15

BPOV

"The Secret is Out"

The drive back to Forks passes by quickly, partially because my head is in the clouds. The not a date, date went well, and there was obvious chemistry between Edward and me, but he just knocked on the top of my car and walked away. Why didn't he try to kiss me? I really wanted him to. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. I would have gladly taken a peck on the cheek, but I got nothing.

I stop by and pick up Wanda from Jess, who's getting ready for a date. She's quick to shove me out the door, promising that Wanda was an absolute angel and that she'll watch her for me anytime.

As soon as we get home, Wanda finds her favorite spot in the middle of the bed, and I change out of my formal clothes into some comfy sweats.

My phone is practically burning a hole in my pocket. It's obvious that I might have to start things with Edward. After all, I could have taken the bull by the horns and kissed him. It is the twenty-first century and women hold power, after all.

Hey, it's Bella :) I made it home. I just wanted to let you know I had a great time today. Thank you.

I was just about to text you and check in. Can I see you this week?

Holding my phone against my chest, I sigh before answering.

I'd love to see you again. I'm pleasantly free all week.

Can I call you? Not tonight, but this week?

Another dreamy sigh.

Yes :)

Have a good night, Bella

You too.

I busy myself by tidying up the apartment and puppy proofing. When I'm finished, I sit down to pay some bills. I gasp out loud when my bank account loads. The number staring back at me is unbelievable. I mean, I only just saw it painted out on the giant check I held for the cameras. Seeing it sitting in my bank account is a whole other experience.

I sign out and sign back in just to be sure, but the number stays the same.

I pay my bills, and it's pocket change compared to the amount of money I have now. Just last month, I was working and living paycheck to paycheck, saving as much as I could, and now I have enough money to last me a lifetime. And every year, my account is just going to grow. I scroll through my recent transactions and notice that my last check from the hardware store was never deposited.

"Hmm. That's weird."

It's not a big deal; I'm not going to suffer without it, but it's just the principle. Jake is just trying to make me pay for quitting on him. Looks like I'll be making a visit to Swan and Son's tomorrow.

As soon as I crawl into bed, Wanda wastes no time cuddling against my back. My dreams are filled with the good things I can do now. I know I want to donate to the shelter as a thank you for everything they did for me growing up and for Wanda. I want to do something nice for Jess and something nice for myself. I'm going to get the hell out of Forks. My dreams are also filled with green eyes and crooked smiles. In my dreams, I get my goodbye kiss before we part ways.

My phone ringing brings me out of deep sleep.

"Bella Swan." Jess hisses. "I can't believe you picked up your dog and forgot to mention you won the freaking lottery!"

"You were busy getting ready for your date and all but tossed me out. By the way, how did it go?"

"How did it go? How did it go? We were in the middle of dinner at a sports bar, and all of a sudden, one of my best friends and this handsome guy are on the big screen holding a giant check."

"He took you to a sports bar for your first date?"

"Bella!"

"Wait, you said handsome man. You mean you saw his face?"

"Duh, tall, ginger hair, and pretty green eyes. A smile directed toward you."

My heart falls into my stomach. "Jess, I gotta call you back." I scramble for my iPad.

"But—"

"I'll call you back. I swear." I hang up and google the local news, and sure enough, Edward's smiling face is shining right next to mine. My eyes are directed toward the cameras, but he's looking at me.

"Oh, shit."

Edward picks up on the first ring, and he sounds exhausted. "Bella."

"I take it you've seen the news?"

"Yeah, I guess one of the news stations didn't get the memo. I've been outed."

"Are you okay?"

"I honestly don't know. Can we speed things up? Can I see you?"

My stomach fills with butterflies. "When?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'm free."

"Okay, great. I'll call you tonight, and we'll talk strategy."

"Okay, bye, Edward."

"Bye, Bella."

Knowing I can't leave Wanda alone, I get dressed and load her into the car. We hit a drive-thru, and she experiences her first pup cup, which she enjoys immensely, and we head across town to Swan and Son's. The parking lot is relatively empty, but Jake's ridiculous sports car is out front. I leash Wanda, we walk in, and Seth perks up.

"Eh, Bella! I saw you on the news last night."

"That's nice. Where's Jake?"

"Aisle three. He's organizing the screws and nails."

I snort because oh how the mighty have fallen and pull Wanda along.

It's comical finding Jake actually working. He looks up and smiles. It's creepy. "Bella!"

"Hey. I'm here for my last check."

His face falls back into the usual grimace. "Really?"

"Yeah, you didn't deposit it, so I'm here to pick it up."

He stands and dusts off his pants. "When were you planning to tell us you won the lottery?"

"Honestly? Never. Neither you nor Charlie have given a damn about me since my mother died. I don't owe you shit, but you owe me my last check."

"Why? It's not like you need it."

"Not the point. I've been killing myself since I was fifteen. You owe me for the eight days I worked before you fired me."

We argue loudly until I threaten to call the state labor board on him.

Wanda and I follow him to his office, and it looks like a bomb went off. There are papers and coffee cups everywhere.

He makes a big show of writing my check and tosses it on the desk before storming out the door.

"Get out of my store and don't come back."

I drop by the bank and cash my check via the drive-thru. I ask for cash and treat Wanda to another pup cup. The cashier gushes over how adorable her new best customer is, and I discreetly drop the nine-hundred and twenty-seven dollars in the tip jar.