Betaed by the wonderful SunflowerFran – tremaining mistakes are mine.
oOo
"I hate Christmas shopping," Edward groaned into the sleep-warm back of his sexy girlfriend.
Bella giggled, and wiggled her bum, which did nothing to help him with his growing reaction, as they'd fallen asleep naked.
"Bellaaa…"
"Edwaaard."
More wiggling.
"We're going to be late."
He kissed and bit and licked the side of her neck… and then, he kissed her again.
"Not if we're really quick," she sighed.
.
Oxford Street was a nightmare. For the first time in weeks, Edward had the urge to have a drink. He was being pushed and pulled in ten different directions by his mother and girlfriend, while hordes of strangers were stumbling into him. He was this close to losing his mind.
"Bella?" he called out to her as she was dragging his mum into Debenhams.
"I'm waiting at some coffee shop, okay?" He rolled his eyes, mouthing, "I just can't stand it".
Bella nodded her head, looking a little sad.
How could women enjoy this? It was like war!
He settled in a quiet cornerof the café and ordered himself a tall latte. He'd become quite a caffeine addict since the day… the day everything went to hell.
The day that saved him.
If coffee was the only buzz he was allowed, so what? Still better than smoking your lungs out, which quite a lot of his AA buddies were doing.
Stirring his coffee, he contemplated the past months. He was doing well, and he was feeling so much better without poisoning himself every night, without having to lie to everyone around him.
He'd even ventured into his studio again for a few times. It had been Alec's idea to try working in the mornings, so as not to fall back into his old patterns. He felt as if on eggshells the entire time, but he tried to think of it as practice. Every morning at nine, he went to his workspace, emerging for lunch at around one. It wasn't always easy, and was frustrating a lot of times, but he was adamant about keeping to his schedule.
Whenever Bella wasn't at home, they talked on the phone over lunch – both to ease her mind, and to give him encouragement for the rest of the day.
One of the AA guys he'd gotten friendly with, Max, told him that getting a hobby had done him good, and since he'd enjoyed his tries with Bella, Edward had started cooking. Most days, he had dinner ready when Bella returned home.
How unlikely it was, Edward mused as he watched Christmas shoppers from his warm place inside the coffee shop. The girl with the eating disorder had introduced him to cooking, and now he was the one feeding her, making sure she stayed healthy.
His phone beeped with an incoming message.
Just finished at Foyles, it read. We'll be there in 30 mins. I love you. B
I love you back, Edward replied, even though he'd see his love in half an hour.
Edward had learnt to cherish life's gifts, having taken things for granted for too long.
oOo
When I started this story in October 2012, and got really invested, it was pretty clear to me that I would have B&E have a happy end by Christmas. 2012, that is. Huh.