"Bella, have you ever had lobster or crab?"

I was hesitant to eat the scallops. They looked pretty enough, but there were all of these new flavors I was unfamiliar with. Miso butter? What the hell is miso?

"Isabella, I know it's only been a few days, but do you trust me?"

He had me there. I was slow to trust anyone, but I knew Edward wouldn't intentionally hurt me. I found myself nodding before I could stop myself.

"Close your eyes. Take your time to chew. The miso butter is salty, almost earthy. The scallop will be light, but buttery and rich and sweet. The flavors will dance on your tongue. I wouldn't steer you wrong here."

I took a deep breath. The Halo Effect was back again. Unlike most other people that had to prove their intentions to me , Edward was attractive and smiling, and he smelled like heaven, and in that moment, I couldn't fathom telling him no to anything, especially nothing as miniscule as biting a piece of seafood. I leaned forward toward Edward's raised fork, but stopped short. The last thing I needed was to miss and accidentally stab myself.

With a smirk he brought the fork to my mouth and watched me take a bite.

I couldn't help myself. I closed my eyes and moaned.

"Isabella, can we assume you've enjoyed your first bite?"

In that moment, there wasn't anything I could say that would be good enough. He hadn't lied. I'd happily continue to not only eat these scallops for the rest of my life, but to be fed by Edward. I couldn't stop staring at him, and by some stroke of the imagination, it didn't look like he wanted to stop looking at me either.

"Yeah. I'm gonna go drain the lizard."

I felt bad. I had hardly noticed that Emmett was there. I briefly watched his retreating form head to the bathroom.

"Is the Sprite enough? Would you like something else?"

I shook my head. Him and the scallops were enough.

"You should eat before the food gets cold. Besides, after lunch, we have more shopping to do."

I couldn't contain my small groan.

"Edward, I appreciate your generosity, but Angela is bringing all that I could need and more. I really don't think you should give me anything else."

"Nonsense. Isabella, you need jewelry."

I could feel my eyes widen involuntarily.

"Edward, I'm not a jewelry person. I don't wear jewelry."

"Isabella, you'll be expected to at the very least wear earrings. I hear it's something the women there critique, and I know that Alice and Rose won't have had time to get the family jewelry from the safe. Besides, a young woman as remarkable as you deserves to have a little sparkle."

Before I could protest, Edward was practically shoving an empanada into my mouth.

"I know the goat is a bit of an unconventional choice, but the cumin and whatever cheese she uses in these things is divine."

Since he'd been right about the scallops, I took a bite of the empanada. As expected, this was also delicious, but I wanted to be heard here.

"Emmett, tell Edward that I don't need jewelry."

My request was met with complete silence.

"Hate to break it to you short stack, but you definitely do."

"Emmett! Not you too?!"

I felt betrayed. This whole day I got the sense that somehow, Emmett had my back. I got the feeling that he didn't come from wealth and understood how I felt.

"Short stack, can I level with you?"

All I could do was shrug my shoulders.

"My buddy Eddie here has an image to uphold. Cullen usually means the best of everything, and your wardrobe for this can't be an exception to that. So you've got the dress, Alice and Rose will take care of hair, makeup and shoes, but that still leaves jewelry and a handbag."

"How do you even know this?"

"You haven't met her yet, but I'm married to Edward's sister Rosalie. She'd never let me forget it."

With that, I watched as he flagged Justin down and ordered himself a scotch. I was starting to feel as if I was the one who needed the drink.

"Isabella?"

I was starting to learn that he called me Isabella whenever something was important or he wanted my attention.

"Would you like a drink?"

"There's still another unopened Sprite on the table."

"Something a little harder?"

I wasn't sure of what to say to Edward's request, but I found myself nodding slightly. He turned toward me and lowered his voice significantly.

"Have you had much experience with alcohol?"

"Beer mostly. Some parties every now and then."

"What was your chief complaint?"

"It tasted awful."

Flagging down Justin, I watched as Edward reached into his pocket and plucked out his wallet. Emmett and I watched as he handed Justin two crisp one hundred dollar bills.

"Amaretto sours for Ms. Swan here, extra cherries. Keep them coming for the rest of the meal. Charge me double what she drinks, and box us up two Walker's to go."

As I watched Justin's retreating form, I was suddenly nervous. Edward had been right about the food, but what if he wasn't about this?

"Now that you've eaten, the alcohol should be more kind to your stomach. Drink as much as you like, you simply only need to tell us when you've had enough."

I nodded in understanding, and took a bite of my steak skewer. I had always been of the belief that ribeye steak was the best and Chef Izard's skewers only supported this belief. The pork shank was good too, and I was so distracted by the food in front of me, I failed to notice the drink that Justin had put in front of me.

Emmett slid it closer to me and I picked it up and took a tentative sip. It was good. So good, I almost couldn't taste the alcohol. Almost. Edward appeared to be pleased with himself because he had gotten the order correctly, and Emmett smirked as if he knew something that I didn't.

"Don't forget that we're not done shopping short stack."

"Yes, Bella. Please don't forget you'll need a handbag and jewelry. I'm thinking Sapphires."

I couldn't help it. In that moment, I downed my drink completely and signaled to Justin for another. It wasn't my plan to get drunk, but if I knew Edward at all, jewelry shopping with him would not be a small affair. I was grateful for the opportunity of a little liquid courage. Edward was generous and handsome and I could do far worse. Maybe it would be liquid luck as well.