Chapter 24

Edward went right to his room at the back of the bus when we were ready to get rolling. He didn't say anything as he walked through, passing me and Carlisle while we sat huddled at his desk. He didn't look horribly angry though, so I took that to be a good thing. He didn't slam his door either, like he'd been known to do.

Carlisle wasn't lecturing me thank god, but mentioned that he didn't think it was a good idea for me to try to be chummy with Edward. I protested that we were just sitting playing music, what's the harm, but he just reiterated. Don't get too chummy with Edward. For his peace of mind or mine, I didn't know.

The bus traveled on and the windows grew dark as night settled in. I had to stay on the bus for the night because bus three was a few hours ahead and I couldn't switch out. This happened a few times over the last weeks, and I sure didn't mind mainly because it didn't make me look like some baby baby baby that needed special handling.

My bunk wasn't so bad. I had the smallest, of course, at the end with Carlisle next to me, separating me from the band for the most part. It was a little cramped, but cozy. No insipid girls to listen to that I still didn't understand the why of.

Edward hadn't come out all afternoon. Carlisle knocked at some point and Edward answered. I was in the right position to see into that room when he opened the door. I saw the foot of a bed, all the lights real low and golden behind him. He glanced down the corridor and we met eyes, but only for a split second. The door was closed and Carlisle was walking back up front next thing I knew. Like it was a split-second dream.

I was kicking Jasper's ass at Gin Rummy as Jake and Yorkie shouted the wrong answers at Jeopardy playing on the TV above Jasper's head. I looked around the bus and a warm feeling crept over me. These guys didn't have any issues hanging out with me. They all seemed to like my company fine. Or at least they didn't seem to mind it.

Maybe it was the batch of break'n bake chocolate chip cookies I'd just pulled out of the oven that endeared me to them. Win 'em over with food.

I put the plate on the table and half were gone in a second. "Carlisle, can Bella stay on the bus forever? She baked for us!" Yorkie yelled over to where Carlisle was dozing in his chair. "Paul never did this."

Plopping down on the bench hoping to score one of my own before they were all gone, I smiled at the welcoming statement. "I'll bake a damn cake if it means I don't have to get back on bus three."

The warm gooey chocolate was just hitting my lips as I heard the door at the back of the bus open. My body went rigid in anticipation, as it always did when he was near.

"Excuse me, but where exactly do you think you are?" His voice loomed over me, swam around me, lifted me up and slammed me down all at the same time. A hint of dragon had come out of that room with him.

Was he talking to me? I froze, trying to find the right answer. Was I unable to bake cookies and make myself comfortable? Oh shit… I was sitting in his spot.

"Uh oh, Bella's in trouble. Eat a cookie, Edward. Take the edge off," Jake said and reached for another.

I glanced up, cookie still in my mouth. Quickly scanning the many faces of Edward, I was happy to see this wasn't full-on dragon. Just sort of annoyed, bored Edward.

"Move over." He started to sit before I could, and his body pressed to mine as I tried to scoot over as quickly as possible at the cramped bus table. Edward grabbed a cookie and we sat there.

Eating break'n bake chocolate chip cookies.

Surreal.

His leg was pressed up against mine in the small space, and I really hoped he couldn't feel the nervous shake my whole body was engaged in.

"You made these?" he asked between bites and I nodded, trying to chew with my mouth closed. I tried to remember if he'd ever seen me eat before and I really hoped I was being ladylike about it.

"Uh, they are just the pre-packaged kind…" I trailed off, feeling like a dork.

He took another bite. Chewed. Swallowed. "Do we have milk?"

The question was just so out of character and the last thing I expected. A burst of laughter escaped me.

"Something funny, niece?" He glowered at me. He had chocolate on his lip and it made me laugh more.

"No?" I answered, still laughing.

He scowled. "You have chocolate on your lip." His eyes focused on my lip as I quickly licked it clean, embarrassed.

"So do you," I replied. When Edward stuck his own tongue out to find it, our eyes met and my stomach bottomed out. He took his finger and wiped at his lip and lord help me, I wanted him to hold that finger out so I could suck that chocolate right off.

Suddenly antsy, I motioned my head to let me out. "I'll get your milk if you get up," I said and moved towards him.

I hit a brick wall. One whose face was now much closer than it had been a second ago. He smelled like whiskey and chocolate.

"We actually have milk?" His eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Yeah." What a weird, strange, odd conversation I was in the middle of with Edward Cullen, Rock God. "Carlisle… coffee."

"Are we gonna play or what?" Jasper asked me as he shuffled the cards. "Or are you too afraid of the beating I'm about to give you?"

"You wish," I said, comfortable with the camaraderie I'd fallen into with him. "Let me just get the second batch out of the oven."

"Second batch!" I heard Jake yell just as Yorkie screamed another wrong answer at the TV.

I felt like a Cub Scout den mother.

I loved it.

Edward slid out of the bench slowly, making an exaggerated show of how bothersome it was.

Maybe it wasn't a show. I had no idea.

I brought his milk when I returned with the next plate. I placed it down and prepared myself to take the seat across from the table and benches, guessing I could lean over the aisle to play.

Edward surprised me when he got up and motioned for me to move back to where I was.

Holy hell, he actually wanted me to sit next to him. Squished and pressed. Hot and bothered.

We sat there, him eating cookies and drinking milk. Me playing cards with Jasper. Yorkie and Jake yelling at the TV.

I looked around the interior of the bus, hoping there was video surveillance so I could play this moment back and remind myself it actually happened when I got home and swore it was all an acid trip.

Home.

I was going home in a short amount of time. For the three days that Carlisle was going to be in New York while the bus was docked in Minnesota.

Three days off. Long enough to visit your folks, Carlisle said as he handed me a plane ticket.

I guessed he didn't want me wandering the streets where he couldn't supervise. It made sense, I supposed. Where else would I go? Sit in a hotel room alone? Hope Jane or Emmett were also not leaving for the three days and we could make up a small gang of homeless band roadies?

Three days without being near Edward though seemed like a lifetime.

I think Jasper was as surprised as I was that Edward sat there, watching us play cards. They talked little, mostly about music, but it was something.

"Okay enough of these pussy games. Poker. Money. Right now." Edward pulled a handful of bills out of his pocket. That got Jake and Yorkie's attention and they cheered, pulling out bills of their own. Jasper went to his bunk and came back with a stack.

"You guys should all sit here, I'll go over there and watch," I said motioning Edward to let me out of my blissful prison.

"Scared, Bella?" Jake asked as he grabbed a beer from the fridge.

"She's terrified," Jasper answered, a nice smirk in place. "Have you ever played before?"

"Once or twice." Or three times a week with my grandpa, but they didn't need to know that.

Edward reached for the whiskey bottle that was always right behind his bench and a mug that said, 'Kiss me, I'm in Kissimmee'. He pushed some bills in front of me.

"I think if I let you up, you're gonna run, little girl." A slow grin spread across his face. "I'll spot you."