*Peeks through fingers* Still with me?

Chapter 26

I have a theory that Fate is a twisted fuck with a sick sense of humor. When things are going well and seem too good to be true, I can't help looking over my shoulder. In the back of my mind, I still half-expected to find out some sort of skeleton in Edward's closet…a freaky fetish he hadn't admitted to yet, bodies buried in the backyard—I just kept waiting for that other shoe to drop.

But so far the only negatives I'd found about him had to do with his little odd OCD tendencies. Like how his music collection was filed by genre and alphabetically, and how he got rather pissy if you put something away out of order. Or that he had to bring his own toothpaste when he stayed over because he can only use his brand. Even his refrigerator was organized and set up so that no two items were touching each other. Of course, that only made it entirely too much fun to fuck with him.

Oh, and I learned he could be an ornery bitch before his first cup of coffee. But I also discovered that morning sex took care of that rather nicely.

All in all, everything was going really, really well. It had been one week since Edward and I had the "conversation," and I'd been floating on my "Edward wants me to stay in New York" high. He'd made it blissfully clear that my decision made him happy. In fact, he showed me exactly how happy he was that night when we got back to his apartment.

Right up against the door the moment it closed, to be exact.

A happy Edward is a truly wonderful Edward indeed. He'd been carefree and relaxed. Playful and deliciously insatiable. He'd even emailed me several local job openings for PAs, which I took as a good indication that he liked the idea of keeping me here.

Which, of course, made me stupid happy as well.

Alice literally pounced on me when I told her I had decided to stay, and we discussed renewing our lease for another year since we liked our current location. I took the leap and mailed out my secret stack of resumes.

I was even enjoying my last rotation in Internal Medicine. The doctor who precepted me was soft-spoken with a dry, sometimes corny sense of humor, and he let me see patients independently. I loved it.

Indeed, everything seemed to be perfect. With the exception of one teensy-tiny, minor detail.

I still hadn't told my parents. Or Angela. Or Dr. Simon, the pediatrician back in Forks who was expecting me to start working for him in six weeks.

Ugh.

I was just building up my nerve. It felt like I was preparing to break up with my old life, and the prospect filled me with dread. I wanted to savor my little love-struck bliss bubble for a while before letting reality burst it.

I knew my mom would be supportive. She was the one who convinced my dad that it was a good idea for me to choose a program someplace other than Washington. Renee understood the desire to experience a different part of the country. Unlike my dad, who grew up in Forks, still went fishing with his grade school buddies, and seemed to be under the impression that everyone who lived in New York was like something out of The Sopranos.

If I had to be honest, the fact that my father didn't like the idea of me living in New York probably made it even more enticing. But he agreed to it since I had originally planned to return to Forks after I graduated.

I didn't even want to think about his reaction.

My plan was to break the news to Angela first, figuring she would be good practice for me. She'd completely understand, especially since she knew about my growing relationship with Edward.

But of course, that would have been too simple.

As luck would have it, Angela was away in Cabo San Lucas with her boyfriend all week, so I couldn't reach her until she returned this weekend.

And when I came home to two obnoxiously guilt-laden messages from my mother, complaining she was worried I joined a cult or had been murdered by a gang, I knew I couldn't continue avoiding my parents. If I don't call them back today, there's a good chance they'll be on my doorstep by the morning.

I could just imagine Charlie going all Rambo.

I try to amuse myself with that little visual to keep from having a panic attack while I hole up in my room and dial home with shaky hands.

My heart pounds in my ears as I wait for someone to pick up.

Ring. Please let them understand.

Ring. At least Charlie doesn't have a heart condition, right? Well, at least none that I know of…would he even tell me?

Ring. Maybe they aren't home. I could just leave a message, let them know I'm alive and buy some more time…

Rin— "Bella! I was ready to file a missing person report!"

Dang! So close.

I take a deep breath and swallow my heart back down where it belongs. I'm making a mountain out of a molehill for nothing."Sorry, Mom. Things are just hectic, you know?"

"I know, baby. You work so hard, and your dad and I are so proud of you. But you're almost finished, and we can't wait to finally see you!"

You're trying to make this even more difficult for me, aren't you? My mother is royally gifted in the guilt department. Are all mothers like that? Is this something that develops with pregnancy, or is it a talent that is passed on generation to generation?

"Actually, that's why I've been trying to reach you," she continues. "We're trying to work out details for your graduation." I stare blankly at my sage-green bedroom wall, desperately trying to focus as she launches an animated exposition about plane tickets and a hotel, how they are arranging to stay a few days in New York so that she could drag my father sight-seeing, and whether I'd made arrangements to ship my stuff back home yet.

And all I can think of is how excited she sounds…how I'm about to slap her with the news that I'm not going back with them.

A wave of unexpected homesickness hits me, and I realize how much I miss my parents. Christmas was the last time I was home, and it feels like forever. Her words begin to blend together, mixing with my guilt and distorting into some kind of garbled foreign language.

"Bella, now I know you aren't listening. You just agreed to take us to a strip club, for chrissakes!"

Oh, good God!

I struggle to bring myself back into the moment, trying to remember the last thing she said. "I'm sorry, Mom. I'm just…"

"Distracted. Busy. Tired. I know, you've been saying that for weeks now. Something's going on with you, and I'm tired of waiting for you to tell me on your own. What's wrong?"

Of course she knows something is up. What my mom sorely lacks in culinary skills, she more than makes up for in intuition. She always knew if I wasn't telling the truth. I'm pretty sure she didn't believe that story I concocted when I got into the motorcycle accident. Her skepticism was written all over her face. I'm a shitty liar. But she never called me out on it—it was like she gave me my one and only get-out-of-jail-free pass, and I never abused it again.

Renee always knew.

I sigh with resignation, a sickly feeling twisting and churning in the pit of my stomach. I start to worry that I may be developing an ulcer, and I'm suddenly making mental checklists of symptoms for stomach cancer, Barrett's Esophagitis, and Crohn's Disease, among other things.

Goddamn over-emotional gut.

"Nothing's wrong, Mom. Actually, things are going really well," I reassure her.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," she says, and the relief in her voice is blatant. Fuck, she's been worried. Yet another addition to the "Why Bella Swan is the worst daughter ever" list. There's dead air on the line for a moment while each of us waits for the other to speak before I hear a light huff on the other end. "Dammit, Bella, you're worse than your father sometimes," she finally says with a playful tone. "Don't make me pull it out of you!"

I snort. As much as I hate to think I'm like Charlie, I know I didn't get my communication skills—or lack thereof—from my mom. "Well, you know how you've been asking me if I'm seeing anyone?" Every single time we talk?

"I knew it! I absolutely knew it!" Renee gushes excitedly. "Tell me all about him. How long have you been dating? Is it serious? When did you meet him? Wait—I didn't mean to assume it's a him. You know it doesn't matter to me, right? I love you no matter—"

"Mom!" I cut her off before she can keep going. It has been a while since I've dated anyone, but seriously?

No. Definitely did not get my communication skills from my mother. The woman has no filter whatsoever.

"I haven't been dating him for very long. I met him during my Ob/Gyn rotation." Brief and simple.

"Is he a doctor?"

"He's one of the residents I worked with. He's exceptionally bright, and he's an excellent doctor." He's an excellent everything. "He's actually going to do a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology."

"He sounds wonderful, sweetie. I'm so happy you've found someone. You know, to be honest, I've been worried that you'd just come back home and settle for Jacob again. And as nice as he is, I always knew you could do better."

Well, color me stupefied. She isn't Team Jacob like Charlie?

"Yeah, well, I don't really see that ever happening." Especially not now. How could you go back to Chef Boyardeeafter you've had the best authentic Italian food ever? "Jacob is just better friend material."

"I'm happy to hear you say that, and I completely agree. He's a good boy, just not the right boy for you," she says. "So tell me, what's the brilliant doctor's name?"

"Edward." I debate on keeping it at just that, but realize that it's time for full disclosure. "Cullen." An involuntary smile pulls at my lips at the mere mention of his name. I shake my head at my pathetic self.

"How funny," she replies off-handedly. "I wonder if there's any relation to Dr. Cullen."

"Actually, it's his son."

I hear a soft gasp. "That Edward Cullen? Oh good God, of course it is! I remember Carlisle telling us Edward was going to medical school in New York. Such a small world, isn't it?"

I've thought the same thing countless times. "Very small world."

"That boy had the oddest shade of reddish-brown hair and such pretty eyes. He was quite handsome, if I recall—but I mean, just look at his father. Such good-looking genes in that family."

The idea of my own mother checking out Dr. Cullen squicks me out a bit, though it shouldn't surprise me. She is human, after all. "You know him?" I ask.

"Of course. Living in a town like Forks, you know everyone. Oh Bella, you'd make beautiful babies together."

"Mom!" I chastise her, horrified. "See? This is why I don't tell you anything. We've only been dating a little over a month!"

"Oh, lighten up. I'm not marrying you off just yet. I can wait a little longer to be a grandmother. I can't wait to meet him when we come out!"

Oh, yeah. That's going to be more fun than shooting myself in the foot.

"So, um, yeah…Well, you know…"

She interrupts me as I trip over myself trying to find the right words to say next. "Just spit it out, Bella. I don't know why you haven't realized by now that you can tell me anything."

"I know. It's just, well…I decided to stay here in New York a little while longer."

Another pregnant pause as she processes, and my stomach flip-flops again. "Oh, sweetie," she finally says, and I'm bracing myself for her reaction. "That doesn't surprise me in the least. Is that why you've been MIA?"

Really?

I let out a long, slow breath, feeling a little relieved by her sympathetic tone. "Pretty much," I admit, toying with the hem of my shirt. "I just had no idea how you and Dad would react. Especially Dad."

She huffs softly. "You know your father. He'll get over it. Besides, we've been getting along just fine without you for some time now."

There's something suggestive in her voice that I don't want to even acknowledge.

"Really? You're totally okay with it?"

I don't know how I feel at this moment. Surprised? Relieved? Anticlimactic?

"Totally okay with it? Well, as much as I can be. You know I hate having you so far away. But I trust your judgment. Have you really thought this through?"

I chuckle humorlessly. "To death."

"You've taken into consideration everything you'd be giving up? Including your friends? Your job?"

"Yes," I say softly with a nod. "I'm hoping I can get a job here that will give me some broader experience before I specialize in pediatrics."

"And you're absolutely sure this is what you really want to do?"

I'm sure I'd never forgive myself if I didn't take the chance to find out what Edward and I could be together.

"I'm positive, Mom."

"Does he treat you well? Does he make you happy?"

Another smile sneaks across my lips. Happy seems to be such an understatement. "Yeah. He really does."

"Then it's the right thing to do."

Yes. Yes, it is.

XXX

It's a little after eleven on Saturday night. Edward and I lie entwined on his leather couch watching Saving Private Ryan, and I'm all comfy-cozy in one of his tee-shirts and his boxers. He had a rough call the night before and was really worn out, so we decided to stay in and have a nice couch-potato kind of evening. I'm not even paying attention to the movie anymore, just enjoying the soft texture of his hair through my fingers and the solid security of his body pressed into mine. I should probably go to bed, but I'm so warm and so comfortable I don't want to move.

"What's that noise?" he mutters, pulling me out of my little zone-out.

"What noise?" I don't hear anything.

"Just wait, you'll hear it."

I wait…and wait. And snuggle back into him as I continue my stakeout for things that go bump in the night.

I'm teetering on the edge of semi consciousness when I hear a faint sound that didn't come from the television.

"That." Edward shifts, turning his head in the direction it came from.

"It's my phone. I have a message," I groan, making no effort to move.

"Well, don't you want to check it or at least shut it off?"

Aw, man. "Fine," I grumble with a huff, reluctantly extricating myself as Edward sits up and scratches his head.

My cell phone is somewhere in my purse, which sits perched on his lovely granite kitchen countertop. I dig around until I find the damn thing, hoping it's not another drunk-text from Jacob.

It isn't. There are actually two texts and one missed call from Angela, all telling me she has to talk to me ASAP.

"It's my friend, Angela. Mind if I call her back?"

"Sure," he says groggily. "Use the bedroom. I'll just finish the movie out here."

I kiss him lightly on the lips before retreating to his room, sinking into his crisp steel-blue bedding. I can't wait to hear about her trip and find out what the urgency is about.

"Bellie!" she squeals, picking up on the first ring.

"Angie!" I answer with a chuckle at her enthusiasm. "What's with the stalking? How was your trip?"

"Oh my God, it was amazing! Cabo is so beautiful, and I drank so much!"

I've never been outside of the US, and I listen with a touch of longing as she goes on with details about her vacation.

"But that isn't even the best part," she gushes. "We were walking on the beach after dinner one night, watching the sunset, and out of the blue, Ben drops down on his knee and pops out a ring! He proposed! I'm engaged! Holy shit, Bella! I'm engaged!"

I let out a surprised gasp. "Holy shit is right! Congratulations!" I squeal, filled with excitement for her. Angela had been casual friends with Ben Cheney in high school, but nothing more. She ran into him at a bar in Port Angeles about six months ago, and apparently he was quite the late bloomer; the years had been good to him. She couldn't stop blathering about how much he'd changed, how charming he was and funny and cute and blah, blah, blah. Angela fell head-over-heels for the matured version hard and fast, and things moved quickly from there.

"You're going to be my Maid of Honor of course, right?"

"Of course! As long as you promise not to make me wear anything that even remotely resembles Jessica's bridesmaid dresses." The only thing that could have improved those frilly monstrosities was a blow torch.

She laughs at that. "Scout's honor. And I promise not to go all Bridezilla on you like she did, either."

We talk a bit more about her wedding plans, and she goes on about dress shopping and an engagement party, and I'm just filled with so much happiness for her. Angela has always been such a die-hard romantic, and she's just so excited about everything. I'd swear she's been planning her wedding since we were eleven.

Her euphoria is contagious, and I'm swept away with her as I picture how surreal it will be to watch my best friend, the girl I've known since we were in diapers, walk down the aisle in a flowing white dress.

"So have you guys discussed a date?" I ask.

"Ben doesn't want a long engagement, so we're getting married this winter. I think a winter theme wedding will be so beautiful! I can just picture everything snow white, and maybe you could wear an ice-blue gown…"

Edward saunters into the bedroom, all sleepy-eyed and ruffled hair. He eyes me conspicuously and curiously as he sits down next to me on his bed. I smile and hold up a finger to signal him to wait, offering an apologetic glance.

"Angie, I'm sorry but I have to go. Can I call you back tomorrow?"

"Oh, no problem," she replies chipperly. "I've been blabbering away and I didn't even think about the time difference. I'll talk to you tomorrow, then."

We say our goodbyes, and I turn my attention back to Edward, still brimming with girlie excitement.

"So, what was that all about?"

"By best friend Angela just got engaged. She asked me to be her Maid of Honor."

"Oh, really now? I guess congratulations are in order, then." With that, he gently pushes me onto my back, hovering over me with a devilish grin. "May I kiss the bridesmaid?"

"That's Maid of Honor to you," I reply with a smirk, wrapping my legs around his hips as he kisses me soundly.

He presses his weight into me, and I feel the temperature in the room rise as he runs his lips along my jaw, going directly for that damn spot underneath my ear that renders me incoherent. His breath tickles and warms my neck, and I let out a faint whimper.

"I thought you were tired," I barely whisper, finding it difficult to speak between his maddening ministrations and his weight on my body.

"Never too tired for you," he murmurs into my ear.

I surrender to him happily, while images of dancing with the most beautiful man alive at my best friend's wedding swirl through my head.

XXX

I lie curled into Edward's side, completely sated and exhausted, focusing on his deepening respirations and hoping it will lull me into unconsciousness the way it usually does. But when his body relaxes as sleep takes him, mine doesn't follow.

Apparently my brain seems to have gotten its second wind.

The sensible side of it has kicked in, reminding me of one very critical detail.

How am I going to be Angela's Maid of Honor while I'm living on the other side of the country?

A heaviness clouds over me as I start to do the math in my head, trying to figure out how I'll manage to be there for an engagement party and the wedding. And let's not forget a bridal shower. And a bachelorette party. In less than a year? How will I get enough money saved up in time? Plane tickets alone are outrageously expensive, and I learned from Jessica's wedding that it's expensive to be in a wedding party once all is said and done.

I don't even have a job here yet. Assuming I eventually do get one, will I even be allowed to take all this time off?

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuckity-fuck!

There it is. The resounding sound of the other shoe dropping.

How am I going to manage to stay in New York and be Angela's Maid of Honor? Am I just going to have to tell her no? I know she'd understand…but I love her to death and can't imagine crushing her like that. Angela is the closest thing to a sister I've ever had. I've known her my entire life. She's always been there for me through all these years, for every crush, every fight with my parents, every high and every low. I have to be there for something that is this important to her.

I have to figure out a way to make this work. First and foremost, I needed money. I'll have to find a job as soon as possible.

But what if I can't get a job right away? How would I afford wedding and travel expenses? How would I pay rent? I had used up all the money I'd saved for school and had very little left from school loans…maybe enough to get me through one more month's rent if I'm lucky.

Borrowing money from my parents wasn't even an option in my mind. They wouldn't say no to me, but there's no way they can spare it. I could never put them in a position like that.

Then there is that little voice in the back of my brain that reminds me that I already have a job waiting for me. In Washington. And I know Dr. Simon wouldn't have a problem giving me any time off I needed. I wouldn't miss any wedding events. I wouldn't have to worry about travel expenses.

I wouldn't have Edward, either.

And as much as it hurt me to disappoint Angela, the idea of losing Edward was so much worse.

Not even an option.

There has to be a way to make everything fit into place. I just need to send out more resumes here. Something would have to come through somehow, even if it wasn't my ideal choice.

Edward shifts, tightening his hold on me. I breathe him in, letting his scent ground me as I convince myself that everything will somehow work out.

It has to.

A/N: Usual disclaimer applies.

No one wants to hear my lame-ass excuses why this took so long, so I'll just say I'm sorry and thank y'all from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me. You guys are better than double-dark chocolate brownies a la mode. With hot fudge, of course ;)

Oh, and in case anyone is interested in a little back-story, I started posting the outtakes I wrote for the charity compilations. Big squishee hugs to those of you who donated! Thank you!

And last but not least, all my love to Pennyloafer, Beccagold, Prettyflour, NKubie, Twilly, Twilover76 and mcc101180.

xoxo