10
The Hunk
Edward doesn't get any sleep. He tosses, turns, and flips around until the fitted sheet slips off the corner of the bed and tangles itself around him. He worries. He obsesses. And then his alarm goes off, and he has to get up and go to work.
He goes through the motions, brushing his teeth, buttoning his chef's jacket, and grabbing his phone.
He exits his townhouse at the same time a tiny pocket-sized version of Bella steps outside next door.
They both freeze with their hands on their respective doorknobs. Eyes locked. Both exhausted and maybe full of hope?
"You must be Edward."
"Yes, and you are?"
"Alice, Bella's sister."
"I didn't know she had a sister."
"I'm sure you've noticed that Bella isn't very forthcoming with information."
He nods.
"I know you don't know me or anything, but I need to ask you something." She bites her bottom lip, something he's seen Bella do when she's nervous.
She's always nervous.
"Yep?"
"I need you to keep doing whatever it is that you're doing." Alice's eyes water. "Don't let her push you away. But please, please, please don't break her heart. I know she's a lot of work, so if you aren't genuine with what you've told her, just walk away now. I don't think she could—"
"Alice, I'm sorry, but I have to get to work. I'm here. In whatever way Bella will have me. I'll take what she can give me. I meant everything I've said to her. The ball is in her court now."
"No. The ball will never be in her court. You don't understand." Tears stream down the girl's cheeks. "If you let her take control, it will get you nowhere. You have to push. You have to pull. You have to fight."
She's all but dropping to her knees to plead with him, and it breaks his heart.
He can see just how much Bella's suffering has affected her sister.
"I'll consider what you've said. I've gotta go. If I'm late, my sister will skin me alive," Edward tells her.
Alice just nods and walks down the pathway to her car without another word.
Edward works robotically the entire morning.
He ignores Rosalie's attempts to make conversation.
After baking the first round of goods for the day, he goes to the walk-in cooler and sits on a box, cradling his head in his hands.
He's racking his brain and blaming himself when Rosalie pops her head in.
"You've been in here for a while, and we both know Mom would kill me if I let you catch pneumonia. Put on your big boy panties and get us through the afternoon, and we'll close the shop early tonight," she tells him, holding the door open until he has no choice but to stand and follow her out.
Rosalie can see his two-day-old scruff and the dark circles under her brother's eyes.
She wants him to tell her what happened, but she knows Edward. If she pushes he'll pull away. He'll come to her when he's ready.
Edward is making a batch of colossal chocolate chip cookies and listening to power ballads on his phone when the song pauses, and he gets an alert that he has a new message.
He washes his hands and pulls the cell out of his jacket pocket.
Honey, I'm sorry about last night. Sometimes, I can't shut off the part of my brain that thinks everyone is out to deceive me. I wasn't lying when I told you I'm not worth it. And no matter what you say, I'm not going to be able to instantly think differently. At least, not right now.
I'm willing to wait. I will do anything to help you believe that I have the best of intentions. But please, don't shut me out. Last night was terrible for me.
Did you call your little sister in the middle of the night to come and be the big spoon while you lost your shit?
No. My big sister (I have a sister too) would come over and beat my ass with a wooden spoon if I called her after nine-thirty.
My sister is used to my brand of crazy. She's never come at me with cooking utensils ... yet. Knock on wood.
I'm going to get used to your brand of crazy too. You just watch.
I don't know how to respond to that.
You could just say, "Okay, Honey. That sounds wonderful. I can't wait." That would work for me.
Okay, Honey. You can try, but no hard feelings if it gets to be too much.
Edward's about to reply when the smoke alarm hanging above the door starts screeching.
"Shit," he mutters, pulling the charcoal briquettes that used to resemble a batch of beautiful cookies out of the oven.
He's snapping a picture of them when Rosalie comes in, swinging a broom around like a mad woman.
"What the fuck, Ed?" She glares at him, waving the broom at the smoke alarm. "Are you seriously on your goddamn phone while you're burning down my bakery?"
This is why I can't text and bake at the same time. Don't even think about apologizing because you are the best kind of distraction.
"Technically, this is my bakery. I burned some cookies; stop being such a bitch." He grabs a towel and pushes her out of the way so he can fan the smoke away from the detector. "Open the back door."
Rosalie doesn't move for a second.
She sees the smile on her brother's face and figures he dug himself out of whatever hole he buried himself in last night.
"Ro, open the fuckin' door," Edward growls.
She flips him the bird and does as he demands.
It takes hours for the smoke to finally clear and the kitchen only faintly smells of burnt chocolate. Thanks to the change in Edward's attitude, they're able to keep the doors open until closing time.
Rosalie is bringing empty trays to the back when she catches her brother on his phone again.
He's smiling at the screen, so she doesn't say anything.
I would say sorry if I wasn't laughing my butt off. What was that supposed to be?
I'll have you know they were colossal chocolate chip cookies the size of my head. Hey, Sugar?
Yeah, Honey?
Don't fight me on this. Don't make anything for dinner. I want to repay you for the soup. Don't argue. Just say, "Okay, Honey."
Okay, Honey ...
Edward has a plan.
"So are you interested in the mega awesome idea I came up with last night?" Rosalie asks.
"Nope."
His sister frowns.
She spent a lot of time thinking about her idea, and he doesn't seem to care.
"Why?" Rosalie demands. "Are you all of a sudden too good for my ideas? Just last night, you were calling me, crying over this girl."
"I wasn't crying, Ro. I can handle this. I have a plan. Can you finish up here? I've got shit to do." He doesn't wait for her to answer.
He grabs his keys and rushes out of the building.
He really hopes that his plan doesn't blow up in his face
