"What the hell are we doing here, Rosalie? I specifically invited you to go shopping and then to have lunch. How in God's name did we end up in this place?"
"Don't be such a prude, Bella. I thought it would spice up our trip to the lingerie store," she mocks excitement.
"I'm not a prude, but pole dancing? I can barely waltz without breaking my neck. How do you think I'll fare when wrapping myself around a pole?"
"With that attitude, not well at all," she scoffs and continues to limber up.
Damn you, Rosalie Hale!
"Come on, Bella, stop sulking. It's going to be so much fun, and you said you wanted to do something special for Edward."
"I meant titillating underwear and edible body oils."
"All that's fun, but this is the way to go with a man like Edward, trust me. I've been taking this class twice a week since Emmett and I have…well, you get what I mean, Bella."
"Unfortunately, I do."
"And believe me, if Edward's tastes are anything like his brother's, he'll love this. We can buy trashy underwear afterwards."
I shake my head and fight to suppress my amusement, but it's pointless, she's incorrigible. I start stretching.
I glance around and see five other women. Some are warming up and a couple are already practicing on a pole. My eyes widen as I witness one of them flip upside down and gracefully slide down said pole.
"Did you see that?" I exclaim to Rosalie in a whisper.
"That's Megan. She's a showoff."
"She must be an exotic dancer. I mean no one's body should bend that wa–"
Rosalie easily contorts her body into yet another seemingly impossible position. "I stand corrected," I mutter to myself.
Allison, the instructor I met earlier, walks in and greets the class.
"Okay, ladies today we're going to revisit the basic steps we've been practicing over the past weeks. Let's get our heels on and take up our positions, everyone." She claps her hands and starts the music.
"Well, I guess that leaves me out. I don't have high heeled shoes with me, and I'm not familiar with the routine." I step back in relief, and Rose yanks me back into place.
"We both wear a size six." She reaches into her bag and dangles a pair of red stilettos from her fingers. "Allison doesn't mind newcomers."
Shit!
I snatch them from her with a huff and hastily don them as a slow, sensual song fills the room.
"Just watch first, Bella, and when we've done the routine you can practice the moves," Allison calls out to me, then silently mouths a countdown for the class.
The beat slows, and the singer's voice drifts through the room like molten honey. The women sexily stalk over to the row of poles. They toss their heads back and swing around slowly, hips undulating to the slow rhythm. They tilt their heads back, practically touching the floor before they sensually make their way back up.
It's the sexiest and most erotic dance I've ever witnessed. Rosalie is phenomenal. The way she loses herself to the music leaves me in awe.
They sinuously make their way to the top of the pole and twirl around it slowly, legs gracefully holding them up. They spin around the pole, every movement slow and seductive, showcasing their flexibility, strength and sensuality. They provocatively and slowly make their way to the bottom and end with a sexy routine of hair tossing, sensuous hip rolling and then finish by doing the splits. They repeat the routine until the music softly fades. I show my admiration by applauding enthusiastically. Rosalie twirls over to me and curtsies deeply.
"Wow, Rose, that was…. how did you learn to do that?"
"I knew you'd love it," she laughs and links her arm with mine. Now, let's go and see Allison and get you started."
Oh boy.
.
.
.
"How about this?" She holds up something that closely resembles dental floss and waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
"I'll wear it, if you will." I scoff and roll my eyes. She raises her chin confidently and throws the item over her forearm with the rest of the lingerie she's plans on purchasing. I recognize a challenge when I see one, but I'm not falling for it this time.
"It's not going to happen, Sweetie. How about this one?"
"He'll be bored in two seconds. You act like you've never done this before." She narrows her eyes and shakes her head. "Although you've never discussed your intimate relationship with Jake much, I do know that the two of you had to have had a spicy love life."
"It was spicy all right, at least up until the part where he expressed his desire to participate in threesomes."
"Oh right, that. Well, Jake is an idiot, and Edward is…." She retrieves a strapless red, lace pushup bra, with matching panties and waves them in front of my face with a devious smirk. Sometimes, I wonder if they're kindred spirit.
"Have you been talking to Edward?"
"No. Why?" She frowns.
"You just seem to be a little too tuned in to what he likes." I remove the lingerie from her hand and place it in my shopping basket.
"I'm in tune with what all men like, Doctor Bella." She says sweetly.
I roll my eyes dramatically and carry my intended purchases to the counter.
"Hi, were you able to find everything you needed?" the salesperson beams expectantly.
"Yes, I did thank you." I rummage through my purse for my wallet as she tallies and bags my purchases.
"Will that be all? We have some beautiful silk nylons that would pair well with the items you've purchased."
"Ooh, silk." Rosalie's eyes sparkle, and I snap her back to reality.
"No, thank you. That will be all for today. What's the total?"
"That'll be two-hundred and thirty-five dollars, please."
"Wait," Rosalie interrupts as I hand over my credit card. "You forgot this one." She places the dental floss on the counter and smiles broadly."
"Oh no, Rosalie Hale, I am not buying that."
"Put it on my card." She addresses salesperson and turns to me. "Consider it an early birthday gift."
.
.
.
We decide to dine at a recently opened restaurant, and she makes me promise not to mention it Emmett, saying that he thinks of every restaurant as competition.
"Wow, this place is really nice." I admire the upscale décor as we take our seats.
"Yeah, and the lobster rolls are to die for."
"How'd you find out about this place?"
"Well," she leans in and drops her voice as if she's about to reveal the world's best kept secret. "Emmett and I ate here a few days ago."
"Hold on. I thought you wanted to keep the fact that you're eating here from him?"
"Well, I don't want him to know that I've eaten here again. He hates that I'm impressed with anything or anyone he views as competition."
"You've lost me." I shake my head in confusion.
"When we ate here, I gushed about the food, service and everything in general. I think it bothered him that perhaps I haven't gushed quite that much about his restaurant, but that's not the point. He and I were here on a double date."
"A double date…with whom?"
"Leah and Riley. I told you I was going to hook the two of them up." The waitress comes to take our orders.
"Hi, I'll have the lobster roll, dill sauce on the side and a Mai Thai." She immediately requests.
"I'll have the same." I wait until the waitress leaves to finish our conversation.
"So, how did meddling in my receptionist's love life work out?"
"I wasn't meddling, and it didn't go as well as I'd hoped."
I smile and shake my head. She actually has the audacity to look perplexed.
"What happened?"
"Well, dinner was great. Then we went to shoot a round of pool at Emmett's. Leah seemed to really like him, but I got the feeling he was more into a 'bromance' with Em, than spending time with Leah."
"Riley's gay?"
"No, but he's clearly a selfish son of a bitch who's totally into himself and anything sports related. I mean, he talked sports practically the entire evening and left poor Leah wondering if she'd done something wrong."
"Poor Leah."
"Not to worry. There's this other cute personal trainer that I think will be perfect for her." She waves a hand dismissively.
"Rosalie." I can't help but giggle at her persistence.
Our food arrives, looking and smelling amazing, and I dive right in.
"Delicious, right?"
"Mmm,"
My attention is drawn to a couple entering. The woman looks familiar, but I've only caught a glimpse, and they disappear from my view before I can ascertain her identity.
"Bella, are you even listening to me? What are you staring at?" She turns in her seat and looks around.
"It's nothing. I just thought I saw someone I know."
"Oh really? Anyone important; maybe someone from our crazy college days?"
"Fortunately, not." I laugh.
"So, how did things go with you and Edward, you know; the whole moving-in thing?"
I chew my food slowly as I contemplate her question. "I haven't given him an answer yet."
"What the hell are you waiting for?" She stares at me intently, and I feel as if I'm on the witness stand.
"I promised to give him an answer when he gets back."
"And when will that be?" She doesn't break her gaze as she slowly sips from her straw.
"He'll be home on Monday."
"That doesn't give you a shitload of time."
"I know this...I–"
"In fact, I think you already have his answer." She cuts me off, eyebrow raised.
"Maybe," I reply in mock sweetness and deliberately fill my mouth with another bite of food.
"Isabella Marie Swan." If possible, her brow arches even higher, and I sense her impatience.
"Okay fine, I'm going say yes when he returns, and you had better not blab, Rosalie Hale. I mean it!"
She lets out a strangled squeal and holds up her glass in a toast.
We linger as we share a decadent dessert.
"This is too damned good for words," she waves her fork in the air. "And if I eat another bite, I won't be able to fit into that little number I've just spent three-hundred dollars on."
"Agreed." I huff, equally stuffed and slide the rest of the molten chocolate cake away. "Are you ready?" I place my credit card in the sleeve with the bill and rise.
"Just let me make a phone call. I received an urgent text about one of my patients.
"All right, I'm going to head to the ladies' room to freshen up. Back in a few."
I push my way through the bathroom door, "God, why did I insist on dessert?" I groan as I stare into the mirror. I fish around in my bag for my lip gloss and look up to find a familiar reflection looking back at me.
"Lauren," I exclaim in surprise. She smirks as she silently surveys me.
"Are you following me?"
"Paranoid much?" She leans in and meticulously paints her lips a bright red.
"Hardly, I hope you realize that you're in breach of your bail conditions."
"This is a public place, and this has been a purely accidental meeting."
"Oh, you're the queen of accidents," I scoff disdainfully. She fixes me with an icy glare. She glances around surreptitiously before she turns on the faucet to maximum flow and leaves it running without making use of it.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to jeopardize my freedom for the likes of you? Trust me, Doctor Swan, I won't need to lift a finger for you to get what you deserve," she whispers menacingly and places her index finger to her lips. She then shuts off the water.
"Enjoy your lunch, Doctor," she intones sweetly and leaves without a backward glance.
I'm left feeling shaken. I've always known that she would again somehow make her presence known. Her obsession with Edward runs too deep for her to simply give up, but I'd not been prepared to personally come face to face with her, and certainly not when on my own. She'd caught me completely by surprise.
I briefly consider calling Edward, but he'd most likely overreact and do something rash. I really don't want him to get into trouble.
Her subtle threat was not really tangible enough to drag anyone else into it. So, I decide to just let it slide and hope that we don't have too many more 'accidental' meetings. She's too damned smart to make an overt threat and her little subterfuge with the running water proved just how adept she is at covering her tracks.
I return to the table where Rosalie looks set to leave.
"Everything alright?" I ask as I sign for the bill and gather my credit card.
"It will be," she sighs. "Will you be able to drop me off at my office? I need to pick up some files."
"Sure…" I look around to see Lauren and her companion laughing as they chat.
"Bella? What are you staring at?"
"I'll tell you in the car."
When I tell Rosalie about my run-in with Lauren, and she nearly flips her lid. We eventually agree that I shouldn't read too much into it or get Edward involved. Lauren is obviously not a very stable woman, but she isn't crazy enough to try and do something when she's just been charged and is awaiting trial. She probably just wanted to vent and took the opportunity when she saw me. Rosalie also insisted, that despite the protection that the bail conditions afford, that I contact a lawyer as an added precaution. Again, I agreed.
Other than the Lauren incident, I've had a fabulous day. I always love spending time with Rosalie, lunch was delicious, and we had a blast shopping. My weekly schedule now includes two pole-dancing classes. She's right; Edward will love it. It's just one of the surprises I have in store for him.
I drop my bags and look around my condo. It feels foreign to me now, a place I no longer recognize as my home. I realize that I haven't slept or spent any time here recently.
Nothing here reminds me of Edward, there's not a trace of his scent or his subtle untidiness.
"This feels all wrong." I shake my head and rummage through my purse. I grab my bags and head out.
I look around and smile; despite being greeted with the same silence I experienced at my place, it feels like home. I glance across the room and see his tennis shoes haphazardly tossed near the stairs. I shut the door and on my way upstairs, I smilingly bend to straighten his shoes.
I stare at the bed that we've made love in countless times.
This is home...right here...with him.
I move around the room slowly, trailing my fingertips along the bed and think about how things will be once we live together.
"Disaster." I chuckle at the thought of us sharing the domestic duties. He's such a beautiful mess and a dreadful cook, but I revel in the idea of sharing those mundane tasks with him, of being his everything.
I pick up his bathrobe from the foot of the bed and bring it to my nose, inhaling his fresh, clean scent.
I wonder if he misses me as much as I'm missing him?
"Get a grip, girl. He's only been gone a day," I admonish myself and hang his robe up as I prepare to have a bath.
.
.
.
"Hey, good morning. What are you doing here on a Saturday?" I look at Leah questioningly.
"Oh, I had some paperwork to catch up on and some extra time on my hands and thought 'why not?'. Good morning to you too."
"Leah, it's a Saturday morning, why are you really here? I don't believe that you have work to catch up on. You're much too efficient to be running behind. The fact that you have extra time on your hands speaks volumes."
"Does it?" She sounds unaffected and continues shuffling files.
"All right, put that down and talk to me." I take the folders from her hands and place them on her desk.
"Rosalie," she groans and buries her face in her hands.
"I see." I chortle quietly, and her head shoots up, she's not amused.
"Bella, she's insane. You have to talk to her. She's basically turned me into a dating experiment. I mean, I thought she was a child psychiatrist and that you were the relationship expert?"
I try and mask the smile tugging at my mouth, but it's futile.
"This is not funny." She emits a sound halfway between a whine and a laugh. "It's like she's conducting auditions for some television dating show with me as the prize! You have to do something."
"Okay, you do know that those shows are not real?" I joke.
"Bella!"
"All right, firstly breathe, and secondly go home and don't answer if she calls or shows up at your door. I'll deal with Rosalie."
"Oh God, thank you so much for this, Bella. Rosalie can be hard to say no to at times, and I really don't want to seem ungrateful." She straightens her desk and hurriedly gathers her belongings on the way to the elevator.
"Don't thank me yet." I call out as I watch her disappear.
I settle my eyes on the object that's brought me here. I take off my shoes and stand on the sofa to remove the painting. I lovingly wrap it in brown paper to protect it during transit.