Alice finds me sitting on the deck behind the house, staring out into the dark. Uninvited, she seats herself in one of the loungers and says nothing. The quiet stretches for miles between us, nothing but the occasional sound of the breeze rustling in the trees to disturb us. After minutes that seem to last years, I finally break down and cut the silence.
"Why won't anyone tell me anything?" I ask.
"Why the hell should we?" Alice is immediately on the offensive. "You didn't say one damned word to any of us! One moment, we were all betting on how soon you'd propose, and the next you tell us that you and Bella broke up and you're moving to L.A."
I can always count on Alice to speak her mind. Maybe she'll speak more about it than anyone else has. Maybe I'll finally find out just what the hell's been going on.
"It was complicated," I say, purposefully vague, hoping for a reaction. And I get one.
"You made it complicated," she accuses. "Do you know how many times Bella begged me to tell her why you broke it off? Do you have any idea how much it sucked to have to say I didn't know?"
"I'm sorry," I mumble, repeating the same useless words that now seem to be my mantra.
"Sorry doesn't cut it," she fumes. "She was my best friend, Edward. We shared everything. And now she doesn't trust me!"
That comes as a surprise. After all, despite the weird circumstances, Bella is a one of Alice's bridesmaids. "You seem to get along fine."
"Yeah, we get along," she huffs, "because I practically stalked her till she'd hear me out. But we're not like we were. I don't think she believes that I didn't know why you left. She hasn't exactly said it, but I know I wouldn't believe me if I were in her shoes."
"God, Alice…I…" I know my leaving hurt everyone. And I know it must have been awkward between Bella and my family. I just had no idea it was so bad. I mean...I was the one who did everything wrong, not them.
"Spit it out, Edward!" Alice demands. "What the hell happened? I thought everything was perfect with you two."
"It was."
My answer just angers and confuses her more.
"Then why the hell did you put us all through this?"
"I'll tell you, Alice. I swear I will. But I think Bella should hear it first."
She rolls her eyes and stands. "Well, of course," she says angrily. "It's not like we haven't all waited a decade, now is it?"