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Chapter 25

We leave the winery shortly before the band is due to finish, both of us keen to miss the lines sure to be caused by the large crowds. We're not the only ones with this idea, so we still have a short wait, but it's nowhere near as bad as it would've been had we stayed until the end.

When we're on the main road, I turn to look at Edward. In the dull glow of the car, I can only make out his silhouette. It's mainly his sharp jawline, which is just begging to be kissed. The hair at the bottom of his neck sticks out over his collar, and I want to run my fingers through it. Would he like it, or would he think I'm stupid?

"In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight."

He quickly turns to smile at me before focusing back on the road. "I'm glad."

I reach over the console to take his free hand. I don't say anything else, but I also don't miss his grin as I do so.

ooOoo

We pull in front of my parents' house a short time later, and Edward asks me to stay in the car while he gets my door.

"What are you doing?" I ask, amused as I step out.

He takes my hand again, and we leave the car behind us. "Walking you to the door."

"Walking me to… But you're staying here."

He shakes his head. "I'm not, actually. I packed up my stuff this morning, and I found a motel in Port Angeles for the night. I'm going home tomorrow."

The smile on my face falters. "You're leaving?"

We walk up the steps to my porch in silence, and he gestures for me to take a seat on the top step. He sits next to me but keeps some distance between us.

"I came here to tell you how I felt, Bella." He sighs. "But I've gone about this all wrong. I want you to think about what I've said. I wanted to make sure this was all right before I took you on our first date, but I couldn't help myself." He smiles apologetically. "I've said what I needed to. I'm going home to give you the space and time you need to think about it. I want you to be sure about us."

"I... I… I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll at least think about it," he jokes, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes.

"Of course I will," I say automatically.

"I mean it, Bella. I've been a total shit about this from the beginning. I don't love Tanya; I haven't for a while, not really. I grew comfortable with what we had and let things spiral out of control." He sighs, and I can see how much he's beating himself up about it. "But I wasn't happy… not until I met you." He smiles softly, his words making my heart soar. "I want it all, and I want it with you, and I hate that it took me so long to sort stuff out. I've made a mess of things, but now you know. So much has happened, and I think we both need to be apart while you think about it."

He stands and helps me to my feet.

"So that's it?" I ask, not sure how I feel about this sudden declaration and his imminent departure. I assumed we had more time away from everything. Being here was like being in our own little bubble, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end, yet. Him leaving so suddenly has my stomach doing flips and not the good kind.

"Not if you don't want it to be." He leans forward, his lips brushing my cheek ever so softly. "Goodnight, Bella."

I watch as he walks back to the car, and I know I should use the time apart to think about. He's right; a lot has happened. Although he's now made his feelings clear, will it be enough for us? Then I realize I've asked him to prove it to me. How can he do that if I let him walk away thinking I'm doubting my feelings for him?

He took a chance by ending things with Tanya, coming to my home, and asking me out on a date. If he can take chances, so can I.

"Edward?" My voice is soft but sure, and it carries across the driveway. He stops at the car, leaning against the door as I approach. I reach him quickly, my grin widening with each step.

"I don't need to think about it."

I close the distance between us, almost throwing myself against him as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down toward me. Just before my eyes close, I catch a glimpse of his smile, which I know matches mine.

Tentative lips meet mine, so soft and so unsure, yet they still sending my heart racing. Once he knows I'm not going to pull away from him, Edward wraps his arms around my waist, tugging so there isn't an inch of space between us. As he becomes more confident, his kisses become more heated, sending goosebumps straight down my spine and all the way to my toes. As he trails his hands up and down my sides, I shiver under his gentle touch, and then he cups my face in his hand.

One, two, three more soft kisses before he pulls away. I pout, feeling the loss instantly, but I know his kisses are all I can handle right now. With my eyes still closed, I take a step back and cover his hand on my cheek with mine.

"You're sure?"

"Slow," I whisper.

He nods. "Of course."

"Then I'm sure."

ooOoo

The following morning, I call Jess, not sure what state she'll be in. The longer I go without hearing from her, the more my stomach churns. Has something happened and she's dealt with it, or has something happened and she's trying to sort it before I return? Although Edward explained how things ended with Tanya, he never mentioned anything about dealing with my office, and I was pretty much lost in his arrival that I never even thought to ask.

I make a cup of coffee and sit at the kitchen table alone. Dad's at work, and Mom's at some coffee morning with the ladies from her cooking class.

"Jess?"

"Bella?" I can hear the smile in your voice. "You checking up on me?"

Even though she can't see me, I roll my eyes. "My phone's been silent the whole time I've been away," I tell her. "I just want to make sure everything's okay."

"It's fine. It's better than fine, actually. I'm loving it! Your brides all know you're on vacation, so it's been pretty quiet on that front, but you're coming back to a load of appointments. And—" She pauses for what I'm sure is dramatic effect. "I have two appointments of my own coming up."

I grin. "Jess, that's amazing. I knew you could do it."

"Well, duh." She sighs, and I can hear some typing in the background. "So, what's up, boss?"

"Um… Nothing's happened?"

She goes quiet for a second. "You expected me to mess up?" she asks slowly and quietly, the hurt evident in her tone.

"No, no," I rush out. "Of course not. I… Well, how have Tanya and John Turner been?"

"How've they been? I've not heard from them. Why? Have they contacted you? Is something wrong?" she asks, her voice rising. "I swear I haven't heard from them at all."

I groan. "They haven't? Perfect. Just perfect."

"Should they have?"

I sigh. "Well, considering the wedding's off, yes."

There's silence on the other end of the phone.

"Jess?"

She clears her throat. "I'm sorry. I swear I just heard you say the Turner/Cullen wedding's been canceled," she says softly, as if only whispering won't make it true.

"You did. It is. Ugh! I can't believe someone hasn't been in touch about this. What are they playing at? What's she doing?"

"How? Bella, what on earth happened? Why…" I can tell she's starting to freak out, kind of like I am.

I lean forward so my forehead's on the countertop. "It might have something to do with me."

"Might or does?"

"It does."

"But how? You're in Seattle, aren't you? You didn't lie about that, did you? 'Cause if you did—"

"Of course I didn't lie to you about it. I… Edward turned up at my house the other day and told me he ended it with Tanya. And…"

"And? And what?" I can almost picture her on the edge of her seat, eyes wide and spinning to face the windows at the back of the office.

"And that he wants me," I whisper.

"That's awesome! I mean, it is, right? This is what we wanted!"

"Yes." I sigh. "Although—"

"Work's gonna suck," Jess finishes for me.

ooOoo

When I get off the phone, I open my laptop immediately and change the return date of my flight. They don't have anything tonight or even tomorrow, but I can catch an early morning flight in two days' time. With my flight changed, I book a hotel room at one of the hotels close to the airport so I don't have to do the long drive first thing in the morning.

Just as I'm putting away my laptop, my phone chimes with a text from Edward. Instead of smiling, my stomach churns as I wonder why he hasn't canceled the wedding. Was he just lying to me about ending it with her? Does he see me as nothing more than a joke?

Instead of mulling it over and worrying myself for no reason, I decide to call him and ask him outright.

Then I can worry about it.

He answers on the first ring. "Bella? You didn't need to call. I was just letting you know I was all checked in and that we'll be boarding soon." At my silence, he continues rambling. "I mean, I'm glad you called and everything. It's really good to hear your voice, but—"

"Why didn't you cancel the wedding?" I blurt out.

"Cancel the… Bella, what? I told you it's over with her. It's you I want." He doesn't sound exasperated like I thought he would.

My heart soars, but it's not enough. "I just got off the phone with Jess. She hasn't heard from Tanya or John. If I hadn't called, she wouldn't have even known you've broken up. Nobody's called to cancel anything."

"Are you serious?"

I chuckle sadly. "Yes, I'm serious. I called Jess expecting her to be dealing with a shit storm from your ex-fiancée, but Jess didn't know anything about it. In fact, she hasn't heard from any of them."

I can hear an announcement in the background, and Edward curses.

"What's going on, Edward?"

"Shit. Bella, my flight's boarding. I have to go. But I will sort this out. I promise." He huffs. "I'm not letting you get away again."

ooOoo

Thank you for reading!

Fic Rec - Here to Stay by FallingInLoveInDecember - Bella and Jacob have been married for six years when he dies suddenly, revealing a long going affair. Edward is her best friends brother in-law who recently started at his families law firm. Jasper knew about the affair and caused Bella to pull away from Alice. Will Edward be able to bring her out of her grief and will her to trust again, even with Jacob haunting her?