oOo
When the mobile phone on Edward's bedside table started ringing for the third time, Bella'd had it. She had been trying to go back to sleep the two previous times, but since it wasn't going to happen, something obviously needed to be done.
"Edward…"
He was next to her, lying on his side, his arm wound closely around her.
He was fast asleep.
No wonder, after he'd had half a bottle of whisky last night and she had to coax him into bed while he tried to persuade her to sit for him.
He was a charming drunk, she had to admit.
"Edward."
He sighed.
"Edward!"
She shook his arm and he grumbled into her ribcage.
"Edward, your phone!"
"Mmm hmm…"
He snuggled closer into her.
The phone stopped, and began again a second later.
"Ed-ward! Your phone is driving me crazy!"
"Who's it?" he mumbled.
Bella finally reached over him and grabbed it.
"Mike," she read. "Edward," she repeated. She was ready to shake him for real.
"Can you answer it?" he begged in a scratchy voice.
Her experience of hangovers was limited, but she realized how horrible he must be feeling.
Sighing and feeling rather self-conscious, she answered his phone.
"Hello," she said, "this is Bella Swan. I'm sorry but Edward is indisposed right now."
"Oh, fucking hell," a male voice replied. "If he's asleep, just bang him over the head with a rolling pin. I need to speak to him."
"Edward," she hissed. "He seems really angry!"
"Mmm," Edward groaned. "Tell him it's in the studio. The one in the crate."
With that, he turned around, away from her, and pulled the covers over his head.
"What?"
"Bella?" the man on the phone demanded. "This is Michael Newton, his agent. Give me Edward!"
"I'm sorry, but he…"
Edward was snoring softly.
"Ungh!"
She finally sat up and swung her legs out of the bed.
"I'm sorry, but he really can't talk to you right now, but he said to tell you that it's in his studio. The one in a crate."
There was a small silence. When he spoke next, Michael Newton sounder kinder.
"Okay, I'm sending someone over now. Is that okay?"
"Um…."
Not feeling entirely comfortable at the prospect of letting a complete stranger into Edward's house, Bella bit her lip.
"His name is Stanley Jesson," Michael said. "He's my partner." As if sensing her concern, he continued. "Look, Bella, I would come over by myself, but, thanks to Edward, I need to smooth things over here."
"I'm sorry?"
Another silence.
"He's been making such a big secret out of this final painting. Everyone expected him to show up this morning."
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh. So would it be all right if Stan came to collect the pièce de la résistance?"
"Of course," Bella murmured.
Actually, she'd heard about Michael's partner from Edward, so she didn't really worry about letting him in.
Ending the call, she sat down on the settee under the window and looked at her boyfriend's huddled form under the blankets.
She sighed.
oOo