The following month is awkward and weird. It's full of shock that Alice has found out, pain that she no longer speaks to me, and a lot of anger. A lot.
On Sunday, after passing out in Edward's bed, we wake fully clothed, bathed in light. Puffy-swollen eyes hurt as I press my palms against the dryness.
Edward wraps me up in love and acceptance before we walk down the stairs. I tip-toe and he stampedes.
"She's gone," he says. "Jas took her to breakfast. He texted me earlier."
I nod and walk my head into his chest. My heavy heart dangles by very splintered, very thin stings of tissue. I feel the sway between my bones and sink into Edward's love.
I pack up and walk home after kissing Edward's soft smile.
"I know you're sad, Bella," he says softly on his doorstep, "but we don't have to hide anymore."
When I get home, I fall asleep on my bed. It's after 12 when I wake up, and no new messages on my phone. I spend the rest of the day calling and texting her. She gives me nothing. I remind her that we have a science project due on Wednesday. No response.
Just before dinner, Jas texts me just give her some time and space, B.
I spend the rest of the day moping.
My fingers tingle from heartbreak. My heavy heart hangs on by the tiniest piece of mangled tissue, dangling the only thing that keeps me alive in my chest cavity. Alice doesn't understand that everything I did—the hiding, sneaking, secreting—was to protect her. She kept many things from me. Many. If I wasn't so preoccupied, I wonder if I'd have put up with her dishonesty, disloyalty, disappointment?
When I take a bath later, I think about Edward and what he must be going through. I might have lost my best girl, but he destroyed any relationship he slowly rebuilt with his sister over the years. He prepared me for this. He told me, years ago, when I was 13, that this wasn't a good idea. He told me then he didn't want to destroy what Alice and I had. Maybe I should have told him the same thing. Maybe I should have been the one protecting him, telling him to stay away, keeping him at arms length to shield him from this moment.
Who am I kidding? Edward was always my destiny. Every decision I made in my life—the dress I chose to wear that day he moved in, the cookies I asked mom to make to bring over to the new neighbors, asking to see his 17th photo on his phone, wearing short shorts so he could see my undies— was intentional and this moment right now was supposed to happen. Always. Forever.
Because that's what we are, he and I, always and forever. Edward and I are endgame. Edward and I have plans and a future. We're under-the-blanket secrets, simply sweet summer-time freckle kisses, ashes on my shoes in the backyard, midnight rides in the Honda, butterfly kisses on my cheek after dinner, sock covered toes on my foot whenever he can manage.
My mom's words come back to me and the reality of the situation hits me harder than anything I've experienced. Alice is my best girl, but Edward is my best friend. He's my number one, the boy, the person, who puts me first forever and always.
Hot, salty water drops delicately onto my chest. I barely recognize I'm crying until I can hear sobs and realize they're coming from me. I submerge myself in the water and release every single tear I can manage. My hair floats around me like streamers.
When the water turns cold, and I gather enough strength, my arms pull me up and out. I'm on autopilot as I dry and dress and walk. I know mom heard my sobs, but she gives me space and relief surges through me.
I make it to my room. No new messages. I find Edward's name and tell him I love you.
It's now 1:13 in the morning. I'm lying in bed, on my side, looking out my windows. The world is black. My room is dark. I almost think I'm sleeping, but when my phone goes off, I notice it way too easily. It's Edward.
"Hi, Pretty," he breathes softly.
His voice is strained, he's sniffling. I know it must have been a long night.
"Hi, handsome," I whisper.
"We blew up at each other," he tells me honestly, easily, "she may have had a lot of shit to use against me, but I had some for her, too. It's not fair." Emotion resurfaces.
"Hey," I say, trying to get his attention, "she's mad at me, Edward. You're closer, she see's you, so she takes it out on you."
I can almost hear him nod.
"I can't wait to hold your fucking hand tomorrow, Bella. Of all the fucking things," he says with a laugh, "that's what I can't wait for."
I smile at the swelling happiness in my heart. "Me too, Edward."
On Monday, Edward drives me and Jasper to school.
"She bitched out. Mom took her like a little princess," Edward explains, starting the car.
"Jas, you didn't ride with her?"
"Nah," he says, pulling me in for a hug. "She's totally fucking blindsided, Bella. As obvious as it became at the end, she had no clue. Give her time. Give her space. She'll come around."
I nod numbly but the only thing running through my mind is no she won't.
When we get to school, Edward grips my hand, locks our fingers, and his brighter-than-lightening love squeezes all the anxiety out of my heart. At my locker, I look around at prying, curious, surprised eyes. He meets me halfway and our lips touch kindly in the warmest kiss that says it was all worth it and we fucking made it, Pretty Baby B.
The morning drags, though. I hear so many questions, rightfully so, whispered behind my back and in front of Alice.
"Did you know?"
"I'm not surprised."
"Did you hear…"
"They make a cute couple."
"What the fuck?"
"What a slut."
"Good for them."
I close my eyes and my ears and when I open them, Alice is no longer sitting next to me.
"I'm having trouble seeing back there," she tells out first period teacher. "Do you mind if I sit up front?"
The teacher allows her. So do the teachers for periods 2, 3, and 4. Each class, I walk slower and slower, hoping she's already moved by the time I get there. She is.
I look at her as I pass. Her eyes focus on the unopened book on her desk. It's not like her to avoid. Just look at me! I want to scream, but instead I powerwalk to my seat and swallow a sob.
"You ok?" Angela asks.
I nod quickly, swatting at annoyingly embarrassing alligator tears.
"I'm good," I tell her.
She's not there at lunch, but Edward is. He gets me a tray of food that I pick at. He asks if I want to skip the rest of the day and I decline. He looks at me like he wants to absorb all my pain and hurt but I wouldn't let him. I made this bed, now I have to lay in it.
On Tuesday, Alice doesn't look at me. I walk up to her at her locker.
"I'll email you my part of the science project," I tell her.
She slams her locker in my face and walks away.
I cry in the bathroom.
On Wednesday, she ignores me, and I pray she put my part of the project in the PowerPoint.
On Thursday, she and Jasper sit at a different table for lunch. Edward throws his arm around my shoulders and rests his lips against my temple. He tells me home isn't any better. If she's not holed up with Jasper, she's alone in her room.
By Friday, I'm so on edge that I snap at everyone including my Mom.
"Jeez, Bella," she tells me before I leave for school.
"I'm sorry!" I cry. "I'm sorry, okay! It's just… this week has been…" I pause and when I look at my mom, her lips are pursed knowingly.
She pulls me in for a hug and kisses the sloppy bun on my head. I couldn't even bring myself to put makeup on today. I look like I'm sick, I feel like I'm sick, but mom tells me I'm beautiful as I collect my backpack, slip on my sneakers, and head out the door.
"Hey, Pretty," Edward says. His smile is always light and loving and with his eyes on me, I feel gentle and coddled and like my heart isn't shattered.
On Saturday, Edward invites me out.
"Put on a dress. Wear some heels. Do whatever-the-fuck. I'm taking my girl out."
And he does.
I walk to his car at five, we drive to the diner for dinner. We're not new anymore, but it's still surprising to see Bella Swan with her ex-besties older brother. I don't even care anymore.
We talk about basketball starting up and how he'll still take me home from school.
"Won't you be late?" I ask.
"Nah," he shakes his head.
I know he will, but I don't say anything because I don't have any other choices.
"Do you know how much I fucking love you?" he asks.
I smile, stealing a French fry. "Tell me," I whisper.
"You make me feel like I'm driving a Bugatti going full speed."
"Is that, like, good?" I'm genuinely confused.
He tosses his head back and laughs loudly.
"Yes, B."
I smile at his smile and he smiles at the ketchup dotting my chin.
We skip the movie and drive up to the beach. It's deserted. Tonight's freezing, but we cocoon ourselves in blankets and kisses and hugs and when he sucks on my neck, my gasp sets our blanket fort on fire.
"Edward," I mewl.
"Tell me everything," he whispers, pushing my dress up, pulling my stockings off, and unbuckling his jeans.
His cock rests against my folds and he drags it slowly up and down before pressing himself inside.
"How does it feel? Tell me, baby. I need to hear everything."
"Like warm and burning and—" I suck in air as he slowly presses into me. I feel the tip of his head hit against my cervix. I circle and circle.
"And what, Pretty?"
He pulls out and pushes in again.
"And so fucking good, Edward."
He sets a pace that's deliciously torturous. I'm building with each push and pull he gives me. It's not rushed or stinging like it did last week. Edward's love pours out in his breath and his words and each pump of himself inside me.
"You feel so warm and soft and so fucking tight, Bella."
He doesn't speed up. He lets it build. He lets me grind my hips when he pushes all the way inside. Edward locks his fingers with mine, pushing my hands into the blanket and next to my head.
"I love you." His whisper burns into my ear and heart and brands itself on every inch on my skin.
We come together in the biggest explosion. He swallows my cries and I swallow his grunts.
"Forever," I whisper later after my dress is pulled down, my tights still gathered at my feet, and his head rests on my chest.
"I promise," he hums.
~!~
October passes slowly. Very, very slowly. I'm too scared to go over and see my boyfriend when my ex-girl is there, so we settle for drives in his car, evenings at the beach when it's not too cold, and late-night whispers over the phone.
Alice hasn't talked to me since the night she found out, but last week she started sitting at our table for lunch again. Edward says it was her idea, but I heard Alice tell Jasper, "quit making me sit at the table with that back-stabber."
I stormed out of the cafeteria and cried in the bathroom. That day I faked sick and made my mom come pick me up. That day my mom told me, "you can't let her think she controls your emotions."
I sigh heavily in the seat next to her.
"I'm serious, Bella. She'll keep acting like this because she sees that you're destroyed. Put a smile on. Wear some red lipstick. Say hi to her. She won't know what to do. Let her see that you're okay. I don't want you crying yourself to sleep anymore, baby. Your father's going to start noticing."
She turns the radio up while I cross my arms. I didn't think she could hear me crying at night.
I turn the radio down and glance at her. "You'll let me where rid lipstick to school?"
My mom's laugh makes me smile and I feel better, lighter, different. My mom's right. Alice has had the upper hand for a month now. Where I've been groveling and devastated, she's been avoiding and mean.
Next week will be different. Next week I'm done being week.
So, on Monday, I put on my cutest black dress, gold flats, and borrow mom's red lipstick. My hair is sleek straight and shiny and when I meet the boys at the car, it's the boys and girl. Alice leans against the door of the backset. She talks with Jas in hushed whispers as Edward greets me with a hand around my wrist and kiss on my head.
"Morning, Pretty."
"Hi, Edward. Morning Jas. Alice." My word's burn in my throat. Sadness has lost it's home in my body. Anxiety and fear and nervousness go with it.
I'm red-lipstick and sparkly-gold shoes confident.
Nothing will break me down today.
Alice rolls her eyes and slides in next to Jasper.
Edward throws me a wicked smile.
I hold his hand in the car and can feel the scorch of Alice's blue eyes burning a hole right through us. Edward squeezes me tighter.
At lunch, Alice and Jasper sit at the very end of the table and talk about their matching Halloween costume for Rose's party this weekend. She told me about it earlier in the month, but I've been in my own world and barely said anything about it, but not today.
"We're going as Ketchup and Mustard," she says. "It was the least slutty thing we could find at Walmart."
"Why can't it be slutty?" Rose asks. "Em and I are going as strippers."
"Oh my god!" I giggle, throwing a piece of pretzel at her. "I cannot wait to see that!"
"Are you guys coming?" she asks.
"Yeah," I say, turning to Edward. "I was thinking we could be Woody and Bo Peep."
"No," he says with an easy shake of his head.
"Fred and Wilma?"
He shakes his head again. "We'll figure it out."
I can practically hear the roll of Alice's eyeballs. "There's going to be alcohol, right? I'm going to need a lot of it," she says.
It's my turn to roll my eyes, and I hope like hell she can hear it.
On Tuesday, Edward calls me after practice.
"Mom flipped out on Alice. She told her she's being ridiculous. She's upset she can't see you anymore. She thinks Alice is overreacting."
"Alice is entitled to her feelings," I tell him simply.
He stretches on his bed and tells me he loves me, that I'm pretty, that he can't wait to taste me. He tells me he's hard as a rock and misses the feel of my insides.
"Edward," I laugh.
He chuckles back and we talk about what we want to be for Halloween.
~!~
Earlier this month, dad takes me for my permit test, and when I pass, he lets me drive from the stop sign at the end of our street to our driveway.
Now, we've graduated to the mall parking lot.
"Check your mirrors, Bella," he warns for the second time.
"I did."
"Put the car in drive. Keep your foot on the brake."
I let him guide me slowly, at his pace, and it takes us 10 minutes to fully back out of the spot in the empty parking lot.
He lets me practice for 30 minutes before his nerves have had enough.
I make sure to thank him many times on the ride back home.
"Sure, sweetie. I can't believe how grown up you're getting," dad tells me.
It's rare we have extended moments like this, but the older I get, the more I come to realize I don't hate it.
"I haven't seen Alice in a few weeks," he tells me.
"Oh, yeah," I start, trying to figure something out. "She's been busy. She transferred into some AP classes and I guess the work load is a lot more than the regular classes."
Dad nods. It's a total lie. As smart as Alice is, she would never want to do any extra work than she has to—she's the laziest smart person I've ever known.
"Okay," he says with a nod and I wonder briefly if mom told him anything. She wouldn't, would she?
If he knew anything about me and Edward, there's no way he'd be this calm… right?
A rock sinks in my stomach, and we can't get home soon enough.
~!~
The Halloween party is mostly uneventful. Edward and I decide on dressing as Elle and Mike from Stranger Things. Alice doesn't say anything which is a double-edged sword—she say's nothing nice, but she also says nothing mean. Jasper laughs and teases me, hiding my empty Eggo box throughout Rose's house. Edward smiles, watching me stomp my knee-high-socks covered feet around in irritation from his bestie.
"Where is it this time?" I ask him, sitting next to Edward as Alice leaves the room.
"The only place Eggos belong," he teases, standing to follow his girlfriend.
I open the oven. Empty. I open the freezer. Empty.
"Jas hates Eggos," Edward offers.
I open the garbage can. Bingo.
"Can you keep them busy when we get back to your house?" I ask, filling up my second drink.
"You staying over, B?"
"Mhm."
I smell like smoke and weed and spilled beer. No way I can go home like this.
"I'll see what I can manage."
Edward kisses my cheek and holds my knee as he talks to Jake about conditioning next week.
Edward's totally sober. He takes basketball very seriously and his badboy habits have stopped altogether. No processed foods. No snacks. No sugar! Above all that, no smoking and no drinking. So, tonight, he offered to take the four of us, regardless of how weird it was.
On the way home, I'm not wasted, but I'm definitely feeling good and happier than I have all month. I lean my head back and giggle when Jasper, drunker than I've ever seen him, tells a story about when Jake took a "natural erection" pill thinking it would give him multiple boners for hours and instead he had the same boner for eight hours and couldn't finish.
"He was just trying to get it in with a bunch of different girls in the same night and it wound him up in the ER," Jasper admits with so much laughter he's wheezing.
"No shit," Edward says in surprise, "Al, that's the guy dad was talking about last month! He couldn't say who it was, but he made sure Jas and I would never touch them. He gave us pamphlets on the dangers of taking over the counter and street drugs that increase the male libido."
My laugh hurts my throat and constricts my belly. I'm grabbing my stomach, gasping for air. Edward reaches over and holds my thigh. He smiles at me lovingly and I swoon.
Even Alice laughs at the story or at Jasper, I can't really tell.
When Edward pulls into his garage, we whisper-giggle and walk as quietly as we can.
"Shut up," Edward tells us with a laugh. "Mom and dad are gonna freak when they find out how drunk you guys are."
He makes beds for everyone on the basement floor. Alice disappears. I tell Edward to keep Jasper busy as I rush up the 2 flights of stairs to the third floor. To Jasper's room. It's been a long time since I was in here, and when I open the door, musty boy cologne assaults me. There's a pipe with weed sitting on a table. Alice's shoes decorate the floor. Bottles of water sit half full on the nightstands. His bed is neatly made.
I tiptoe quietly on plush, beige carpeting to put the empty Eggo box on the middle of his bed. I giggle to myself and trip over a shoe as I turn.
"Shit," I grunt, kicking it out of my way before heading for the door.
I lift my head and meet Alice's icey blue eyes. She's out of her costume and dressed in a loose shirt and Jasper's boxers. Her eyes are on me and mine are on her. Her face doesn't contort. Her eyes aren't totally void. She's watching with the smallest bit of curiosity. She's looking at me like if I wasn't with her brother, if I hadn't lied for years, if things hadn't changed, she'd be in on this joke too.
I squeeze past her and swallow the emotion I want to give in to. Tonight was fun. Tonight was good. Tonight was a much needed break from my broken heart.
Back downstairs, Jasper's on his phone, chugging water, sitting Indian style on the basement floor.
Suddenly, how drunk I am hits me and my belly starts to hurt, the room starts to spin, I start to whine. Edward gets my pajamas from my overnight bag and pulls the leggings up my legs. He rips the dress off my top and I blush.
"Don't look," I tell Jasper who naturally glances at me. I cover my naked breasts with my arms.
"Oh, come on," he says, rolling his eyes, "like I haven't seen it before."
Edward pulls my tee shirt over my head and kisses me on my lips.
"Please don't puke," he says. "I can't do puke."
I fall to the floor and down a bottle of water. Edward sits next to me and we flip through channels. We watch two episodes of The Office and Alice still isn't here.
"She hates me," I whisper.
"She'll get over it," Edward stresses. "She's being a baby."
I glance over to Edward after the third episode, and he's snoozing with his head against the couch, legs outstretched in front of him.
I punch Jasper in the arm and laugh when he looks at me like what the fuck?
"I just miss you, dumbie."
"It's been a while, huh?" he asks, putting his arm around my neck and pulling me in.
His lips touch my hair and he smells like an old ashtray and spilled beer. His hair has gotten much longer, gelled back currently, and his eyelashes stick together.
We spend a few minutes catching up when I yawn so hard my jaw cramps. Jasper laughs and taps the couch, pulling a pillow to the end for me lay my head on.
"Let's get some sleep," he tells me, reaching over to turn off the lamp.
It's dark and I'm suddenly exhausted. My head hits the pillow and the last thing I hear is Jasper stretching out on the floor below me.
I wake suddenly to a hand over my mouth.
"Shh," a familiar voice whispers in my ear as he covers us with a blanket. "It's just me. Go back to sleep."
Edward nuzzles in behind me, his arm around my stomach, pulling me back, falling back under.
When I finally do wake the next morning, everyone's gone, even Edward.
I stand and stretch and down the glass of water sitting on the table next to the couch. Voices from above filter down, and I hear Edward's boisterous laugh. I slowly ascend and squint from the brightness of the kitchen.
"Hey, baby," Edward says over a mouthful of cereal.
"Hi," I rasp.
He laughs, stands, and hands me a bottle of water.
"This'll make you feel better. We're talking about heading to the movies."
"We?" I take the bottle, pop the cap, and breathe in liquid.
Edward smirks at me. "Us, Em and Rose, Jas and Alice, Jake and whatever slu—"
"Edward," his dad warns.
"The whole gang."
Happiness pores out of him. He's excited. I smile at his bliss.
"Bella, are you okay?" Mr. Cullen asks.
"Yeah, why?" I ask.
"From what I hear, you drank a lot last night. Edward says it was the most you've ever consumed. I'm just checking."
"Oh," I stutter. It's weird to be so open about underage drinking in front of my boyfriend's family. "I'm sorry."
"I don't approve of underage drinking," he starts, looking from Edward to Jasper, "but I'm glad you were able to care for the girls. I won't be able to stop you kids from… experimenting… but if you do, please make sure you're safe. If you find yourself at a party and you've been drinking, please call me. I won't be nearly as mad if you call me at 3 am asking for a ride as I will be if the hospital or police call me because there's been an accident."
"Yes, sir," I whisper. I've gotten the same talk from my dad, but he told me under no circumstance am I to drink at all. Ever.
I sit next to Edward, across from Alice, and pour myself a bowl of cereal. Edward kisses my cheek and I feel the heat of someone's eyes on me. I look up and it's Alice's. She catches me and looks down immediately.
"What movie?" I ask.
~!~
The week after the party moves slowly. Edward kisses me every chance he can. He tries taking me to the room in the back of the library once, but the bell on the door meant it was occupied, so he settles for making out with me in the AV room as we listened to whoever was in there getting it on.
Alice keeps to herself mostly, just like at the movies, but at least she can be in the same room as me now.
I'm working on her Jas texts me late Wednesday night.
How's it going? I ask curiously.
Honestly, I think when she sees Edward with you and how natural it seems, it makes it easier for her to… accept? She's definitely not happy about it, B, but I don't think she hates you anymore.
Progress, no matter how slow, is good, right?
100%.
On Friday, there's a pep rally that I'm not really looking forward to. It's supposed to be a longer one that reviews not only student behavior at football games, but also commemorating all coaches for the school.
Let's skip the pep rally. We can drive to the beach, make out, and I'll give you a blowie I text Edward after lunch, trying to butter him up. He doesn't typically like to skip unless absolutely needed, but it's Friday and we're not technically skipping classes.
Pull my leg, baby, damn. Okay, you win. Be at the car by 1:30. Wear that pink glossy shit on your lips.
I count down the minutes until 1:30 sharp. I swallow butterflies and smiles and the memories of his hands on my knees and my inner thighs and that little beauty mark on my hip.
"Let's go!" Jasper yells as he runs past me with a very excited, very loud Alice on his back.
I stop short and scrunch my brows. They're going? I take a breath and sigh loudly as I pout-walk my way down to the Honda. I'm even more distraught when I arrive and find the boys in the front leaving me and the girl who loathes me to sit together in the back. Their hushed voices stop all together when I get there.
"Hey, Pretty," love says with a smile.
"Hi."
I'm ornery and confused and I just wanted some alone time with my guy who asked me to put on super shiny lip gloss.
In the backseat, Alice sits so far over, she may as well be sitting outside. I guess I can't say much since I'm doing the same. I give Edward the most irritable glare when he peeks at me in the mirror. He hides a smirk behind a cough and turns the music up.
At the beach, Jasper trades me places. He and Al walk along the dock as Edward and I sit quietly with the heat on.
"It's good for you two," Edward starts.
"I'm fine," I tell him with arms crossed and tight lips.
Edward runs his palm up and down my jean covered thigh.
"You're hot when you're mad," he jokes.
"Yeah, well, if you're little sister didn't tag along, I could be riding your dick on the beach or in the back seat right now."
"Woah," he says, laughing next to me. "Now that's an image. What about at home? In the basement?"
"No."
"In my room? On my bed?"
"No."
"In the shower?"
"Nope."
"My parents room?"
I turn to look at him. "Huh?" I'm instantly disgusted but then intrigued.
"They have this chaise lounge chair that I've pictured you on so many fucking times."
"Hm," I tell him honestly. "Maybe."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, maybe."
Edward kisses my lips and then my neck and then pinches my nipples as he tells me about all the ways he's pictured fucking me in his parent's room. And Jasper's room. And the back porch. And the log in the woods. And against my old shed in the backyard. And in my room. And in my basement. And in my parent's bed.
"Alright, that one might be too far," I admit.
"Think about it. I'd love to get you on all fours and fuck the shit out of you right there."
Alice's knock on the back window pulls me away with swollen lips and arousal-soaked cotton.
"Let us in fucker, it's freezing out here," Alice yells, banging again.
"My nuts are snowballs right now."
"After the workout I just gave you?" she jokes.
"Get the fuck out," Edward says seriously. "That's nasty."
"Fuck off," Alice tells him. "You know what's nasty? Watching my brother and his girlfriend suck face."
"At least you don't have to watch us fuck each other's brains out," he teases back.
"Yeah," Jas answers, "be glad you never had to see that shit."
"You never did, Jasper. We just—." And then I stop because no one needs to know.
"You just what?" Alice asks.
I don't respond.
"You just fucked?"
"We just made love," I whisper
"Like… ever?" she asks.
"Yeah."
Alice scoffs, sits back, and lights up a joint. She doesn't believe me.
"I was a virgin until the night you found out. It was right before you and Jasper got home. And then that night…"
My voice breaks off reliving the night Edward and I made love and sharing it with the same night Alice discovered our secret. Tears fall silently and when I sniffle, Edward brushes them off my cheeks and lips and wipes them on his jeans.
"I love you," he whispers so quietly I can barely hear him.
Alice and Jasper share a joint, the window cracked to let smoke escape, as Edward drives us home.
When Edward pulls out onto the highway, Alice says, "I don't hate you."
Edward looks back at Alice and I nod. Warmth envelopes my hand and heart and soul as Edward's large palm covers my thighs and then my forearms and then my belly.
At home, with the four of us together in the basement again watching episode of Friends and The Office, in and out of cat naps on a cold Friday afternoon, Edward spreads his love across me and blankets Alice and envelopes Jasper and glues us all together the best he can.
I lean into him and kiss his lips with such tenderness my heart dips into my toes and slingshots back into my chest. I take some of the love Edward spreads to us and glide it over his skin, down his neck, past his hips, and down his legs. Jasper and Alice are stoned and passed out on the farthest end of the couch, and Edward and I spend time loving each other with our lips and our words and our eyes. His fingers dance on my skin and over my shoulders and across my mending heart.
