'So… you going to ask Bella to move in?'

I blink at Alistair over my bowl of muesli. He's perched on the arm of the sofa, dark circles under his eyes and creases in his scrubs. It's almost seven a.m.; he's just gotten home from night shift while I'm about to head out the door to work.

I mute the television—not that I was really watching it. 'I hadn't thought about it. I'm not even sure if she's looking to move out.' The idea of living under the same roof as Bella has obvious appeal, but even as head-over-heels as I am, I know it's way too early for that sort of discussion. 'Why do you ask?'

Al smothers a yawn against his shoulder. 'One of the speechies at work is looking for somewhere. I haven't mentioned it to her because I wasn't sure what you wanted to do. But if you're looking for someone to take Jasper's room, Rosalie seems pretty chill.'

I think about it for a moment. I've been covering the other third of the rent, purely because I've been so caught up with Bella that I haven't made the time to put an ad on Gumtree. On my wage, it's definitely not a sustainable solution and I do need to find someone sooner rather than later.

'Mention it to her,' I say. 'If she's keen, let's tee up a time for her to come over, see if she likes the room and if she'll be a good fit for us.'

'Sure thing.' Al runs his hand over his shaved head. When I first met him almost a year ago, he had long hair that he wore in a top knot kind of like Bella's. He shaved it all off his first week on the paediatric oncology ward, though, and I'm pretty sure he shaves it whenever he shaves his face. I've never asked him about it, but I assume it's a gesture of solidarity with the kids he's caring for. A number of the nurses, male and female, had shaved heads when Katie was on the ward.

'So, how you been, anyway?' he asks.

I can't help the smile that overtakes me. I probably look like one goofy motherfucker. 'Yeah, good. Really good.'

Al laughs. 'I see that, man.' He claps me on the shoulder. 'Bella makes you real happy.'

'Yeah.' I set my bowl on the coffee table and reach for my coffee. 'She's amazing.' I shake my head, partly because I'm still in disbelief at how quickly Cyclone Bella has stormed into my life and partly to dislodge the images flooding my mind. I don't really want to chit-chat with Al while sporting a hard-on.

'I'm stoked for you.' Al grins at me, then drops his gaze to his hands. He starts picking at his fingernails as he says, 'You spoken to Whitlock yet?'

I probably shouldn't be surprised by the question, but it actually does catch me off guard. Aside from a few brief moments of speculation when Bella's mentioned guys she's seen previously, Jasper hasn't really crossed my mind. There's probably some unwritten Bro Code that says it's shitty of me to be pursuing things with Bella when I've known Jasper for almost half my life, but I just can't bring myself to care. I don't feel like I owe him shit. Sure, we used to be mates, but we've grown apart and I've realised I actually can't stand the guy. And Bella is… well, she's incredible.

Still, Jasper and I have so many mutual friends that it's only a matter of time before we end up crossing paths. So it probably is something I need to consider. At the very least, I should talk to Bella about it all.

'Yeah, nah,' I say. 'I s'pose I should. I dunno. I'll talk to Bella about it.'

Al gives me a questioning look and I feel compelled to explain that Bella has known Jasper her entire life. 'Their mothers are best friends. So she might want to be the one to talk with him.'

'Fair enough.' Al yawns and gets to his feet. His back cracks as he stretches his arms over his head. 'I gotta shower and hit the sack. I'll catch ya later, man.'

He yawns again as he closed the bathroom door, and it makes me yawn, too. I take my bowl and mug back to the kitchen but don't rinse them so Al doesn't lose any water pressure in the shower. I grab my keys, wallet, and phone, grinning when I see I have a message from Bella.

Bella: Why don't you ever see elephants hiding in trees?

I never really know what to expect when her name lights up my phone. Because she starts OOSH care at 6 a.m., I sometimes wake up to texts about something hilarious (or disgusting) the kids have said or done. Other days, I'm up first and will text her a good morning, only to have her call me, sleep lingering in her voice, so we can chat while I eat brekky. My favourite was the time she texted me the details of an erotic dream she'd just woken up from. I was already on the jobsite and it was bloody lucky I didn't need to use any power tools that morning—I probably would've lost a finger. I went home for 'lunch' that day.

I chuckle as I type out a quick reply—Why?—and grab my boots. By the time I've pulled them on and closed the front door behind me, Bella has responded.

Bella: Because they're so good at it.

Edward: lol. One of the kids tell you that?

Bella: Yeah. It cracked me up so I had to share it.

I hesitate for a moment before I type out my reply.

Edward: I can't stop thinking about you either.

Bella: Yeah, you got me. :)

Edward: When can I see you again?

Bella: Whenever you want to.

yeah, nah = Australian for 'no.'