Chapter 26 – Do I? Does He?
BELLA
I smiled when I felt Edward brush a kiss on my cheek. Swatting at the spot, I cracked open my eyes. "Good morning, Edward," I croaked, sleep evident in my voice.
"Morning, Bella."
He returned my smile. "I have a meeting this morning. I've arranged a car to take you to your doctor's appointment and will met you there."
I groaned. "I don't want to go."
He shook his head and chuckled. "I know. You need to take care of yourself and you are way overdue for a physical." Leaning down, he kissed my pouting lips.
"I know," I said before pulling him down to me again and kissing him.
"Go. Don't want you to be late," I said as I pushed him away.
"See you at eleven," he said.
I shamelessly watched his ass as he left the room. Before Edward, I hadn't really noticed any part of the male physique. He had a shapely ass only Michelangelo could sculpt. And to my embarrassment, I long to run my hands down.
~~ Reaching for Love ~~
Edward texted me while I was in the shower, reminding me of my forthcoming physical. I made a face when I read his message. I really, really didn't want to go for a physical even if I knew it was important. His next text came through giving me the time the driver would pick me up.
I was tempted to reply with a winky face, but resisted thanking him with words instead. I walked into the closet. Mine part of it was huge closet and was slowly filling with new clothes and shoes. When I first saw it, I was like what the hell was I going to fill the shelfs with and hang in it. It was a his and hers closet. Edward's part was down a short hall from mine.
Although I loved the new clothes, there was something comforting in have my familiar outfits back. They were still in piles or in boxes in the living room, waiting to be gone through. I groaned at the thought and glad Alice and Rosalie were coming over later to help me go through the rest of it.
I dressed in pair of jean, happy they were stretchy, and a short sleeved lavender cashmere sweater. Edward had purchased sweater for me in Vegas. And even though I loved it, I refused to wear it. Not because of the price tag, mind you, but I felt unworthy of it. In a way, I still did. As I slipped it over my head, the little voice in my head said, 'If only the mean girls could see you now. They wouldn't recognize you.' I smiled at the thought and was actually starting to look forward to my high school reunion in a month. Luckily, it was before the next movie premiere Edward and I were attending. Which reminded me I had to ask him what the dress code was.
Looking at my watch, I saw I had about a half hour before the car would arrive and decided to read.
~~ Reaching for Love ~~
When the hired car arrived, I was surprised to find it was Emmett.
"Emmett?" I questioned.
"My day job is in private security."
Oh. That didn't explain his presence though.
"And Edward thought it best if someone you knew escorted you to your appointment."
I felt my forehead furrow in confusion. It was sweet of Edward to ask Emmett to drive me. I had to wonder why and didn't have long to wait for an answer.
"The thought of Jacob out there somewhere doesn't sit well with him, Bella. When you are not in the office with him, he is worried about you and the baby."
"Well... that sounds ridiculous," I remarked. "Jacob has no way of getting to me while I am at home. The house is like Fort Knox with its security system. Not to mention he wouldn't be able to get past the gate without a code or security letting him through."
Emmett shook his head and laughed. "I told him all that and still he worries. I have learned a few things about Edward in all the years I've known him. He's a natural protector. And he's a worrier."
Protector? Worrier? I've seen the protector in him the day we met, but I have never seen him worried. Although, Emmett and Edward had been friends since grade school, so I trusted Emmett in that regard.
"He does know at some point he is going to have to trust I can take care of myself," I said as I slid in the car.
Emmett chuckled again as he closed the door. Once he joined me in the car, he turned to me and said, "I said the same thing to him last night when he asked me to ensure you got to your appointment unharmed. He glared at me and said nothing."
A sigh left me as we made our way to the front gates. "I guess I am going to have to get used to his overprotectiveness then. "
Again, a chuckle came from Emmett. "Or talk to him about how it makes you feel."
"And just what do you think I am feeling?" I snapped.
Emmett glanced over at me with his lips poised in an "O". His attention moved back to the road. It was a while before he answered. "Bella, part of my job is to be valiant and observant," he started. "While you are touched by Edward's need to make sure you are safe, you are peeved by the measures he is taking."
I thought about what Emmett said concerning the situation. Yes, you could definitely say I was not pleased to find out the reason for Edward's actions. Yes, those same actions touched me. I sighed. If I didn't tell Edward how I felt, then it would continue. I wanted my independence, not that Emmett driving me was restricting it. "You're a good friend you know that, Emmett."
"Nah, I'm the worst. I should have told him no, but then you would have some stranger taking you to the doctor. And they wouldn't have let you sit in the front seat."
I couldn't help it and started laughing. "True, so true. You know what's even worst?"
The smile that had been plastered on Emmett's face fell. "What?" he asked.
Feeling a little wicked, I said with as straight a face as I could muster, "Your lousy taste in music."
In truth, his music taste was excellent. I had grown-up listening to a wide range of music. Mozart to Sousa to Big Bands to Country and everything in between. The only genres I didn't care for was heavy metal and hardcore rap.
Emmett drew a deep breath in through his nose and let it out. "That's your opinion and I accept it."
I busted out laughing. "I'm glad even if I was pulling your leg."
We had stopped at a stoplight and as we waited for it to change, he turned to look at me. "I see how it is now, Bella. Just remember this when I get you back."
He had a smile on his face, so I had a feeling he was bluffing. Well, I hoped he was bluffing.
We drove in silence the rest of the way to the medical building, listening a local radio station.
Emmett pulled up to the door and someone from the valet stand approached, opening my door. This seemed a bit strange to me and until I was standing on the sidewalk I didn't know it was Edward. Once the door was shut, Emmett drove away.
"Will he be back?" I asked smile up at Edward.
"No. I'll be taking you out to lunch and then we'll both go home," he answered, stealing a kiss.
After he pulled back, I swatted his shoulder as if he was a pesky fly. It wasn't that I didn't welcome his kiss, it was more how public his affection was. On the other hand, it was nice to have someone who loved me so much, they wanted to show the world. Whoa! I thought about that notion a moment. Did he? Better yet, did I?
EDWARD
A play of emotions crossed Bella's face after I stole a kiss. It went from I-can't-believe-you-kissed-me-her to lip-biting confusion. This was not her I need to talk to someone look. It was new and undecipherable.
"Are you okay?" I whispered as we walked in the building.
Bella kept walking, not answering my inquiry.
"Did Emmett say something to upset you?"
Twenty steps and no answer, not once did she even glance over at me. She kept her eyes forward, walking straight toward the elevator. Reaching out, she hit the up button.
"Sweetheart," I said, turning her to face me. "What is wrong?"
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. She didn't answer, turning away from me and getting on the elevator.
I followed, hitting the button to the sixth floor. I was hoping Bella would answer my question once we were alone in the elevator. Her silence continued. I was beginning to worry. A call to Emmett was in order if I couldn't get her to talk to me.
We exited the elevator on the sixth floor and consulted the directory. When Bella started moving down the hall, I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, not caring if we were late for her appointment.
"Bella, talk to me. You can tell me anything."
She shook me off and continued down the hall. This was not like her. Something had to have happened, but what was unclear. If Emmett couldn't shed some light on this situation, I didn't know what I was going to do.
~~ Reaching for Love ~~
Pacing in the hall outside the doctor's office, I waited impatiently for Emmett to answer. Bella had gone back with the nurse three minutes ago and by my estimate, she should be out in twenty minutes.
"Hey, Edward," Emmett said when he finally answered. "Didn't expect to hear from you."
I rubbed the back on my neck. "Bella is acting strange."
"What do you mean?"
"Not talking or answering my questions. Shake me off when I touch her." My hand found the back of my neck again. "I can't help feeling like something happened. Did she say anything on the way?"
"Nah, man. She was talkative and teasing most of the drive. After I said she need to remembering pulling my leg about my music tastes, she fell silent. Not in an awkward way mind you."
I slummed against the wall. "Are you sure?"
"Edward, I would tell you if something had. We talked about mundane things."
Then, what the hell happened to make her not want to talk to me?
"Maybe she is tired."
"She would tell me if she were. The same if she was hungry." My gaze moved to the sidelight window of the doctor's office, making sure Bella hadn't come out yet. Though she should be with the doctor about ten more minutes. "How do I get her to talk to me, Emmett?"
"Hell if I know. When Rosalie goes all silent, I know I in a world of trouble. Did you do anything to her after I left?"
I thought about our interaction after I helped her out of the car. There was nothing out of the ordinary with it. "I stole a kiss after you drove away and then the silence started, well after she gave me this strange look and bit her lip."
"I don't know what you want me to say, Edward. It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong."
I thought about hanging up and calling Mom, but that was the nuclear option. "You're the worst."
He had the audacity to laugh. "You're not the first to say that. All you do is wait her out and let her know you are then when she is ready to talk."
I groaned. Patience I had in spades, but I wasn't sure if I could wait her out. "And if she doesn't talk to me?"
"Call your mom. Look I got to get off here. A client just arrived."
"Thanks. Tell to you later."
BELLA
It was fair to Edward for me not answering his question, no matter how many times and ways he asked. It wasn't like I didn't know I could talk to him. How could I answer him when I didn't even know the answer to my own questions? I felt like Evie from Descendants 2 as she sings about whether Doug loves her and whether she loved him. The only difference was it wouldn't take a kiss to make the determination. This was real life not a movie with rules of a fairytale.
When I was done, I found Edward in the waiting room with his head in his hands looking at the floor. I couldn't help but feel I was the cause of his stress. Seeing him this way had me coming to a decision to let him in a little.
I walked over to him and when I was standing next to where he sat, I leaned down. "Nothing happened before Emmett picked me up or during the drive," I whispered in his ear.
His head snapped up and he turned to look at me. His eyes seemed to be asking, "Then what's wrong?"
After blowing out a breath, I sucked my lip into my mouth. I shook my head and indicated with a sweep of my hand where we were. In a small way, it was a stall tactic.
~~ Reaching for Love ~~
The walk to where Edward parked seemed too short, barely enough time to figure what to say. Moving around me, he opened the car door for me. Maybe the drive would be just as silent as our walk, allowing me more time to think.
He slid in behind the wheel and fumbled with getting the key in the ignition. If I didn't know better, I would wonder if he was drunk. However, in all the time I've known him, I'd only ever seen him drink a glass or two of wine.
The only explanation for his behavior had to me… No, it couldn't be. Was he worried about me? But sadly, I think he very well was.
Pulling off the bandage and cotton the nurse put on after drawing blood, I stuffed them in my jeans pocket. "Nothing is wrong."
His eyes remained on the road. "Then why the silence?" he asked.
Reaching over the console, I allowed my fingers to skim over his upper thigh. Thinking telling him something he didn't know about me, I said, "Nervous about the blood draw. I dislike needles and the smell of blood."
"Blood doesn't have a smell in small quantities."
"Yes, it does. I once fainted in biology when we were blood typing. I hadn't even pricked my finger yet. I woke on the floor. And about fainted again as a classmate helped me to the nurse."
He turned his head, setting wide eyes on me. "Really?"
"I wouldn't tell you so if wasn't true. That is why I was a little longer."
We had started moving again. "Are you okay?"
I smiled at his concern. "The doctor wouldn't have let me leave if I weren't."
The smile that was constant on his face when I was around hadn't made an appearance. "You said something about lunch."
My innocent inquiry brought a smile to his face. "I thought I would take you to Il Terrazzo Carmine."
"Where?"
His smile kicked up a notch on one side. "A little Italian restaurant downtown."
"Sounds quaint."
His hand found mine. My wayward thought about whether I was falling in love with him fell to the wayside. If I was, then so be it. And the same applied to his feelings toward me. Worrying about it wasn't going to help me in deciphering my feelings or his.
