Hi! It's been a while. If you're still with me - thank you for reading.

As always, thank you to my pre-reader purpleC305 and to Ninkita, my beta extraordinaire.

Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

ooo

IPOV

Hey, beautiful. Are we still on for coffee? - E

Dobro jutro, lipotane (Good morning, pretty boy). Why are you already up? It's only 7.15. - I

*Sigh* You've been asking me that every morning for five days, love. You know why. Now get ready and I'll see you soon. - E

This has been going on since Monday morning. I woke up in Edward's arms after we fell asleep around three in the morning. I was pretty much useless when I woke up at seven. I would have stayed in my Edward bubble if it hadn't been for Mate, an eighteen year high schooler who was going to a wedding somewhere in the eastern part of the country that morning and needed a haircut.

As promised, Alice drove me home but not before Edward made me promise to meet for coffee when I had showered and changed into new clothes, and before Mate showed up for his appointment. I, on the other hand, told Edward to go back to sleep but he didn't want to hear about it. He insisted that he wasn't tired and that, if necessary, he could go back to sleep later.

I'm currently standing in front of my open closet, contemplating what to wear. Not that it matters since I work from home, but I want to look nice for Edward. I know he won't really care but still, I'd somehow feel more adequate next to his perfection. Perfect in my opinion, anyway.

Or maybe not so perfect after all, considering the rocky start we had? Whatever the case may be, everything turned out well in the end and here we are now, meeting for coffee every morning and ending up in his room in the evening before I head back to my house later at night. In between we would have dinner with the others and chat a little but the majority of the evening we would barricade ourselves in his room.

Even though everything is bliss and joy, I'm still wary and waiting for the other shoe to drop. All that's happening between Edward and me is just too good to be true.

Edward is everything I ever wanted and hoped to find one day. He's an attentive lover, selfless and always making sure that I enjoy myself. We've never gone further than kissing and touching, though. Not for lack of trying on my part. I even bought the fucking condoms only for him to tell me that when it happened he wouldn't want our first time to be rushed. I wasn't able to spend another night with him but that would change tomorrow.

Alice has booked a two-day stay on an island with a lighthouse. I'm looking forward to it. Not only because I'm excited to finally get away for a short while from the everyday hustle and bustle, but I'm also hoping that that night would finally be the night when Edward and I would have sex. Am I obsessed? Hell, yes, but more about having sex with Edward, than sex in general. Don't get me wrong, I love sex but I've been fantasizing about doing it with Edward since the first time I saw him. His fingers are magical, no doubt, and I can only imagine how good the real deal will be.

Besides, this past week of getting to know him better just made him more irresistible. I'd already gotten to know the sexy and sweet Edward but about anything else I had still been in the dark. So I started to use our morning coffee dates to ask him about his life. He told me about his grandfather, whom he'd adored, and also how he'd spent the holidays in San Diego helping around Anthony's restaurant that the Cullens later sold when he died. Or how his grandfather, who was the chef in his restaurant, inspired Edward to go to culinary school. Edward's currently working in a hotel restaurant in Seattle, but his long term plan is to open a restaurant of his own.

He also told me how Emmett came to live with them and how Jasper has been his friend since he moved to the Cullens' neighborhood when the boys were eighteen.

His entire life, Edward has been surrounded by people he has loved and who loved him, and this reflects in his own behavior and personality.

Finally dressed in white shorts and a light blue t-shirt, I make my way to meet Edward.

It's just past seven-thirty and it's already hot. I'm not a fan of summer, early fall is more my thing; still warm but bearable. I spot Edward sitting at our usual table. He's the epitome of relaxation. A plain white t-shirt, black cargo shorts and sunglasses make him a magnet for lingering eyes. A few women have not so subtly turned their chairs a little so they can have a better look at him. I can't blame them, I'd do the same. What exhilarates me though is the fact that he doesn't pay attention to it. He just sips his coffee and studies a pamphlet he's holding in his hand.

Another cup sits next to his and I know he's already ordered my macchiato like he's done every morning so I don't have to wait too long. I'm in awe of how considerate he is and it makes him even more awesome in my eyes.

When Edward sees me approaching he gets up immediately. He pulls me in for a hug and a kiss on my cheek. "Hey, gorgeous." His voice is still raspy from sleep and I feel guilty that he's here with me instead of in bed and sleeping.

We take our seats and I immediately reach for my first sip of coffee to fully wake me up. Edward takes off the sunglasses and his eyes look tired.

I put down my cup and sigh. "Why are you doing this, Edward? Why do you get up so early every day? You're on vacation, you should sleep in. And don't tell me you're getting enough sleep. I know for a fact that you don't go to bed before two a.m." Alice told me that he's always the last to head in while the others retire between one or one-thirty in the morning.

"So I miss more time I could spend with you instead?" He sounds sad but challenging.

I smile at him understandingly because I feel the same way, but it thrills me to hear it coming from him nonetheless.

I change the topic to lighter, less depressing stuff and ask about the brochure he'd been reading earlier. "I got this from the tourist office. I was looking for a place for a getaway. And they gave me this." He hands it to me and I recognize it as a region map that features attractions, hotels, and other places worth seeing in our immediate proximity.

"Nice," I say unenthusiastically. "You want to go away for a few days?" I want to add "without me?" but refrain from it. I don't want to seem clingy but it confuses me considering he just admitted he felt he isn't spending enough time with me.

He chuckles. "No, not me. That's for Alice and Jasper."

"Oh!" My surprise and relief at his words must be showing on my face because Edward gives me his trademark intense stare.

"Did you think that after I just confessed getting up this early to spend time with you that I'd just go away for a few days?" I shrug, not really intending to confess exactly that. "You're crazy, you know that? If I decided to go on a mini vacation during my vacation I'd take you with me, silly girl."

"I'm sorry, Edward. I don't know what's wrong with me," I apologize. "You must think I'm…"

"Hey, stop it, Izi," Edward interrupts me. "I'm thinking nothing, ok?" He smiles so I know he isn't really annoyed with me. "And this," he says, holding up the pamphlet, "is for my sister. It's for Jasper, actually. I'll tell you about it but you can't tell Alice."

"I won't," I promise. "I'm curious now, Edward. What's going on?"

"Six months ago Jasper asked Alice to marry him and Alice said yes, of course. They haven't set a date yet but Jasper wants them to have the wedding here. She doesn't know about it and Jasper has been arranging things since before we got here."

"That's so exciting," I say smiling.

"He brought all the papers he'll need for the priest since both want to be married in the church. He set a date with Don Pave and they are getting married in two weeks."

"Don Pave is the coolest priest we ever had in our parish. I didn't doubt he would make it happen."

"Good. Anyway, all Jasper needs now is a great place for a short honeymoon. I was hoping you could help with that."

"Of course I'll help," I assure him and drink from my now lukewarm coffee.

"Great! My parents arrive on Monday and I thought you could talk with Esme, my mom about this."

I almost spit out my coffee when he mentions his mom. "What?"

"Yeah," he says sheepishly. "I forgot to mention that they're arriving next week, did I?"

"Edward, I can't meet your parents." I fiddle nervously with my cup, almost knocking it over.

"Why not?" He looks genuinely puzzled.

"Because for me meeting the parents means that…," I stop speaking, trying to figure out how to explain it.

"It's serious between us?" Edward finishes the sentence for me. I smile apologetically but I'm instantly stunned at his expressionless face.

"I see," he says with a strained smile and quickly finishes his coffee. "I'm sorry, I gotta go. I, um, I need to buy something for Alice and she's waiting." He calls for the waiter and pays for both our beverages before he leans down to kiss my cheek. "I'll talk to you later."

I'm too baffled to comprehend that he's just left me here alone. What the fuck just happened?

ooo

I'm sitting in my bedroom after I finished doing my neighbor's hair. It's been three hours since Edward left me in the café. He hasn't texted or called and I feel like my world is falling apart. I've been trying to figure out what happened, what caused the one-eighty turn in his mood.

I look at the phone in my hand, willing it to come alive with a text or call but nothing happens. I unlock it with a shaky hand and look at the cursor that's waiting, blinking up at me to fill the empty space with words.

I'm sorry. - I, I finally type out.

Minutes pass before he replies.

For what? - E

For upsetting you? - I

It's the only reason I can think of for his impromptu departure this morning. I know I've upset him, I just don't know how and why.

You didn't. - E

It's a lie. I saw it on his face but I let it be.

Do you want to hang out later? - I

Another two agonizing minutes pass before I hear from him again.

I can't today. I'll see you tomorrow morning. - E

And there it is. The proof that something isn't right considering he's never let an opportunity to see me slip through his fingers.

I don't reply. I just sit with my phone in my hand and tears in my eyes.

There's a knock on my door and I quickly dry my tears before I offer the person to come in.

"Izabela honey..." My mom is immediately on her knees in front of me when she sees my tears. "What happened?"

"Nothing," I lie and look at my hands.

"I don't believe you," she says and turns my head with her finger under my chin. "What did he do?"

I gape at her words. "Why do you automatically assume it has something to do with a guy?"

My mom laughs and shakes her head. "I'm your mother, I just know these things," she says with a grin. "And it's possible that someone's seen you with a handsome man," she adds and winks while I roll my eyes at the "someone" who can't watch their own business. "Well? Who is he?"

I need to talk to someone and my mom has always been real and understanding. "His name is Edward. I met him last week on the beach." She nods and waits for me to continue. "He's the grandson of Ante Bilić, Niko Bilić's brother. Do you remember Niko?"

"Vaguely," she says. "I think I was still too young to remember. But wait a second. This Edward? Is he from the States?" I nod and look at her curiously.

"Don't tell me he's the son of Esme and Carlisle?" My mom's eyes take on an excited look.

I look at her incredulously. "How do you know his parents?"

"Your dad and I met them years ago when he took me to dinner for my birthday," she explains. "Very nice people. They were sitting next to us and somehow the night ended with our tables put together, talking and laughing."

I'm so excited about what my mom's just told me that I want to call Edward and share everything with him when I remember his brush off earlier. The smile leaves my face and heart breaks all over again. My mom, always the observant one, takes my hand and squeezes it. "You like that boy?"

"I've fallen in love, mom. I've fallen in love so badly." My confession surprises me since it's the first time I voiced it out loud, much less thought it for myself. It doesn't make it less true though.

"And what about him?"

"I don't know." I feel the tears building again and my mom cups my cheek.

"Whoever's responsible for the smile you've been carrying around these days can't be a bad person." She kisses my cheek. "Everything is going to be ok, you'll see." My mother - always an optimist.

When she leaves the room I throw myself onto my bed and finally let my tears fall freely. I'm too scared that what Edward and I had has ended today. That the proverbial other shoe has finally dropped.

ooo

To say I slept more than three hours last night would be an exaggeration. I tossed and turned, dreading today's trip. Dreading to see Edward is more like it. It's caused me to almost oversleep this morning. Still, I'm just in time to join the gang. Alice and Jasper are talking to the skipper, Emmett and Roza are in their own world and Edward… He's standing with his hands in his pockets and his back to me. He's looking out at the sea with his sunglasses on, lost in his own thoughts.

"Izi!" Roza sees me first and runs to me. My eyes are on the beautiful boy who's turned around but isn't looking back at me. Somehow he finds his flip flop clad feet more fascinating than me. I don't know what I thought would happen once we saw each other but ignoring me was not it.

"Napokon," (Finally) Roza says and pulls at my arm. "Izi's here, we can go now."

Alice and Jasper get on the boat first, followed by Emmett and Roza. Edward motions for me to go first but says nothing. I want to cry because his indifference hurts like hell. I look for a place to sit when I feel his presence behind me.

"We need to talk," he whispers into my ear.

Only one scenario that starts with these four words comes to mind and it makes me want to cry all over again.

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Mate (it's pronounced Maahteh) is another form of Matej (Mahtey) which in turn would be known to the English speaking population as Matthew. And Pave is another form of Pavao which would be known as Paul. I hope my explanations make sense ;)