16

BPOV

"A Fresh Start"

Edward is understanding when I tell him about Wanda and why I can't leave her alone. He just says he'll adjust his plans for our second not a date date. "You'll know when it's a real date, Bella."

Later, he texts me, inviting us to a town called Bremerton. He tells me to dress comfortably and to wear sturdy walking shoes.

I do some research on the city to try to get an idea, but besides it being a small Navy city, there are a bunch of trails and a few dog-friendly places.

Edward doesn't strike me as a hiker, but then again, I don't really know much about him. He could be a psychopath who plans on taking me out in the middle of nowhere to hack me up into a million pieces and bury those pieces in various areas.

I make a mental note to text Jess the details, just in case.

Bremerton is an almost three-hour drive from Forks, but the chance to get to know Edward is worth it. Luckily, Wanda loves riding in the car with the windows down.

I find an appropriate outfit of yoga pants and a cute top that will go with my favorite hoodie. Adding a pair of worn-out Chucks, I load Wanda into the car and head out at nine in the morning.

Wanda enjoys the drive, and I can't help but think that's a good thing because if things continue going well, we'll be making the drive often.

The city is beautiful and quiet, and GPS takes us to a small neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle. There are a bunch of nice houses with freshly mowed yards on the cul-de-sac, and I pull into a driveway, finding a smiling Edward sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He jumps down and rushes to my car, opening the door for me.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" he greets, pulling me in for a hug and sighing. "It's nice to see a friendly face."

"Is it that bad?" I ask as I let Wanda out. She soaks up the attention Edward gives her while he tells me how the news station's screw-up has affected him. How his parents are already hounding him, and how he drowned his cellphone in a cup of coffee this morning.

"Are you afraid they'll show up here?"

"Oh, no. I live in Seattle at the moment. This is my fresh start. I move in soon, and I don't plan on looking back."

"That sounds perfect."

Edward retrieves the key to the house from a lockbox and opens the door. "Welcome to my new home."

The house is absolutely breathtaking, aside from the flooring, and Edward leads me straight through to the kitchen, opening the back door. "The yard is fenced in. Do you think Wanda would be okay out here while I give you the tour?"

"She's been in the car for three hours. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Wanda runs straight out and starts a tour of her own, so I figure she'll be distracted while I check things out. I'll still keep an ear out for her so she doesn't destroy Edward's new door.

Edward takes my hand and leads me upstairs to start the tour. I try to ignore the tingling sensation and focus on his words. The master bedroom has big windows and an en-suite with a jacuzzi, something I've always wanted to try. He has to physically pull me away.

"It's a big house, but I plan on turning this room into my office," he explains when we enter a second, smaller room. "When I return to work, it'll be nice to have a spot to keep everything organized and out of the way."

"What about the other three bedrooms?"

Edward's face flushes. "I've always wanted a man cave, but I've been doing my research on a home theater. Nerdy right?"

I shake my head. "That sounds awesome."

He smiles. "The two extra rooms will be guest bedrooms." He leads me back downstairs, and we join Wanda in the back yard. It's big and has a lot of potential. It could definitely use some TLC. We sit on the steps of the deck and watch her chase butterflies.

"So, what do you think?" Edward asks, bumping shoulders with me.

"It's beautiful, and your plans sound wonderful. I've never been to Bremerton, but it's the perfect quiet place to settle down, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Away from everyone."

"Right? I found this place right after we won, and something compelled me to drive through the area." He smiles. "As soon as I saw the house, I knew I wanted it. I could get you in touch with my realtor if you feel the same way. Bremerton is far away from Forks, you know?"

I lean back on my elbows and soak up the sun. "Is this why you had me come out here? To talk me into moving?"

"No. I asked you to come out so you can help me look at flooring to replace the laminate. I would appreciate the input of a professional."

I laugh. "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but it is an eyesore. I'd love to help you out."

"Good." Edward stands. "To pay you for your troubles, I thought I could take you and Wanda out to lunch before we hit up the hardware stores."

Horse and Cow Pub and Grill is the perfect place for lunch. We sit outside, and they bring water and treats out for Wanda before we even order our drinks. I'm not much of a drinker, and I have a long drive back to Forks ahead of me, but Edward orders a fancy IPA and a few appetizers for us to share, and we pore over the menu for entrees. Edward chooses a massive burger, and I go for a club sandwich. Our food is excellent, and Edward tells me that he'll definitely be a returning customer.

Our next stop is Home Depot, and I explain the different types of flooring to Edward. He eventually decides to go with tile flooring for the kitchen and bathrooms and hardwood for the rest of the house instead of carpeting. He has connections with installers, thanks to his work, so things shouldn't take long.

We take samples back to the house to make sure the patterns he chose will go together.

As we're pulling onto the street, we see Lauren, the woman who originally showed him his house, putting up a for sale sign in the yard of the house across from his.

Edward convinces me to take a look, and I fall in love with the three bedrooms, three baths, two-story with a massive back yard and inground pool.

"Do you really want to be neighbors?" I ask Edward when we're alone.

"I think it's a wonderful idea. That way, we can get to know each other better, and it'll be nice to have a friend close by."

"Are you sure you won't get sick of me?"

"Doubtful, Bella. I'd like to have a friend close by in case I need a cup of sugar or something." He winks.

I warn him that I'm not much of a cook. Baking is my expertise, and he tells me it's a perfect trade off, seeing as he's a master in the kitchen.

I bite my lip, still apprehensive because this is a big deal. "Are you sure?"

"I've always followed my gut. Something is telling me to convince you to move here, and I always trust my intuitions."

I blow out a breath. "Okay."

His smile is huge when I call Lauren into the room and make a cash offer. She's not surprised, having recognized me from the press conference, and assures me that the seller is going to be ecstatic with the offer.

Looks like I'll be getting my own fresh start.