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Chapter Thirty-Nine

We napped.

For five hours.

I was exhausted, drained; more so emotionally.

"Bella?"

Hm.

"Bella? It's almost five. I need to go to my parents..."

Oh.

I sat up. "Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Edward sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. "I fell asleep, too."

Yeah. His hair could've told me that.

"Will you be able to drop me off at home on your way?"

"Would you be able to take a cab?" He asked seriously.

"Oh. Yeah," I said. "That's-"

Edward's laugh cut me off. So did his hand. On my thigh. "Give me a break. You don't honestly believe I would make you take a cab?"

I shrugged.

"I have a better idea," Edward started.

"A bicycle?"

He squeezed my thigh and shook his head. "How about you come to Sunday dinner with me at my parents?"

"I can't do that," I replied too fast.

"You most certainly can."

"Y'all are celebrating Emmett's birthday. 'Family only' and all that..." I trailed off as I recalled Alice's words at Black's. "Go. Enjoy the Chicken Marsala and I'll see you later this week."

Edward frowned. "Emmett invited you."

"No. He said he would've if Alice weren't..." I stopped myself from repeating his words. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway."

"It does matter." Edward's voice was hard, demanding. "Emmett doesn't willingly offer to share his Chicken Marsala with just anyone, Bella."

His smile grew wider and his face moved closer and I held my breath.

"Look. I understand if you don't want to go. My sister was rude."

My breath was still being held hostage.

"All I want is for you to be comfortable," he whispered softly.

"That's all you want?"

"Well, no," he swallowed. "Not at all."

The room was suddenly stifling. I had never even used that word before in my life.

"You look like you're deep in thought..." Edward raised his eyebrows.

"No." I laughed. "I appreciate the offer of Sunday dinner. I think I should go home for a while though. You know, make sure everything is okay."

"I'm not kicking you out," Edward pointed out. "If you don't want to come with me to my parents, you don't have to. But you also don't have to leave."

It was an intriguing thought, me staying here with Edward.

But it was also too easy.

Simple.

Edward showered and I tried to tidy up his room a bit. We had been spending so much time in here and he was so gracious as to share his bed with me. It was the very least I could do.

"Ah. She cleans," Edward smiled, walking out of the bathroom in just a towel.

Just a towel, people.

Take a second.

His wet hair fell into his eyes and he smirked at my ability to make a bed. Apparently, he hadn't shaved, unless he had some sort of follicle problem which caused his facial hair to grow back almost immediately.

"You didn't have to do that," he said flatly as he sat on the bed and pulled my arm to stand between his legs.

His bare legs which were only covered by terrycloth.

"What?" I blushed. "I didn't have to do what?"

He gave me an odd look. "Clean up."

Well, I sure as hell had to clean something else up now.

"I wanted to," I said quietly. "I don't mind."

"Hey." Edward held my chin in his hand. "I'll drop you off at your house, but if anything happens- you call me. Okay?"

I swallowed. "Okay."

"I'm serious, Bella."

I'm serious about you, too.

A/N: This was supposed to be longer (& posted sooner!) but some crazy showed up on my doorstep & I had to deal. No, it wasn't Renee! Thanks for reading. You all make me smile (I'm trying really hard to refrain from using "y'all" in this fic!).