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"I can't believe I'm turning twenty-seven. My life is, like… over."
Rose is standing in front of her full-length mirror, inspecting the non-existent lines around her eyes. We're going out tonight to celebrate her birthday, but she's been in a shitty mood all day, complaining about this and that: her hips are too wide, her complexion isn't glowing, her hair is suddenly thinning. All of which happened overnight, the minute she aged. All of which aren't true.
"You realize obsessing over your age is cliché, right?" I lean into the mirror, attempting to fix my eyeshadow. "You're only a day older than you were yesterday."
"You realize you can't pull off the smokey-eye look, right?"
I drop my hand and stare at her through the mirror. "I know you're just grouchy because you're a year older than me, and you haven't eaten yet today so you can fit into your dress, but seriously. Chill the fuck out."
"You're right. Sorry. I hate birthdays."
I know she's lying, but I don't call her out. She shines a smile my way before disappearing to get dressed.
Around seven, Edward walks through her front door with birthday wishes and a bottle of champagne. I haven't seen him in a week, since that embarrassing night in his car, and the sight of him catches me off guard. Not because I wasn't expecting him to be here. Of course, I was. I just wasn't expecting to be affected by his presence. Because he's all smiles, all clean-shaven face, all man. His jeans are dark, his shirt is light and crisp. He's cleaned up, really fucking well. He and Rose have only been dating for two months, but this is the first time I've seen him like this.
"Whoa. Your face," I blurt out.
He grins, running a hand over his chin. "Guess you've never seen me without a beard, huh?"
"Can I just say that your jaw is scarily sharp? Because it is."
He laughs lightly. "I almost didn't recognize you without blood on your shirt."
I press my lips together in a smile, trying not to laugh. "Good one. Really great of you to bring that up. I wasn't trying to suppress that memory or anything."
Rose appears by his side, grabbing his face and kissing him. "Edward's gift to me is a shaved face." She wipes her lipstick from under his mouth. "I can't stand his beard, and he knows it."
"Well, clearly shaving was a bad idea if Bella's reaction was any indication."
"What? No, I was just caught off guard. You look great. I mean, I like the beard, too, though."
He slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans, raising his brows. "Yeah?"
"I… yeah. I don't know."
"Well, you aren't the one who has to deal with beard-burn, so whatever," Rose chimes in, kissing him again.
Her phone begins ringing, and I take the opportunity to sneak into the kitchen. Seeing them together doesn't usually spark anything in me, but tonight I'm burning with something akin to jealousy. I smile, though, and pop open the bottle of champagne, pour three glasses, and sincerely cheers Rose. Because I'm not that friend. I can't be the girl who pines for someone who isn't hers.
After dinner, a group of us head to the whiskey bar down the street. It's crowded, loud, and overpriced, but we manage to find an empty booth to claim, mostly to use as an area for us to leave our purses and jackets.
After obligatory birthday shots are consumed, everyone kind of disperses into their own little groups, including Rose. And that's how I find myself sitting in the booth alone with Edward.
"How's it going over there?" he asks from across the table.
I drain the last of my beer, scanning the crowd. "It's… going."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm good. Why?"
"You've been acting funny all night. And speaking… with… lots of… pauses. So, I was just wondering."
I awkwardly wave him off. "I'm good."
"Want another beer? Or would you rather have a Bloody Mary?"
He's funny, I'll give him that. "You're such a fucker," I say, beginning to relax.
When he laughs, he keeps his gaze on me. "Sorry. I'll stop."
"Nah. It's fine." I shake my head. "I don't like Bloody Marys."
Edward cocks his head to the side. "I didn't know that about you."
I hold his gaze. "I'm sure there are a lot of things you don't know about me."
"Well, that's because you don't talk much when I'm around," he shoots back.
"That's not true. I just don't talk about myself."
His eyes flick downward, focusing on the empty pint glass he spins between his fingers. "That's a shame."
My stomach flutters, and I'm trying to think of a smart-ass remark when a drunk Rose slides into the booth, next to Edward. Her equally inebriated co-worker, Jasper, trails behind her, places two shots of tequila on the table, then sits next to me.
"Hey, girl. How's your night?"
My face doesn't hide my disinterest. He's cute, I guess. If you can get past the whole is-he-or-isn't-he-wearing-a-wig thing. And I know he's been trying to hit on me all night, which is why I've been purposely avoiding him. Because I don't want another hookup. Not right now. I want someone to engage in a conversation, and to really look at me. But I'd settle for someone who didn't bleed on me.
"My night's…" I pause, catching Edward's smirk, "pretty good."
Jasper nudges my shoulder. "How about we change that pretty good to pretty great?"
I disguise my laugh as a cough. "As appealing as that sounds, I'm gonna have to pass."
Rose attempts to kick me under the table, gives me a pointed look when I say "ow," then announces that she and Edward will be right back.
"They're definitely gonna go bang in the bathroom," Jasper snorts once they're gone.
His words sober me. "Yeah."
He recalls a time when he fucked in a bathroom, downs both shots, then very bluntly questions if I want to go back to his place. I stare at him in disbelief, because I've done and said absolutely nothing to make him think I would ever want to leave with him.
"This," I gesture between us, "isn't going to happen."
He doesn't look deterred. "Rose said you'd be down."
"Right. Well, I think it's time for me to leave."
I grab my phone to request an Uber, shove Jasper out of the booth, and make my way outside to find Edward standing against the wall, smoking.
His smile is sheepish as he says, "Don't tell Rose."
"Hm, I don't know. What's in it for me?" I tease.
He watches me for a long minute. "What do you want?"
I try to hold his gaze as long as I can before it becomes too much. "Well… you could break Jasper's ankles for me," I suggest, trying to lighten the mood.
He barks out a deep laugh. "Done."
"Yeah? You don't even want a minute to think it over?"
"Nope," he dismisses and blows smoke away from me. "Don't have to."
"Shall we shake on it? Just so I know you won't back out."
He puts out his cigarette and holds out his hand, reaching for mine. We shake, and I immediately begin laughing.
"This is an official moment," he jokingly scolds. "Get it together."
A car pulls up next to the curb, and I quickly pull my hand from his.
"That's my Uber," I say.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah. I don't think I should be on the premises if I'm having you commit a crime."
"Right." He nods. "Too suspicious."
"I'm sure I'll see you soon."
"Hopefully not in court."
"Hopefully not," I echo, before getting into the car.
When I get home, I talk to my roommate, Angela, for a few minutes, giving her a recap of the night. I tell her about Jasper the skeeze, and how Rose told him I'd be down to hook-up. Angela merely rolls her eyes and says Rose needs to get over herself.
I wash my face and change into comfy clothes, crawling into bed. And just before I doze off, my phone lights up with a friend request from Edward Cullen.
Y'all are seriously the best. Thank you for readinggggg.
I held Kim hostage and made her spend way too much time with me on this chapter. So. I'm sorry? And thank you? And forgive me.