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Edward's chin rested on his palm, his elbow propped on the countertop and for the last twenty minutes, his eyes never wavered from the front door of the cafe. He'd been swamped with memories of Bella all day long, and the more he thought about her, the worse he felt.
Not entirely. Generally, when her smile played through his mind, warmth flooded his chest. Yet with every passing moment with this lie hovering between them, he was left feeling like shit.
She was too good of a person to keep lying to her. Every time he worked up the courage to spill the truth something happened to dissuade him. He'd thought about just confessing through a text but that was a cowardly way to fess up.
Buster passed behind him, giving him a nudge, and effectively breaking his train of thought. "You gonna mope around here all day or pick up a rag? Gotta maintain the pretense. This ain't Hollywood, ya know, actually gotta work 'round here."
"Do you think standing for hours under a spotlight, having picture after picture taken, isn't work? I spend more time …" Edward broke off grabbing the rag tossed in his direction. Annoyance flared when he barely caught the rag before it slopped against the front of his shirt. "Takes hours to get the final product of what people see. It's not all glitz and glam. You just see the final product for an hour and a half, not everything that goes into making it."
"You're breakin' my heart," Tom shrugged, pulling at the whiskers on his cocoa chin, he rolled his eyes. "When you gotta get by workin' for minimum wage, and still wonder how you're gonna afford rent and food, then maybe I will fill sorry for your ass. Right now, all you are is a dude lying to some chick."
Edward shook his head as he wiped at the counter. "Just hear me out. What would you do in my place? Huh? I spend hours of every day working to present what you see on TV. Then I have to wonder who actually likes me—not the money, not the name, and not the houses. What would you do?"
"For one, I would go buy me the best steak money could buy, throw a damn party with all the fine ass ladies, and sit in my jacuzzi …" Tom grabbed the bag of espresso beans and filled the dispenser. "Might even lay on my private beach and drink martinis all day. Shit, what wouldn't I do?"
"Is that before or after you are mobbed by millions of people? Dude, I can't even take a piss without a hundred plus pictures being taken. Can't go on a date, can't do anything without the world knowing every move I make." Edward turned to glance out the window, searching for the one person who didn't treat him differently just because of his position in life. That's because she doesn't know, asshole. Shaking off the truth he glanced back to Buster.
Kristi Peters came to mind.
Once upon a time, he'd believed everything they'd shared was mutual—feelings, goals, and trust. Oh, Kristi had goals all right—of them included him, however—not after she achieved what she wanted. Once he'd fulfilled his usefulness, his sweet, beautiful girlfriend had turned into a manipulative shrew. "I'm just saying it's a lot harder and riskier than you think. You can't always trust the people you think you can."
Tom paused as he pulled the cups from their sleeves and filled the dispenser, his brow puckering. "That's right. They said your girlfriend used you, huh? That's shitty, but it's not just because you're a star. Last year, I had some chick use me to get to my best friend." Tom let out a humorless laugh. "Jokes on her though, bros before hoes, ya know. Marcel didn't even give her a second look. My point is, it doesn't matter who you are. You always run the risk of being let down when you trust someone."
"Yeah, maybe," Edward conceded, shrugging he continued, "I just wanted a few weeks of solitude and a chance to find something real."
"And I'm just sayin' you're taken it all for granted, dawg. What happens tomorrow if you wake up and it's all gone? What then? You gonna climb off that high horse, and wash the toilets?" Buster grabbed a mop bucket and rolled it out into the lobby. Slopping soapy water onto the brown tile, he cleaned a spot on the floor before dipping it back in the bucket. "Cherish that shit. Live it up. Quit pretending to be a nobody because the truth is you could wake up and it all be gone. So what if some chick doesn't like you for you. How the fuck do you even know that? And how the hell doesn't this girl know who you are? Huh? Does she live in a fucking closet?"
"No, I just think her plate is a little too full to be worried about what happens in Hollywood," Edward mumbled, feeling even shittier about his choices with each word they exchanged.
Buster was right. With the way things worked in Hollywood, he could lose his status as quickly as he'd climbed the ladder.
"And here you are adding one more helping of bullshit to her plate." Buster sent him a chilly glare before wandering around the dining area with the mop. He made it to the door and glanced out the window. "Looks like your lady is on her way. She's coming down the block. I better get my game face on and earn that money."
Edward ignored the wink Buster threw in his direction. Ever since he'd received her text this afternoon confirming their date, he'd thought of little else, and the corner of his lips lifted. No matter how much he tried to still the racing of his heart, the organ refused to listen, leaping with each step she took. As excited as he was to see her, an equal amount of anxiety rolled in the pit of his stomach.
He should take her aside and tell her the truth, but at what risk? What if he told her and she decided to cancel their date? Maybe he should just see how their date went and make a decision after tonight. The more he contemplated it throughout the day, the better the latter option sounded.
If he took her out, there was every possibility they would find they were incompatible. The possibility was unlikely, however. They'd already been on two semi-dates and he hadn't found anything unlikeable yet, but it was hardly enough time to actually get to know someone.
She looked every bit as beautiful as she had this morning. Staring out the window, Edward watched the boy galloping closer, while Bella's hand was tightly clasped by a little girl wearing pigtails.
The little girl looked like a mini-me of her sister, their hair and skin coloring the same, the same heart-shaped face and almond eyes lined with thick lashes. Even as beautiful as the little girl was, Edward's hungry eyes returned to Bella.
"Dude, if you don't quit staring at that girl like a lovestruck fool, you are gonna be in a world of hurt." Buster slid by, hitting Edward in the side. "Get your game face on, Rob. Play the game and be a little hard to get."
"I already took the wind out of those sails when I gave her my number." Edward didn't give a shit how pathetic he looked, he was happy to see her, lie or not. Eventually, when the time was right he would tell her the truth and pray she understood. Right now, however, he was just going to enjoy each moment.
As enthralled as he was by Bella, nothing could've prepared him for the little hellion who barreled into the cafe, sliding on the freshly mopped tile. If he hadn't been worried the kid would fall and hurt himself, Edward might have found the stunt amusing as the kid skidded across the floor, his arms flapping as he fought for balance.
Hurrying across the wet tile, Edward caught him by his shirt before he landed on his butt. "Hey, now, be careful."
Edward's hold tightened in the cotton of the kids' Superman shirt when he would've jerked out of his grasp. "Let go of me. I don't have to listen to you."
"Jackson! What did I say about being on your best behavior? Are you trying to finish the week out in your room?" Bella asked, her mouth drawn tight, her steely gaze drilling into her brother. "You need to apologize to Rob."
"I don't have to do anything," Jackson huffed, his arms folding across his chest with a stubborn tilt to his chin.
Edward's eyes went wide when the boy glared up at him. Glancing at Bella, his brow rose. "Is he always this angry or is it just me?"
Releasing Jackson's shirt, Edward turned his attention to Bella. Her cheeks were dusted with color, and her eyes were wide with a weird light in them. He stared at her long and hard trying to figure out what she was thinking, and what was so different about her. She looked stunned and close to fainting.
Bella couldn't know who he was, could she? How would she have figured it out? Had she seen his pictures somewhere? No way! She couldn't have figured it out this soon.
Bella stumbled to a stop, her eyes darting between Robert and her brother. Her brother was acting like a damn fool. A fool around one of the most prominent actors in Hollywood, at that. She felt her cheeks heat up as reality crashed in around her.
How the fuck was she supposed to act like she didn't know who he was? She was in for the biggest acting job of her life! And she was no actress by any means of the imagination.
Clearing her throat, she met Rob's gaze and hesitantly smiled. "H-he always acts like that. Trust me, it's nothing personal." Pointing to the little girl beside her, she said, "This is my sister Darla, and that critter sliding across the floor is Jackson."
Act normal. Act normal, Bella silently encouraged, her hand clamping around Darla's smaller one like a lifeline. So many questions were on the tip of her tongue, and the impulse to ask was almost too much to ignore. Shoving her curiosity into a deep, dark hole, she lifted her chin, meeting his gaze as if he were just some guy off the street. "Rose said she would be over in an hour to watch the kids. What time were you coming over?"
"Rob has to close tonight. He won't be done until ten," Tom chimed in with a crooked smile. "The demands of a barista. Rob, didn't you promise these kids a muffin?"
"Yeah, Buster. Can you help the kids pick out a muffin?" Edward glared at Buster. Was the guy trying to kill his game? What did he mean he had to help close? Even if Edward wanted to help, he wouldn't know where to fucking start. "Also, Buster, I was hoping I could cut out a little early tonight. I sort of have plans."
"I might be persuaded for the right price." Tom threw Edward a smile before waving the kids to the case. "Come on over here and pick out a muffin, on our boy, Rob."
Bella let go of Darla's hand as she hopped to the display. Briefly, she smiled at her sister before redirecting her attention to Rob. As hard as she tried she couldn't unsee the man in those photos. While a zillion questions plagued her, her grin faltered, and she had to mentally pep talk herself. You can do this! Just act like nothing's changed.
He didn't look phony to her. The happiness shining in his eyes seemed genuine, but how could she be sure? Swallowing the uncertainty, she heard Rose whispering in her ear. "Just do you, Bella."
Pasting on a smile from ear to ear, she ignored the butterflies dancing in her belly, feeling her cheeks burn slightly as she moved closer to him. Rob/Edward was the same man he'd been this morning. Why the fuck was this so difficult? Get your shit together, Bella.
"How was your day?" He wanted to know, taking hold of her hand and pulling her out of earshot. Brushing the hair from her face, he tipped her chin until she met his gaze.
"It was good," she nodded, trying to cool the burn his touch inspired, her fingers squeezing his. Her lashes dropped a fraction as she studied him and amusement lit her eyes. "What were you up to today, Rob? Anything interesting happen?"
"No, not really. It's kinda boring here." Stepping closer, Edward dipped his head, inhaling deeply. He wasn't sure why but she had a very distinctive scent. He could drown in the smell of her. The kiss they shared played through his mind, and if they didn't have an audience, he would've been tempted to steal another. "I'm hoping to get out of here pretty soon. Are you up for some dancing?"
"Dancing? Really?" Just like that, she forgot all about who he was, and what he was pretending to be. She hadn't danced in ages.
Edward was elated by how easy she was to make happy. The sparkle in her eye drew him like a magnet. "It's been a while since I have cut loose. I'm kinda excited about getting lost in the music."
"It does sound really fun." Damn, he looked so ordinary. His hair curled over the edges of his hat, his wide eyebrows lifting with amusement. Just an ordinary guy, working an ordinary job. He was so not ordinary, however, and no matter what she did, she just came back to the fact that this was a famous actor. He was a famous actor who appeared to be interested in her.
His breath tickled her ear as he murmured, "What were you planning on wearing for me?"
Bella involuntarily shivered, his warmth soaking into her even though inches separated them. Bashfully, she met his gaze through the veil of her lashes, as a fever swept across her cheeks. "I-I want it to be a surprise."
Intrigued, Edward moved an inch closer, his focus slipping down her form, mumbling, "Damn, I'm curious. Just tell me I will get a glance at those long ass legs and I'm good."
Before Bella could answer, Darla pranced over with her muffin in hand. "Ewww. Is that your boyfriend? Are you gonna kiss him?"
Bella laughed, her cheeks flamed, completely embarrassed by her sister's outburst. Putting more space between herself and Rob/Edward, passed him an apologetic smile. "I think that's my cue to go."
His even white teeth were on full display when he said, "I will help Buster with a few things and I will be over in an hour and a half. I'm just gonna slide home and change real quick."
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