Wednesday, 7:45 pm

I debate denying that there's anything going on between us, but I know it's a futile endeavor. She knows; it isn't even a guess on her part.

"What gave us away?"

"I knew it!" she exclaims, and then at my intake of breath laughs before continuing. "Calm down. Of course I knew, you didn't confirm anything—well, not really—I've just always wanted to say that."

I shake my head and smile, but I can also feel the blush spread across my cheeks. It takes a lot to make me blush, and Miss Rosalie Hale has just achieved it.

"Shit, Rose." I stop, thinking through my words carefully. "It's not that we're hiding, but it's all so very new."

"It might be for Ed, but it's not for you is it, Jazz?"

Now I am a bit confused. It would be one thing for her to have noticed the odd gaze or smile over the last few days, but why would she question me and think that something has been going on for longer? People might have noticed my frustration and contempt for Edward over the past few months—an attraction though? This surprises me.

"Oh, come on, Jazz. They say there's a very fine line between love and hate. And if I were to take a guess; mine would be that you've been skating that line for a while."

"Have you been talking to Alice?" I'd be surprised if she has—and disappointed.

"No! Alice would never betray you. Never. She didn't have to."

I start to panic. If she's noticed, who else has?

"Jazz, calm down. I don't think anyone else has figured it out either. I'd doubt very much that Mike and Tyler would give it enough brain space to even make a connection." She obviously sees me relax a bit at that. "I haven't even discussed it with Em." Really? My raised brow at that makes her backtrack. "Okay… I might have mentioned it once or twice. Just as a joke."

"I'm sure it was very funny." At my snippy comment, she squeezes my hand again.

"It was months ago, and only because we thought you'd make a cute couple. But I haven't mentioned it lately; not since I began noticing a few things."

"Noticing things. What? Me screaming at him."

"Umm… yeah, actually."

I pull my hand away; then throw both into the air, shaking my head. It's maybe a tad dramatic. "You're not making any sense."

"Jazz… listen. For you, one of the nicest guys I know by the way, to totally lose it with Edward like you have twice now, well it just made me go 'hang on, something more is going on here.' A few snide comments here and there, plus, you called me Miss Hale on Wednesday last week when you asked me to leave the meeting room."

"You are Miss Hale. Is me saying your name in a meeting really that weird?"

She gives me another tilt of her head and a 'really' look.

"What else have you noticed?" I ask, resigned to it now.

"Every time his name was mentioned when we went for pizza your ears would prick up. It was so obvious. You were itching to ask about him, weren't you?"

This woman has my number.

I smile and lower my head, closing my eyes as I remember. "Yes."

"I could tell. If Em hadn't been there I might have even volunteered some information, but as much as I love him, Em isn't the most discrete at times."

"Well thank you for not throwing me to the wolves."

"Don't misunderstand what I mean by that, Jazz. I can guarantee that Emmett will be your greatest advocate once he knows, but it wasn't prudent to have him know before Ed did." I think I understand everything now. "So when did it happen?"

"Ed and me?" At her nod I continue, glossing over everything from our discussion in the meeting room after she had left, to our night of beer and wings.

"Of course… Friday… You spent Thursday night together?" She does seem surprised by her deduction.

"Oh, God no. We both went home alone." It reminds me of the kiss I gave him and I brush my finger over my lips.

"Oh, you do work fast. A bit of smooching went down did it?"

I don't answer her—I don't need to.

"Jasper! And then the weekend. Did you spend the whole thing together?"

This time I do feel my cheeks heat. I won't be sharing any of that.

"Don't answer that. Something tells me I'd likely combust."

She really looks happy for us. All I can hope is that everybody is so accepting.

"Thanks, Rose. Thanks for your support."

"I want you to both be happy, Jazz. I think you could be really great for each other."

I can't help but feel I'm being cautioned. I just wonder if she realizes who exactly is the vulnerable one here.

Wednesday, 10:45 pm

"Sorry I missed your call. I was in the shower," I tell Edward after he has answered the phone, explaining what I was doing when he called me earlier.

"Hmmm… That's a nice visual to take into dreamland with me," his sleepy voice replies.

I can definitely do better than that. I'd love a repeat of last night, if he's willing.

"So what are you doing now?" I ask, my voice low and hopefully sultry. "Maybe I can—"

He cuts me off with a big yawn. "Sorry, so tired. I was just falling asleep when the phone rang."

"Sorry. If I'd known I would have called in the morning." I feel bad to have woken him. I know how hard it can be for him to fall asleep.

"No, it's fine. But you know me—try and catch it when I can and all that."

"Go to sleep, Ed. Sweet dreams. I'll call tomorrow."

"Night, Jazz."

I'm disappointed when the call ends.


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