Six
Bella
He'd looked at them. For a decent few seconds.
Staring in the mirror at my chest I wonder what he thought.
Did he find them enticing?
I didn't have Pamela Anderson boobs. But I also had some shape. I could fill out a C cup.
Was he into me?
He's a man. Men love boobs. He was probably tired and stressed.
Sighing I start the shower and move under the spray of the warm water. Effectively moaning at the warm bliss hitting my back.
I wash off the scent of baby vomit. Each second I'm closer and closer to a level of freshness I desire.
After I step out and wrap myself in a towel. Stare at myself a little longer in the mirror before deciding it's time to get over it.
But I can't
Because the second I step out into the hallway, I'm bumping into Edward. While in a towel.
This time he's shirtless.
This time I'm staring.
"Hey," he looks down at me, "you all okay?"
"Yep! All clean," I say.
He'd seen me make the journey from our shared bathroom to my room in a towel before. This time I feel weird. Under a new lense. I feel a level of self consciousness I've never felt before.
"Your sweater is in the washing machine," he says, "do I tumble dry it?"
"Yeah. I can do that though," I say, "it's really not that big of a drama."
"He'll probably wake up soon. I'll stay up," he shakes his head.
"You should really get some sleep," I shake my head, "I can feed him again."
"Bells," he smiles warmly, "I've got it."
"I guess I could use the extra sleep. I'll get up with him in the morning," I nudge his arm, as I begin to move past him.
"Alice is going to have drinks tomorrow at hers. We'll take him with us to introduce him," he grabs onto my arm before I can fully pass by, "does that work?"
"Sounds good to me. How much time off work did you get?" I ask.
"Six weeks," he says, "they were understanding. Kind about it."
"Okay, perfect. You need that time," I nod.
For a moment we stand there. Silent. Just staring at one another in different states of undress. Waiting to see who will break first. He still holds my arm… my heart too!
The first move is made by neither of us.
Wilbur lets out a long wail from Edward's room.
"That's for me," he smiles.
Little cock block.
"Stop fiddling," I nudge Edward's hand.
We stand in the elevator of Alice's apartment building. He plays with the handle of the pram, squeezing and drumming at the rubber around the metal bar.
"Sorry," he whispers, "I'm just nervous."
"I get that. But you managed to totally win your parents over," I say.
"I'm just… their opinion means a lot to me," he looks at me, "they're my siblings."
"They love you Edward," I shake my head, "they'll be supportive. Oh, did you hear from the lawyer?"
Carlisle had agreed to provide Edward with lawyers to help with a custody battle. Considering Carlisle's wealth, these lawyers would be war horses to anything Tanya could ever muster.
"They called this morning," he nods, "they're going to start pulling things together. They said they were invested."
"I mean that's nice," I say.
As the door opens he wheels the pram into the hall.
"They seem to think it'll be an easy win," he says, "considering she abandoned him but also didn't tell me about it."
"Totally," I nod, "not much motherly love at all."
"You've given him more in a few days," he says to me, "dependable and you even make his daddy laugh."
Heat floods to my cheeks. It wasn't a huge compliment. But it made me feel warm.
"Perhaps you're just easy to impress," I shrug.
This fucker.
He looks me up and down. Blatantly checks me out.
"I wouldn't say it's that," he smirks, before turning to Alice's door.
He just… that was flirting. He flirted.
Before I can smack him on the back of the head and demand what he was doing. Perhaps even have a flirt back, Alice is pulling open her door.
She immediately stops at the sight of the pram.
"Huh?" She tilts her head.
"Hey to you too," Edward says, "move out of the way."
"Oh so we're going to pretend this is normal," Alice glances at me, "like you're not standing there looking just like Mary Poppins."
She steps back, letting Edward through. As I pass she gives me a look as if I can fill her in with an expression.
"Hey man… oh," Jasper stands in the kitchen, a knife and lemon in his hands, "how long has it been since we've seen you?"
"I don't know a lot about gestational periods but I'm certain a week is too little," Alice moves to stand by Edward, looking into the pram, "who'd you knock up?"
"If you guys would stop… I'll explain when Emmett and Rose arrive," Edward sighs.
"Beer?" Jasper asks.
Edward and I both nod enthusiastically. Alcohol would be grand.
"Can you have it Bells? What with milk and stuff?" Jasper motions at his chest with his hand.
I want to smack him. Intelligence might make its way in there if I shove it with a bit of knuckle force.
"It's not mine," I practically shout, "my boobs are milk free."
"Really cause they seem perky," Alice looks at my chest.
Maybe Edward hadn't been looking because he wanted me? Maybe it's this whole family that's screwed up.
"I am not breastfeeding anybody," I glared at her, "get me two beers."
Jasper nods, not willing to take us all to word war.
Settling into the couch, Edward cradled Wilbur in his lap, foot stretched out and on his sister's coffee table.
"I'm calling Emmett," Alice grabs for her phone, "I'm sick of waiting."
"Alice," Edward groans.
She's already holding the phone to her ear. But it's pointless. Because her brother comes crashing through the door, laughing at Rosalie who walks in behind him grinning.
"Sorry we're late," she throws her handbag down, pulls her coat off.
"Rosalie was making the Uber driver visibly uncomfortable," Emmett takes her coat from her, placing it on the coat stand by the door.
"He dared me," she gasps, "he told me to pretend to start a fight about not wanting to come to a swinger party tonight."
Emmett laughs loudly again.
We're not paying attention though. Because little Wilbur's attempting to find the new noise. His small green eyes dart around the room, hands moving in reaction to the new sound.
"He's cute," Jasper says.
"Oh sure ignore my story," Emmett scoffs.
When they both round the couch and spot Edward, they equally still.
Rosalie recovers the quickest. She loves children.
"Oh my goodness," she gasps loudly, "look at this little angel. Edward! Who is this handsome bubba?"
She moves toward Edward, taking Wilbur from his arms to cuddle him. Taking a seat beside Edward she makes funny facial expressions and looks each inch of him over.
"We've been waiting to tell you all together," Edward says, "this is Wilbur."
"Like the pig?" Alice raises an eyebrow.
"No," Edward glares at his sister, "he's actually your nephew. You're an Aunty. Tanya kept only the largest secret in the world from me before dumping it on my doorstep the other night. That's why I skipped your birthday, Em."
Emmett's eyes are glued on Rose, still fussing over the baby. He's shocked. But not for the reason the others are. His expression has softened.
"She dumped a baby on your doorstep?" Rosalie's head snaps to Edward.
"She did," he nods.
"That mother fucker," angry Rose is terrifying, "if I ever run into her I'll beat her ass."
"I'll hold her down for you," I mutter.
"I can't believe it," Alice moves toward Rose, crouching down before her for a closer look, "did you tell pappy and mama?"
Alice had given them weird names as a kid. Esme and Carlisle adored it.
"They were shocked but excited," Edward nods.
"They're going to spoil him rotten," Rosalie tickles his tummy, "you deserve it though because you're the sweetest boy in the whole world!"
Alice holds her hands out.
"My turn. He's my nephew," she wiggles her fingers as if she's about to devour a steak.
"I want him back," Rosalie hands him over, "I love babies."
"Since when?" Emmett asks.
"My mother owned a childcare," Rosalie looks at him.
"Rose has always adored children," I say, "she use to babysit at the drop of a hat for the neighbourhood kids. They all loved her."
Rosalie and I went back decades. We'd grown up together. Sleepovers and heartbreaks were the foundations of our solid friendship.
"Maybe if you asked each other questions between the sex you'd find things out about one another," Jasper is amused.
"Shut up," Emmett sends him an icy look.
"Stop talking about sex infront of my baby nephew," Alice says, now rocking the baby absentmindedly around the space.
Emmett moves closer to his sister so he can get a better look. He offers his hand for Wilbur to take. His finger is giant in Wilbur's hold.
"He's so tiny," Alice smiles wildly, "how adorable are his little chubby cheeks. Oh Edward I love him already."
"He's a charmer," Edward smiles.
"How are you coping? Do you need anything?" Rosalie asks.
"Bella's been extraordinarily amazing. She's gotten everything for him," Edward nods, "I'd have been lost without her."
"Because she's a saint," Rosalie smiles at me, "but should you ever need a babysitter know that I shot gun."
"Hey!" Alice shrieks.
"What?" Rose looks to her confused.
"I shot gun. He's my nephew," she narrows her eyes.
Rosalie smirks at me. She knows. She knows how I feel about him. So I know what she's about to do. She's about to cause chaos because she does that when she smiles like that and…
"Why don't Alice and I both take him tomorrow night to get some Aunty time in. You two take a break," Rosalie says, "take her to dinner Edward."
I'm impressed.
"That actually sounds nice," Edward looks at me, "what do you say?"
"It would be nice to have a breath of air," I agree.
"Then it's a date," Rosalie claps.
Edward and I give her the same look.
"Between Wilbs, Alice and I," Rosalie shakes her head knowing the correction is a lie, "not you two. You guys are just friends, right?"
Neither of us answer her. Awkwardly looking at our laps.
"Anyway," Jasper slowly sounds out, "I think it's great news! You'll make an excellent dad, Edward. I'm excited to be the favourite uncle."
"Oh. Oh no," Emmett looks at Jasper, "you did not just drop that bomb."
"Boom," Jasper mimics dropping a mic with his hand.
"It's fucking on," Emmett points at him.
"A point deducted for swearing in front of the child," Jasper points at Emmett.
"Fuck you," Emmett mouths at Jasper.
"Ref," Jasper looks at Edward.
"He whispered it that time," Edward shrugs, "besides he can't understand you."
"Fine. Emmett you're a dick," Jasper points at Emmett.
"You're both idiots," Rosalie rolls her eyes.
The four of them take turns to snuggle and coo over the baby. We joke and we bond. Our little group of six becoming a wonderful seven.
When I'm in bed that night I'm smiling up at the ceiling.
Something had shifted. Not just because we had a newborn now living underneath our roof. There was something else. I knew that it was huge too because I couldn't put my finger on it. There is no name for it. Yet at least.
Maybe there's a part of me sick of holding back from Edward. By some miracle he might have that too. He might… just might… think I'm more than that friend that's like a sister.
Even if he didn't, it's about time he knew I don't think of him like a brother.
Friends don't want to do to each other what I want to do to him.
Thanks.