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We get to Edward's place a little after six, when the sky's turning pink and red. His house is quiet and empty, and significantly cleaner than the last time I was here.
"Where's Jess?" I ask, kicking off my sneakers.
He turns on a lamp in the living room. "Spain."
"Seriously?"
"Grad trip from her parents. Do you want beer?"
"Only if it's the beer you brew."
He gives me a quick, sideways smile. "Are you good with IPA?"
"Always. I'm gonna order the pizza real fast. Is Pagliacci okay or should I get it from somewhere else?"
He whistles. "You're getting the fancy stuff."
"I figure it'd be rude to thank you for all your hard work by ordering Pizza Hut."
"I'm no pizza snob, by any means. I'll eat anything." He grabs two empty pint glasses from the cabinet. "But get what you want."
I pull up the menu on my phone and scan it for a minute or two, until he comes back with our beer. I rattle off a few pizzas, telling him I don't care what we get as long as it doesn't include pineapple because I can't stand savory and sweet together, especially when it's fruit and tomato sauce. People who like it are not right in the head. Edward chuckles at this, but doesn't agree, telling me to choose.
"Do you like mushrooms?" I ask, staring at my phone as he hums his approval. "What about olives, garlic, and oh my god, goat cheese? I'm dying here." Again, he nods. "Don't let me make this decision. Come on. What's your favorite pizza?"
"Hawaiian."
I give him a sad smile. "I'm a dick. We can order two pizzas."
"You're not a dick. Maybe a little harsh when it comes to Hawaiian pizza lovers. But not a dick."
I quickly order us each a pizza before following him into the living room. He sits on the couch, watching me stare at his things. There aren't many pictures around, and the ones that are out are mostly of Jess and her friends. I find one, though, with Edward in it. He's crouched down with a group of smiling children wearing soccer uniforms.
"Where is this?" I ask, picking up the frame to get a closer look.
"Japan."
"You look so cute," I muse, smiling to myself as I set the photo back down and sit next to him.
"Cute, huh?"
"Yeah. Like really happy."
"That was back in 2011. I was there for work."
"What's the organization you work for called again?" I question, as if I haven't been stalking him on Facebook.
"Architecture for Humanity," he says, taking a drink. "After the tsunami, a lot of the schools and playgrounds were re-purposed as sites for temporary housing, so the kids didn't have access to sports. This man," he points at the other guy in photo, "was a local rice farmer and he donated his farmland so we could build a sports park for the local kids."
"Did you coach the kids?"
His eyes squint when he laughs. "No. I mean, I played with them during our down time. I was in no position to teach them anything. It was a lot of fun, though."
"How long have you worked there?"
"Uh…" He looks up, thinking. "I started volunteering in 2007, and joined them full-time in 2010."
I do some math in my head, secretly trying to figure out how old he is before I give up and ask. He tells me he's almost thirty, then tugs on the sleeve of my shirt, asking how old I am. I tell him almost twenty-seven, and he says he almost guessed that.
"Only because Rose wasn't happy about being a year older than you," he adds, so casually.
"Right."
I pretend not to flinch at the mention of her, and am about to change the subject when the doorbell rings. Edward's greeted by the pizza guy, and I head over to the door to sign the receipt before excusing myself to the bathroom.
I sit here for a minute, trying to pull myself out of my thoughts, when my gaze lands on something: a blue bottle of Aveda shampoo. It's not anything, but it's everything. Because in a shower filled with cheap brands, this expensive item screams Rose.
I quickly wash my hands, and tell myself I'm being stupid. I know I am. Edward dated Rosalie. Of course her shampoo would be in his shower. But it's like a kick to the gut. An unwelcome reminder that she was with him in ways I haven't been yet.
I'm in a funk while we eat. And it must be obvious because Edward eventually asks what's up. So I tell him.
"Is that Rosalie's shampoo in the shower?" I feel stupid even having him confirm this, but there's still a small chance it's Jess's.
A look of confusion passes over his face for a second. "The blue stuff?" I nod, then he nods. "I keep meaning to throw that out."
"And that's fine." I fold and unfold my napkin a few times before setting it on the table. "I mean, it's only been two weeks since you two broke up. I just didn't think I'd feel weird. But then I saw her shampoo and you mentioned her, and I just—"
"I know it hasn't been long. But if I'm being honest, the last few weeks I was with her, I didn't…" He pauses, brows pulling together, calculating his words. "I was basically with her so I could see you. And that's shitty of me."
"Stop," I groan, covering my face, unsure about the flicker of thrill I feel from his words. Because I know it was shitty of him and I know it's shitty of me, but I don't think I care anymore.
"I want you to know," he murmurs, ignoring my plea to stop. "I started dating her, and things were fine. And I know it makes me an asshole, but things stopped working around the time you started hanging out more. I liked talking to you. You'd say these things that'd catch me off guard." He pulls my hand away from my face, forcing me to look at him. "I had a really hard time not thinking about you, and—"
I lean forward, cutting him off with a kiss. A split second passes, and he's kissing me back. It's rough and insistent and his hand cups the back of my neck. Our lips move together, frantically, and I fist his shirt before he pulls me into his lap. And then, somehow, I'm straddling him.
"Fuck," he breathes out, shifting his hips. I break our kiss, and he attaches his lips to my neck.
He hums, and I close my eyes. His hands run up my back, and I say his name. His movements slow, but his kisses don't stop, and his lips find their way back to mine.
He lifts me up, saying things against my skin, things that make me burn. And then, somehow, we find our way to the couch. I lie back, and he gets on top of me, staring down at me in a way that kills.
I wait for the doubt or the guilt to come, but it doesn't.
And then, somehow, I'm having sex with Edward.
