Gonna meet Daddy C (as in Cullen, not Carlisle lol) soon.

Thanks for reading.

I end up passing out kinda early Sunday evening, then wake up around nine to my phone ringing.

It's Edward.

He just wants to say hi. That he's thinking about me. And that he's looking forward to seeing me Wednesday night, after he's done with band practice.

We don't talk for too long, and I think the sound of his breathy laughter through the phone is one of my new favorite sounds. I tell him this. I think I'm still a little disoriented from being woken up, but it doesn't make the sentiment any less true.

After we say goodnight and I'm a little more alert, I text him.

Bella: I love that you randomly called me.

Edward: Yeah? I wasn't sure if it would be weird or not, so I almost didn't...

Bella: I'm glad you did.

Edward: I like hearing your voice.

Bella: Remind me again why we didn't hang out tonight? lol

Edward: I don't know. Because… earlier today you said you wanted to hang out Wednesday?

Bella: That was stupid of me. I'm an idiot.

Edward: lol no you aren't. Do you wanna hang out?

Bella: Yes.

Edward: Like tonight?

Bella: Sure. Come over.

Edward: Okay. Is now a good time?

Bella: Now is a great time. I mean, I might be terrible company because I'm exhausted, and I'm already in bed but… I wanna see you. Even though I just saw you this morning.

Edward: I wanna see you, too.

Bella: And I justtttt

Edward: What?

Bella: Like sleeping in the same bed with you.

Edward: I enjoy that as well. A lot, actually. I can be there in fifteen?

Bella: Sounds good. I'll leave the front door unlocked for you.

Edward: Okay. See you soon.

Bella: Drive safe xx

xx

Four a.m. comes too early for my liking. And having Edward in my bed makes it even harder to leave.

I let him sleep, leaving a note that he can stay as long as he wants, and to just lock the door behind him.

"Why are you so chipper today?" Esme asks, giving me a strange look when we meet outside the market.

I hand her a latte. "Because. I have news."

She grins. "Me too. You go first."

"I know who Masen is."

Her immediate response isn't as thrilled as I thought. "What?"

"It's Edward. Masen is Edward."

She sips her coffee as we walk alongside each other. I manage to explain everything to her before we reach the peonies.

When I'm done telling her what I know so far about Edward masquerading as Masen, Esme looks equal parts shocked, amused, and a tad confused.

"You're 100% sure Edward is Masen?"

"Yes."

"But he doesn't know that you know."

"Not yet. At least, I don't think he does."

She gives me a wary look, stopping in place by the snapdragons. "Well? What are you gonna do?"

"I don't know yet. I mean, I have an idea but..." I pause. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm looking at you like this because I'm worried, Bella. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm not gonna get hurt."

"I just don't understand why he didn't start talking to you as himself, as Edward. Why'd he have to bring this Masen persona into the picture?"

I decide to keep any parts of Edward that feel too private to myself.

I'm not going to tell her about the two-faced skeleton tattoo on his back, or how defeated his voice sounded when he asked me if I've ever felt not good enough. I'm not going to tell her that I think he was using Masen as a shield, a way to protect himself and his heart while getting to know me.

I'm not going to tell her any of that, because I had to earn that knowledge about Edward. It would feel wrong to offer it up so easily to someone who doesn't know him.

"I don't know why he did it," I say simply. "But he's kind of shy. And with him being Liam's coding teacher, I think that made it tricky? If I'm being honest, I kinda liked the mystery. It's sort of romantic if you think about it."

"So is Stockholm Syndrome."

I crack a smile. "Shut up. Don't put bad ideas in my head. I don't feel weird about this. At all. And I don't wanna start now."

"Okay. I'm sorry!" Esme stresses. "I've been burned before, Bella. That's where I'm coming from. I'm looking out for you."

"I appreciate it. And I'm sorry that Royce was a lying, cheating bastard. But I like Edward," I admit, voice softening. "I like him so fucking much, Esme. I don't think he has bad intentions. He's a good guy."

Esme smiles, and this time it meets her eyes. "He's really made an impression on you, huh?"

"Yes. He's—" Kind-hearted. Shy. Tender. Sexy. And I want to keep getting to know all the different sides of him. "I swear you would like him."

"I mean, I don't dislike the kid. He did take care of you when you were sick. That earned him major points with me." I smile. "I just get a little protective sometimes, you punk. You're like a little sister to me."

"I know, but it's fine," I promise. "Now, let's go get you a date with Carl. I can't be the only one getting laid."

"You're not getting laid, from the sounds of it," she snorts. "And… Carl might've asked me out already."

"What?"

"He got my number last week under the guise of needing it for flower-related business."

"And you didn't think to tell me this before now?" I nearly shriek with excitement.

"I didn't tell you sooner because I didn't want to look like a doofus in case he didn't call," she admits with a shrug.

"Well? What happened?"

"He called." She grins, and I swear her cheeks go a little red, too. "Oh, Bella. He sounded so nervous. It was sweet." She chuckles at the memory and shakes her head. "I just flat out asked if he wanted to grab a beer this weekend. He said yes."

I can't contain my smile. "Esme!"

"Shh." She glances around. "I don't want him to hear you."

"This is, like, the best thing I've ever heard."

"Okay, you're overreacting a little."

"No, I'm not reacting enough. This has been a long time coming. Homeboy's been diggin' you for a while now. And vice versa."

"Homeboy?" she laughs.

"Gah. You and Carl," I muse. "Finally. I'm dead. Gone. Goodbye."

"I appreciate your excitement, kid. I'm pretty happy about it, too."

"Good. So no feeling meh about this one?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

Esme stares down the walkway, where Carl is standing. He's staring in our direction, and I watch them smile at each other.

"Not a single ounce of meh about this one," she says dreamily. "Not at all."

xx

It's Wednesday night, and Edward is in my bed again.

I love this little routine we've created. I love that when we're in bed together, he's so open. Like he feels safe enough to give me a little bit more of himself each time.

Tonight, he's talking about the band, and how he sometimes gets really fucking nervous on stage.

"I couldn't tell. It just seemed like you were caught up in the music," I say, hoping it makes him feel a little better about being up there. "Do you ever sing?"

"No. That's Sam's deal."

"But you have such a good voice."

"I only did that for you," he says simply, cheeks turning pink.

I lean over to kiss him, and when we pull apart, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. I smile.

"What?"

"You're just… sweet," I tell him. "I like it."

"I don't think many people would call me that."

I get lost in his eyes. "Well, they don't know you like I do."

When he kisses me, we let ourselves get a little carried away, fully making out. This time he lies between my legs without me pulling him over and his hand slides up under my shirt at some point, palming my breast.

But that's as far as we go this time.

Eventually our kisses slow to a stop and he brushes my nose with his before staring down at me.

"What?" I whisper.

"You're so pretty," he whispers back.

His words and the way he's looking at me is so tender.

"So are you."

"Ha." He hides his face between my neck and shoulder.

"Like you don't know how good-looking you are. I'm sure you have women drooling over you all the time."

He lifts his head. "Not even close."

I roll my eyes, not believing him. "So, Liam's new nanny? How is she?"

"She's not you."

"So, that means you actually like her?" I tease.

He grins a little, and I hate that he spent so long hiding those eye crinkles from me.

"I like you, Bella. I think about you all the time. It's… I don't know. Maybe that's embarrassing to say. But it's true."

"What do you think about?"

"That smile you give me. And… the way you watch me when I'm talking? I like that. It makes me feel... good. Seen."

His candor is so goddamn attractive.

"So you don't just think about my tits?"

He laughs, kissing from my jaw to my mouth. "And you're funny. I like that, too."

"But you didn't laugh for so long. I seriously feel like… like I became obsessed with needing to see you smile. Or laugh. Or anything to let me know that you… saw me."

"I see you," he says softly. "You're all I see."

I slide my hands around the back of his neck and pull his head down so I can kiss him again. We make out for a little longer. He doesn't push for more, so neither do I. Of course I want to, but… things feel a little different than Saturday night. I don't have the desperate frenzy built up inside of me. I kind of like that we can lie in my bed and make out without needing to take our clothes off.

When our clothes do come off, though, it's to get ready for bed. I put on his shirt again, and he wears the same expression he did the other night: like maybe, just maybe I'm all his.

When the room is dark and we're quiet, I'm close to dozing. But then his fingers brush my cheek.

"Hey."

I look at him. "Yeah?"

"Tomorrow would've been my mom's birthday."

I brush some hair away from his forehead. I think about what would've been Charlie's birthday coming up in a few months and hope Edward will come this year, too. I know he'd fit right in with everyone.

"Are you doing okay?" I ask him.

He doesn't answer right away, but I appreciate that he's not just going to tell me that he's fine.

"Can I tell you something that might sound really fucking weird?"

My pulse quickens, and I nearly think he's about to come clean about being Masen.

"Edward, you can tell me anything," I say honestly.

"My mom would've loved you," he whispers.

Emotion wells deep in my chest, and I swallow it back. "Will you tell me about her?"

The room is quiet, like he's preparing himself to talk about her. It makes my heart ache.

"Her name was Elizabeth," he says quietly. I scoot closer, curling next to him. "She called me Teddy."

"Teddy?" I echo, laughing a little. With my ear on his chest, I hear and feel him laugh, too. "That's adorable."

"It's… yeah. She was definitely the only one allowed to call me that." I smile, even though he can't see it. "She was constantly singing, humming. Not even real songs, just whatever came to her mind. She was just… warm. Kind. She drew with me a lot. I got that from her, I think—the creative side. I guess I got the hard side from my dad."

"She sounds wonderful."

"She was. She didn't take any shit from my dad, either. She made him a little softer, though. I kind of miss that about him."

"What happened to her?" I whisper, fingers trailing over the initials on his arm.

"Breast cancer."

I softly kiss his skin. "I'm sorry."

"Me too." With his arm around me, he pulls me closer. "So, uh. I was wondering if… you're busy tomorrow night?"

"I don't think so."

"Would you… maybe…"

"What?"

"You can say no."

"To what?" I laugh lightly. "You haven't actually asked me anything."

"Come to dinner with me and my dad?"

"Really?"

"He's difficult, and I think having you there will make things better."

"I'd be like a buffer?"

"I was thinking more like…" He pauses, and I shift a little so I can see him. "A friend?"

He looks worried and almost desperate. I want to be there for him. I really do. Even if the way he's looking at me and the way I feel for him is definitely more than a friend.

"Sure, I'll go."

"Yeah?" It's like I can feel the relief rolling off of him.

"Yeah."

He cups my face and kisses me, telling me so many things with his mouth that he can't verbalize. It's like he's telling me he's Masen. That he's sorry and he doesn't want a single thing to change between us when I find out.

With my kiss I tell him I already know, nothing has to change, and I hope that soon he'll be able to say it out loud.