Happy Valentine's Day 2
"This new haircut suits you perfectly," I say to Alice as she smooths her short bangs to lay flat against her head. "It makes you look taller if that's possible."
"Exactly!" Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and she's smiling widely. "I told Jasper the exact same thing, but he doesn't get it. Men never do." She runs a makeup brush over her face before dropping it in the vanity and standing from her chair. "How do I look?" she asks as she does a spin.
"Fabulous as always," I reply from my position on the bed. "Where is he taking you?"
"He said it was a surprise." Her nose crinkles. "I hate surprises."
"Ha," I bark out. "At least he's here."
"Oh, sweetie," she says, coming over to sit beside me. "Edward would be here if he could. Our father is a serious business type of man, and Valentine's is a big time at the vineyard. You'd think people wouldn't want to hold weddings in Napa Valley in February, but you'd be wrong."
"Oh, I understand," I reply, sighing. "It doesn't keep me from wishing it weren't the case, though." I shrug casually. "It's been six long weeks, ya know?"
"No. I don't want to know." She breaks into a trill of laughter, and the sound is light and airy. "I assumed you had some kind of plans anyway." She gives me a side-eye. "Edward seemed way too interested in what I had going on this evening."
My cheeks burn so brightly red, I can feel the heat in my eyes. "I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you do," she says, grabbing my hand to lead me from her bedroom. "But it's none of my business. That would be weird." The doorbell chimes just as we reach the living room, and her eyes light up. "That must be Jasper."
"You want me to get it?"
She smooths her dress and nods. "Please."
I open the door with a huge smile. These two are simply adorable. Alice is this chic little sprite of a woman with a vivacious personality and an outgoing attitude, and Jasper is the exact opposite. He's shy and quiet, fitting just perfectly into your average cute geek category with glasses perched on his nose, sweater vest, and khakis.
"Hey, Jasper." I motion him inside. "Alice is just grabbing her purse."
It's like I'm speaking to no one because he isn't listening to a word I'm saying. His eyes are already diverted, and his full concentration is on Alice as she walks toward us. I feel like I'm intruding on a moment that's too private.
"I'm gonna," I say, shoving my thumb over my shoulder. "I have a paper to write." I hurry out of there like my butt is on fire. As I go, I yell, "Have a good night."
Once I make it to my room, I close the door and lean against it with a sigh, looking to the clock on my nightstand. Six-thirty. I spend the next hour unpacking the last two boxes of my stuff, then I jump into the shower, so I'll be ready when Edward calls. I run the water a bit warmer than I'm used to, so my skin will be nice and pink, glowing, when Edward calls.
At seven-fifty-nine, I flop back on my bed with my phone in hand. As requested, I'm only wearing the necklace and my bracelet. The latter wasn't part of the original request, but with Edward so far away, this bracelet is a piece of him I find myself not wanting to remove.
Ever.
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful," blares through the quiet, and I bring up my phone, allowing the second line to play before I swipe right. "But the fire is so delightful."
I'm smiling before I see him, and my skin blazes even hotter when I realize he's still in his snugly fitted black suit. "Hey, you," I say, my entire body singing under his pretty green gaze. "Right on time, I see."
"Of course." He shrugs one shoulder, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I told you sharp."
As I watch him walk down a hallway, the things he passes begin to look familiar to me. He passes photographs I know and love, ones I just hung yesterday. My heart gallops, and goosebumps spread across my skin like a wildfire consuming the dry summer grass.
"Edward …" I breathe, sitting up just as three raps sound on my door.
"You should probably get that." His voice is rough when he speaks, and I realize the phone has dropped to give him a sensational view of my naked body. "Now."
This is freshly typed, and I'll do my best to get you another tomorrow. We'll see!
I thought you guys would want to know Operation is doing pretty well on Amazon, and don't forget that any of you who want the set (for free), I'll get it to you in April.
See you soon :)
