13

BPOV

"Not a date, date"

"This is a pretty sweet ride," Edward comments when we climb into the car. Because he chose for me to drive to make me feel safe. He also insisted on opening my door for me. He seems like a true gentleman, and I'm already sort of wishing this was an actual date.

"It's a rental. I'll be having my '53 Chevy restored, so I'm stuck with it for now."

Edward directs us to the pizzeria he found for us, and besides that, the ride is comfortably silent.

When l park and get out, he looks visibly upset that I didn't wait for him to get my door, and I apologize. "Sorry, I'm used to doing things on my own."

"S'okay." He shrugs and waits for me to enter the restaurant first.

"Men like you are practically a myth."

"Hi!" the hostess greets. "How many?"

"Two, please."

"What do you mean, men like me?" Edward asks, smoothly sliding into the booth.

"You know, chivalrous and sweet. Even to a complete stranger."

The tips of his ears darken. "Maybe my parents got something right when they were raising me," he mutters.

I order a diet Coke and mozzarella sticks, and he asks for a sweet tea and calamari.

"Was it that bad?" I ask and elaborate. "Your childhood?"

Edward takes a long sip of his drink and shakes his head. "It really wasn't. My parents were wealthy. Dad was a businessman, and Mom was a stay-at-home mom. My little sister Alice and I never wanted for anything, but we did miss out on the important things like affection and attention." He sighs. "Poor little rich boy problems, right?"

"No. I understand. My mom was a single parent and elementary school teacher who waited tables on the weekend to make sure I had everything I needed. She met Charlie when I was four, and they were married before I was five."

We stop to share our appetizers and agree to share a large everything but the kitchen sink pizza. Edward tells me about his parents losing all of their money and how they turned into leeches when he got his inheritance.

"Did you not get along with your stepdad? You mentioned wanting to stick it to them back at the ceremony."

"No. We all got along. Charlie had a son from a previous marriage, and even though Jake was older, we all got along well, a perfectly blended family. Until Mom got sick; things went downhill once she passed. Charlie used the insurance money to open Swan and Son's Hardware."

Edward's brows shoot up. "What about you?"

"I, uh … was forgotten? I don't know how to explain how things changed. I just woke up a couple days after the funeral, and Jake was insisting that I stop calling Charlie Dad. Charlie just shrugged it off, and they focused on the store while I learned to fend for myself."

"Wow."

I clear my throat. "I'm sorry for unloading on you like that."

Edward reaches out and grabs my hand, that familiar tingling shooting up my arm, making me feel comfortable. "Hey, I asked."

While we munch on delicious and messy pizza, I fill Edward in on the last thirteen years. Slaving away at Swan and Son's, Jake's takeover, and my escape. How I got my first apartment at eighteen—the place I still live in.

"Did you ever think about getting away from the hardware store?"

"Yeah, but the dinky town of Forks doesn't have many employment options. It was safe, even if I was miserable." I shake my head. "Enough about me. Tell me what you do or did before the big win?"

Edward tells me about his business and how he plans on still running it after he takes some time off.

The server drops by with the check, and we argue over who is going to pay.

"I asked you out."

"You said this wasn't a date," I defend with a laugh.

Edward smirks. "I changed my mind."

"Then I'm paying." I snatch the check out of his grasp.

"Fine, but I'm paying on our next date."

I freeze, wallet in hand. "Next, as in, we're doing this again?"

"Well, yeah. I had fun, and I'd like to see you again."