I'm sorry! I didn't realize I ended the chapter with E and B on a cliffie. I was so excited to hear from Rose and all of you yesterday with your, 'Wow, Rose is awesome WHAT DOES EDWARD NEED TO TALK ABOUT' reviews were GIVING ME LIFE. I laughed all day long. Love you guys, thank you!
Fran betas, but I definitely tinkered around with this chapter after she sent it back to me, so all mistakes in this one are on me. Dani, Ariel, and Gemma help keep me sane on this wild ride.
We need to talk.
He doesn't attempt to get down from the ladder, but he does stop what he's doing with his hammer. Tightening my robe again, I walk the few steps it takes to stand next to the ladder.
"Does it have anything to do with what the hell you're doing to my house?" I laugh as he carefully starts to make his way down. "I think we should probably start with that."
Smiling, he settles himself on the ground and points to the side of the cabin where he was just working. "Just another way to put you at ease a little." He looks over at me once again. "And me."
Sure enough, I see what he's been up to this morning while I was busy being a schoolgirl on the phone with Rose in bed. "Cameras."
He nods, and I lose him while he explains the specifics of this new surveillance system he's put in place.
It's not his fault. He doesn't know just how familiar I am with these kinds of systems. As usual, he picks up on the way I've limited myself to just silent nods as he elaborates on the cameras.
"Just so you can see for yourself that there's nothing to worry about out here," Edward says. "And if there ever is, we'll see him coming."
"Yeah, no. I get it. It's fine," I answer, the forced smile on my face not fooling him any longer. He sighs, stuffing his hands in his pockets on my porch.
"I didn't mean to overstep," Edward replies with a sigh. "I just wanted to make you feel safe."
My heart tightens at the word, unprepared at the thought of anyone putting my safety first. I step closer, inhaling as I uncover another layer of myself to him.
"I've spent years on the camera with him watching my every move. I could barely go a step in any direction without him watching me from wherever he was." I shudder at the memory. "It's just...different to be on the other side of the camera this time. Watching for him."
He nods as he tries to grasp another piece of my past. One day, I'll tell him everything. But for now, he's content with whatever I'm ready to give. He looks over at me. "I'm sorry." The sincerity on his face is touching. "I was just thinking of how it must feel for you to be out here, in a new place without anyone you know. Then I started to think of other areas of safety we could change around here to make you feel like you don't have to constantly look over your shoulder."
"Hey, it's okay. You didn't know. How would you?" I ask softly, stepping close to him so now we're facing each other, my crossed arms almost touching his chest. "I'm also not used to anyone looking out for me like this. I guess it's going to take some getting used to."
Edward nods again, eyeing our heated proximity, and I may die if he touches me.
"Promise to let me know if I make you uncomfortable again?"
The last promise I made was to someone else at an altar I never should have been on.
But this is a promise I like. One that doesn't scare me.
I nod. "Promise."
He smiles and rubs a nervous hand on the back of his neck. "So should I tell you now what else I've done to keep you safe? Or can it wait?"
I don't give him a choice when I slink my arms around his waist, his hands coming up to my face with a knowing grin.
Before his lips land on mine, I whisper against his mouth. "It can wait."
So can everything else for now.
See you tomorrow!