Seven

BELLA

He's late.

45 minutes late.

Sighing I grab my phone checking to see if he has left me a text. As if I hadn't been listening out for it.

Nothing.

Feeling bold I hit call.

He answers after the first few rings. I hear his car beeping, keys jingling. He wasn't even on the way. Typical.

"Bella. Hey!" He says, I can hear his smile.

It makes me want to not be angry at him. I want to forgive him.

"Where are you?" I demand.

"What? I'm just leaving the gym," he says.

"The gym? Are you kidding?" I snap.

"It takes work to look this good," he says, "if you want me to be your boyfriend shouldn't I come with muscles to cuddle you with too. I love being the big spoon."

"Edward," I growl, "you were meant to be here at 10 o'clock to start this stupid assignment."

"Nope. You said 11," he says.

"I said 10, Edward," I sigh, "I texted you it yesterday. You replied so I know you saw it. Also you need to relax on the heart emojis."

"And in that text you said 11," he says, "check it again. And I'll use heart emojis as liberally as I please

We hadn't seen each other since the Jake kiss. And every moment since I'd been filled with anxiety. What if I made it weird by kissing him? But it was an amazing kiss. The best I'd had for sure. Well, he was an expert. I'd pictured his lips on mine since, hating myself for wanting another go. I had wondered if we should talk about it? Would that just make it worse?

Alice was under the impression we were texting back and forth. I made sure to spend more time smiling at my phone. I was playing my part well. So well I fooled myself at times.

"I don't need to. You're late. You promised you'd take this seriously," I say.

"I'm not late," he says defensively, "I'm driving, my darling girlfriend. I'll be there in ten minutes."

He hangs up on me before I can snap back. Groaning I open my past messages looking for the text. I couldn't wait for him to arrive so I could prove him wrong.

I read it out loud.

"Hey Edward. Let's do our first session tomorrow at my house. I also have some ideas for that first essay... aka our key to hockey. Alice is out and Rose is spending the day with her father, so it'll be quiet," I read, "be here at… fuck."

Flinging my phone down on the bed I collapse onto the mattress, muffling my screams.

Sheepishly I open the door for him.

"Hey," he smiles at me easily.

"Welcome," I say, "come in."

"Thanks," he smirks, moving past me into the house.

"Did you enjoy the gym?" I ask closing the door behind me, leaning back against it as I watch him.

He looks back at me, a crooked grin on his beautiful face, his messy copper hair falling into perfect place. It was no wonder every girl wants him. I wonder what it's like being that beautiful?

I watch him look me up and down, before he laughs.

"What?" I demand, crossing my arms.

"Nothing. The gym was just fine," he says, "I'm sorry I was late."

Biting my lip I nod. Do I come clean? Or let him call me out?

"I over reacted," I shrug, "sorry. Let's just get started."

"Sure," he bites back more laughter, nodding politely, "that would be great."

He follows me to my room. I motion to the armchair I set up for him, but instead he kicks his shoes off falling back onto my bed. I watch, mouth slightly ajar as he picks up my teddy bear, placing it on his stomach as he leans back against the headboard smiling at me.

"I set up a chair," I say.

"Doesn't the therapist sit? The patient lies down in the movies," he shrugs, "besides I had to rush over here cause I was late. I could use the rest."

I stare at him, unsure what to do. I settled for taking the seat, picking up my notebook on the way.

"Okay," I sigh, "you have your diagnosis. Let's start with your name and age."

"My name is Bart Mason. I'm 32," he smiles at me, "you are a beautiful doctor. My last therapist was a man. It's a nice change."

As I write down notes I glance up at him. I have to remind myself he is a character. He didn't mean that.

I stare at him for a moment. Stomach clenching I groan.

"You were right," I slam my pencil down, "I can't focus until I admit it. You were right."

"About what, Doctor Swan?" He smirks.

"You were early," I shake my head, "I checked the message again. I'm sorry."

He sits up slightly on the mattress shaking his head, with a grin of pure beauty.

"Don't be. It's fine," he says, "you're passionate about this. I like that. I don't want to let you down with this. I was teasing you, but I wasn't going to say anything explicitly. You're a perfectionist. That's clear, but maybe you need to just let loose. Like when was the last time you did something fun? Like a party!"

"Never," I shrug, "oh wait. I went to one last year with Alice. That Disney one at the kappas, that was when Rosalie was with them still. You met me and forgot me instantly," I point at him with my pencil as I speak.

"There's a lot to unpack. Firstly, I didn't forget you. I knew who you were the second you were paired with me in class. Secondly, Rosalie got kicked out of her sorority?" He laughs.

"Yeah," I smile, "she kissed the head sister's ex in spin the bottle, before she had sex with him on the sister's car."

"Ouch," Edward laughs loudly, "that's amazing. Is that why she lives here?"

"Yeah," I smile, "she met Alice ages ago. They bumped into each other and when she told Alice what happened Alice said she wanted her to move in with us. Alice hates that girl."

"Jessica right? She is so touchy feely! Even Emmett is creeped by her," he lies back again, "well you should come out again. As my girlfriend we have a standard to uphold. You want to fly with the popular kid you gotta do the popular kid stuff. There's a party tonight at Seth's. It's a pool party while we have the last of the heat. Come with me?"

"Oh," I shake my head, "I don't know if that's a good idea… I don't even…"

"We go for an hour. You hate it, I bring you home," he offers, "I want to see fun Bella. I know she is in there."

"Edward. You're the patient," I sigh, "I'm meant to be analysing you."

"Agree to come and I'll play doctors all you want. I'll even pop on my sexy patient costume," he winks at me.

"Fine," I slam my pencil down, "fine I'll go to your stupid party. But if I hate it after an hour you owe me ice cream on the way home."

"Deal," he claps his hands in the air, "let's do this. Bart is back in the room. He thinks your brown eyes are pretty."

"Stop flirting with me," I try to bite back the smile.

"It's all Bart," he holds his hands up, "besides you beat my wife in the looks department."

"Wife? You're married," I ask jotting it down quickly.

"I was. The divorce is being finalised," he says, "we got kids too. Two sons. Baby is eight months, the other is four."

"How sweet," I say.

"I never wanted them to begin with. She trapped me," he shrugs, "I wanted to start a business. Selling cars. But I got her drunk one night and I couldn't say no. We had been dating for a year or so. She always looked at me like I owed her something."

"Perhaps she loved you," I offer.

"Of course she did" he says, "I was the problem fixer, she was the problem creator."

"What about the rest of your family?" I ask.

"Didn't speak to them," he shrugs, "just her and I. Her family demanded a prenup so we fucked them off. She had a bit of money."

"Right," I bite the top of my pencil looking him over.

He watches me, twirling his thumbs, his emotions fail to match his words. It's like he has prepared a script for me.

"Can we end this session?" He sighs sitting up.

"Yeah sure," I nod, "I want to study what you said properly."

He scoots off the bed, standing before me.

"Great," he smiles, "you'd be good at this. You listen."

I find myself blushing at the compliment. He noticed too, laughing as he takes my hand in his.

"Get ready. The party starts tonight at like 7. I'll be back to get you at 6:30ish. Do you want me to write it down in a text?" he teases.

I pull my hand away and smack his arm playfully. Watching him laugh does something odd to my heart.

"Just be ready to have fun," he says, "leave this Bella here tonight and be someone new with me."

I'm unable to verbally agree. I'm overwhelmed by him. So I nod, liking the sound of every word he is saying.

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