just a short one tonight guys, thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing xo
chapter twenty five
seattle, washington, 9:23 pm
mixtape: needle and a knife by tennis
Alice wasn't lying when she said she had a binder for me—it's thick and full of color coded tabs. We still have final fittings, a spa day, the bachelorette party, there's a day later on this week for the whole wedding party to meet each other, not to mention the rehearsal dinner, multiple days for finishing things like centerpieces and decorations, and finally the wedding itself. Alice has every minute planned for each event and I keep throwing Jasper sympathetic looks as he looks on, sipping his beer slowly. Jasper's a few years older than us-he was getting his master's degree and was actually Edward's TA in one of his gen eds. They hit it off and of course they crossed paths with Alice and the rest is history. I like Jasper, I always have, even though the first time I met him I had walked into Alice's room at home over winter break two years ago to find them both naked and doing some kind of weird role play. I shudder at the thought.
"So, Bella, feeling overwhelmed yet?" Jasper drawls. I think he's from Texas originally but I can't remember. Everything he says is dragged out and slow, his whole demeanor is laid back and oozes calm and compared to Alice's exuberance, it's kind of hilarious. They're perfect together, though, complementing each other and I can practically feel their love for each other fill the room. It's adorable and suffocating at the same time.
"Yes, but it's nothing I'm not used to," I say, taking a big drink of my wine. We've already killed one bottle and Alice is coming back from the kitchen now with the second, her grin big and I can see her eyes trying to focus on me but she's having trouble.
"Don't you have to work tomorrow?" I say, giggling.
"Yes but I don't have to be in until ten," she says. Alice has a graphic design job for a fashion website—she's the luckiest person I've ever met, getting her dream job right out of school. Jasper's got an assistant professor of history position at some private college outside of the city while he works on his doctorate. I take in his long blond hair and thick framed glasses again while he watches us, his expression calm but kind of amused before he stands up.
"I gotta get some reading done," he says. "You girls have fun." He gives Alice a quick peck on the forehead before he disappears down the hall and into their bedroom. Once he's gone, Alice sighs, laying her head on my shoulder.
"Have I told you how relieved I am that you're here?" she sighs happily. "And how much I absolutely adore that man?"
"Only a hundred thousand times," I laugh but my voice fades as I take a big drink of wine and wonder what Edward is doing right now.
I listen to Alice slur to me about how stressed out she's been and I think about Edward.
I help finish the second bottle of wine, letting my head get fuzzy but I still think about Edward.
Jasper comes back out to the living room hours later, rubbing his eyes and pulls Alice to bed while I wonder where Edward is sleeping tonight.
I brush my teeth and I try not to remember him shirtless.
I climb into bed and I miss sleeping next to him, I'm drunk and too emotional for these thoughts.
I'm about to fall asleep finally when my phone buzzes from under my pillow. It's too late for it to be Angela, and I don't know who else would be trying to get in touch with me.
Hope you had a good day, I miss you, I hope you're sleeping well—Edward.
My heart thuds as I send him a message back.
You too, miss you—B.
I fall asleep clutching my phone because his message meant he was thinking of me, too.
next chapter will be up soon, I promise! i've also revamped my whole outline and this should end up being around 50 chapters, give or take a couple. thank you all for reading, hope you all had a nice long weekend!
meg