he still held had for his ex and he felt it stood in his way of a future. He thought it was preventing him from moving on.

Now what if that someone new was willing to help him take that leap and move the fuck on from Ethan's cunning ass? Would he take the leap? Because I could be that person. I could see myself as what Jasper needed to move on from Ethan.

I got out of bed and went to the door. I stood there with my hand on the handle for a while before I chickened out and pulled it away.

At first, I was going to go to him and tell him to forget what I said and stay. But I pulled my hand away because did I want to be the first to say I was sorry. What was I sorry for? I was the one who put my heart out there and got hurt. I had earned the right to be angry. I was human and had feelings and his indecisive ass hurt them. And yes, I was ready to take a step forward because I still wanted him, but why should I be the one to say I was sorry first? Why should I stop him from leaving? He didn't know how happy I was when we were together, he didn't know the elation his decision to be with me had brought on. He didn't know how I started to plan things around him. Maybe I was moving a little too quickly, but what was I to do? I was happy! Then he took it away when he just stood there blankly staring at me while I poured my heart out to him.

No. I shouldn't be the one to apologize first. The only thing I would apologize for was attacking him this morning. That was it. After that, the ball would in his court. I wanted him but he had to become someone worthy of my happiness too. I deserve it, damn it! Until then, I would be working my ass off and ignoring the fact that he was there.

I went back to bed, lying down and closing my eyes. Eventually, I dozed off.

The knock woke me. I opened my eyes in time to see Peter peeking into my room before he stepped inside with Caius trailing in behind him.

"Were you asleep?" Peter asked.

I nodded yes as I got up.

"Why are you in here?" Caius jumped in and said to Peter.

Peter had a smirk on his face while Cas went on in a snide tone I didn't like, "Since your boss is gone, why are you hanging' around?"

I was about to answer for Peter when he didn't answer him, but the look on Peter's face kept my mouth shut. He leveled Caius with a cold stare that was borderline psychopathic. It made Caius take an unconscious step back with Peter slowly advancing on him. I watched them do this slow predatory dance until Caius found himself outside my bedroom door and that was when Peter finally said, "I need to speak with Edward." Caius was about to rebut but Peter cut him off. "Alone!" He slammed the door in Caius' face and locked that shit too and then came over and plopped down beside me on the bed.

He took a deep breath and looked at me with a slight grin. "You got my brother good. Got some fight in you, huh?"

"Are you here to beat me up on his behalf?"

Peter chuckled heartily. "Why the fuck should I? He needs some sense knocked into him. You just beat me to it!"

I smiled and shook my head. I thought Peter would be mad at me for hitting his brother.

"I thought you'd be mad at me."

"I'm mad at both of you," he said with a lazy grin on his face.

I felt like I should apologize to at least one of them. And Peter would be easier. I didn't have feelings for him. Sure, he was hot, but there was nothing there except the need for a friendship. He looked like he would be a good buddy. Besides, even if there was something there, Char kind of scared me. She would probably kill me and hide the body if I were serious about pursuing her man. She was that serious of a chick.

"Yeah. Listen, Peter about the fight, I'm so…"

He waved me off. "Whatever with the apology. It's not for me anyways. You damn well know you should be telling Jasper that. What's with you two?"

I sighed because the answer was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't say a word. So Peter did the talking. "I mean, he feels something for you. I know he does. And you're no different."

I jumped up, towering over him on the bed while he sat there with a smirk on his face. "Listen, I know it looks like a bunch of crap to you and you might think I'm overreacting but…" I started and then he held a hand up, cutting me off. He looked at me with a serious expression as he rose from the bed and got in my face.

"Do you like Jasper?" He didn't wait on the answer. He went on. "Do you see yourself falling in love with him? Do you need to be with him no matter what? He's gone, you know. He followed your order to get out and he left. How does it make you feel?"

I stumbled back, staggering as Peter hit me with each question before sitting on my dresser so I wouldn't fall to the floor.

Jasper was gone? He really left? I mean I know I told him to, but he's really gone?

"I can see you're thinking him leaving wasn't a good thing. You want him to come back?" Peter asked. I was about to answer, but he stopped me. "Tough shit. He won't. As much as my brother hurt you, you've hurt him too and I know it sounds like I'm on his side, and I can't deny that I'd never abandon him, but you two need to talk this out."

"I don't know what to say. I can't stand in front of him and the words just flow out, it's not like before." I told Peter. "He really hurt me. It did something to me."

"It broke your confidence."

"Yes," I replied.

Peter sighed. "I'll be staying with you today, because aside from the job, Jasper really cares about you. If something were to happen to you, it would kill him."

I scoffed and the words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself. "More than he cares about the love of his life, Ethan?"

Peter smiled. "I'll admit, I don't like that punk. Never did. But what Jasper sees as love or some debt to Ethan, he will learn to get over it. If he wants happiness, he has to. Don't you agree?"

I wanted to say I didn't give a shit, but I didn't. "So what are you going to do about it? I know he wronged you and he needs to fix the damage his dumb ass caused but what are you going to do about it?"

"What are you saying?"

Peter shrugged. "I'm saying you're Edward fucking Cullen, rich kid extraordinaire who always gets what he wants and I believe he wants my brother's dumb ass." I smiled at him for badmouthing Jasper.

"What are you saying?" I repeated and he laughed.

"You're gonna make me spell it out for you?"

I nodded.

"I would rather see you with Jasper than Ethan."

"You have no right to choose for your brother." I smiled and it felt good to. Peter's presence, despite how hard his questions were, made me feel like everything would be okay. He put me at ease. I felt safe with him.

"Whatever with that," he said with a shrug. "If it came down to it, I'd choose you."

"Why?"

"Because you're rich." He deadpanned.

I laughed and it felt great to.

"Seriously though? The truth?" Peter said and I nodded.

He looked deep in thought before he began, "This shit he should tell you himself to make you understand where he's coming from and why he's so messed up, but here's a short version. The day he came out to our folks was the same day they decided to forget he was their first born. They gave me all I wanted because I was the straight one and denied a lot of things that should have gone to Jasper. They treated him like shit. And I'm not sitting here badmouthing my folks because I want you to like my brother again, and maybe find it in your heart to forgive his foolishness."

"You're not?" I said with a sarcastic laugh though it hurt to know Jasper's parents all but abandoned him for being who he was.

Peter smiled. "Alright, I kinda am. But jokes aside, Edward, I see you as a strong individual and it's not easy seeing you too hurting yourselves when you could be happy. Walking in on that fight this morning was exactly where I didn't want things to go, and watching you not taking care of yourself while trying to work yourself into ground isn't good. And I'm overstepping, involving myself into your life, but I don't like it. Feel free to tell me to mind my business, but please, stop what you're doing. You're gonna get hurt. If you've got work, then do it. I'll be around. Please eat or drink something more than coffee in the morning. You've got Milan coming up and I'm hoping you'll do better when you get back."

It tugged at my heart to hear Peter pleading with me to take care of myself. He thought he was overstepping but he was also unapologetic about caring about my wellbeing. It wasn't just for Jasper he was saying this because he was concerned about me.

"I might take some time off when I get back from Italy."

He nodded. "Good, because I was this close to telling on you to your mommy. She looks like a hard ass."

I laughed. "You have no idea. Esme Cullen is not to be messed with."

"I knew I got it right," he said more to himself than me before he got up. "I'm going to giving you some space now. I think I have intruded enough. Think about the things I said. When someone grows up without the love and affection they should, from the people who should rightful give it to them, it does things to you."

"He had you though, right?"

"He did. But I wasn't our parents."

"So when Ethan came into the picture, he fell for him hook, line and sinker?"

Peter nodded. "Jasper thought it was love. I saw it as one sided. To me, Ethan saw him as a vulnerable guy with a few bucks in his pocket so he stuck to him."

"You guys have…" I didn't want to sound like an ass so I shut up, but Peter picked up on what I was trying to say though.

"Mom's from a long line of successful doctors and a psychologist herself. Dad's a lawyer and our paternal grandfather was a former army man who went into business and hit it big," Peter answered my half asked question.

"So you both joined the army because of your granddad?" I really wanted to know. I liked knowing things about Jasper. I kinda felt like an idiot for not knowing these things before while claiming I was in love with him or falling for him. Was it love yet? Besides that fact, I should know things about him. He already knew so much about me. This was only fair.

"Jasper was kinda forced into it by Dad. He saw it as a way to toughen Jasper up," he said. Shit! What kind of father did they have?

Then again, what kind of father was Carlisle? He wouldn't even listen to me or give me the benefit of the doubt when I went to him. He could be so controlling. But Dad did accept me. He knew I was gay before I even told him and he never ridiculed me. He never abandoned me.

I couldn't imagine what Jasper went through.

"Did it?" I pulled myself out of my thoughts to ask Peter.

Peter smiled. "When I followed him and joined I saw that the army was the best thing for Jasper. I was slowly losing my brother to his sadness, but the army and grandpa's advice, it gave him purpose. I liked that. When he got injured and then we left the army behind, I thought he would fall into depression. I thought the sadness would come back. You know, just not know what to do with himself afterward, but it wasn't like that. He had plans. Even after Ethan walked out on him, he never gave up and eventually his bodyguard business was born."

So Jasper found a bright side through it all. He picked himself up, dusted off and went after what could make him happy.

I could learn from that.

Instead of sitting here, sinking deeper into my heartbreak, I could pick myself up. Like Peter said, I was Edward Cullen and if I wanted Jasper Whitlock, then that was what I was going to get. So despite my fear of rejection, I was going to try again.

"I'm really gonna leave you now," Peter said, but he stopped short at the door. He turned to me. "Tell me something?"

I nodded for him to continue.

"What's with your friend?"

"Caius?" I smiled.

"Yeah," Peter said with a smile. "He's so creepy. He does get that Jasper isn't going anywhere just yet, right? We work as his team, and we'll be sticking around until this stalker is caught. Or! However long you want bodyguards for. He gets it, right?"

"I think so." I laughed.

"Then why is he so creepy?" He shook his head and moved to open the door just as my cell phone rang. "Restricted number," I said to myself. I was about to answer when the phone was taken out of my hand by a glaring Peter who was standing over me.

"Who's restricted number, Edward?"

I guess the talk we had distracted me but I should tell someone what happened this morning and there was no one better than the guy standing in front of me.

"Who is it?" Peter asked.

"It's the stalker." The phone stopped ringing and then it started again. I kept my head down while talking to him. "The person was using that voice from "Scream" when they called this morning." When I looked at him, he was glaring at me. I felt a little intimidated so I looked away. "You know the movie, "Scream", right?"

"Of course I know it! Why didn't you tell Jasper this morning?" he said in a raised voice then he calmed himself down. "Get up. Let's go." He pulled me up from the bed and started dragging me to the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked. I only had time to grab my keys, shoes and wallet before I was pulled down the stairs and dragged out of my place. As soon as we were outside, I was placed in Peter's truck. Garrett was ordered to stay behind. "Where are we going?" I asked again as we sped off.

"To the person who can help."