Author Note: Wow, you guys really had a lot to say about the last chapter! I think everyone was expecting that to happen at some point, and no one was really surprised by the way it went down.

I tried to slot your reviews into Team Bella (pro-Bella/anti-Edward), Team Edward (pro-Edward/anti-Bella), or Team Switzerland (no preference, both at fault, can't blame either). The winner was Team Bella, with 45% of the vote. Team Edward was 20%, with Team Switzerland the remaining 35%.

An easy title to guess this week! Congrats to KDMCAM, MIRosebud, shaz308, That'sMzPeachesTYVM, OWT, Ballachicki, anitabonita2413, GrandeDame, Capricorn75, Scattycow, Shana/googoocar1, NKubie, katbarpar, confusedmom, Scoobylover68, Ninkita and mnnlisa, who all earned themselves a teaser by guessing this chapter's title by Yes.

Thanks to moosals and edwardisaputz for pre-reading! Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.

Chapter 25 – Owner of a Lonely Heart

I don't know how long I sit there, tears streaming down my face, before I haul myself to my feet. I find my purse on the kitchen counter and pull my phone out of the side pocket with shaking fingers. Nearly blinded by my tears, I barely manage a text to Jake.

I need you, I type, before I collapse onto the floor.

I lose track of time as I sit there sobbing. I just keep hearing Edward's words repeating in my mind: I don't believe I can love you either.

At some point I hear a knock at my front door, but I can't bring myself to get up and answer it.

"Bella!" Jake shouts, and moments later his arms are around me. "What the hell happened? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?"

"Ed-Edward," I whisper.

"What did that bastard do to you?" he asks angrily.

"He… left me," I choke out.

"Left you? Let's get you up off the floor, OK, honey?" He shifts his arm under my knees, then lifts me up into his strong arms. He settles us on the couch with me on his lap, running his fingers through my hair as I cling to him, still sobbing.

"Tell me what happened, sweetheart," he says quietly.

"R-Rose made me see that I de-deserve more than what he gives me," I cry, nuzzling myself closer to his chest.

"As if I haven't been telling you that for months," he mumbles.

"Not… helping, Jake."

"Sorry," he says apologetically, stroking my hair. "So what happened? You told him that?"

I look up at his face, blinking back my tears. "Y-yes. I asked him to stop by and I told him what I want in a boyfriend. I thought… I hoped… that he'd want to try."

"And he didn't?"

"No," I whisper. "He said he can't be my Prince Charming. And then he left," I wail.

Just reliving it is enough to start another hysterical crying fit. Remembering how cold he sounded as he wished me luck — and as he told me he could never love me.

"I knew this would happen. I fucking knew it," Jake says angrily. "You should've walked away when he gave you the chance."

"I thought he'd change his mind! Tanya said… Oh God, she told me it'd be bad if I pushed him and I didn't listen. It's all my fault!" I cry. "I let Rose convince me that he'd never change if I wasn't honest with him about what I want."

"Rose was right, honey. I've told you, the guy had a fucking sweet deal. He was never gonna give up all that pussy."

"Jake!" I yell. God, I do not want to hear that right now.

"Edward was never anything but honest with you, Bella. He told you he wasn't going to commit, but you romanticized it in your head, thinking you could change him. I'm not blaming you; it seems to be a problem with your entire gender. I thank God I'm gay sometimes."

"Tanya said she didn't think he was happy," I remind him. "She was living with him — don't you think she should know?"

"Like I said, your entire gender thinks your love can change a man. Newsflash, honey: We're not gonna change unless we want to."

"That's what Rose said," I acknowledge. "And I thought… I thought he'd try to change rather than risk losing me. I guess I overestimated any feelings he had for me."

"Has he ever told you he has feelings for you?"

"Not in so many words," I admit. "But he told me I was different."

Jake sighs. "And I think you were. I mean, he did spend a lot of time with you, but… if he said he didn't want a girlfriend, then…"

"I should've listened," I finish.

"He's the one losing here, you know. He's missing out on a terrific person."

"You have to say that. It's in the best friend code."

"It's the truth. You're a great catch. If only I liked pussy."

I slap Jake on the chest, leaning away from him, and he brings his huge hands up to cup my face, wiping my tears with his thumbs.

"You look exhausted, Bella. Why don't you go get ready for bed and I'll come tuck you in?"

I roll my eyes, but I agree, then climb off his lap and stand up. In my bedroom, I open the drawer with my PJs, freezing when I see the babydoll pajamas that Edward bought for me. Pulling them out, I hold them up to my chest, remembering the night just a week ago when I wore them for Edward.

He'd actually spent the day here, helping me bake my nine different varieties of cookies — Christmas gifts for friends, coworkers and family. We had a lot of fun, and after I came out of my bathroom in these, he practically worshipped my body, licking and nibbling until I thought I'd lose my mind.

And then he opened the tie across the chest like a child pulling the ribbon on his Christmas present, his eyes giddy with anticipation. He took me in so many positions that night that I lost count, claiming that he had to save up to last through the weekend while I'd be away. I didn't know then that it'd be the last time…

"Bella! Bella, it's OK, it's OK, sweetheart."

In a daze, I stare up at Jacob, realizing I'm on the floor again, leaning against the foot of my bed.

"What's that in your hand?" he asks, and I open my stiff fingers. "What the fuck is this?" Jake takes the scrap of fabric from me, then drops it like a hot potato. "Did Edward buy you that?"

"Yes," I whisper. "When we went Christmas shopping, he picked it out for me at Victoria's Secret."

Jake shakes his head, then picks up the fabric again, getting up and putting it back in the drawer. "I put it on the bottom so you won't have to see it," he says, handing me a pair of flannel PJs.

After he's helped me up, I walk into the bathroom to change and get ready for bed. Frightened by my appearance in the mirror, I wash my face but it's still red and blotchy. Once I've brushed my teeth, I come back out to see that Jake has already pulled down the covers on my bed. I crawl in and he lies down on top of the covers, then pulls me into his arms.

"Do you need me to stay with you tonight?" he asks quietly.

"You have to work in the morning. Just… stay until I fall asleep?"

"All right," he agrees, stroking his hand through my hair. "I love you, Bells."

"Love you too."

I'm really glad I don't have to work all week. Every day I just sit around in my pajamas, reading books on my Kindle. Jake and Seth show up with food every evening to make sure I'm eating.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Seth asks on Thursday night.

"That's OK," I shake my head. "I'm not sure I'd be welcome at a gay bar."

"Lots of straight people go to gay bars on New Year's Eve," Jake says. "They know we throw the best parties."

I give him a small smile. "Thanks, but no. Maybe I should've waited to talk to Edward until after tonight. That way at least I could be ringing in 2016 in a lot more exciting way than flipping between the different specials on TV."

"You'd be ringing it in with a bang at least," Jake says with a wink and I glare at him. "Too soon?"

"Definitely too soon."

Seth suddenly stands and roots around in my fridge. "You don't have any alcohol. Want us to go buy you a bottle of Bailey's?"

"So I can spend the night getting drunk?" He just shrugs in response. "I-I'd like that, actually."

"I'll go right now," he says, giving my shoulder a squeeze as he passes by.

"He's a great catch," I tell Jake once Seth has left.

"Yeah, he is," he replies with a smile. "And my whole family even loves him."

"That's great, Jake. I'm really happy for you," I tell him genuinely.

"It'll happen for you one day too, Bells. You have to believe that."

"I do," I whisper. I just don't know if I'll ever find another man who can make me feel the way Edward could.

By mid-January, Jake has made it his mission in life to get me to snap out of my funk. And he thinks that exercise will do the trick, so he insists that I stop by his gym after work for a personal training session.

I hate exercise, though I can tolerate riding a stationary bike, where I can read on my Kindle while I'm exercising. Jake thinks I need to work out with weight machines though.

By the time he's through with me, I'm dripping with sweat and ready to kill him for suggesting this. I run my forearm over my face, letting out a long breath.

As I stand up, I freeze in my place, because the man wearing shorts and a tank top and lifting free weights that probably weigh more than I do looks awfully familiar. He sets the weights down and I quickly turn my head, hoping he doesn't spot me.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," I tell Jake.

"We're not done yet," he protests. "You're just finished with the machines."

I groan, trying to keep my head turned as he leads me over to the treadmills. I wish I could hide behind my hair, but it's pulled back in a ponytail.

"Bella? Is that you?" a male voice calls. I cringe, plastering a smile on my face as I turn around. "It is you, hey!"

"H-Hi, Tyler," I greet him quietly.

"I haven't seen you at the club lately, though I've seen Edward there a couple of times."

Tyler may as well have punched me in the gut. I stagger backwards, until I run into Jake's hard body. He quickly puts his hand on my arm to steady me.

"What club is he talking about, Bells?"

Tyler's eyes dart between us and I see the moment it registers on his face that Jake isn't just my trainer.

He gives me an apologetic look. "I just stuck my foot in it, didn't I?"

"What kind of club?" Jake asks again, and I can only imagine the menacing look on his face.

"It's a lifestyle club," Tyler explains quietly.

"What the fuck is a lifestyle club?"

Tyler chuckles nervously. "That's the more PC name for a swingers club."

"You let Edward take you to a swingers club, Isabella?" Jake whisper-yells. "Jesus Christ… getting rid of him was the best thing that could've happened to you."

"You and Edward broke up?"

"They were never actually together," Jake answers for me. "At least, he wasn't her boyfriend."

"Oh… I thought… I mean, you two seemed to be…" Tyler stops, shaking his head. "I'll shut up now. Sorry for my big mouth."

He starts to back away, but my masochistic side won't let him. "Y-you saw Edward?" I question. Tyler nods carefully. "Did he seem OK?" I ask, hoping that he'll say Edward looks as bad as I do.

"I didn't talk to him last weekend, but…" He shrugs. I know better than to ask if he was alone. "Take care, Bella."

Once he's walked away, I turn to face Jacob. "I'm gonna take that shower now," I whisper.

"I'm coming home with you," he says sternly, and I know I have no choice in the matter.

I quickly shower and get dressed, then stealthily slip out of the gym, trying to avoid Jake. And Tyler, if he's still around.

Just to piss off Jake, I run through the Taco Bell drive-thru on the way home. I unlock my door, nearly jumping out of my skin when I find Jake sitting at my kitchen table waiting for me. Why did I give him a key, again?

"Jesus, you scared the shit out of me!" I yell at him, leaving my bag of beefy-cheesy goodness on the kitchen table before taking my coat off.

"What the fuck are you eating?" he moans, though I studiously ignore him while I grab two bottles of water from the fridge.

Sitting down, I pull out my cheesy gordita crunch, unwrapping it and showing it to Jake. "There's lettuce on it." He just shakes his head.

"You seriously went to a swingers club with Edward?" I nod, since my mouth is full. "How many times?" he asks. I hold up three fingers.

"Is that where the Halloween party was that you were so secretive about?" he asks.

Swallowing, I nod. "Yes, it was at the club."

"So Edward goes to this place a lot?"

"I-I don't know. He and Tanya belonged to one in Chicago, too."

"OK, I know I'm pretty open-minded, but that shit's just gross… swapping partners and having sex with random strangers? God knows what kind of diseases you can catch there."

"They require members to get STD tests every six months," I enlighten him. "And anyone having sex at the club must use a condom. Edward said it's safer than random bar hook-ups."

Jake narrows his eyes. "You seem to know a lot about this."

I shrug. "Edward bought me a six-month membership for my birthday," I confess. "Before that, I just went once as his guest."

"Did you ever actually… swap?" he asks. I just stare back at him. "Tyler?"

"I didn't have sex with Tyler, but… he joined Edward and me."

"You had a threesome with two men." I nod. "Part of me wants to tell you how foolish that is, and the other part wants to high-five you," Jake replies, shaking his head. "At least I can say you've got good taste in men. Tyler is ripped."

"It-it wasn't that big of a deal. I don't think it's something I'd ever do again."

"So why else go to the club?"

"Promise you won't judge?" Jake raises an eyebrow. "There's a room that I've named the Room of Sin, where couples have sex out in the open. Ed-Edward and I have done that a couple of times. I like it, Jake," I confess. "I like to be watched. He-he says I'm an exhibitionist."

"Damn!" he exclaims. "Who knew how kinky you'd turn out to be?"

"You're not gonna judge me, are you?"

"No judgment. I think it's cool that you're exploring your sexuality. It's not necessarily a bad thing."

Jake watches me as I finish up my dinner. "I have no idea how you can put that shit in your body. So… I guess we know Edward isn't sitting at home heartbroken."

"Please, Jake," I protest. "I don't want to talk about him." If we do, I'll probably end up sobbing in my best friend's arms again.

Valentine's Day should be fucking banned. It serves no purpose other than to make a lot of money for the greeting card and floral industries while making those of us who are single feel like second-class citizens.

I spend the day in my comfy PJs, ordering delivery from my favorite Middle Eastern place around 5pm when I get hungry. Of course that doesn't help my mood, since it reminds me of Edward — he brought takeout from the restaurant the first time he came to my apartment.

Once I've eaten, I get out the bottle of Bailey's that Seth bought me on New Year's Eve and pour myself a glass over ice. And then another glass. And another. Anything to make me forget what day it is. To make me forget that I am once again alone.

I'm sprawled on my couch listening to Adele when I think I hear a knock at my door. I told Jake that he and Seth should just go do their own thing tonight and not worry about me. Clearly he didn't listen.

Sighing, I stand up, swaying a bit on my feet, then head toward the door, throwing it open.

And Edward stares back at me.

A/N: Jake to the rescue! And he tried not to say, 'I told you so.' Jake is also now aware of everything Bella's been up to. He gave her a bit of crap for it, but in the end, he had to admire her taste in men, like any gay bestie. She's also finally owning up to her own kink more than she has before.

What should Bella do now? See what Edward has to say for himself, or slam the door in his face?

The next chapter will be a bonus update on Wednesday, and it's EPOV! We'll be back to Bella later in the week.

Next chapter's title: I have to admit that I haven't settled on the best EPOV title yet. GrandeDame jokingly suggested Just a Gigolo for Chapter 23, and so that's my current title, unless… Throw out your ideas and I'll choose my favorite!