Chapter 6

I wait for him on Friday night, like I'm expecting him to call me or show up at my door. But he doesn't.

I log onto my social media and browse for endless hours. My profile picture is staring me in the face. Me and Jessica. It almost makes me throw up to think back to all of those things she said about me. Were those the first drops of venom leaving her lips? Will they be the last?

Momma's already posted some pictures of her and her girlfriends down in Napa on their annual Wine Weekend. She's smiling and glowing, a glass of Pinot in her hand. I never much liked her friends, but I never for a second doubted they were anything but the catty women they weren't ashamed to be. At least they weren't fake.

I click on my picture and change it to a picture of just me, in my dad's house this summer. I'm sitting at the table in the morning, with a hot mug of coffee lifted to my smiling lips. Seems like a long time ago, a different, much simpler time. And I was happy in that moment. Truly, genuinely happy.

A moment later, a notification pops up saying Edward Masen liked my photo.

Should I text him? He's obviously awake.

I debate for long enough that I finally fall asleep way past midnight, listening to old podcast episodes and my bedside lamp still on.

The rev of an engine wakes me way too early. I groan and roll over, squinting at the clock. Seven o'clock. Who the heck would be out riding a motorcycle this early in the morning?

My eyes widen. I know exactly who.

I hop out of bed and stumble to the window. Edward and his bike are parked right outside my house on the road, peering up at my room.

I crack it open and lean out.

"A little early, don't you think?" I call, glancing around to my neighbor's houses. This kind of thing is definitely something they'd report back to Momma. Kid from the wrong side of town with a bad reputation showing up to see your daughter while you're out of town.

"Just couldn't wait to see ya, Swan." He pushes his sunglasses up into his hair. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. Come on." He throws his leg over the bike and goes to rev it.

"Will you...just give me a minute?" I ask, begging him not to draw more attention.

"Ten minutes, Princess. I run a tight ship."

Ten minutes? It usually takes me that long just to pick out my outfit.

I quickly close my window and run into my closet, throwing on some leggings, an oversized sweatshirt, and boots. Not my normal attire, but it was the first clean things I could get my hands on. I run to the bathroom and run a comb through my hair and brush my teeth. I glance at the clock. I have approximately three minutes left.

I swipe some moisturizer across my face and a dab of mascara and step back. He said he thought I looked beautiful without makeup. I don't feel so done up. And I like it. Maybe this is okay? I tilt my head to the side, contemplating. The rev of his engine answers for me, and I rush downstairs, grabbing my scarf hanging on the handrail as I tumble out the front door.

"Gorgeous," he says, handing me a helmet.

I assess the bike. I'm going to have to sit close. Real close to him. Pressed up against his back, legs wrapped around. Can I do this?

"Your chariot." He pats the seat.

"You've fixed it, right? Like it works okay?" I ask.

"Most of the time, yeah."

I narrow my eyes at him as I slide the helmet over my head.

"I'm just kidding," he jokes. "It's perfectly safe."

I throw my leg over the seat and sit, my chest flush against his back, and tentatively wrap my arms around him.

He hits the gas and I start to slide back on the seat. I squeeze tight, pulling myself back toward him.

We ride through my neighborhood, through downtown. It's not too busy yet, still a little early for most to be out and about.

When we hit the city limits, I relax into him, the wind whipping my hair sticking out from under the helmet.

"You okay?" He asks, glancing back over his shoulder.

"Yeah," I smile. "I'm okay."

The road extends in front of us, the sun rising higher and higher in the sky with each mile.

I start to lose myself in the feel of the wind and the warmth of his body against mine.

We ride for a long time, and more and more cars find their way out onto the road.

I squeeze my hands, gripping and twisting the front of his shirt, as we pull off an exit about an hour outside of town. Where is he taking me?

We take a left and then a right, and come to the entrance of a park.

There's a small parking lot with a few cars, with picnic tables, a playground, and the entrance to some hiking trails nearby.

He parks next to a van and we get off the bike. I pull the helmet off and shake my hair off.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"Edward!" A voice calls from behind us.

"Hey, bud!"

A boy I recognize as Ben from the photo practically jumps into his arms.

Even though he's probably way too big to get picked up, Edward throws him over his shoulder and waves to a lady behind me, reading at one of the park benches.

"Thanks for bringing him, Kate!"

"Who are you?" Ben asks me.

"I'm Isabella." I smile. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Are you my brother's girlfriend?" He asks, laughing.

"Uh." I blush and look down at the ground.

"What is this, twenty questions?" Edward tickles him and sets him back down. "You must have grown at least a foot since last month."

"Probably," Ben says.

"What'd you bring today?" Edward asks.

"Math."

Edward wrinkles his nose. "Hopefully Bella is good at math, it's not one of my best subjects."

I follow them over to one of the tables and Ben pulls out what looks like a workbook.

"Why don't you get going on that and let me know when you get stuck, okay?" Edward slides down into the seat and I sit beside him.

"So," I start.

"Kate is Ben's aunt, who he lives with." He smiles. "She brings him to see me about once a month. I usually try to help him with his homework."

"That's really sweet." I nod.

"I hope it doesn't tarnish my bad reputation." He winks at me.

"Um, excuse me. I'm trying to learn over here!" Ben protests, watching our exchange. "Isabella, can you help me?"

"Oh. Sure." I glance over at what he's working on. Multiplication tables. "Okay so you take each number here," I point to each digit. "And you multiply it by this number, and carry over any extra." I circle a few things and do an example. "So, what's three times four?"

"Twelve," Ben answers.

"Right." I smile. "Good. So, you put the two here, and carry the one over to this number."

Edward slings his arm around my shoulder and leans in. "Go on, Professor."

I help Ben with the rest of his worksheet. Then him and Edward talk about what Ben has been up to the past month, him playing baseball, and his first girlfriend, Sally.

"I don't know if you're allowed to have a girlfriend, are you sure you're old enough?" Edward asks.

"When did you have your first girlfriend?" Ben laughs.

"Not until I was twenty."

"But you're only eighteen!" Ben protests.

"Exactly. Even I'm not old enough."

Ben eyes me suspiciously.

"Ben, honey!" Kate calls, packing up her things. "We've got to go, you've got baseball practice in a bit!"

"Will you come see me play sometime?" Ben asks.

"Of course, buddy. I told you I would," Edward answers.

"I was asking Isabella," he says, rolling his eyes.

"Sure, I'd love to. Thanks for the invite." When he smiles, he reminds me so much of Edward.

"Bring it in." Edward stands and opens his arms so Ben can give him a hug as he walks them to the parking lot. "I'll call you about next month."

"Sounds good. Let's go, Ben." Kate pulls Ben away and they head toward the parking lot.

"Bye, Isabella!" Ben waves.

"Bye!" I lean back against the bike and watch them drive away.

"Ready?" Edward asks.

"Yeah." I slide the helmet on. "Hey?"

He glances up.

"Can we ride around for a bit?" I ask.

"As you wish."

We're on the road again and the sun is high in the sky above, trying to peek at us between the clouds. The roads are winding, twisting, turning as we ride.

I'm suddenly aware of him under my hands as they link around the front of him. I flatten my palms and, without thinking, wander up toward his chest.

"I like you, Edward Masen," I say, not knowing if he can ever hear me.

He doesn't react. We just fly over the pavement for another hour and then head back to town.

"I'm starving, you wanna eat?" He asks, coming to a stop at the light downtown.

"Sure."

He pulls into the diner and we head inside.

"Just sit anywhere," Heather shouts from behind the counter.

We slide into a booth, opposite each other, and both grab a menu.

"Thank you, for taking me with you today. Ben's really sweet," I say.

"Thanks for coming."

After we order, a loud group of teenagers burst through the door. I hold my breath, waiting for the onslaught. But it's not Jessica or Mike or anyone I know. They're from Edward's school.

"Edward!" A tall, blonde guy approaches the table and glances between us. "What are you doing, buddy?"

"Just grabbing some food, James. What trouble are you getting into?"

"Not as much as you apparently." James winks at me. "How ya doing, babe?"

This is uncomfortable. Edward clears his throat.

"Oh sorry, I'm probably not sophisticated enough for you, your Highness." He does a lousy curtsy, much to the delight of the group he's with.

"Knock it off," Edward snaps.

"Hey, hey. My bad. Enjoy the rest of your day, you two." He returns to his audience as our food arrives.

We eat mostly in silence. The good vibes and good feelings from earlier are just...gone.

"See?" He finally says. "Your friends aren't the only ones who are assholes. It goes both ways."

"What did you tell me?" I ask. "They don't matter."

"Yeah."

We finish eating and head out, desperate to break the funk we settled in over the past hour.

"Can I drive?" I ask.

"I'd like to keep all of my vital parts, thank you," he responds, instantly flipping a switch back to Edward. My Edward.

"Come on! I'm trying to branch out here."

"Okay. But only if we go slow and only to your house."

"Fine," I compromise.

We both throw our helmets on and he gives me a run down, allowing me to do a few practice rounds in the parking lot before we head out to the open road.

"Just remember, I'm right behind you." He slides onto the back and rests his hands on my hips. They feel at home there.

"You're a natural," he says in my ear as we go. I shiver, feeling his breath in my hair and on my skin. I want to lean back into him, fall into him, crash into him and just disappear.

When we pull up in front of my house, I want so badly to invite him inside.

Old Bella would never. Old Bella wouldn't dream of it.

"I have to admit," he says, turning off the bike and setting our helmets on the seat. "Watching you drive, was...really, really sexy." He smirks.

And just like that, Old Bella doesn't live here anymore.

"Do you want to come inside for a bit?" I ask, unlocking the front door and pushing it open.

"Scandalous," he teases, starting toward me. "Of course." When he's passing in front of me, he slows, leaning in. "And just for the record. I like you too, Bella Swan."

Thank you for reading!