Was I supposed to dress up? Should I just wear jeans? I threw myself on my unmade bed with a loud sigh.

"This is impossible." I muttered, "I should have asked him exactly what we were doing. I'm not good at this shit, I don't date." I shut my eyes and took a deep breath before sitting up and wandering back to the small closet. Digging for a minute I pulled out a deep, pink, button down blouse and a black, high-waisted, flouncy skirt that fell just above my knees. I paired the outfit with an old pair of strappy heels and stood in front of the crooked mirror on the back of my closet door inspecting the look I'd chosen. Simple, sweet, I twisted and looked at the back over my shoulder, damn, my legs looked good in these shoes.

In a moment of absurd confidence, I unbuttoned the top three buttons on my blouse, the small elephant charm I wore around my neck played peekaboo in the fabric. My hair was pulled back in a messy bun and I actually took some time with my eye makeup.

Using my phone, I took a photo of my reflection and sent it off to Rose for approval.

Rosie- Fuck hot, lady! Knock 'em dead. Can't wait to hear about your night. xoxox

Grinning with excitement, I grabbed a small black handbag and filled it with essentials, taking one final peek at myself in the mirror, I left the small apartment and walked the three blocks over to the laundromat.

I turned the final corner only half a block from the laundromat and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Edward waiting out front. He looked so handsome as he peeked at his watch and twirled a small bouquet of wildflowers in his other hand.

"Hi." I smiled when he lifted his gaze to mine; his clear green eyes sparkled in the streetlights.

"Bella, you look absolutely stunning."

"I could say the same for you." He wore black pants, a grey button down shirt with the top button open and pair of black dress shoes.

"These are for you." Edward handed me the bouquet of vibrant flowers.

"Thank you."

We stood staring at each other for a minute before he took my hand and smiled again.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I laughed and let out a breath that I didn't realize I'd been holding.

We walked around the side of the laundromat to a back entrance.

"Ummm- " I eyeballed the old steel door.

"Trust me?"

"Yes."

"Well then," he held the door and I stepped inside. The room was filled with shelves and parts to fix washers and dryers, to the right was an old staircase, the white linoleum was chipped and scuffed.

"Up we go."

Edward took my hand again and we walked up three flights of stairs, past a few more office doors to an emergency exit.

"The alarm is off," Edward said as he pushed the door open to the night sky.

Stepping out of the building onto the roof I took in the twinkling white lights that were strung across part of the roof in a canopy over a small picnic table draped in a black cloth.

"Wow," walking forward I noticed the empty flower vase at the side of the table, "For these?"

"I figured you'd want a place to put them until we were done."

I set the flowers into the glass and looked around once more. Music played softly from a small stereo where he had his phone docked and there was what looked to be a food card with several covered trays.

"After you." Edward encouraged me to sit at the table before pouring a glass of wine for each of us.

"Wine is okay?"

"Oh yes. Wine is perfect," I replied, sipping from the glass. Being on an actual date was a lot more nerve-wracking than chatting and doing laundry.

"Great," he set the bottle down and reached for a tray, lifting the lid from a plate of what looked like lasagna.

"Oh dear lord, my favorite."

Edward laughed, "I take it you approve of dinner?"

"More than you know."

"Well," he continued as he placed a small salad alongside the lasagna dish, "You should know that I did not make this myself. I know a guy," he said with a wink.

"Well, it smells like the guy knows what he's doing."

After Edward sat, I couldn't help but dig in and notice right away that this particular lasagna was familiar in a way that left me slightly speechless.

"Umm, your guy that you know, where does he work?"

"Well, he's actually the owner of a restaurant, Bella Cigna, have you been?" He paused a moment and laughed. "I promise I didn't pick it because of the name. I've been eating there for years, the owner, Charlie, great guy, sells the beer that I brew."

"Okay. Wait one second," I put my fork down. "You've been coming to Bella Cigna for years? They sell your beer?"

"Yes. Are you okay?"

"Yeh, no, I'm fine. It's just that Charlie is my dad."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeh, the Beautiful Swan, Bella Cigna, that's my dad's restaurant. This is his lasagna, I'd know it anywhere."

"What a small world, Bella Swan. And now I know why that green crayon scribbling of you name in that Calvin and Hobbes book sounded familiar."

Edward steepled his fingers, resting his chin on their tips.

"Small world indeed, Edward...?"

"Cullen. Edward Cullen."

"You wouldn't happen to be the owner of the best IPA in town, I believe the label reads, 'London Calling'?"

"Now I am impressed," an amused smile spread across his handsome face as he sat forward, "Yes, that would be mine."

"I love it."

"I'm glad that you do."

"Wow. This is so surreal. My dad is going to wax poetic about fate and my mom is going to have us married with two point five children in no time."

I blinked a few times before realizing I had actually said that out loud.

"I'm sorry. No. I mean, I didn't mean to say that out loud." I groaned and stared at the plate of food now taunting me as my mortification grew. "I'm not looking to trap you in a marriage with kids or anything like that. I'm not desperate to get married. I'm just making this worse; my foot is already in my mouth, may as well add another. My god shut up, woman!" I rested my forehead in my palm and bemoaned my horrible nervousness.

"Bella, it's fine." Edward was laughing softly. "Really, I don't mind."

His hand touched mine and I looked up at him.

"You're really pretty when you blush."

Immediately my hands went to my cheeks trying to calm the burn.

"Yes, blotchiness is in these days." I laughed in spite of myself.

Edward laughed and picked up his wine glass, "To dirty laundry and pretty girls who talk to strange men who love comic books."

"To dirty laundry and pretty boys who talk to awkward girls." I beamed as our glasses touched.