Halloween actually fell on a Saturday this year and since Angela was back from her trip to Australia, Bella had plans to actually have fun, something she hadn't done in a while. Though her job was satisfying and kept her very busy, Bella found that she spent most of her weekends catching up on things at her own home, like speaking to her parents, tackling laundry and getting groceries, though it was nice that she ate a lot at Edward's place, and on his dime. Her expenses had gone down considerably in that regard. So much in fact, that she managed to order a Halloween costume online and had stashed away some cash to go out with Angela to a local bar.
Bella jumped at the chance to head out with Angela and a small group of friends because she felt like she had been isolated since graduation. Money had been tight and spending it on booze and cabs just didn't seem like a good use of her money. She was splurging on herself this Halloween, although it did take a little prodding from Angela before she finally agreed to go.
It also helped that Angela's boyfriend Ben was bringing along a few friends and Bella hoped that maybe one of them could help take her mind off of Edward.
As the lines continued to blur between their work / friend relationship, Bella found herself growing more attracted to Edward both physically and mentally. Though he was usually very busy when she was there, he was very sweet, funny and genuine in the moments they did have together. It was becoming more difficult for Bella to see him as only her boss when half the time she was daydreaming about him in less professional ways.
"Bella, where you at?" Angela said forcefully as she waved her hands in front of Bella, pulling her from her thoughts. "Ben said Alec would be joining us tonight and if I recall properly, you had a thing for Alec not that long ago. A few other friends should be joining us after 10."
"Yeah, he's a cutie," Bella admitted, albeit reluctantly. She had given Angela a little bit of information on her confusing relationship with Edward, but as cautious as she is, Angela reminded her that he was her boss and she shouldn't overstep the boundaries that were set. Bella was sure this was why Angela was going to parade Alec in front of her.
"Another bonus is that Alec's employed," Angela added with a smirk. "Got hired as an junior architect at a competing firm from Ben's. He also has his own apartment, so you know… you won't be bothering anyone if you decide to go home with him." Angela nudged Bella with her elbow and Bella took a large gulp of her drink, eager to change the topic. Bella had once gone home with a guy back in her second year of University, and it turned out he lived in his parents basement. Bella snuck out a back door when he left for a moment after his mom called down to see if they wanted juice. She never wanted to remember that awkward moment for as long as she lived. "I just think you could use with a little hanky panky. You know, someone to diddle the skittle."
"Diddle the skittle? Really Ang?" Bella laughed just as Ben and Alec showed up at the table, causing Bella to be completely mortified by their bad timing. Of course he heard her use that stupid euphemism for masturbation, Bella thought with complete mortfication.
"Who is having hanky panky without me?" Alec asked, the grin on his face a little too smug for Bella's liking, but when she looked over at Angela, she could see her friend was eager for her to make a move. Bella would need more alcohol for that.
"No one. We were speaking generally," Bella chimed in as Ben sat down beside Angela and Alec slid in beside her in the booth. "Did you guys get drinks?"
Ben advised they had ordered on their way over to the table and their waitress would be by soon, just as Bella's cell phone chimed that she had a text. Angela immediately groaned as Bella looked down to see a text from Edward. Bella was about to write back but one glance at Angela reminded Bella that she was out to have fun. So, she decided to ignore it, and for the next half an hour the group chatted amiably about life after college, their trip to Australia and Alec even dragged Bella out onto the dance floor for a couple of quick dances.
When she got back to the table, Angela didn't look overly happy, and Bella just wanted another drink. "You got more texts," Angela sighed as Bella reached for her phone, disappointed to see there were replies to Edwards messages. "I may have answered one or two."
"Angela," Bella shrieked angrily as she began to read the texts to find out Edward was having a major crisis and need her assistance. "What in the fuck are you doing? I could lose my job."
"It's a Saturday night and Halloween, he shouldn't be bothering you about work," Angela exclaimed in frustration. "It's no wonder you have no idea about the boundaries between work and real life, he's blurred everything. Is he your boss or your boyfriend?"
"You have no idea what you are talking about," Bella lied as she grabbed her purse and tossed some money down on the table to pay for her drinks.
Sadly, Angela knew exactly what Bella was talking about because she is who Bella had vented to the most about her issues with work. "Edward wouldn't be bothering me as much as he is, if it wasn't important. Now I have to go explain to him that I didn't text him and you did. I also need to make sure I still have a job on Monday morning."
Bella left her friends and called an Uber to drive her to Edwards place because she was in no shape to drive. The Uber driver thought nothing of her costume, as he surely had driven stranger people on that night, and while they were on the road, Bella texted Edward to let him know she was on the way.
By the time she got into the house, Edward was in his office buried in his work, yet again. They had put out a bowl of candy for the neighbourhood kids specifically so Edward wouldn't be distubred, and of course, she was the one being put out. She was frustrated to see that it looked like there nothing going on and there was no urgent need of her.
"What in the fuck, Edward?" Bella exclaimed as she tossed open the office door and scared both him and Hemingway who was curled up in her favorite chair. "What on earth is so wrong that you needed me to end my night early and come over here. You're paying for my Uber by the way."
Edward stared with his mouth agape as he looked at Bella in her costume. It could only be described as a slutty vampire, as there wasn't much left to the imagination. She had a pointy neck on her vampire cape and was in a tight pleather looking dress, with an overly large cross necklace.
"What in the hell are you wearing?" Edward exclaimed his eyes unable to move from Bella's outfit.
"It's Halloween! Do you think I just spend my weekends dressed up like a vampire? I was out with my friends, trying to enjoy myself. Do you know how to do that?" Bella freaked out as Edward looked at his phone and confirmed that yes, it was October 31st. Man, he had bad timing. "My friend Angela had my phone and she was texting you back, not me. I showed up to make sure you were ok, see if you actually needed me because your texts were super vague. I also wanted to confirm I still have a job on Monday." Bella let out a small burp after she slurred through her words and Edward found himself more attracted to her for being unapologetically herself, if that was even possible.
"First of all, I apologize for bothering you. I honestly had no idea it was Halloween," Edward admitted genuinely. "I may have snapped a little bit with my computer issue but I ended up getting help from Alice when your last text told me to… go screw myself…" Edward laughed and Bella didn't feel any relief. "No, you are not fired. I'm sorry."
"Oh thank god," Bella sighed as she sat down in the nearest chair and almost sat on Hemingway, who jumped out of the way and hopped onto Edwards desk, looking for affection. "I was worried there for a bit. In fact, I made my Uber driver pull over once cause I thought I was going to puke. I tipped him big, so you owe me."
"Bella, I think you should take a rest for the night," Edward advised as he closed up his computer and stood up from his desk. He thought he had a bad night when he thought he had lost the last two chapters he had written, but Alice directed him to the backup system she and Bella had setup for him and he was good to go. Bella, however, was having a hell of a night too.
Edward ushered Bella into the kitchen and offered her a glass of water which she took eagerly. He grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for her to change in to and put them on the guest room bed, but when he walked back into the living room, Bella was fast asleep on the couch in her weird, but sexy costume.
Without a second thought, Edward carefully swept her up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom knowing full well she would be more comfortable there. Edward could smell the faint scent of alcohol on her breath, combined with the scent that was quintessentially Bella, and he was intoxicated himself. He set her down gently onto the bed and undid the cape around her neck, putting it on the nightstand beside her. He was about to pull up the duvet to tuck her in when she wrapped her arms around his neck and began kissing him.
Edward pulled back immediately and took a step back from the half dressed girl in front of him and pulled the blanket up to cover her. There was no way Bella was going to remember this in the morning and there was no way he would ever forget. His brain was burned with the image of her in the tight black dress and his lips seared with the taste of her.
Edward did not sleep that night.
Happy Halloween LOL! I'm back to my regular Sunday morning posting schedule for the immediate future. Can you believe it's only been a week since we started 2021? It seems like it's been a year, so much has happened. Are you guys on twitter? I am always on there cheering on my Buffalo Bills, sharing animal videos and raging against the machine! LOL. i'm just coldplaywhore over there if you want to say hi! I hope you guys continue to enjoy the story and thank you for all the great reviews.