Edward barely closed the passenger door behind Bella, when the sound of claws on the pavement was heard. Bella grinned as she crouched down to catch Harley. The dog's front paws collided with Bella's shoulders, effectively making her lose balance and fall on her back. Then, he proceeded to lick her face, his tail wagging happily. Bella ruffled his fur, making chunks of fluff fly everywhere.
Edward watched the scene smiling. When he noticed Bella struggling to get up, he caught Harley's collar, pulling him away. He whined, turning as if to bite.
"No," Edward snapped, tightening his grip. Bella watched curiously as Harley obeyed, sitting down and watching Edward expectantly. He patted Harley's head. "Good boy."
"You definitely have to teach me how you do it," she complained.
"It's all in the tone of your voice."
"He's too much of a brat to listen to me."
Edward chuckled. "Pot meet kettle."
"Shut up." Bella giggled, playfully slapping his arm.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the front door. Harley followed them quietly.
Jasper greeted them at the door, watching them curiously. Edward was aware of how odd his behavior looked to his friend, but all the changes he'd made in his life didn't seem like too much.
"Hi," Edward said in greeting.
"Hey! Thank you so much for putting up with my drama queen," Bella said with a smile.
"It was no trouble." Jasper dismissed her with a hand. "Harley was actually well-behaved. Though, when he realized you weren't coming to get him after several hours, he sat at the window over there and howled. That's when chaos broke."
Edward laughed loudly. "Did Rocks and Princess howl, too?"
"No. They started barking at him, probably telling him to stop crying for his mommy."
Bella pouted, crouching again to hug Harley. She stroked a finger between his eyes, making him whine in pleasure.
"See? That's why he had a hard time to be away from you," Jasper pointed out. "You kiss his ass too much."
Edward silently agreed with his friend, but he didn't like how affected Bella was over learning how distressed her dog had been away from her. "Don't worry. You won't have to play nanny for him again."
"I'm not leaving him alone in the studio when I come over!" Bella hissed.
"That's not what I meant. I'm afraid your neighbors might call the animal protection services if he starts howling. I also fear for your shoes," he teased.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Then, what?"
"There was a reason why I asked how trained he was. We'll bring him over when you stay the night again."
"At your place?" Her eyes widened. "He'll leave fur all over."
"There's this great invention called a vacuum cleaner," Edward deadpanned.
"If you're sure…" She stood up, watching him uncertainly.
"Yes."
Alice joined them, and almost immediately stole Bella. She barely looked in Edward's direction.
Jasper frowned after them, pressing his lips together. "She's upset," he explained.
"I figured as much. What about you?"
They hadn't talked about what Edward had tried to do in his guest bedroom. Actually, they hadn't talked at all. Jasper had helped Edward up silently from where he'd been kneeling over Angela's grave, before taking him home in silence.
Edward wanted not to think about that. He'd pushed away the pain for too long. His conversation with Bella from earlier had been eye-opening in many ways.
Jasper led him to the couch, offering him a drink. Edward accepted the whiskey glass, but didn't attempt to drink from it.
"How are you?" Jasper asked carefully.
It was probably a casual question, but for Edward, it felt like the trigger he needed to admit he needed help.
"I'm a mess, Jasper." He stared into the amber liquid in his glass. Slowly, he lifted his head to meet Jasper's wary gaze. "Tell me when you can schedule me in."
Jasper's surprise was clear on his face. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm not going to burden Bella with my misery." He took a sip from the glass. "She offered to be there if I ever needed to talk about what happened."
"Christ. What happened?" Jasper leaned forward, his eyes curious.
Edward shook his head. "Not now."
"Tomorrow. Come by, after work," he suggested.
"At the clinic?"
"If you're not comfortable with that, we can always do it here, in my study."
"The clinic is better," Edward decided. "Thank you."
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you admit that you need help. I've been waiting for this moment for months."
Edward shrugged. "I thought I could deal with this. I can't."
"Did something happen? Did you and Bella try a scene?"
"It wasn't that. Stop trying to pick through my brain. Leave it for tomorrow." Edward was dreading the session awaiting him.
They switched to talking about the wedding, and Edward was grateful for the change of subject.
When Jasper smiled at something over Edward's shoulder, he turned to see Alice and Bella approaching them. Bella had accepted Alice so easily, and of course, Alice had been right – they had become best friends.
Alice threw herself over Jasper's lap, kissing his cheek.
Bella hovered by Edward's side, looking unsure if to sit beside him or mirror Alice's stance. Edward solved her mystery by wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her on his lap.
"Hey, you." He kissed her lips softly.
"Hey." Bella combed her fingers through his hair, grinning. "Alice has to tell you something."
"Bella," Alice groaned, but she reluctantly met Edward's eyes. "I'm sorry for the other day."
"No, Alice. I'm sorry. I forgot my place," Edward admitted. "It wasn't my business."
"I told you that he was looking out for you, baby. Edward knew how I felt about babies," Jasper explained quietly. "But I'm glad you decided to forgive him."
Alice huffed. "Let's just say that Bella is far more cunning than she looks."
Bella laughed loudly. She pressed her lips to Edward's ear. "I bribed her with a shopping trip if she apologized."
"You're evil," Edward joked.
She nuzzled his ear, sighing contently. Edward kept his arms loosely wrapped around her, turning to face his friends. Alice was smiling widely, while Jasper had the same puzzled expression he'd worn when they'd arrived. Edward was aware of how different he was acting around Bella, but it felt natural.
"So…we've been thinking of getting married before I start showing," Alice said. "It would be a disaster not to look good in my wedding dress."
"You speak as if you've already bought it," Bella said, confused.
Alice rolled her eyes. "It was the first thing I did when Jasper asked me."
Edward snorted out. "That sounds like a very Alice thing."
"It's a good thing, too. I bet you couldn't have worn it in winter – not without freezing to death," Jasper joked. "You should see it." He looked at Edward, shuddering.
"Stop it, Jazzy! You shouldn't have seen the dress at all!"
"If you planned on allowing that guy helping you zip it up, you're sadly mistaken, darlin'."
"Can I see it?" Bella asked.
Alice squealed, springing out of Jasper's arms. She pulled Bella after her, talking about Bella's bridesmaid dress. Clearly, Bella had no idea what she'd walked in with asking to see the gown.
"If you planned on going back home soon, that ship has sailed." Jasper stretched out his feet under the coffee table.
"I thought Alice invited us over for dinner."
"Oh, right. Help me with the grill?"
"You haven't even started it?" Edward should have known it.
They went outside through the back door. While they worked on grilling their dinner, they watched the dogs running around. It looked like Harley loved being free from the confines of the small studio he shared with Bella.
It was dusk when Bella and Alice emerged from the house. Jasper and Edward had set the food on the table on the patio. As they sat down to eat, the talk centered around Alice and Jasper's wedding.
"I tried to convince her, we can skip the reception and just have a small gathering, but no. Alice wants the whole thing now." Jasper shook his head, smiling warmly at his fiancée.
"Because we won't find the time…after," she insisted. "And I want it in our backyard."
"Is that a good idea?" Bella asked. "Imagine the mess left behind."
Edward knew why their backyard was a better option than any other venue. They were going to invite other members of the BDSM community, and it would be hard to explain some things to narrow-minded people.
"We'll hire a cleaning service." Alice dismissed it.
While Alice kept yapping about names and a possible theme, Edward stared at Bella. It would be far too soon to introduce her to the community, but there was no other choice. Edward understood why Jasper kept hinting at a small gathering – it was for Bella's benefit. Maybe, if they could make Alice see reason, she'd be amiable to wait one year.
"Alice," Edward cut into her never-ending babbling. "I doubt it's possible to get everyone you have in mind to accept a wedding invitation on such a short notice."
"Okay, so maybe, not everyone will come, but some of them will. I see why a smaller wedding sounds like a better idea. It's not like I'm thinking of hundreds of people here, anyway. Fifty, at the most."
"I know, baby." Jasper covered her hand on the table. He glanced Edward's way, before focusing on Alice. "I'll bet you want Peter and Charlotte there. They're still travelling across the States. We're not sure when they'll return."
Alice pouted, her lower lip jutting out. "Can't you get in contact with Mr. Peter?"
"I'm not going to end their vacation, just because your new life ambition is to get married within the month." His voice was low and cold.
Bella flinched, her eyes wide on their interaction. Edward was aware that witnessing part of the lifestyle would help her understand the bigger picture.
"When are they due back?" Alice asked in small, reserved voice.
Edward expected Jasper to demand Alice to address him more respectfully during an argument, but it was clear this was just an argument between Jasper and Alice, not between Master Jasper and Pet Alice.
"The beginning of September, the latest."
"I can work with that." Alice rested a hand on her tummy, mouthing to herself. "I shouldn't be showing much then."
Jasper rolled his eyes, meeting Edward's eyes. "And that's how I lose all my arguments with her," he muttered.
"Awww, don't be a sore loser." Alice leaned over to hug Jasper, kissing his cheek.
Bella giggled, shyly glancing at Edward. He shook his head, shrugging.
When they got ready to leave for the evening, Alice reminded Bella about the shopping trip she'd promised to go on. While they made plans to meet the following week, Jasper helped Edward spread a blanket over his backseat so Harley wouldn't leave too much fur on his leather seats.
"I hope you're taking us home," Bella said, as they pulled away from Jasper's house.
"Is that what you want?" Edward frowned. He wasn't ready to say goodbye to her.
"Don't you have work tomorrow?"
"How is that relevant?"
"Well, I have to be at the bar at around two o'clock and see what I missed in my time away. If you leave early in the morning, I'll be stranded at your place."
They had meant to take Bella's Nova to Jasper's, but it turned out she was somehow out of gas, which had them ride in Edward's Volvo.
Edward fought against a smile. "I have several spare cars."
Bella huffed, folding her arms across her chest, glaring out the window. Such little things proved that Bella was an independent woman, who apparently didn't need anyone's help.
"I can't persuade you to stay overnight? I'll drive you home on my way to work," he offered.
"I'd rather get back to my sleeping schedule. I messed it up in the past few days. Tomorrow night will be a killer," she groaned.
There was no room around to argue with her, not unless he constricted her somehow. That was the farthest thought on his mind.
He parked in front of her apartment building. Bella didn't make a move to get out of the car.
"Wanna come upstairs?" she asked, her cheeks reddening.
Edward barked a loud laugh. "So, that's how it is."
A small smile appeared on her lips. "You have a ride home when you want to go." She gestured to the car.
"Fair enough."
Some of you might not agree with Jasper helping Edward, but Edward wouldn't have opened up to anyone else. It will be difficult for Jasper, being his best friend and therapist, but it's for the best.
See you all next chapter!