BPOV
He looks like he's been through hell. I want to reach up and touch the purple shading under his eyes. I watch him as he keeps pulling at his already chaotic hair.
I want to be pissed at him for being less present with me over the last few days.
But I can't be pissed, he just told me his father might be having a baby with Kate.
So I watch him slowly break down in front of me.
After pacing my foyer, he finally takes a seat on the landing of the first three stairs. He looks up at me, eyes drifting to my legs then back up to my face.
"I was a dick," he sighs.
I shake my head.
"No, I was. It didn't feel right to tell you what was happening over the phone, I wanted to say it in person."
"You were blindsided," I supply.
"It's fucked," he says. "All of it is fucked. They both are deranged to think I'll go along with this if it is his kid."
I take a seat beside him.
"Did you have a conversation with your dad?"
"I did and I was too level-headed," he grumbles.
I can't help the giggle that escapes.
"What does level-headed look like?"
"I set out boundaries, told him I can meet with only him when I'm in town," he explains. "I knew since I was old enough to understand that he put my mother through hell with other women and I'd seen some of his girlfriends after their divorce but this wasn't something I'd think he was capable of.
It was almost like he wanted what I had, he thought I was upset because I wasn't over Kate. My mom decided to tell him about you," he says with a wry smile.
"She didn't," I say, snorting in disbelief.
"She did," he says, reaching up letting his fingers play with the ends of my hair. "I really missed you."
A warmth spreads in my chest.
"I missed you too," I tell him, laying my head on his shoulder.
He pulls me onto his lap, kissing the shit out of me until we both need to breathe.
I rest my forehead to his.
"How did you get here?" I whisper.
"I took an Uber from the airport, I needed to get to you," he murmurs.
"You could have called before you left," I say playfully, pulling at his hair.
"I didn't want to wake you," he says, mouth hovering over mine. "These shorts are driving me crazy," he grunts before palming the back of my thigh.
"If you want to manhandle me, we better move this up to my room just in case Charlie forgot something before he left," I tell him while using his shoulders to help me stand.
I run past him up the stairs, he catches up grabbing me around my waist.
"Don't run from me," he says in my ear.
I turn in his arms, kissing him and he kicks my door shut leading us toward my bed.
I'm shoving his jacket off before he goes for my hoodie, his shirt follows and my shorts go next. I want to pat myself on the back for forgoing underwear. Our laughter escapes once I try to kick his pants down his legs.
"Careful," he breathes when I almost knee him.
"Sorry," I get out before he bites my ear lobe.
I don't know who is more frantic to get him inside me.
I turn to reach into my nightstand drawer to get a condom.
His teeth sink into my shoulder gently, almost making me drop the condom.
He takes it from my hands once I'm on my back.
We are a clash of mouths and limbs until he thrusts inside.
My back arches while my nails dig into his back.
He's quick to thrust long hard strokes.
I start to get winded between his kisses and thrusting.
He's urgent.
Everything about this is desperate like he needs to know that I'm here with him. Our hips move in sync until we cry out clinging to each other.
"I don't think I can let go of you just yet," he murmurs against the side of my face.
I nod, holding onto him for dear life.
We just lie in my bed not moving.
After a few minutes, I start to become aware of his weight on me and shift.
"Jesus," he says slowly, pulling out.
"You were fine," I tried to assure him.
He shakes his head sitting up throwing the condom in the trash.
I'm too spent to move.
He leans down giving me the sweetest kiss. "I'm home," he says with a grin.
That's when I feel another pang in my chest for him.
I bring my hand up to play with his hair.
"I love you," I tell him.
His mouth comes down capturing mine.
This is him responding.
I always try not to get ahead of myself when I think about us, but I can't help to think about the promise of a future with him.
Sure everything might completely blow up between us in Seattle next year, but on the other hand, everything might be perfect.
Edward was the greatest first love to have.
He brought me hope when I felt helpless.
Not all guys are terrible human beings.
We were meant to happen after everything we've both been through.
As we both lay tangled around each other, our eyes never leave the others.
When we pull apart, his fingers play with the delicate band on my pinkie finger.
His ring.
"Next year I think we should celebrate all holidays together," he says.
"Starting with the New Year," I tease.
He nods.
I don't know what is going on with me, but I'm handsy, which is making him handsy before we are going for round two.
An hour later my dad sends me a text asking if I'm on the road to get Edward yet. We are still lying naked in my bed wrapped around one another.
My head lays on his chest where I hear the even beats of his heart.
"Bella?" he asks.
"Yeah?" I say turning my head to rest my chin on his chest.
"I've never felt this way about anyone before," he says quietly.
"Really?" I ask in surprise.
"I think before, I was going through the motions like I did what I thought I needed to do. But the day you came walking into the diner and sat next to me, my brain has been going full steam ahead since then," he confesses with a soft smile.
I bring my thumb up pulling on his bottom lip.
"Yeah?"
He nods.
"You take up all my thoughts," he tells me.
I can't help but grin.
"Are you getting mushy on me, Edward," I tease.
"Maybe, or it's everything I've dealt with these past few days," he sighs. "All that I could think of was getting back here to you."
"That's why you took an earlier flight," I guess.
"That's why I took an earlier flight," he confirms.
"I'm glad you did."
"Me too," I say as he kisses my temple.
We just lay here and be.