Chapter Twenty-Nine

A Simple Favor

EPOV

Three days pass, and Bella is still residing on the far end of my couch.

Her migraine hasn't let up, and I've tried talking her into going to the hospital because, surely, they can do something for her that I can't, but she declines.

She tells me there's nothing to be done but rest and the medication that knocks her out for hours on end.

Marley's been staying with my parents since the first night, and I spend a lot of time with her there while Bella sleeps. I pick her up from school each day and assure her that Bella is resting and that she'll feel better soon, but I feel bad for lying to her. Because I don't know when Bella is going to feel better.

Marley has taken it upon herself to supply Bella with enough get-well pictures and cards to cover my living room walls three times over. She misses her mother but understands that Bella needs peace and quiet.

Caring for a sick woman is tough work. I soon realize that it's much like caring for the five-year-old she gave birth to. They cry, they whine, and they pout.

When I offer to have my mom or Rose come over to help her shower, Bella throws a pillow at my head and doesn't speak to me for the rest of the day. I make a note to never speak of Bella's hygiene or lack there of ever, ever again.

I'm currently hiding out at the restaurant while Bella naps. When Rose called to ask me if I wanted to help her choose paint swatches I didn't hesitate.

I finally cracked and cleaned the kitchen this morning. I tried to be as quiet as possible but stupidly decided to use the dishwasher that turned out to be too loud. Bella didn't say anything until her head felt like it was going to actually explode.

She took an extra pill and passed out, but I'm still thankful to have a valid excuse to leave her be.

Rose and I are standing at the one finished wall in the new dining area, staring at the different hues of blue she's chosen for the room and discussing Bella's health and wellbeing.

"Perhaps you should have Carl go take a look at her," she offers.

"Bella would never go for it. I already tried."

"It's been too long, and you said she isn't getting any better. Maybe he could stop by for another reason, to pick up some more clothes for Marley or something and give her a once over while he's there."

I sigh and put another coat over the lightest color on the wall. "If anything, it's worse. What do you do when you get headaches?"

Vicky, the head server who is helping out with packing up the kitchen, comes into the room with a wicked grin. She obviously thinks the question is one for the group and leans against one of the work benches with her arms crossed. "That's easy. I have sex. That's like the best cure for a headache."

The gum I'm chewing lodges itself in my throat, and Rose starts cackling, banging on my back.

"Vicky, go back to packing up the silverware and stop trying to kill your boss," she instructs, waiting for me to catch my breath. "You okay there, babe?"

I nod.

"She's sort of right, you know."

"Of course, I am." Vicky laughs and practically skips out of the room.

"I hate all of you," I croak.

"Hey, you asked." Rose giggles. "Why don't you try giving her a back massage. She's got to be tense, being in pain for so long. Friends can give back massages."

I give her a speculative look, and she snorts.

"Do you not remember junior year? You tried soccer, and I became your personal masseuse after the four practices you went to before giving up on your dream to be the next Beckham. I never once felt the urge to hop on the bologna express."

"Rose!" I groan.

"What's this I hear about hoppin' on the bologna express?" Emmett booms from the kitchen, poking his head through of the plastic sheeting separating the rooms.

"I'm trying to convince our young Edward here that he should offer Bella a little sexual healing to help her get over her migraine. He's acting like a virgin babe and clammed up when I tried recommending an innocent back massage."

Emmett's face turns an odd shade of puce as he tries not to laugh out loud.

"I highly doubt Edward could touch Bella without blowing his load. They've been dancing around each other for so long the simplest caress and BOOM!"

My face heats up in embarrassment, and I grab my keys and phone.

"I'm leaving. Don't burn down the restaurant. The insurance policy is in my name, and I won't give you a penny."

"Love you too, babe!" Rose calls. "Make sure to warm up the lotion first!"

~MM~

I enter the house through the garage and try to be quiet as possible.

It's strange, having spent the past few days in almost complete silence when I'm so used to Marley's loudness.

I stopped to pick up some burgers and fries for lunch, so I grab a soda and ketchup for Bella and enter the living room, surprised to find one of the lamps in the far corner turned on and a freshly showered Bella sitting upright and awake.

"Hey," I greet softly. "Feeling better?"

"Not really. I just wanted to get clean." She rubs her temple. "I'm tired of sleeping, if that makes sense."

"Sure, you've been out of it for days. I brought you a burger and fries from one of my favorite places."

"I could eat." She smiles.

We sit together, munching on our food.

"You said I've been out for days. How long has it been?"

"About four days now."

She winces. "Where's Marley?"

I hand her a napkin and point to the corner of my mouth, and she blushes, wiping the mustard from her cheek.

"She's at my parents' house. She misses you though, and she's been sending you pictures and cards she's made."

"I miss her too."

I drop my food on the coffee table and turn to her. "Are you sure I shouldn't take you to the hospital? You've been in so much pain, and you're almost out of those pills."

"I'm sure." She closes her eyes and pushes her tray away. "I'll just have to go home sooner than I originally planned."

"Or I could take you to the hospital, and we can get you another prescription for it. Hell, my dad can probably write you one."

Bella sighs heavily. "I have to go home sooner or later, Edward. The longer I stay, the harder it will be on me and on Marley when I do eventually leave." Her voice is full of pain, and she looks away.

"Rose said I should give you a back massage," I blurt out, surprising us both. "You look really tense. Maybe that could help?"

Bella bites her lip. "I don't know."

The thought of her leaving physically pains me. "It couldn't hurt to try."

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

I run my fingers through my hair and offer her a half-smile. "I wouldn't offer if I wasn't willing."

Bella nods and watches me clean up our lunch.

I gather supplies, three different lotions, and give myself a pep talk. This is just a friend massaging a friend's back in an effort to make her feel better and get her to stop talking about leaving us. Nothing more. Nothing less. Rose did it for me in high school. I can do it now for Bella.

When I return to her, she's taken off the bulky sweater, revealing a thin-strapped tank top that showcases her spectacular tits—

Stop!

The only way this is going to go smoothly is if I can distance myself, or at least my thoughts.

"Is this okay?" Bella asks shyly.

"It's fine,." I squeak.

Bella offers to sit on the floor between my knees, but in an act of sheer idiocy, I talk her into sitting between my legs on the couch with her back to me.

The second she settles into position and I feel the heat of her body against mine, I have to think of the grossest things to keep my erection at bay—Rose and Emmett going at it in the office down at Rosie's.

Bella wiggles, and I grab her hips and push her away from me a little.

"Sorry, my back is hurting."

"S'okay."

I let her choose the lotion she wants me to use, and she picks out the unscented baby lotion.

I lather my hands to warm it up and tell myself that I can do this.

I can do this.