- Chapter Number Nine -
"He's so hot," my mother leans in, a few wines deep, "I can't believe you didn't say how hot he is."
"He's so sweet with her too," Rosalie smiles at me, "opening doors and he calls her beautiful constantly. It's like a romance novel."
"Rose said you flew here on his private plane too," Renee grabs at my wrist, "he's rich!"
"I don't like him because of that," I sigh, "he is so much more than his money."
"Bet it helps but," my mother grins, "I can't wait to watch you dance with him at the wedding. It'll be so romantic."
"You should have seen his eyes on her when we left the room tonight. Renee he is head over heels," Rosalie motions at me, "I felt like he was going to drag her back into the room."
"I wish he had," I mutter while sipping my wine.
Between my mother fishing for details and Rosalie's gushing I stop counting the sips and then the drinks. We play games I can't focus on and my mother dances with her friends to a beat I can't place.
"You okay?" Rosalie calls out.
"Perfect," there's three of her, "I think I might head back to the room."
"Let me walk you back," she stands up, unsteady herself.
"I'm okay," I shake my head.
Slipping off my seat I stand, swaying slightly. Her hand reaches out to still me, her laughter amused by me.
"You're drunk babe," she says, "let's get you back to the room."
"No," I shake my head, "I'm tipsy."
"Sure you are," she picks up our things and waves a goodbye to her own mother, Sally, who'd spent most of the night chatting with us.
I loved Rosalie's mother. She was always so kind and caring.
"Goodnight girls," Sally says, "I'll text you in the morning about lunch so we can meet Emmett before the wedding, Rose."
"Okay momma," she nods, "let's find and say goodnight to Renee."
We walk together, her arm around my back guiding me. I slip my arm around her too, enjoying the embrace of my best friend.
"You smell amazing," I hiccup.
"Thanks. It's your perfume," she admits, "I stole some."
"You're always welcome to my things," I affectionately tug her into my, hugging her as we walk.
"Thanks babe," she laughs, "you're too kind."
My mother kisses both of us good night on our cheeks.
"You kids sleep well. Tomorrow a small rehearsal, remember," she points at me, "then rehearsal dinner. Your mother mentioned lunch so I won't keep you long at all Rose. I can't wait to learn more about Edward at dinner."
"He's really hot," I nod.
My mother tilts her head, smiling at me, probably hoping more drunk thoughts will slip out.
"That's right my darling," she laughs, "I'll let you both go."
We take it slowly back to the room, our shoes off and in our hands. Giggling between steps I relish in the company of my unrelated sister. We make dirty jokes and tease one another, our love for one another growing deeper.
With a flat hand, Rose smacks the door once we get to it. The alcohol had started to take her too. The wine before we left catching up to her.
"Let us in," Rosalie's voice is louder than she probably intends.
The door swings open, Emmett's smile growing by ten sizes as he takes his girlfriend in.
"We didn't order two sexy women but I'll take it," his hand shoots out and grabs her by the waist.
His mouth peppers her neck with kisses as he pulls her back into the room. Rosalie's giggles echoing down the hall as I step in and shut the door.
"Bed," Rose commands already reaching up to untie her halter neck dress.
"I don't want to see them," I cover my eyes.
"As if you haven't already," Rosalie shouts out.
"Come on," Emmett scoops her up bridal style in his arms, "let's get you into a bed so you don't flash everybody."
When I stumble into the bedroom, Edward is casually sitting on the bed with his laptop open. Papers lie beside him, a beer half full on the bedside table.
"Hey," I say.
I hope to god I don't look like I'm swaying as much as I am in my brain.
"You look like you had fun," he looks up at me.
"They kept questioning me about you and so I decided to enjoy the wine," I move toward him and sit on the opposite edge of the bed, "what are you working on?"
"Just approving some designs," he says, "I'm pretty much done."
Looking down at the blueprints beside him I try and understand the lines and numbers.
"I'm too dumb and drunk to read that," I laugh out.
He shuts his laptop and puts it beside him on the table. Pulling off his glasses he takes me in.
"You're not dumb at all," his hands begin to collect all the papers, "I can't speak to the drunk thing."
"Im sobering up," defensive I stand, "you look comfy. I can sleep out there on the couch. I just didn't want to listen to what your brother and Rosalie were starting when we came in."
"Stay in here," his legs swing to the side of the bed and he stands.
When he comes toward me, my breath hitches slightly. God damn he's hot.
"You're a good fake boyfriend," boldly I step into him, taking his hand in mine, "I'm so happy you agreed to do this."
"It's an unconventional way of dating but I'm not complaining," he squeezes my hand.
"Is that what this is?" I tilt my head.
"Pretty much," he tugs me closer, "we had our first date at drinks and then this is like an extended second date."
"That was a date?" I ask as his hands wrap around my waist.
"In my mind it was," he nods, "I haven't dated in a long time so I guess the rules are a little foggy."
"There's no rules," I put my arms up and around his neck, "I just fail to see how you could actually like me."
"You sell yourself short," his voice is low and serious as he speaks to me, wanting me to feel the impact of each word , "you're beautiful, funny, kind and literally the girl every guy wants. The fact I didn't ask you out that Halloween night pisses me off. I just didn't want to bombard you when you were annoyed with Rosalie."
"I have been hurt before," my admission startles me.
"How?" his hand comes up and tucks a stray bit of hair falling onto my face, behind my ear.
"It's stupid," I shake my head.
"Nothing about you is stupid," he insists, "if you're willing to I'd love to hear your story."
That's when Rosalie and Emmett so graciously destroy the moment. Bed creaks and groans filter across the lounge area and to us.
"Let's go for a walk," Edward suggests, rolling his eyes.
We pull away from one another but his hand still finds mine. Leaving behind the throes of passion in our room we head to a pool downstairs. It's empty with the sound of the filter humming through the night air. It was nearing midnight. Most people were in their rooms.
He follows my lead as I take a seat at the pool edge, dipping my feet into the water. Rolling up his pants slightly he sits beside me, leaning back on his palms placed behind him. I turn back to look at him, a deep breath then I begin.
"You ever heard of Cupid's Bow?" I ask.
"Is that a bar?" He shakes his head.
"It's a dating show," I bite my lip, "I went on it after Rosalie and I signed up. I got picked and she didn't. I had to live in this house with all these girls and we had to date this one guy. He was an actor."
"Anyone I know?" He asks.
"Jacob Black," I offer.
"Must not be a good actor," his joke lightens my mood slightly.
I feel completely comfortable and safe.
"I made it to the final three. I know it's TV and it's fake but he made me believe he was going to pick me," I say, "he picked me to go back to his mansion which is a big deal. I spent the night with him and we got a little sexy. The other two girls were furious when I returned. I was certain he wanted me."
"He slept with you and then sent you home?" His face turns annoyed.
"I wish that was it," I sigh, "usually there's a rose ceremony where he sends us home. He didn't wait till then. He sent me early in front of the other girls and the entire country twenty minutes for the rose ceremony was meant to start. He wanted to rob me of dignity I guess and take me by surprise. I was devastated. My crying face became a huge sick joke and internet meme."
"What a dick," he takes my hand, "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through that."
"He under performed in bed. Honestly it was over in seconds," I shake my head, "I think he was embarrassed. When the show finished I had to go to therapy. I was struggling to deal with it all. Then he went out one night without the girl he picked, mind you, they broke up a week later. But he started telling everyone I was an awful lay and I was a virgin which is why I was so obsessed with him."
"Fuck," he huffs, "were you?"
"Yeah," I mutter, "I was 20. I really wanted to win this guy over and he said all the right things. I loved him and I thought he loved me back. He told me he did at that overnight stay. There were no cameras to prove me right though at that point."
"What an absolute idiot of a man," he takes my hand and pulls it into his lap, covering it completely with both his hands.
"Yeah," I wipe away a tear, I didn't even know I had started to cry.
The pain is still there. Not from that asshole of a man… but the embarrassment.
"Rosalie and my mother think it's time I get back on the dating horse. I've had small flings since but nothing steady," I explain.
"It would be difficult to trust," he nods.
"It's so hard," the laugh I let out isn't genuine, but more of an uncomfortable truth.
"As long as I'm your fake boyfriend I won't ever lie to you," he wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his body.
Letting myself enjoy the comfort I tip my head and rest it on him.
"Hey listen," I say, "I know you're such a busy guy and zipping all over the place. But when we're done…"
"Would I like to go on a proper date?" He finishes for me.
"Yeah," I look up at him.
"That would actually be classed as a third date," he tilts my chin up slightly with his finger, "I think I'd be thrilled with that."
"Really?" I smile.
"There's one thing lacking from this second date but. Usually I'd want to drop you home from our romantic dinner, I'd walk you to the door and then I'd slowly lean down and kiss you. But alas this date has no door to walk you too," his smile is soft, as his hand moves to cup my cheek, "what I'd give to kiss you."
"You can," I lean toward him, "you don't need a door or some second date."
"But there's no need to pretend right now," he turns his head to look around the empty pool.
Frustrated, I lean up to grab his face and pull it down to me, pressing my lips to his. At first he smiles into the kiss, amused by my impatience. But then he gains control back from me, pushing closer and closer toward me.
We mould together, a perfect unison as we kiss beneath the moonlight. Nothing had been more purely romantic in my life.
When he pulls back I want to follow. To start it all again.
"You're so beautiful. I'm sorry that you were put through something so cruel. But I know that I'm better than that boy pretending to be a man. I'm not going to say I'm a good man, because I make mistakes and I sometimes hurt the people I love," he sighs, "I hurt the last woman I was with. But I promise to be here for you through this and whatever else you need."
He hurt the last woman he was with?
"How?" I ask.
"I slept with her friend," he admits with clear shame, "I regret it immensely even now. We had been dating for three years through most of college. But my focus turned too tightly to my career and I neglected her. We went to a party and instead of being by her side her friend cornered me in a bathroom. I was drunk which is a horrible excuse and she barged in and caught us."
"Oh wow," I lean back from him slightly in shock.
"I broke someone's trust and I'd like to forgive myself for that. Possible relationships I could have had since I misplaced trust," he explains, "I didn't provide enough reassurance or make enough time. I let people down including myself. I robbed myself through it all, but this here is the most potential I've ever felt. Emmett kicked it into my ass that if I fuck this up it could be it."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I really like you," he looks into my eyes, "like a lot. You intrigue me and I think you're what my heart has been hunting for. I know telling you all this is concerning, but you were clear with me about your fears so I want you to know mine too. I want you to know I've changed and I'm committed."
"You think you're ready to be what a relationship needs?" Biting my lip I fret over his answer.
"I'm ready to be whatever you need to be more specific. I'm committed to figuring out what that is over the course of this week," he glances at me, "because the more time we spend together the more and more my fog siren goes off. The better feeling I get about you. A lot of my job is based off maths and science, but my gut also. My intuition is strong. Plus being your fake boyfriend reveals what you'd need in a real boyfriend. When we get home I can aim for that."
"What does your intuition say about me?" My heart is racing out of my chest.
I'm unsure how to digest everything he's saying. He wants me. After a short space of knowing each other he is putting all his eggs into my basket.
"That you are a valuable treasure," he looks down at me.
Thank you so much for reading
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