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Chapter Fifty-One

Edward was acting weird. Not his dorky, semi-shy weird.

He was just down.

After he picked me up from work on Monday, he was very quiet. He was gripping the wheel so hard I thought he was going to accidentally pull it off.

But he had greeted me with a kiss and held my the entire time he was driving, even as he switched gears.

He smiled when it made me laugh.

I didn't ask what was bothering him because I was scared he regretted us.

I knew it was silly.

He wasn't acting differently towards me.

Just different.

I stayed at his place Monday night.

Tuesday he asked me again if I'd like to go to Texas with him.

"You know I can't," I said slowly as I watched him pout.

Even if I were able to go, I'd say no at first just to watch his lips do that little pouty thing.

"Yeah, but aren't you nervous I'll fall in love with some Texan who will smooth talk me with her accent?"

"No." I kissed him, mid-pout. "I know you won't."

"That's why I love you," he said honestly.

"Besides, they don't all have accents. You forget I lived there. Half the girls I knew there had valley girl accents."

"Valley girl?" Edward raised an eyebrow before bursting out into laughter. "Yeah, but that's very attractive."

"No, it's not."

"Yeah, you're right. It's not."

Wednesday, Edward had to work late so I stayed home. Renee was there and, oddly enough, made dinner for the both of us.

I watched her eat it first to make sure she hadn't poisoned it. I didn't actually think she would do that, but I waited and watched, anyway.

Phil showed up a little while later. It was the third time we had met since meeting him in my towel. He wouldn't look me in the eyes. I knew that was a bad sign.

Thursday night Emmett showed up at Edward's unannounced. He claimed it was because he needed a plunger and the store was already closed.

"This is why I should stick to pooping in a bucket," he said in a serious tone.

"This is why you need to live in a cage," Edward said before throwing the plunger and locking him out.

Friday was perfect.

Edward was leaving for Texas the next day and never stopped kissing me once.

"I don't want to leave you," he murmured against my stomach as we laid in bed.

"You aren't leaving me." I laughed. "You'll be back in a few days."

He sighed. "I know."

I wove my fingers through his hair and rolled on my stomach.

"I have something for you," he whispered and opened his nightstand drawer.

Edward handed me a key.

"What is this?"

"What does it look like?"

"A key," I said lamely.

"That's what it is." He couldn't hide his smile.

"What's it to?"

"I'm trying very hard not to be cheesy and say 'my heart'."

"Don't stop be from letting you be cheesy," I said with a lump in my throat.

Edward set the key on the bed and I stared at it as he spoke.

"I know you always feel more comfortable about knocking before you walk in. But now you don't have to. You can use this."

He slid the key towards me on the mattress.

"You had a key made for me."

"And while I'm in Texas, you can always stay here," he explained, gauging my reaction. "If you want. If you need to."

I crawled on top of him and asked, "Why are you so good to me?"

"Because it's easy."

It was going to be a rough few days without him.


A/N: Okay, two things. First, if you didn't already know- I live in Texas! Liv thinks I have a valley girl accent but whatever, she also thinks it's a good idea to goes to bars even when she has a broken ankle. Anyway, Texas was recently affected by the devastating wildfires. There is a fundraiser set up, Fandom4Texas, to help the families who suffered losses. If you donate $5 or more you can receive a compilation of stories from some amazing authors! It would be greatly appreciated - http : / / texasfires . ysar . info /

Second- now I don't even remember the second thing I was going to say.