Happy Wednesday! I hope you all are having a great week! This is another filler chapter, kind of, there's a bit of important information in here. Like I said, I'm trying to show the development of their relationship, instead of just jumping into it. The next chapter is SUPER long! Anyways, please enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Bella, a big package came," Riley said as he walked into the kitchen with a very large box.

I wiped my hands off on the rag. My hands had been covered in chocolate from this month's special. This month's special was a mini Yule Log, for December. They were kind of tricky to make, but they were selling quick.

"Ooo, it's the outfits for Alice's wedding," I said.

Alice's wedding was this Saturday. I had been prepping everything for their special day. I had a refrigerated van ready; the materials have been delivered and were waiting to be prepped, and the cake was nearly done. Everything was going smoothly, and I weirdly didn't feel any stress.

I opened the box and pulled out the items, "Here's your shirt Riley."

Alice had coordinated all of the caterers to wear Christmas red button up shirts and black pants or skirts. I had a nice black skirt ready and a cute pair of very comfortable little heels.

"How does it look?" Riley asked when he had the shirt on.

I walked over to him and helped him with his collar, "Leave it here, and I'll iron it out for you."

"What? You don't like the wrinkles?" He smirked.

I laughed, shaking my head. I had become pretty close with Riley since he started working here. He was pretty cool. And he was helping me with school.

I had gotten accepted into Columbia and was set to start the spring semester. He had helped me with the application and everything. He was going to help me with the financial aid, but luckily, that creep was paying for my school.

While Riley was taking his shirt off, the kitchen door opened. Edward walked in, pausing slightly as he saw a half-naked Riley.

In the past few months of dating Edward, I'd learned that he had a tendency to get jealous. Not scary jealous, but he definitely didn't like when other men flirted with me. But he met Riley, and he actually liked him.

"Hey," Edward said slowly, eyeing both Riley and me.

"Hey," I quickly walked up to Edward and gave him a kiss. That eased the tension in his shoulders, "How are you?"

"I'm good," He said, "I was just bringing your lunch by."

I smiled widely, clapping my hands and then rifled through the bag looking for my burger. I quickly unwrapped it and took a big bite, sighing happily.

"Oh my god, I've missed these." I said through a mouthful of food.

Edward laughed, "We just went there two nights ago."

"But it's soooo good." I said, taking another bite.

He reached into the bag and pulled out a fry, "Well, anytime."

Edward handed Riley his food bag. He had grabbed lunch for Riley too, which was sweet.

"What do I owe ya?" Riley asked.

Edward put his hand up, "Don't worry about it."

"I think I'm stress eating," I said after I took a long swig of my milkshake.

"What are you stressed about?" Edward asked.

"Not exactly stressed I guess," I said, "Everything for Alice's wedding is going smoothly. I don't feel stressed about it, but maybe I really am."

Edward laughed, "Don't worry about it. I have nothing but faith in you."

I smiled, "Thanks."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Edward said, "The caterer has two extra hands that he doesn't need. Before he lets them go, do you want the extra help?"

"Sure," I said, "I'd love the extra help."

"Perfect, I'll text Alice." He pulled out his phone.

"We just got the shirts for the wedding," I told him, "They look good. I have to iron them."

"Sounds good," He said, "I will admit that I'm a little bummed."

I gave him a look, knowing exactly what he was talking about, "It's okay Edward. Alice hired me as a caterer, I have to work."

"You could come as a guest," He said, "Afterwards. You could show Riley and Maggie what to do, then come as my date."

I shook my head, "No sir. I made a commitment and I don't break my commitments."

He sighed dramatically, "Okay. Well, I have to get back to work. I'll see you tonight."

He leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the lips. I smiled and gave him a quick squeeze.

Things with Edward had been going so wonderfully. I've been so deliriously happy since we've started dating. He was absolutely perfect. And I was finally ready to take things to the next level.

I was planning on taking the next step after Alice's wedding. He was really bummed that I wasn't going as his date. He had been wanting me to spend the night, but I'd been resistant. I figured that when Alice's wedding was coming to an end, I would tell him that I wanted to spend the night.

I had even bought a pair of sexy underwear and pajamas for that night. I had a plan in place. I was going over to his house tonight for dinner, and I was bringing a bag and hiding it somewhere in his place.

Edward had been so great these last two months. He hasn't pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Like he said, I held all the power in the relationship. We'd go as fast or as slow as I wanted. Of course our making out had progressed, we weren't getting naked or anything, but it was a little more intense now.

Sometime later, while I was decorating a specialty cake, Maggie popped her head in.

"Bella, Mrs. Cullen is here to see you. Do you mind if she comes back?"

"Yeah sure."

I expected it to be Edward's mother, coming to preorder Christmas desserts. I was surprised when it was Rosalie who walked through the door.

"Oh, hey," I said, wiping my hands off and standing up straight.

"Hi," she smiled, "Mind if I sit?"

"Of course, please take a seat. Can I get you anything?" I asked.

"No, I'm okay," She said, "I just wanted to come by and thank you in person. For helping me and for the desserts you sent. Emmett and I really appreciated it."

"No problem, Rosalie," I said, "I'm just so sorry for what happened. I wish I could've done more."

She softly smiled, "It's fine. There was nothing that could be done."

"How are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm making it," She said, "I'm holding in there, mainly for Alice's wedding."

"It'll be fun," I said.

Her smile widened, "I won't take anymore of your time. I was just heading to the doctor's office."

"Here, take a box of the donuts," I grabbed a box and filled it a verity of donuts.

She took the box, "Thank you so much. You're very kind."

I smiled at her, "You're welcome."

"You're good for Edward," She said as she stood, "I've never seen him more enamored with someone. You've calmed him down, and I actually like being around him now."

I chuckled, "He was wild before he met me?"

She nodded, "Oh yes. Ninety-five percent of the time, I wanted to strangle him. He was always getting into trouble or getting Emmett into trouble."

"Well, I'm glad he's not as wild. I don't think I would like wild Edward."

I walked her out to the front of the store.

"It was good seeing you Bella," she said, "I'll see you Saturday."

At the end of the day, I drove my truck to Edward's house. My poor truck wheezed the entire time. I knew I'd need a new car. I had about five thousand saved up now. I was saving up to by a used car. I hadn't told Edward, in fear that he'd just buy me a new car, and I definitely didn't want that.

I had a garage clicker to Edward's house. He had given me one when I came here and had to wait for him for like thirty minutes. He also gave me the codes to his house in case I ever wanted to just drop by. But I wasn't bold enough to do that yet.

He was waiting in the kitchen in a pair of lounge pants and no shirt. I stopped and looked him up and down.

"Well, hello." I said as I sat the pie down on the counter, "Didn't feel like getting dressed?"

"Ha-ha," He said, "I just got done working out. I was grabbing a snack."

I pinched my nose, "Go shower."

"What? Do I stink?" He smirked and walked around the counter. I side stepped him, avoiding his arms.

"Yes you do!" I squealed, "Go shower! I'll get dinner started!"

He laughed and walked out of the kitchen. I started unpacking the items and got started on dinner. I was making lasagna tonight. I hadn't planned on cooking, but I had lost a bet a few days ago, and the deal was one of us had to make dinner for the other.

While he was upstairs bathing, I snuck my bag in and placed it into a cabinet that was empty. About twenty minutes later, he walked back into the kitchen, his hair still wet.

"Looks good," Edward said, "I'm starved."

"Mm hmm," I said, sucking in one of my cheeks.

"Are you still mad you lost the bet?" He laughed.

I rolled my eyes, "You won because of cheating."

"I did not cheat," He snorted, "You're just a very sore loser."

"I'm not a sore loser. You're a cheater," I flicked some sauce at him.

He looked down at the sauce spot on his shirt, "How… dare… you."

"Aw, you got a little sauce on your shirt." I teased.

He nodded and stood, walking to the fridge. I knew he was up to something, but I had to take the boiling noodles out of the pot.

While my attention was on the food, he had grabbed a handful of ice and put it down my shirt.

I squealed, jumping in surprise. I reached into my shirt and shook the ice out.

"You jerk!" I smacked his chest, "Ugh, that was cold."

He laughed, "Aw it's just a little ice."

I laughed, shaking my head, "Be careful, I will spit in your food."

"Mm, you think that'll deter me?" He said, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Do you want your victory dinner? Or do you want to keep distracting me?"

"I would love to keep distracting you, but I am starved."

"Well, it's almost done," I said as I placed the noodles in the pan.

He sat at the counter and watched me.

"You know," He said, "I could get used to you cooking for me."

I gave him a look, "I already bake for you. I'm not cooking for you either. I am not Betty Crocker."

He chuckled, "I'd never expect you too. But it's nice to have some company in the house. It's so empty sometimes."

I nodded, "I get lonely too, sometimes."

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

I knew what he was referring too. The anniversary of my parent's death was coming up, and I had told him that it was starting to get to me.

"I'm okay," I said, "I'm not sure how I'll feel next month. I'm scared I'll go into my weird, depression again. And I definitely can't afford that."

"Your depression was not weird; it was one hundred percent justified." He said, "And you know that I'll be right beside you, making sure you don't slip into a depression again. I'll definitely kick your butt back into gear."

I chuckled, "I'm glad I have you then."

He walked around the counter and grabbed me in a tight hug. I sighed contently in his arms; I loved it when he hugged me.

"I think the lasagna is done. Are you ready to eat?"

He nodded and stepped away, letting me pull the dish out and the garlic bread. We made our plates and sat down at his table.

"So, Bella, there's something I have to tell you." Edward said after a few bites.

For some reason, my gut clenched tightly, "What's up?"

"Um," He wiped his mouth and avoided looking directly at me. My stomach started doing flips.

"Is everything okay?" I asked when he didn't say anything.

"I just… I don't want you to get mad."

"Did you do something?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

"No, no," He said, his eyes wide with panic, "Of course not. I just… about the wedding. Um, Tanya is going to be there.

"Oh," I said, with a nod, "I mean, I figured she'd be there. She was at the engagement party."

"Yeah, our families have been friends for years. And I just don't want you to feel awkward or anything," He said, "I didn't mention it last time because I honestly didn't think you'd notice her. But I wanted to go ahead and just warn you this time."

I shrugged, "It's okay, Edward. I don't mind, really I don't. I'm not the jealous type."

"Yeah, I know that" He said, "But, I told you that Tanya is. And I haven't told you, but she's been texting me. A lot."

"Why didn't you tell me that?" I asked, now feeling annoyed.

"I don't know," He said, "I was just scared that you'd be mad. I haven't been texting her, I swear. I'll give you my phone and you can look through it."

I sighed, "It's okay Edward. I don't want to look through your phone. I trust you. But I just don't want you to feel scared about telling me things."

"It's hard for me to tell you about things," He said quickly, "You know, I'm used to the women I date jumping down my shit for dumb stuff. And Tanya was the worst. I couldn't breathe without her getting mad at me."

I frowned, "Well, I'm not like that."

He nodded, "I know. I can't help it. But I don't want you to feel awkward Saturday. I don't think Tanya would say anything to you, but I know she'll want me to dance with her and talk with her."

"Edward, you can dance with whoever. I don't care. I know you would never do anything to hurt me."

He smiled, "Good. I don't want you to get upset or anything."

"You don't have to worry. I'm not going to get mad or anything. Saturday is going to be fun. Nothing but happiness on Alice's day."

He laughed, "Don't worry, I've had it drilled into my head. I know better than to ruin Alice's day. She'd kill me."

I smiled at him, "Thanks for telling me."

Alright, I edited the chapter so hopefully there aren't any mistakes! I hope you all enjoy! Check again on Sunday for another update!