Rose is eager to make up for her distant behaviour as of late and has invited me over for dinner and drinks at her place.

I know what it really means though. It means she'll buy ingredients for whatever she feels like eating and I'll end up cooking it for us. To be truthful I'd prefer getting cooked for since Alice is still having her Bella-bake-craze and I've been spending my fair share of time in the kitchen. Rose is a crappy cook though and I would only end up feeling miserable eating over-boiled pasta. She's smart to leave it to the pros. I wonder if Emmett has given her more cooking lessons or if he just gave up. Nevertheless I'm happy to spend time with her. It's been too long since we hung out, just she and I. I've even dressed up for the occasion, wearing a little black dress and heels. Okay maybe I'm stopping by Edward's after... But I'm sure Rose will appreciate the effort.

Only issue is she has forgotten our plans. When I ring the doorbell and she opens looking shocked and surprised, dressed in slacks and with a towel wrapped around her hair, I just know it. She's a crap actor too ("Bells, I was totally expecting you!") but invites me inside. I play along, asking what we're eating tonight. I'm hungry as hell and head straight for her kitchen still wearing my heels. Momentarily stunned by how, well romantic it is I stop in the doorway and take it in. Candles on the table. A small box of matches next to it and a scent of something flowery and wonderful in the air. There's music coming from, well somewhere. Maybe Rose didn't forget after all, although why would she buy candles for a dinner with me?

"I'll go get dressed," Rose calls out, on her way to the bedroom.

I open the fridge at the same time I'm kicking my heels off ready to get down to business. When I cook I need to be steady on my feet but as it turns out... No need for it. The fridge is empty. Rose comes rushing back while pulling on a dark blue dress over her now towel-free head, nearly walking straight into me. We both stare at the non-existing contents.

"You're a great cook Bells," she compliments. "I'm sure you can work with this," she adds in a hesitant tone.

"Well, no," I say. "You literally don't have anything in here."

"That's not true."

"Are you claiming to actually see food anywhere?"

"What's that?" she asks pointing to something I think was once an old lunchbox.

Oh, look it's not completely empty.

"Don't you and Emmett eat?" I ask.

"We're mostly at his place. Wow, there's mold in here."

"And you didn't forget we were having dinner tonight?" I ask incrediously looking around. "And not expecting Emmett?" I appreciate the gesture but is she seriously going to light candles?

She smoothes out her dress, which is useless since it already looks like a second skin on her. Some people just look naturally amazing in everything and clothes can feel it. On me, Rose's dress would be all wrinkly I swear.

"No!" She huffs, now running her fingers through her hair, trying to untangle it. " I would never forget. Never! It's weird though I had so much food here last week."

"The thing about food, Rose, is you need to restock, because you eat it."

"Okay okay, I suck!" She throws her hands up in surrender.

"We'll order in," I suggest closing the fridge with a sigh. "Last time I cooked you hated it anyways."

We're both quiet for a few seconds as if to pay our respects to the week she lived with me and emotionally abused me.

Then she starts rummaging the kitchen as if food will magically appear if she just looks carefully enough.

That's when the doorbell rings and seeing as Rose is busy I go to answer it. I look through the peep-hole. On the other side is a blurry pizza guy. That's weird timing. Domino's must have seriously stepped up their game if they can read people's minds.

"Did you order pizza?" I call out and unlock the door.

A loud "Fuck!" comes from the kitchen at the same time I'm standing face to face with none other than Emmett, surprise evident on his face. His surpise however quickly turns into a big cheeky grin.

"Not who I expected, but very nice to see you Bellsie," he says doing some kind of bow the best he can with a huge pizza cartoon in one hand.

He's wearing a cap and everything. Dressed in full pizza delivery attire with the logo of Domino's on the shirt, which is very tight, matching the minimal shorts.

Don't look at this crotch. Shit, I'm looking at his crotch! I look away and hope I don't blush.

"I thought you worked at a gym", I say, my voice wavering.

"Shit," Rose gets out. "I forgot."

She's standing behind me now holding a bottle of ketchup.

"That's all I found," she explains. "But now that we have pizza..."

"So you deliver pizzas?" I turn to Emmett.

He smiles innocently.

"Rose and I, we like to spice things up..." He looks at her now, a hunger in his eyes that makes me uncomfortable. "Literally," he continued. "I've got pepperoni pizza, but you know we're not talking about food..."

Rose pushes me out of the way, drags Emmett inside like he's no match for her and shuts the door. For a moment I'm scaringly convinced they're going to make hot love right here, right now, but Rose smiles at me.

"Nothing our neighbors want to hear," she says lightly.

"Babe, when have we ever taken your neighbors into consideration?" Emmett grins.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Call me a prude if you will but I don't respond well when I receive too much detail about anyone's love life. And yes Rose is my closest friend. Have I been scarred much? Yes. Yes, I have.

Those are really tiny shorts too.

Emmett guaffs loudly.

"I know right?"

Aaand I said that part out loud. Not the first time that's happened.

"They're not comfortable either but to be honest I wasn't planning on wearing them very long."

Okay, that's my que. I need to go home. I'm hungry as hell and came here under the premiss that I would get fed. I should head to Edward's. Maybe he'll make me pancakes. Now that Emmett seems ready to rip his itsy-bitsy shorts off Magic Mike-style I'm already halfway out the door, mentally eating a stack of pancakes.

"Bells are you coming or what?" Rose calls out heading back to the kitchen.

"I did bring pizza," Emmett clarifies. "Not everything's for show you know, just my body."

Not knowing if it's a good idea or not I follow the pizza. Who am I kidding? When is it not a good idea to follow pizza?

Rose lights the candles. The three of us are going to have a romantic pizza dinner. There are a few things to pan out while we eat. Like, where did Emmett get the clothes and if he doesn't secretly work for Dominos did he order a pizza and accept it at his door in that outfit? Emmett explains he used to work there during his college years and has simply kept the clothes. And yes he ordered and accepted delivery pizza in this outfit simply because he enjoys the double-take that takes happens when the other guy notices.

"The simple pleasures of life," I sigh happily.

"Emmett is all for pleasure," Rose says wiggling her eyebrows.

I don't think I've ever seen Rose wiggle her eyebrows. It seems more like an Emmett-move, but I guess they've been spending a lot of time together.

"Right you are babe," Emmett says, then laughs. "Hey is it really awkward that I'm not wearing any underwear?"

Oookay.

"Why did you keep the clothes though? Don't get me wrong, looks good on you but..." I say steering the conversation away from Emmett's commando-confession.

"You'd be surprised how well it works with the ladies," he says at which Rose scoffs loudly.

"Please! Who wants to fuck the pizza delivery guy?"

"I know someone," Emmett says wiggling his eyebrows.

Yup. Definitely an Emmett-move. To my surprise Rose blushes. This is getting too third wheel for my liking.

"Uh," I get out. "I'm kind of full," I lie although I've only had one bite. "I should go home and..." Digest. Or something.

"Has Rose told you the good news?" Emmett asks me but looks at his girlfriend.

"No?" I answer looking at Rose. "What's going on?"

I look inbetween them, my eyes going to their fingers that are... Bare. Okay, so no rings.

"Rose tell her."

She takes a deep breath.

"After the project I'll step in as co-owner at Emmett's gym."

I snort.

Oh my God. I have to tell Edward. This is too funny.

"Hey, it's not a joke. You're not allowed to laugh," Rose says irritated.

But Emmett is laughing along.

"Dude!" he exclaims and I have no idea what he finds funny but here we are laughing as hell and Rose is looking more and more upset.

We ignore her, both deciding that this is a high-five moment. I'm high-fiving that Edward's little joke a week ago was completely on point. Emmett is high-fiving because he's a bro. Bros are high-fivers by nature.

"Jeez thanks the support," Rose huffs.

"It's not a bad plan Rose," I assure her still laughing a bit. "You're a good match, that's all."

Though I am surprised. They've only dated a few weeks and already they are making plans of working together. Not only that but Rose is dropping her career in the architecture business and embarking on an new one, a different one. What does she know about gyms? She's in great shape but that doesn't come from lifting weights. It's great genes, annoying and unfair yes I know, and some occasional jogging that's mostly just for show. I'm saving my questions for later though. I don't want to set a gloomy tone to something she's excited about the first thing I do, but next time I see her I'm going to reel her back down to earth slowly. Why do I feel so evil just thinking this?!

"Okay, so tell me your plan Bells. Let's see if it's better than mine," she suggests sullenly.

Before I can think it through I blurt out that I'm going to work for Jacob Black. That's news even for me. If it's at all possible to put down a slice of pizza with a bang, that's what Rose does. She's that pissed off.

"Working for Jacob Black?" she says seethingly.

"Why do you say that like it's a bad idea? It's a good thing!"

She shakes her head and sighs deeply.

"It's like you enjoy making bad choices."

"Woah!" I say. "Where did that come from?"

"Drama," Emmett mouths, having another bite of pizza.

"You lack a sense of gut Bells. Just saying," Rose says and puts her hands up in the air as if she's telling me to take it easy.

"That's not true," I protest.

"If it wasn't, you'd know it's a bad idea. Don't work for Jacob Black."

"Who's Jacob Black?" Emmett asks but we both ignore him.

"Why?" I ask sounding more whiny than I wanted to.

The question is more like why did I even start this discussion? I haven't made any decision regarding Jacob's offer and here I am acting as if I have. Do I just want the attention or what?

"If you cherish your relationship with Edward you'd be wise not to," Rose warns with an annoying Miss-know-it-all-look on her face.

"What?!" Emmett exclaims. "Alright, now you guys have to tell me. If this concerns my bro I need to know who..."

"What kind of relationship is it if it can't handle Jacob Black?" I ask. "He's just some person. Why do you care so much anyways?"

"You ready babe?" Rose asks Emmett who nods obediently in response. "Jacob Black is the guy who owns the Newman-building. He's filthy rich. One of those people who smile all the time and owns several buildings all over New York. Oh and he's totally in love with Bella and Edward hates him," she explains. "And she," she points at me accusingly. "Is going to work for him."

Emmett laughs.

"Sounds like you're asking for trouble Bellsie," he says.

I glare at Rose.

"Now the reason I care, Bella," Rose says seriously. "Is because we're dating brothers. We're going to get married and have kids at the same time. My plan doesn't work out very well if you and Edward break up."

"Are you aware of this plan, Emmett?" I ask him amused.

He winks.

"Whatever wifey says."

Rose smiles brightly at her man and kisses him loud and smackingly straight on his mouth. After she slaps his upper arm hard.

"This one, he gets it."

Emmett flexes his bicep and I'm trying hard to un-see some of these things.

"Bells, your intuition sucks," Rose says again. "When you first met Jessica you told me, and I quote, 'what a lovely person!'"

"But you," I point accusingly at her. "You were her BFF in college."

"Bells, ever heard the saying 'keep your enemies' close? It's in the bible. It's a famous book you know, bigger than Harry Potter."

"I like Harry Potter," Emmett fills in. "Which house would you get sorted into girls? I'm a total hufflepuff. Not even ashamed! They're just happy people right?"

"She did seem nice," I defend myself.

Rose snaps her fingers as if she just came up with a great idea.

"Oh, and how about James? How's that for an example?"

"Douche!" Emmett flicks in, using his hands as a megaphone. "I heard that story."

"What do you mean? James and I were together for six years."

"Yes," Rose says. "And he cheated on you for one of them."

A familiar sound for incoming text message goes off and we all reach for our cellphones.

"Jackpot, it's mine," Emmett says glancing down at his cell. "Speaking of non-douches. Edward just texted me, asking what's up. I'm texting him back now so don't mind me girls." He quickly starts typing on his phone and I'm wondering exactly what he's typing. That he stopped by dressed as a pizza delivery guy? Knowing Emmett, most probably, but then again Edward didn't ask what he was wearing. Now that would be disturbing.

Rose must've interpreted the troubled look on my face as having to do with our conversation because she puts her hand over mine and looks me deeply in the eyes.

"I'm not out to hurt you Bells," she continues on. "I want to help you reconnect with your long neglected gut."

I give up.

"Fine," I say pulling my hand back. "Help me."

"Then I have to take you back to said jerk. Do you know how many times you denied James cheating on you? I know you like to say it came out of nowhere, but did it really?"

That's a tricky one. The answer is easy: obviously no. There were always little things, but admitting you saw the signs before shit hit the fan doesn't feel very good. It's easier to tell friends that you "never saw it coming". There was for example the incident where I found Lauren's underwear in our bedroom. In hindsight I am one hundred percent sure they were hers, but when it happened I somehow managed to convince myself I did own that tiny fabric with a big huge "L" on the front. L, not for "Lauren", but for "love" - of course.

Rose must know I'm thinking about this, because she brings up the panties. Saying they weren't mine because we both know I prefer granny panties.

Emmett laughs loudly. Jeez. Thanks Rose.

"For real?" he says.

"It's not granny panties," I say. "It's real-woman-panties," I stress every word carefully and immediately after I've said it I realize how idiotic that sounds. Real-woman panties?Really? And why are we using the name "panties"? It's awful.

"You wear those for Edward?" Emmett laughs again.

Honestly I haven't yet, but one day... When we've gotten married or something and he won't be able to get away as easily I'm going to.

"It's better than not using any underwear at all," I shoot back at Emmett. "That's not sanitary."

He wiggles his eyebrows at me. He needs to stop doing that. Rose too. Also I can't get over his Domino's outfit. It's weird and very distracting. He hasn't even taken the cap off.

"My point is you need to listen to your gut, Bells," Rose says. "Because you're also kind of naive."

"Great," I sigh. "While we're at it why don't we list all of my bad traits?" I turn to Emmett. "What about me stands out as particularly bad?"

"This is a trick question isn't it?" he says squinting his eyes at me. "Well you do like granny panties and you call them real-woman-panties..."

I look at him like "really?" I don't think I'll ever be able to live that one down. Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?

"But you're..." Emmett trails off unsurely. "A nice person?"

He even says it like a question! He once called me an angel, the night he showed up at Edward's place, albeit very drunk in love but still. He smiles widely at me letting me know he's joking. I decide Emmett is a bit of an ass, but I still like him. Even though he dresses up like a pizza dude as roleplay.

"And then it was her cellphone," Rose says carefully.

"Please let's not go there," I say. "I'm serious. Don't."

I feel bad for Emmett. All he wanted was to come over and eh... solve some crosswords with Rose and here I am. Also to be honest I'm feeling a bit bad for myself too. I came here, thinking I was going to have dinner with Rose and instead she's lecturing me on my "poor" judgement.

"I'm just saying," Rose continues on. "She left her cellphone at your house. They fucked in your bed..."

"No," I shake my head stubbornly. "In the apartment yes, the bed? No." I even cross my arms over my chest like a stubborn kid.

Okay, deep down I know that can't be true despite James claiming so. Why would they ignore the bed? It's not like they had any respect for me. Still I remember James stressing that fact. We never ever even looked at the bedroom, I swear.

"Where did they do the dirty deed?" Emmett asks.

"At our kitchen table."

He nearly chokes on thin air and looks down at the table with a disgusted look on his face, like it was this very table.

"What the...? That's worse."

"And when I found out about it I was having breakfast," I say weakly.

Just thinking back on it makes me sick. To this day I can't eat Cheerios without imagining James and Lauren going at it at the beautiful wooden table. Damn, I loved that table. We bought it together and he ruined it. Well technically I did. After I found out I had it disinfected and it ruined the wood. James accused me of doing it on purpose and I ended up feeling like the bad guy. What's worse? Cheating on your fiance or accidentally ruining furniture? Hey, that could be a Cosmo article!

"How did you...?" Emmett trails off.

I'm surprised Rose hasn't told him how shit hit the fan.

"She read James' text messages while he was in the shower," she fills in impatiently. She's been over it so many times."You honestly tell me you didn't see anything coming until that fucking text message?"

In a way I guess I didn't. Even though there were those little things, if the truth isn't what you want, would you believe it until the ultimate proof came along? Rose is making me sound like an idiot, but frankly I'd consider myself human.

"I didn't," I answer, because it's not one hundred percent untrue.

The textmessage was very elaborate, which is why James couldn't deny its authencity. He could have though considering I found it funny at first. I thought it was his twisted sense of humour and that he was playing a prank on me. His suddenly deathly pale and non-laughing face gave it away and soon I was deathly pale too and not laughing along with him.

"Okay, I believe you," Rose says. "Now that we sorted that out, let's get back to it. Why do you even want to work for Jacob Black in the first place?"

If there weren't plates and pizza on this table I would have banged my head onto it. Instead I'll have to do with a big old-fashioned sigh.

"I'm planning on quitting my job and I have no idea how things are going to turn out," I answer. "I'm scared and I've not even decided yet. I just said it to..."

"Get my opinion," Rose fills in at the same time I say "vent".

I squint my eyes at her. She's so annoyingly bossy I can't stand it sometimes.

A mobile signal goes off again and we all reach for our cellphones once more. It turns out to be Emmett's this time too. Rose pats my hand gently comfortingly.

"That's life for you Bells. Now I'm going to co-own Emmett's gym because my gut tells me this is fantastic. And I'm in tune with my gut, Bells. I can see my inner compass."

"I'm happy for you both," I say sincerely.

"And we're happy for you," Emmett says. "Edward texted back and asked when we were going to let you go."

"On that note," I say getting up from my stool. "Thanks for the pizza."

It's nine o'clock when I show up at Edward's. He's dressed in all black. Black Jeans. Black t-shirt. And no socks. It's the no socks part that does it for me. Why is that? I've never found that appealing before, not unappealing either but... He manages to break my line of thought by kissing me senseless, hands on my butt and everything. Then, right after he asks me about my night as if he did not just rock my world. I give him the standard answer ("fine") considering I'm momentarily dazzled and ask him about his. I'm weirdly touched when he tells me about a funny movie he saw on TV in great detail but breaking out in tears would be weird, especially considering he saw a comedy. I bite my lip to keep the tears at bay. A small move that really turns him on (he's told me so, but now I was really biting back a cry and he has no idea). We kiss again.

I'm exhausted. I've only been here ten minutes tops. We're still in the hallway and I've felt a million emotions since I arrived. I had forgotten what it feels like to be in love. I'm so in love with Edward. There's no point denying it. I'm sure he can tell too. Especially now because I'm looking at him all starry-eyed and he smiles waving his hand like a wind-shield wiper in front of my face.

"What?" I ask, my voice sounding oddly detached even to my own ears.

"I asked if you wanted pancakes."

Oh, he spoke to me before I disappeared. And he asked if I wanted pancakes, wow. Maybe Domino's cant read minds, but Edward certainly can.

"Because I know Emmett usually eats all the pizza," he adds.

"Yes," I answer. "To pancakes." Although I think Emmett had most of the pizza.

Off we go to the kitchen.

Edward asks me about Emmett stopping by while he makes the batter (with pancake mix, of course. I need to show him how to make real ones). His textmessage had said "Just delivered a pizza to the girlZzz" Apparently Edward knows about the Domino's outfit, but before I can tell him about his brother not wearing any underwear underneath the tiny shorts (because I'm awkward like that), I remember the best part of the evening. I tell him about Rose and Emmett's co-owning plan. Edward cracks up for real. It's rare to see him laugh hard and I laugh even more than I did with Emmett. I laugh so much I get stomach aches. It doesn't get any easier when Edward suggests we start our own gym and compete with them. He's in a real goofy mood and while I thought I was exhausted from a stressful week at work we stay up late, talking and eating pancakes. At some point in our conversation we start talking about museums. Edward says he would love for us to go to the Met sometime. One of his favorite paintings is on display there. It's a small thing, but I get this warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing he wants to share this with me.

Right about then I blurt out I won't work for Jacob Black.

"Oh?" he says surprised, probably a bit confused too since we were talking about going to the museum.

I should just shoot straight at him. Let him know exactly what I'm thinking.

"I don't want to jeopardize our relationship," I say and he sort of squints his eyes at me, as if he suspects I'm not telling the truth.

But that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Do you know what freaks me out about relationships?" he asks. "It's when you start doing what someone else wants. If you honestly don't want to work for Jacob Black, you shouldn't. But don't do it for me. In the long run..."

I don't need to hear the rest. I know what he's getting at. That's why Charlie and Renée's marriage ended. Mom moved to Forks for his sake and she hated it. If she'd followed her heart from the beginning, before the resentment took over, maybe things would have turned out differently. I don't think they would've been married still but maybe friends.

"If turning down this job opportunity will make you happy, then it's the right decision," Edward finishes.

Truth is I have a strong feeling things will be awkward and uncomfortable if I work for Jacob. It all boils down to having some faith in myself and not settling for the first choice presented to me. I can find a job. I haven't even looked around yet.

So I am turning down Jacob Black's offer for me.

"It will make me happy," I assure him. "Can I ask you something though?"

"Sure."

"Am I an idiot for thinking about you when Jacob offered me a job?" I wasn't planning on saying it, but still I do. "Do you take us seriously?"

There it is. I anxiously wait for his answer, looking down on my now empty plate.

"Bella," he says softly, coaxing me to look up.

He looks me straight in the eyes. When he does that, when he looks so intently at me, I feel like I'm the only person in the world he ever sees.

"I've never dated anyone before. Trust me. I take us seriously."

I smile at his words and he smiles back. It's a great cheesy moment. It only gets better when he leans across the table to kiss me.

"You could keep stuff here you know," he says suddenly picking up our plates. "Clothes or whatever you want."

I know this is his way of showing me that he does take us seriously.

"Body lotions," he adds casually as he puts the plates in the sink.

Okay, that's weird. His back is to me and I can't see his facial expression.

"Body lotions?" I repeat.

He shrugs his shoulder as if it's not a weird thing to suggest.

"You mentioned body lotions the other night, that's all."

I go pale as a sheet. Sleep-talking. Next thing I know Edward is laughing and I'm shaking my head. This is so not fair. I can't control what I say in my sleep! I sigh, walking over to him. He does the washing and I do the drying, despite his polite protest at first.

"Hey, what did I say that night at the vineyard?" I ask him, as I have done before.

He still hasn't told me.

He smiles crookedly at me and his greeen eyes twinkle with smugness. He turns off the tap.

"You said you wanted me."

I blush.

I recall Edward going for a run that morning. Either he was running away because he was freaked out or running because he was frustrated as hell. I remember the dream I had. It was intense to say the least. It must've driven him crazy.

"I'm so embarrassed," I say mortified.

"Don't be."

He turns around, facing me and puts his hands on my waist. I feel his lips by my ear. What he says sends shivers down my spine and puts a smile on my face.

"I'm yours."

Thank you guys for still reivewing. I don't take it for granted and am always surprised and happy as hell to see new reviews and readers so thanks so much for dropping a line or joining the ride (bad rhyme. God damn it, it rhymed again.)