oOo
Edward was certain that she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. Avoiding food, he had come to know, was always Bella's response to stress. And this time, her stress had been caused by none other than yours truly. What should have, could have become a splendid and relaxed evening was now a bleak-looking prospect.
They were side by side in a cab, silent. Bella's hands were fidgeting in her lap. Such small, pale hands. Her face was turned away from him as she looked out the window, clearly stating that she was not interested in any form of contact right now.
The drive wasn't a long one. Potsdamer Platz was bustling with tourists and pre-dinner crowds as they made their way into the hotel, and to the elevators.
Silence enveloped them like a heavy fog as they stepped into their room. Bella slipped off her shoes and walked to the bathroom.
"I'm going to have a shower," she said, her voice low and just so sad.
"'kay," he sighed.
The urge to raid the mini bar was strong as he sat down by the window, listening to the sound of running water next door, watching the sun set in soft oranges over the city.
But Edward didn't. He ordered veggie sandwiches from room service and gulped down a tall glass of water. The fuzz he'd had earlier from the beer had long since gone.
She came out of the bathroom a little later, her hair in a funny bun on top of her head, wearing a white hotel bathrobe. Her face was clean and devoid of any makeup, her eyes red, confirming what he'd suspected already.
Her movements were slow and despondent as she searched for something in her suitcase.
"I ordered room service," Edward said from his place by the window. "Some sandwiches, is that okay?"
"Hmm," she hummed, never turning to look at him. "Like I said, I'm not hungry anyway."
"You've got to eat something, love."
At some level, he knew this was the worst thing he could say to her, bringing up her problems. On another, subconscious level, he immediately felt that it had been right.
A hollow laugh, and she looked up, her eyebrows raised in sarcasm.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I've got to eat. You've got to drink."
Ouch.
"But I didn't," he said, taking a couple of steps in her direction. "I didn't get drunk just now. Doesn't that count for something?"
Crossing the last bit of distance between them, he stood before her.
She looked so pale, so small.
"I love you, Bella," he said. "You make me want to be a better man. For you. I've…" He ran a hand through his hair. "I've never had anything like this. Not this way."
She swallowed, her large, dark, wise eyes on his. Waiting.
Edward cleared his throat, tentatively taking her hands in his.
He had two questions to ask Bella. For one of them, it was too soon. But the other, he was definitely going to pose tonight.
oOo
Thank you, my lovely readers.