"What?! No! I said no such thing."
He laughs, loudly. "Oh, I figured that."
"I said I wanted to bring someone home for Christmas, not that I was going to."
"...who do you want to bring home for Christmas?" He looks so confused that I just want to punch his face in.
"The love of my life." I say, wistfully.
"The love of your life?"
I nod vigorously. "Yes, Garrett. Isabella Marie Swan. The future Mrs. Masen."
To his credit, he doesn't laugh. He just writes in his pad, smiling. Lips upturned. "Edward?"
"What?" I ask, exasperated.
"Son...it's only been three days since you declared your love for the girl. Are you ever going to give the rest of us time to catch up?"
"Well, " I say sheepishly. "She may need more time than I thought." I pick at the couch cushion.
You know, just to avoid the look he's about to give me.
"At least you can acknowledge that. Can you tell me why she needs a little more time than you?"
…
"Edward?"
I sigh. "I told her. Everything."