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Chapter Twenty-Nine

The night was spent falling in and out of slumber with Edward always touching me, somehow needing it more than I did.

His feet, legs were tangled with mine.

His hard, toned body pressed against my back.

I assumed he was sleeping when he mumbled stay against my neck, using his stubble to create goosebumps across my skin. He assumed I was asleep as well.

When I finally awoke, the clock on his bureau read nine a.m. and he was no longer lying in bed next to me. My ears strained and focused on the splashing of water against porcelain and tile until I was lulled back into sleep.

A pair of lips on my temple and a hand in my hair forced me awake. It was too tempting to keep my eyes closed so I offered him a sleepy grin instead.

"I have to go to work soon." Edward's voice was low, torn, almost as if he were tempted to stay.

"Okay," I mumbled, wishing I had a toothbrush.

Why didn't I bring a toothbrush?

Because I wasn't planning on staying, that's why. And then I realized too late that was a lie. Of course I came here with the intention of staying, it was up to him whether or not it played out the way I wanted though.

"You can stay."

I cringed at the word he was so persistent on using.

"I should go. I'm sure Renee will need the car at some point today."

Edward's face was calm as he agreed.

"Coffee? I have twenty minutes until I need to leave."

Following him into the kitchen, I stared at the jeans hanging off his perky little ass and realized I was still wearing his clothes.

"I should...change."

Edward glanced back, shaking his head. "Don't."

The aroma of the brewing coffee relaxed me almost instantly. Edward handed me a Starbucks coffee mug before grabbing his own.

"Mickey Mouse?" My snorts turned into full on laughter.

"See? The mug works wonders. Never fails to make people laugh."

"May I ask why you have a Mickey Mouse coffee mug?"

"You may." I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder. He smiled as he filled our mugs. "My parents are weird. Must I explain?"

"Yes."

We sat at the table and he told me how his parents give him, Alice and Emmett Disney character mugs each Christmas.

"There's no real reason why. It's just...I don't know. Now it's like a tradition."

"So...you have Mickey Mouse."

"Right. Alice has Daisy Duck, Jasper has Donald, and Emmett-"

"Goofy?"

"Exactly." Edward laughed, eye crinkle and all. "So."

"So..." I trailed off.

It wasn't awkward. Since the first day I had met him, I didn't feel uncomfortable once.

My leg bounced anyway.

"Emmett's party is tonight."

"Yes!" I said a little too loudly. "I mean, yes. That will be exciting."

Edward's face fell and he stared at me. At my eyes. In my eyes.

"You aren't going tonight?"

"No. I mean, yes. I am."

"Can't back out on me now that you've gotten my hopes up and everything."

"Oh, really?" I snorted. "You're kind of a dork. I hope you realize that."

"Me?" He narrowed his eyes. "I refuse to believe that."

"It's not a bad thing. It's probably a good thing."

"Probably?"

And then we were back.

"Okay. It's definitely a good thing. Does that make you happy?"

"How do I trust you?" he asked playfully, rubbing his fingers on my arm. But his words caught me off guard. "Maybe you're just telling me being a dork is a good thing but you're setting me up for failure."

"I wouldn't," I stuttered. "I wouldn't do that."

Edward noticed my hesitation before removing his fingers from my wrist. "Well. You somehow tricked me into telling you my weakness. I can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve."

He winked. He was obviously joking.

But I pushed my chair back anyway and told him it was time to go.

A/N: There will be one more update later. I would've added to this but...Renee doesn't deserve to be in the same chapter as Edward.