I've got a good amount already set to go for this story so enjoy the quick update! *wink* Also please note that like my other stories, this one is also rated M for a reason…

Chapter 2

B POV

"I just don't know anymore Kate!" I yelled, throwing my hands up in defeat as I slumped down on their leather sofa. Kate had met Garett in high school, not giving him the time of day until he wore her down the day after she graduated college, saying that now that she'd figured out her career, a beautiful woman like herself should never have to wait for her knight in shining armor. They were married a year later.

I met Kate through Emmett years ago at one of their family's barbecues for the Fourth of July. We hit it off instantly, and she always let me rant about my relationship issues; what was said on girl's night stayed in the vault.

"Well, Bellsy," she slurred, ice cubes clinking together in her glass of white wine that was clenched tightly in her manicured fist as she held it up high, "I think if you're this unhappy and he isn't hearing you out, it might be time to throw in the towel."

I stopped staring daggers at the piece of lint floating in my own wine glass, and looked at her in shock. Connection to my boyfriend aside, Kate had never ever suggested anything of the sort before now. She raised her eyebrow back at me daringly as I continued to gape.

"Oh come on Bella, you're drowning! And instead of throwing you a life preserver, he's on the phone lounging in a sun bed, not a care in the world." She sighed, taking another big sip, as if thinking about my situation stressed her out. I continued to stare.

"Okay then one second, wait here" she said, hopping up and setting her glass on the coffee table.

I heard wheels squeaking and lowered my head, groaning. "Aw Kate no, not the—"

"Yeeeeeeaas Bella Stella Ella Olla. The Pro and Con Board." She grinned triumphantly as she waved the thick black marker above her head.

Years ago when they were starting their company, Garett bought this giant idea pad, dubbing it the Pro and Con Board. He and Emmett used to spend hours using it to sort things out from tough financial and coding software-related decisions, to what flavour of wings they were going to order for Superbowl Sunday. Now it was kept for game nights and the occasional big decision, it's cheap wheels never once greased because in Garrett's words, "you don't grease the beast".

Kate snapped me out of my musings as she began tapping the Con list, which for a girl who's had four glasses of wine, writes pretty well.

"Alright girl what are the cons of being with Edward? Don't hold back, it's all in the vault." She finished with a wink and then shook out her arms and legs, loosening up as if she were about to compete in a beer league football game.

I thought for a moment, "Alriiight. Well for starters…"

One hour later we had a whole list of cons for me dating Edward. Most were my suggestions, a few were Kate's. The ones she came up with had little Ks next to them so Kate could remember her own 'geniality'.

"Okay, anything else Bells?" I tried to hide my hesitation, nodding stiffly, but she caught it. "Tell me. Oh come on now you have to!" she whined.

I took a big gulp of my wine, swirling it around before swallowing and admitting, "the sex is robotic at best, always the same predictable things for the same amount of time in the same position. Also…" I sighed at her already wide eyes, "he's only uhhh gone down on me like…3 times?" I cringed at the end when her utter disbelief turned into indignant anger.

"Oh fuuuuck no B! That is totally going on the con list and I'm underlining it" she said fiercely, suddenly the number one advocator for my sex life and looking like the self-proclaimed chief of the Chicago orgasm department. I giggled and hiccupped a little at my last thought.

"And now," she leaned over the back of the couch and started drumming on it, "time for the pros!" she hollered, then giggled and steadied herself on the board which squeaked a little in protest.

I opened my mouth…

Nothing came out.

Kate raised an eyebrow, then the other. "Bella…" she said cautiously.

"Oh, oh I got one!" I said, sitting up eagerly on my knees as Kate turned back towards the board, hand poised, ready to write.

"He has a good steady job" I started, "he has good hygiene, he's very good-looking-"

"Woah, woah, woah, hold up there girly" Kate said, "these are supposed to be the pros of dating him, not just things you like about him. I mean I have good hygiene and am smoking hot but you're not thinking of jumping ship."

Bitch did make a good point.

I sighed and slumped back into the couch feeling more defeated than ever. Kate came over, bottle in one hand, glass in the other. "I know sweetie, but I think it's for the best, I mean look at the cons list. This is a crucial point in your life Bella, do you really want to build a future for two all on your own?" she asked, sympathy written all over her face.

I pressed a pillow into my face and screamed into it. "No, I don't it's just – we have so much history and our lives are so deeply intwined, I mean technically he'd get you if we broke up seeing as you're his brother's best friend's girlfriend.

Ignoring my comment as if it were the most absurd things she'd ever heard, Kate paused, thinking. Uh oh.

"Speaking of his brother" Kate asked giving me the side eye, "I've always wondered if you ever had a little soft spot for him? I mean come on the man is gorgeous, and well, all man if you know what I mean. Not to mention he's funny, caring, and almost as ambitious as my dream boat of a husband" she winked, swirling around the last of the wine.

"Kate!" I exclaimed, looking around the apartment as if Garrett and Emmett would suddenly appear. Kate looked at me skeptically, then grinned at my silence.

"Okay, okay, jeez. I've definitely had too much wine if I'm going to confess this." Her answering grin was wide enough to make a blush spread up my cheeks, visible despite their warmth from the booze.

"I mean I have eyes, have you seen that man? But it's not just his looks, ever since I met Emmett, a part of me has always, kind of…wondered I guess? It's not that I didn't care for Edward, but when I'm around Em there's just this kind of buzzing feeling, like a connection of some kind. I know, I know it sounds weird and crazy and inappropriate, but it's just…ugh!" I threw my hands up, covering my eyes as I sighed.

"Bells" Kate pulled at my hands a little, "it's okay, Emmett's, well, he's something else, so I don't blame you. Maybe…maybe one day things will just work out how they were meant to." She shrugged a little, gaze searching as she could sense my inner turmoil.

Kate frowned, pulling me down on the couch and throwing her leg over mine. "Don't worry Belly boo, no matter what happens, no one is gonna keep me and my sissy poo apart." We talked more about our revelation, trying to find ways to fix it, hoping it wasn't the best outcome, but in the end, we passed out tangled together smelling of wine, tears, and Kate's designer perfume.

EM POV

"Fuck man, you aren't taking it easy tonight! Another run in with the happy couple?" Garrett asked with a knowing smirk.

I glared at him and tossed him a pair of pads, turning from the punching bag and raising my fists. It was Friday night, and every third Friday of the month we visited a gym one of our clients owns to use their boxing ring and equipment. We used to go on Thursdays, but that all changed when Kate and Bella claimed Friday night to be their girl's night. Their girl's nights became sacred, no trip was planned, or illness was to be contracted that would cause them to miss out. Eventually, it got too hard for me to be around on those nights, and Garrett – as they pointed out one night two bottles in while pointing at his dick – was not a girl. So naturally in addition to Thursdays, a guys' night every third Friday became our thing as well, and we usually ended up here letting off steam .Tonight we started off at a local pub eating wings and having a couple beers, then headed over to the gym once all the members had left for the evening.

We paused as Garrett lowered his pads, he was an agile fucker, a good match to keep me on my toes, and strong enough not to get knocked back by my sparring punches. I still pulled them a lot though, to which Garrett would scoff and deny, stating I was just scared of him beating me up.

"I just—I know he's my brother man, but you know Ed, he thinks with his head and ignores his heart. I know he loves her, but I just don't know if he's ready to be in love with her. And I don't know how long she's willing to wait him out." It was a brutal thing to be waiting in the wings for the girl you want to be with, even more gut wrenching when it was your own flesh and blood she'd have to hurt to be available.

Garrett's known about my feelings for Bella since the day I met her. I honestly didn't think whatever was going on between her and my brother would ever become anything more than a night out, and then he would just sort of forget about her like all the other women he dated.

But not Bella, no, Edward surprised us all by chasing after the young spitfire of an executive for one of Chicago's up and coming insurance agencies. I'll never forget her tight little body in a dark purple blouse with a tight grey pencil skirt, hair up in a messy bun, and a no-nonsense attitude. I bit my lip thinking back to that day and what I'd do if we'd been alone in the conferen—

I was literally knocked out of my musings by the punchbag Garrett swung at my face, staggering as I caught it before it could continue to swing around.

"Earth to Em, man get your head out of Bella's tits and focus, did you hear a word of what I just said?" he asked, exhaling his exasperation.

I glared at him again, motioning him to continue before putting my fists back up, letting him continue while we shuffled across the ring.

"I was saying puff that if you really care about both of them then, puff, just stay out of it. What's meant to puff be will be. If Bella's really that unhappy with your brother, I can't puff imagine she'd put up with his shit much longer, and – ouff." He'd raised his hand only halfway as he bumped into the rails, causing me to catch him in the jaw.

"Shit fuck I'm sorry man. Here, let's go back to your place, toss me your keys and I'll grab our shit." I called as he flipped me off, walking over to the entrance and snatching his coat off the hook. It wasn't the first time this had happened, we'd both gotten in a few good this by mistake. Protocol was always the same: offender grabs our stuff and drives the injured party's sorry ass to Garrett's so Kate can kiss his booboo better. Okay so Garrett had yet to get me, but tomorrow's always a new day.

Historically Bella always passed out first on their girls' nights, so they few times I'd come back with him, Bella was always already tucked away in their guest bedroom passed out cold. Except tonight I'd had too many drinks, so it looked like I would be crashing on their sofa. I grimaced as I realized this while flagging down a cab. After promising the driving we were in fact friends and not looking for trouble, he drove the short distance to Kate and Garett's dropping us off outside their building.

Garrett and I started making really good money a couple years ago once the company started expanding and business was booming. His increased income plus Kate's high-end job at a publishing firm allowed them to afford a chic apartment in a high rise building downtown.

I hit the button for their penthouse, patting Garrett on the shoulder, who was already looking better, even if it was just to show his girl how tough her man is. I rolled my eyes, and he smirked back, knowing exactly where my thoughts had gone.

The elevator opened and we quietly made our way into the kitchen. Garrett went through to the stairs that led to the bedrooms in search of Kate, and I pulled some ice out of the freezer, tossing a handful of cubes into a soft cloth and twisting it.

Garrett came back down with a frown on his face, "I couldn't find them anywhere. Both bedrooms were empty." He trailed off, moving around some more. The girls had been known to share a bed and Garrett usually ended up moving either Kate or Bella when he'd arrive back home.

I looked over to the living room and walked through the entrance, passing by the couch and freezing when I caught something in the corner of my eye. I could see toes peeking out over the arm rest, painted bright pink, and instantly knew who they belonged to. I froze, then turned and went searching for Garrett.

"Hey man!" I whispered, seeing him come out of the office weird place to look but he did just take a hit. "Come one you gotta see this" I continued, motioning for him to follow me back to the living room where I pointed at the tangled mess of women on his leather couch. Kate and Bella's heads were nestled together, one of Kate's long legs was thrown over Bella's hip and there was an empty bottle of wine protected between their bodies. Garrett took the opportunity to snap a few pictures, wiggling his brows at me then looking back at the girls. Honestly, it might have been hot, if they weren't wearing matching onesie pyjamas with hearts all over them. I gazed down, smiling and Bella's peaceful expression, only frowning slightly when I could see marks from dried tear tracks on her cheeks.

"Garrett?" I asked, handing him the ice which he gratefully pressed to his jaw, "do they usually get all emotional and shit when they hangout?" At his blank expression I gestured to the tear marks, and he frowned, shaking his head.

"No, but maybe it's from laughing? I know they're always up cackling about, especially when booze are involved." He shrugged, then spotted something over my shoulder and his jaw actually dropped, making him wince and shift the ice pack.

"Em, if you needed a sign…" he trailed off pointing behind me and I turned to see our Pro and Con Board. Then I did a double take and walked closer, reading exactly what they'd put on it. Garrett looked a little pale, so I silently pointed out the 'E + B?' heading at the top, which made him sag in relief. Idiot. Kate and Garrett were nothing less than perfect together, which made pining after Bella all the more painful, knowing we could have something as amazing as them.

I turned back and read over the rest of them, 'Sex robotic, life without oral'. Fuck I thought, turning and looking at the temptress sprawled out on the couch. Even in that frilly onesie I'd still strip her down and dive in head first if she gave me the green light. How my brother could neglect his women, this woman without a second thought absolutely baffled me.

I read on, feeling like a complete jerk for encroaching on her most private thoughts about my own brother no less, but I just couldn't help myself. It's like proof that after all my years of waiting for her to be mine, I may finally get my chance.

I turned back to Garrett who shrugged and wheeled the board back into the office, hoping that maybe they'd think they put it away before passing out in a drunken stupor.

Then we looked down at the girls, "Welp" Garrett started, putting down the ice," I'll grab mine if you grab yours" he winked.

"Mine? Are you sure you don't need medical attention Gar?" I asked, looking down at the girls, then back at my stupid best friend.

He just shrugged, scooped Kate up into his arms, pulling her free from their cuddle puddle, and gave me a two-finger salute before turning and heading up to their room. I gazed back down at Bella, now curling into herself no doubt feeling more chilled without Kate practically acting as a human blanket. Chuckling to myself, I stooped down and scooped her up. She weighed next to nothing and curled into my chest, inhaling and sighing as I walked up the stairs. I cursed quietly, willing my body not to respond to her breathy sigh.

I nudged open the door with my shoulder and used the light coming in from the hallway to pull back the covers and get Bella tucked into the bed. I was starting to pull away when tiny fingers grasped at my shirt, "Mmm Em stay." She murmured, causing the biggest dilemma I'd ever faced.

On one hand she was still my brother's girlfriend even though by the looks of her nearly empty pros list that wouldn't be for long. On the other hand, this was Bella and it's not like I'd take advantage of this situation regardless of her relationship status. I sighed, thinking about how much comfier a plush bed with a lush girl would be over the cold leather couch.

"Fuck it" I whispered to myself and went back down to retrieve my gym bag. I peeled off my shirt and undid my belt, changing my pants for the gym shorts I kept in my bag. I kept on my socks because for some reason it felt more appropriate, and then slid into the bed. Bella immediately rolled over, seeking out my body heat. How that girl could be cold in her onesie under the duvet was beyond me. Kate did like to keep the place cool though.

I was just starting to drift with her curled up beside me, when I heard some disgruntled sounds coming from Bella and felt the bed vibrate a little as she shifted around restlessly. I peeked one eye open and rolled my head to the side, my other eye also snapping open when I saw she was peeling off her onesie.

Shit. Okay. Stay calm man. Look, she still has…how the fuck is she wearing so many clothes?

Bella revealed a thin tank top and short pair of old pyjamas short under the onesie, which she was currently disregarding before she turned and burrowed back under the covers. I'd heard from her parents at a family dinner once about how Bella was a restless sleeper and often talked and moved around in her sleep.

Nestling into the pillow beside me, she curled her back along my side and with another little sigh, stilled again.

I closed my eyes again and fell asleep listening to her even breathing, hoping that one day soon I'd get the chance to do this again.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Who could resist a good snuggle with Emmett? I'll post the next chapter soon, R&R!