"Our love ain't water under the bridge," – Water Under the Bridge by Adele (Album: 25)
We spent the next couple weeks in routine bliss. Keeping quiet about our budding relationship, Edward and I speak on the phone every night and when he could be pulled away from his writing, Edward would visit me at the studio. Always bringing lunch with him, for both Rosalie and myself. He's a gentlemen.
With obvious suspicion about us, Rose would make an excuse to leave the office and let us eat alone. Giving us time to ourselves. And we took that time. With fear of this relationship far from my mind, Edward and I took continued to get to know each other again, filling in the blanks from the last ten years. And as much as he's grown and changed, he's still very much the boy I once fell in love with.
While watching television in my apartment he calls me.
"Hey you." I say.
"Hey baby."
"How's your night? Any interesting bedtime stories today?" I ask.
Edward admitted that every night he makes up a bedtime story for Maggie. She refuses to hear one from a book. Some nights they're good, other's he's just pulling things out of his ass. Or so Edward says.
"I'm telling you, once this mystery writing thing falls apart, I can write dozens of children's books." He tells me.
"Some may give them nightmares. But that's just risk they're going to have to take." I joke.
"It was once. Maggie had one nightmare." He argues. I can just imagine his green eyes rolling at me. I laugh anyways.
"I actually called because I wanted to talk to you about this weekend." Edward starts. Our glamorous third date. Edward was going to take me to a club for drinks and dancing.
"Are you reminding me to wear something sexy? Because you've done that many times." I laugh. It was actually only once, in a very saucy text message.
"Like you need reminding. You're always sexy." He tells me. I blush, thankful he can't see me.
"I actually need to cancel or reschedule. Up to you." He says. I feel dread sink into my stomach. Edward's not once to cancel. He continues, "My babysitter backed out. So you can come with Maggie and me to see a movie and dinner or we can try for next week." I smile over the phone imaging him wracking his hands through his hair, nervous to call me knowing it's not what I expected to hear.
"I'm sorry. I hope you're not upset." He says.
"Of course not Edward." I tell him, "And I'd love to see and movie with you and Maggie."
"You say that but you realize any movie we see will be of the cartoon variety." He reminds.
"I happen to like cartoons." I tell him. And I happen to like him and Maggie. And bringing her with us on a date is a new step in our relationship.
"And I happen to like you." Edward says. I smile wide.
"Will this be weird for Maggie?" I ask.
"No. I'll talk to her and explain it. You might get some random question but other than that she's pretty chill with things most of the time." He tells me. I love the way he talks about his daughter, one minute she's his baby the next he speaks like she's a little adult. It's adorable.
"Have you introduced her to a girlfriend before?" I ask.
"Bella Swan. Are you implying that you're my girlfriend?" He teases. I laugh.
"Of course not. It would be rude to imply. But since you're my boyfriend, I just assumed."
"Cause it's not rude to assume." He laughs. "But assume away. Girlfriend." We hadn't talked about labels. After our first date, it was an unstated agreement that we were exclusive. And now that it's out there. It really doesn't change a thing for us.
"But to answer your question. She's never met any girl I've dated actually." He says.
"Never?" I say. Maggie's five and obviously he's dated in the last five years.
"Yes, never." He confirms, "Nobody was ever important enough."
"And I'm important?" I ask.
"Always."