Last one for today, catch you again tomorrow!

Chapter 4 - The Days To Come

I woke up the next morning still in shock that I'd done that. Edward had offered to walk me down to my apartment around one am, but I was too comfortable on his couch to move. He'd laughed and covered me with the thick cable knit blanket and kissed my forehead.

In the light of day, which was streaming through his floor to ceiling windows, a tiny part of me wondered if it was smart to get involved with someone at work. Especially when their name was on the building. Well, not really, but it was on the letterhead.

From everything I could tell in the silent apartment, Edward was still fast asleep.

I didn't want to wake him, but I also didn't want to just slip out as I made my not so shameful "Walk of Shame."

So I looked around until I found a notepad and left him a note.

Edward,

Thank you for a wonderful night.

Bella

Satisfied with not saying too much, I folded the blanket, put the empty champagne bottle on the corner of the note so it wouldn't fly away, then headed to the elevator to return to my place.

On the way down, my phone pinged.

I'm back in Seattle and need to catch up! Alice texted.

Come over and bring something to eat. We absolutely need to catch up.

I jumped in the shower while waiting for Alice, then picked up some around the apartment. I was about to get comfortable on the couch when there was a knock at the door. I opened it and was immediately pulled into a hug by Alice.

"I've missed you!"

"Me too. I'm sure you have a lot to tell me about the holidays with the Whitlocks."

"Girl, you don't even know—"

"Bella?" Edward's voice called from down the hall, sounding a little frantic.

I turned to see him looking sleep-rumpled and absolutely sexy in his outfit from last night. "Edward, is everything okay?"

"I don't know. I woke up and saw your note. But other than knowing you lived on this floor, I didn't have a way to contact you."

"What the—" Alice started towards him, but I caught her around the waist.

"Down, tiger," I whispered before turning back to Edward. "Come inside. This is Alice, the friend I was telling you about."

They exchanged awkward waves before I led Alice in and she began to take out our food and set it up on the kitchen island, much like Edward had the night before. Edward followed behind sheepishly, not saying a word.

"I'm sorry. When I left the note, I didn't think that you didn't have my number. Give me your phone and I'll program it in there for you."

Edward did as I asked, that boyish grin returning to his face. "So you didn't bolt because you had second thoughts?"

"No. If I was having second thoughts, I would have talked to you. I didn't want to wake you, so I thought I'd just leave and I'd see you around."

I handed the phone back to Edward and he shot off a quick text. "Okay, well, I'll let you and Alice enjoy your day."

"I'm going to talk to her about a few of the things we discussed. Are you okay if I give her your number so either she or her husband could reach out to you about finding someone to talk to out here?"

Edward nodded. "Yeah. Thanks again for being supportive of that."

"Absolutely. Have a good day and I'll see you tomorrow at work?"

"Yes. I've got a lot to set up with us moving offices from Chicago, but I think I can make a little trip down to your office."

I gave Edward a quick peck on the cheek and walked him to the door. Knowing Alice would want an explanation for what she just witnessed, I strode into my living room.

"That seemed cozy. A much more pleasant interaction than last year." Alice said. Her tone meant she was going to let me lead the conversation.

"Yes, mainly because he's in a much better place than he was last year."

"He told you that?"

"No. I know how Emmett feels about his brother and his choices in the past, and I listened to what Edward told me, but I drew my own conclusions."

"Go on." She handed me a plate and picked up one she made for herself.

We sat on my couch; that was when I saw the wine glasses she'd set on the coffee table while I was busy with Edward.

"He was in a long-term relationship with Irina Denali. He hasn't said it in so many words, but from what he did say, I think she was emotionally abusive. She manipulated him to be what she wanted in a significant other. From what they ate, to what they did. It caused a rift with his family that he wants to mend, but Emmett seems to lay all the blame on him."

"And what is he willing to do about it?"

"I don't know any specifics. We were a little busy making out, but I told him about my own journey. I mentioned you and Jasper working in the mental health field and he asked if I could give you his number."

"I'm not sure seeing Jasper or I would be the best option," she admitted.

"I don't think he wanted to see either of you, but it was more about someone in the field helping him find the right doctor."

Alice nodded, her expression pensive. "Text me his number. I'll have Jasper talk to him. He'll have better ideas about who would be a good fit."

"Thanks, Alice. It means a lot to me." I looked down at my plate of food, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

"You're not doing this in an effort to fix him, right?" Alice asked, her voice low.

"No. He wants to be in a better place for himself. I've been there, first in my twenties then again last year. But for someone who feels like he's lacking, he makes me feel so special."

"When he isn't saying something insulting," Alice quipped.

"I wish everyone would let that go." I threw my hands up in frustration."He mumbled it because he was dating a bitchy twig and it felt nice to not be cuddled against that for a change."

Alice's eyes went wide. "Okay. Obviously he's made a better impression in the last week. And if you're happy, I'll let you be."

"Thank you. I have a feeling he'll have a harder time giving in to the happiness we can share."

"Well, we'll have to make sure he understands he isn't to blame for how others perceive him, then. He's only responsible for his own actions."

Alice and I talked about her trip, including the excitement with Jasper's family ranch. His cousin was now running it, but his parents still owned a stake in it, which brought a passive income they'd be leaving Jasper someday. They had been worried that an outside buyer would purchase the ranch, so Peter being able to get the money together was the best option for the family. Her joy was contagious, and I was happy to savor that feeling.

Edward texted a few hours after she'd left, saying that Jasper had contacted him to set up an appointment. He told me he'd be in the office early, but would come down to see me if he had time.

The next morning, I took a little extra time getting ready, wanting to look good when I saw Edward. He would probably tell me I looked beautiful regardless, but it made me feel nice.

It was a short walk to the building. I made my way to the office so I could get to work on the spring and summer adverts.

The morning passed without much interaction, but around lunch, I got a message from Edward.

Are you busy tonight?

No. Did you have plans?

I'm hoping to take you out. I had a good first day.

I'd love to. Did you want to pick me up from work or my apartment?

We can leave from the apartment. It'll give you a chance to drop off your bag and freshen up if you want, though I doubt you'll need it.

Charmer. I was planning on leaving soon if you wanted to walk home together.

"That's a smile I haven't seen in a while," Emmett's voice boomed from my doorway.

I dropped my phone, startled, just as it buzzed with Edward's reply. "Are you saying I don't smile enough?"

His brow furrowed as he walked into my office. "No, but you look really happy. What put that smile on your face?"

"You should be asking who?"

"New man in your life?" Emmett asked excitedly. "Do I know him?"

"Bella, are you ready to—" Edward asked. His question died on his lips at the sight of his brother.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave Bella alone?"

"Who are you to tell anyone to leave me alone?" I demanded. I rounded my desk and put myself between them. "You have a lot of nerve passing judgment on Edward when you haven't even bothered to check on him to see how he's doing. Everyone else gets the benefits of your big brother personality, except your actual brother?"

"Bella, you don't under—" Emmett tried to argue, but I stabbed him in the chest with my manicured nail.

"No, you don't understand. And you won't until you take the time to really get to know your brother for the person he is now. But we don't have time for that today, because Edward is taking me out to dinner."

I stalked to my desk and grabbed my bag, purse, and phone. Both men were still frozen in my doorway, so I swatted them out of the way to close the door. I turned my back on Emmett and smiled at Edward.

"Ready to go?"

"Yes," he beamed. Edward waited until we were in the elevator before he spoke again. "Thank you for defending me. It has been a long time since someone has stood up for me like that."

"And that, Edward, is a problem."