36.

"I need you to take me to Port Angeles", says Alice.

"Why?" I ask. Don't tell me she needs to go shopping again.

"Masen will go with me as well."

"Why and where?"

"Bella's exhibition", she replies. "Weren't you listening? I've been talking about this for the last two weeks."

Um, no. As soon as she starts mentioning anything clothing related, I zone out. It's not that I have an aversion to fashion, it's just that I can't stand to hear about girly things, like dresses, handbags, perfume and whatever else they like.

I dress casually most of the time. At work, I'm in button-up shirts with ties, pants and a suit jacket. (I take off the jacket when I'm in my office).

While at home or anywhere else for the matter, I go around in jeans and t-shirts.

I don't make a fuss about what I have to wear. Since Alice entered my life almost a decade ago, she's made it her mission to make sure Jasper and I are well dressed.

So yeah, we have to wear branded, fancy things or Little Miss Dramatic will get a heart attack.

"It's in Port A?"

"Yes!"

"Can't you take my car and go by yourself?"

"No."

I wonder what reason she has for this. "The reason being..."

"It'll get late and I don't want to drive back", she says.

"Alice, we both know that's not the problem. Tell me the truth."

She pours juice into Masen's cup and hands it over to him. Then she keeps a plate of waffles on the kitchen table for us to eat. It is breakfast time. "Bella will like it if you're there" comes as her reply.

Oh, so that's it? She thinks that just because Bella would like it if I'm there, I'll go?

Why does this woman pretend she doesn't know me? She knows that I will not step into an event which is clearly for females.

"Come on Ed, you know that a woman appreciates it if a guy appreciates her work."

A woman appreciates it if a guy appreciates her work? How desperately does Alice want me to go?

"I'll drop you off from the outside and pick you up whenever you want", I say, taking a large gulp of my coffee.

"But Edward..."

"No 'buts."

She sticks her tongue out. "Fine", she says. "Where will you go meanwhile?"

I dunno. "I'll find something to do", I say. "Don't worry about me."

Next up: the exhibition.