oOo
Bella equipped him with a spare toothbrush and a towel once she returned from the bathroom.
It was clearly a girl's bathroom, filled with bottles and lotions and pink stuff. The air was steamy from the shower Bella had taken.
Edward brushed his teeth and splashed his face with cold water. He looked awful, and he didn't even want to know what Bella thought of him now. Well, actually, he did.
He shook his head at his reflection in the mirror.
He should be embarrassed, he guessed, for crying like a baby. But Bella hadn't given him the impression that she thought less of him because of it.
And he felt lighter than he had in a long time.
Lighter, light-headed, and thoroughly tired.
He pulled off his jeans and flannel, leaving him in boxers and T-shirt.
He wondered where he'd sleep.
She'd made it clear that she wasn't one for any funny business, not that his thoughts were headed that direction.
Bella was too precious. She deserved nothing but courtesy and respect and honesty and care and… love.
Had he shown her any of that? He'd made her feel like second best, like a distraction. He'd kept glorifying Irina and had taken Bella for granted. When in reality, she'd been the greatest gift he could ever hope to receive. Even with his assoholic behaviour, she hadn't dumped him, but patiently borne his tumults and tantrums.
That just would not do anymore.
Edward opened the door.
Bella had dimmed the light in her room. Her bed was behind a pale blue curtain, and he could see a lamp glow behind it.
"Bella?" he said softly.
The curtain was pulled to the side, revealing her, sitting up in bed with a book.
"Hey," she smiled.
"Hey." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, where do you want me to…"
She patted the empty space next to her.
"Are… Are you sure?"
"Well, where would you like to sleep, Edward? The bathtub?"
"No." He laughed hoarsely before he followed her invitation.
God, her sheets felt amazing, all soft and smooth.
She smiled at him. She'd pulled her hair into a ponytail. She was wearing a very oversized white T-shirt. Even with the distance between them, she smelled wonderful; all clean and girly.
"Do I need to set the alarm for tomorrow?" she asked.
He shook his head, and she grinned.
"Great! I don't need to go anywhere, either." She stretched her arms.
Edward may have cried on her like a baby, but the fact was, he was a man. And the way her full breasts, clearly braless, looked under that shirt…
He cleared his throat.
"D'you want a book?" she asked, as if it were completely natural that he was next to her, in her bed.
"No." He shook his head. "Thank you."
He pulled the sheets over his shoulder and turned to his side.
He watched her as she read, the warm light from the lamp making her hair shimmer like a chestnut.
Like that chestnut she'd given him, the day of their walk…
He still had it. It was on his bedside table.
His eyes were drooping.
The sound of paper as she turned the pages was soothing.
At some point, there was a low sound, and it became dark, but Edward hardly noticed it.
He was carried away on soft clouds.
oOo