Here's our boy. You missed him?

EPOV.

I fell apart when she left. It felt as though I was the biggest hypocrite in the world. At first, I hated my brother for telling Alice what I'd done, but I only realized it was my own stupid fault as time passed. Sunshine lost its warmth for me, and food had lost all taste. I didn't care for anything else but to go to work and game. I didn't once go to the gym with Emmett, despite having forgiven him, but he still asked me every day.

People at work started to notice my slacking, and after my one bitter outburst to Eric when he asked me about her, no one mentioned her again. I was a total ass to my family. I ignored my brother's happiness with Rosalie because I couldn't stand to look at them together. I envied what they had; I was jealous as shit.

There was some sort of routine to my misery, though. I read the text, the text that I pulled up daily, and I had almost collected a binder full of unsent messages. I did hit send on a few of them daily and multiple times a day sometimes. The other part of my routine was the one I'd least expected. It was Alice, who called and messaged me every day. She showed up on my doorstep with fresh coffee and pancakes and a heart of gold. Alice was my rock, the one person who was on both of our sides. She understood why she had been so mad, but Alice was also furious that she would not give me a chance to explain it all. We talked a lot but evaded her name. I knew Alice was in touch with her, so that took away some of my concerns. Still, part of me wanted to book myself a ticket and look for her. I desired to take her in my arms and plummet to my knees. I craved to earn her forgiveness, and I wanted to never let her go.

One night, an unknown number sent me a message, telling me that they'd found my number in her phone and wanted me to know that she missed me. I didn't know who it was, and I didn't reply. I couldn't. I didn't even know if it was some kind of joke or sincere. She was partying all night at one of SoHo's fancy bars with a handsome broker by her side for all I knew. I might watch too much television, but for a woman as gloriously beautiful as her, that unmistakably was a possibility. I checked her socials without leaving a trace, but there was barely anything on there. The day she moved away was the day she stopped posting, and it killed me. Was she too busy? Was she too concerned with the fact that I'd leaked private information that I'd use this also? It was never my intention, and I wouldn't ever post a word again. Not without her consent. The files had piled up over the months that she'd gone away. Poem after poem ended up in my folders, stacked away in the draft zone of my blog and on my phone. Alice had read them all. Alice had read everything, and she also had them on her computer. She wanted them because she thought my words were beautiful, and I should never toss them away. Alice knew that this would make for a beautiful, heartbreakingly astonishing gift someday. I decided not to argue. I just hoped she was right.

One Friday night, a knock on my door startled me, and I was surprised when I saw my brother standing there in the dim porch lighting.

"Look, man, I know I promised you space and all… But I just can't see my brother in pain like this. I can't let you do this solo, Edward." I'd never seen Emmett so emotional before. He usually hides it away pretty well behind his wall of hard muscle and sarcasm, but it was clear as day that he struggled.

"What's wrong?" I wondered, stepping away so he could enter the living room.

"Edward, knock it off with the self-pity man. I know you know I said it, and I know you forgave me, and I know you blame yourself. But fuck this dude… You gotta step up and get brave, or everything will end badly." He sighed, walking over to my fridge and getting out two bottles of beer.

"Drink up, and accept that you're not alone in this. You have half an hour before Rosalie comes dragging you out herself." My eyes grew at his statement. What would possibly be this important that Emmett broke my suffer in solitude rule?

"Drag me out where?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"It's not about you, brother. Not everything is about you, but you better come out and celebrate with us." Emmett declared. There was no way I could argue with that, so I drank my beer and listened to my brother.

Emmett almost pushed me in the shower, pulled a shirt and some jeans out of my closet, and told me to hurry up.

Celebrate?

By the time I locked up the house, there was Rosalie's car by the sidewalk, engine purring as she smiled at me from the driver's seat.

"I thought you'd grown a beard by now, you know. Reach full hermit status?" Rosalie joked. I actually laughed, which had been a while.

"And hide that chin? Are you crazy, Rosie?" Emmett chimed in, humor covering his face.

"Okay, okay. You're right. I stayed inside for far too long, but I'm guessing you guys changed that for me, so thanks."

Apparently, we drove off to a bar since that was where we stopped a few minutes later. I recognized the pub -since I'd been there. I was there the night it all went to shits. I was there with her.

"Don't get any ideas about running off, Edward. It's a beautiful night." Emmett said as the three of us got out of the car. Emmett took Rose's hand as we walked in, and something sharp tugged at my heartstrings. It was the jealousy again, but I shouldn't be feeling this. I should've been happy that my brother and Rosalie found each other.

We walked into the crowded space when I noticed her. It was Alice and Jasper, sitting at a table, deep in conversation. Jasper looked up when he saw us and nudged his wife in the shoulder. Alice flashed me a smile that could light up an entire village, and it warmed my heart. I'd indeed found a remarkable friend in that one, that's for sure. She got up and gave me a hug, as she always did. It was like a dose of warmth and happiness every time she did so, and I loved it. I missed every bit of affection, so I took hers with open arms.

"I'm so glad you came out tonight. We really wanted you here, Edward." Alice smiled at me, and I went to sit down next to Jasper at the round table. The bartender fixed us with drinks, and Emmett started talking.

"So, now that we are all here, it's finally time." He started. I heard Alice squeak out of enthusiasm before she spoke. "Oh God, they're finally going to spill the beans. This better be good, since you let us wait all this time."

"Emmett proposed to me," Rosalie said. I'm sure the shock could have been written on my face.

"What? Oh, Rose! Show me the ring!" Alice yelled, reaching over to grasp Rosalie's hand.

"I said 'no,' Alice," Rosalie remarked when there was no ring to be seen.

"What's going on here?" I asked, completely confused.

"It was hardly a real proposal since your asshat of a brother asked me to marry him when he was balls-deep inside of me." Jasper choked on his beer, and I slapped his back, chuckling. Only Emmett Cullen would do something like this.

"We decided, even though the timing was rather … off, that it was time for us to move in together. So we're taking the condo that's above the bistro, renovate it and live together before there are any other crass and disgusting proposals." Rosalie proclaimed, smiling softly at my brother.

That was great news. I grinned, truly happy for them.

"Jesus Christ, Emmett. I swear you will have to get your ducks in a row before you propose to Rosalie, dude." Jasper laughed.

"I know, but at least she knows how much I fucking love her," Emmett said.

"How much you love fucking her, you mean?" I interrupted. They all stared at me and looked surprised.

"What, it's a joke!"

"Oh, fuck you, you son of a bitch. Get over here," Emmett said and wrapped his arms around me. I know he was thrilled that I made a joke. That meant a lot to him since I hadn't done that in months.

"In other news," Alice took a deep breath in and looked miles away before clearing her throat and looking up. "Edward Anthony Cullen, we have a wedding to crash."

I swear my heart stopped for a minute.

Who saw Alice's plan coming? Anyone?