I love you guys! Almost everyone echoed my "Oh, Edward" remark in the reviews for the last chapter! Thank you for the wonderful support, you make me smile so much.
oOo
"Gosh, I'm tired," Alice sighed. "I never thought this would take us all night."
She leant back and took a sip from her milkshake.
It was late and Bella had agreed to join Alice and Jasper for a tasty after midnight snack at the Burger Palace.
The party had gone longer than anticipated, and especially the cleanup had been tiresome since the club it had taken place at didn't have an elevator. They'd had to carry each and every item down a couple flights of stairs.
All three of them were exhausted. Jasper was inhaling a huge burger and Alice was making her toy from the kids' meal dance across the table – it was a cat in a pink dress.
Bella was nibbling on a fry.
"I'm sorry it ruined your night," Jasper mumbled between two bites of Texas Burger.
"It's okay," she shrugged. "I sent Edward a text earlier and he said he's working. He's pretty nervous about the opening."
"I get that," Alice said. "I was wondering – is this a big, formal thing? I mean, it just says seven p.m. on Saturday…"
"There'll be drinks," Bella said, "and we'll be going on to have dinner afterwards with family and friends."
"Woo-hoo," Alice grinned. "You're have arrived in the world of art, haven't you?"
Bella blushed.
"You know I didn't mean it that way…"
"Of course not, Bella," Jasper assured, wiping his lips with a paper napkin. "We're happy for you. And I have admitted that I was wrong about Edward. He's a great guy, and it's clear that he's not that psycho Emmett told me about… Anyway, that was years ago…."
He seemed to want to go on, but Alice stopped him by shoving a fry in his mouth.
"Oh, shut up, you."
She made the cat dance over Jasper's forearm.
"Let's go home," she grinned. "And enjoy what's left of our Valentine's Day."
Bella sighed, which inspired Alice to purr.
"Don't make that face, Bella-sweetie. The night is still young!"
.
Jasper and Alice gave Bella a ride to Edward's place since it was too late for the tube. Bella hadn't heard from him, which was to be expected if he was still working. She thanked her friends and promised Alice to call the next day so they could talk about their dresses for the opening.
Shivering slightly, she fumbled for the set of keys that Edward had given her and let herself in. It was dark, and the lights from upstairs gave the house a slightly eerie element. The shadows on the wall were stark, looking like some secret signs she couldn't read.
In the half-light, she searched through her bag to retrieve the large chocolate heart she had bought at Harrods. It had been ridiculously expensive, but she'd been so excited to give him something – and she knew he had a sweet tooth.
"Edward?" she called as she walked up the stairs, which even creaked stereotypically.
If this were a horror movie, she thought, the murderer would be right there waiting behind a door.
"Edward?" she repeated, hurrying the last steps, rolling her eyes at herself.
No reply – but she could hear some music, very softly, from his studio. She crossed the remaining distance, and knocked lightly on the half open door.
It took a moment, but then she heard him call, "Yes?"
"Hey."
She peeked in with a smile, ready to present him with her gift.
Edward was sitting on the wooden floor, leaning against the old armchair, a tumbler of whisky in his hand.
"Hey."
He mirrored her smile but she could tell he was drunk.
"C'mere," he said, gesturing for her to join him on the floor.
Despite his state, he looked perversely pretty. His cheeks were rosy from the alcohol, and his hair was dishevelled. His feet were bare, and Bella spotted a large splotch of paint on his big toe.
She sat down next to him. Edward kissed her, and she could taste the liquor on his soft lips.
"Happy Valentine's Day, my love," he murmured.
It was only slightly slurred.
oOo