Good Morning, Darlings!

All mistakes in this are my own!


Eight: Bella

June 23, 2022

Los Angeles California

"Oh-kay!" Alice sings. "Say goodnight!"

I shoot her a pout but turn to Edward. I'm a little buzzed; just enough to want him again despite how many times I'd already managed to talk him sex today.

Our parents have left for the night, all retreating to their hotel rooms while the six of us stayed up drinking in the hotel bar.

"One more time?" I ask, crashing into Edward's chest. He laughs, wrapping his arms around me.

"One more time and you won't be able to walk down the aisle tomorrow," he teases. I giggle so hard, it turns into a snort. He's right but who the fuck cares.

"That's okay, after tomorrow I'll be your full time problem, so I'll make you carry me."

Edward laughs, leaning down to kiss me. "I already carry you," he says, cradling my face between his palms. I start to lift my arms, urging him to pick me up now, but Rose's hand wraps around my elbow.

"Come on. Twelve hours away from his dick isn't going to kill you."

She tugs me out of his arms and I stumble a little bit into her. "Shows what you know," I sniff. Alice makes an exasperated sound next to me.

"I can't believe you two are still at it like this," Rose says, shaking her head. "Don't think we didn't know you two snuck off to fuck earlier." She pinches the inside of my arm. "You both came back looking so rumpled."

Alice snickers. "It's a good thing you guys actually forgot the little shot glasses in the car," she agrees. "It was the only thing to distract mom."

I roll my eyes. "Who cares who knew we fucked," I mutter. "He's hot."

Rose snorts. "Your dad looked like he was going to have a heart attack at the table," she points out. I smirk.

"Look, he's seen way worse."

The girls stop tugging on me, looking at me in surprise. "What?" Alice asks, her eyes wide.

We all come to a stop. "Did I not tell you guys about that?"

The girls look stunned into silence and I grin, glancing back at Edward. He'd die if he knew I was going to tell them this story, but at this point, he probably assumes they already know.

He's looking at me with that look in his eyes that just fucking melts me. My heart swells so hard, it actually hurts. That's how much I love him.

"Okay, let me say goodnight," I tell the girls. I get a squeeze on the elbow from Rose, a warning to behave, but then she lets me go. I run back to Edward and he wraps me in his arms. It's my absolute favorite place to be, and it occurs to me that I'm about to sleep without him. It'll be the first time since I first burst through his door demanding sex while he was in quarantine.

Unexpectedly, tears well in my eyes and Edward's large hands sweep over my back. How does he always just know?

"Have a good night with the girls," he says gently, pressing a kiss to my hair. "Go wild, because after tomorrow, I'm never letting you go again."

My heart squeezes, and my hands fist his shirt. I don't know how to say all that I'm feeling, but luckily, Edward knows me so well that it doesn't matter. "I won't sleep without you there, trying to kill me," he whispers in my ear. It's enough to bring out a giggle in me. I haven't tried to kill him in months. I look up at him, my chin resting on his chest. He's a little flushed which tells me he's a little buzzed too, but his eyes are bright, full of love. It nearly takes my breath away.

"I'll see you soon," he whispers. I sigh, but lean up to kiss him. It's a sweet, tender kiss that quells the anxiousness in me. It's just us. It's always just us, and us, I can handle.

I pull back from him slightly. "Have fun with the guys," I whisper. "Don't get into any trouble that will make me violent," I say, arching a brow. He laughs, then one hand is sliding down and squeezing my ass. I squeak in surprise.

"As if I'd need anything more," he says, palming my ass. It's getting me a little worked up, and I open my mouth to suggest just one more time, when he laughs, kissing me hard. "Goodnight, Baby. I'll see you tomorrow."

He lets me go and I let out a breath, but nod.

"Night." I turn to the girls who are waiting by the elevator for me. I make my way over to them, throwing a sway into my hips so he has a little show as I walk away, because I know he's watching me.

"Done flirting?" Rose asks dryly. I smirk at her.

"Never."

We all laugh as we climb into the elevator. I catch sight of Edward in the lobby, still watching me as the doors shut. My stomach clenches a little as I'm whisked upstairs.

"Okay, so I have a few drinks and things in the room," Alice says, gathering my attention. "But is there anything you wanted to do?"

Edward.

The girls probably won't appreciate the answer though, so instead I wind my arms through theirs. "Are you kidding? We're finally together again for a night. All I want to do is be with you two."

Despite how much we all needed a break from each other after lockdown, it was hard to adjust to not being around everyone constantly. I took it for granted how nice it was to have access to my best friends. Rose is still in LA, and technically Alice is too, but we're all so busy with our own lives that the time we get to spend together gets shorter and shorter and longer and longer apart.

As much as I am disappointed about spending the night away from Edward, I'm looking forward to spending some serious quality time with my girls.