Romeo On and Off the Field
Chapter 8: Drop a Dime
To make an assist.
Bella
The gifts Edward sent me were unwarranted, as was his attention. It was clear he couldn't take a hint. I wasn't interested. Oh, who am I kidding? I liked Edward's attention. And the gifts were perfect. Then there was the fact he entered my dreams nightly. When I saw him around campus, even from a distance, I wanted to go over and talk to him.
The few brief times I was face-to-face with him, I saw home in his eyes. Felt a connection with him and was touched by he protected me when he reminded me about drinking from cups around strangers. Sadness had washed over me when he walked away, leaving me be.
In my dreams, Edward wrapped me in his arms, and they became my cocoon, a place to heal my soul. They warmed me, like when he held my hand. They protected me. My dreams gave me a reason to want to be around him. Waking in the morning, I long for the solace of sleep. For dreams of Edward.
Waking seemed cruel. I knew, deep down, I would never be his. Yes, he's asked me out, and I turned him down. I didn't want to be used again. Damn, Nathan.
The gifts. Those perfect gifts told me he somehow found learned something out about me. There was no way he could have guessed. Only my best friend, Angela, knew my likes as I did hers. The hours Angela and I spent discussing our favorite things felt like yesterday. And I hadn't told Emmett about loving the Thunder. Though I had given Emmett permission to tell Edward my last name and the residents hall I lived in.
I was so confused. If Edward was interested in taking me out, why hadn't he just shown up. I reread his message for the zillionth time, knowing it wouldn't hold my answers. My eyes moved to the phone number under his signature. Damn it! I didn't know what to do.
Picking up my cell phone, I punched my dad's name and waited from him to pick up. Angela wasn't going to be any help this time. She was on Team Edward, one-hundred percent. And I didn't want to go to Emmett on this one. This was more up Dad's alley than a big brother's.
My dad would be able to tell me if Edward's unwanted attention would be considered stalking, even though, deep down, I knew it wasn't. Edward just wanted to get to know me.
"Hey, Bells," he answered.
Thank heavens for caller id. It saved time. I couldn't remember what like was like before caller id and cell phones.
"Hi, Dad. I need some advice," I said, getting to the heart of why I called before he could ask.
I stood and stared pacing the common room of our floor, glad it was nearly empty.
"Tell me what's going on."
I explained about how I met Edward. About his attention, him asking me out, and my turning him down. About his gifts.
"Dad, I don't mind the flowers and chocolates, but I feel like Edward is blackmailing me into going on a date with him, even though he said it was my choice. The tickets were… I don't know. Too much."
"Bells, I don't think his intentions were to make you uncomfortable or to blackmail you. He gifted you the tickets. Yes, he offered to go with you, but is leaving the decision to you."
"Sooo?"
Dad sigh could clearly be heard. "Think of the tickets as an enticement."
"Huh?"
Another sigh. "Bells, Edward clearly wants to go out with you, hence the tickets. It's a bit of shock they are for your favorite team."
"Yeah! I had wondered how he found out or if it was a guess."
"Does it matter, kiddo. Give him a shot. I never like the fact you didn't have a boyfriend in high school, other than the guy who used you."
"What! You knew?"
He chuckled. "Yes, I knew about him. We live in a small town. There's not much I don't hear about being the sheriff. I learned when to push you and when to let you come to me." He sighed. "I knew you talked with Sue and Angela about that, and Sue told me to let you be. I wish I hadn't. However, Bella, that was years ago. One bad experience. You need to put the past behind you. Put yourself out there, kiddo. Kiss a few frogs and see if they turn into your Prince Charming."
"It still feels like blackmail. Besides you and Sue, there's no one else who loves basketball like I do."
Dad laughed. "That's true, Bells. He's probably hoping you'll finally say yes. And it's still not blackmail. It's enticement and the tickets are not his anymore. They are yours. Take whoever you want."
"When you put it that way, it does sound like enticement. Do you think his attention would be considered stalking?"
"I am not even going to argue with you on that. You know it's not."
Dad was right. I knew. "So, what do I do about him?"
"Since you asked for my advice, I give it to you. Although… I should leave you to decide on your own. Call him. Give him a shot, Bells. And get to know him before the game."
It was either go out with Edward or find him and give him the tickets back. "I'll think about it. Thanks, Dad. I have to get to the library. Need to do research for a paper."
"Bella, one more thing. Edward has guts. He found your weaknesses. NBA tickets, especially the court-side seats he somehow got, are not cheap."
"I know. The tickets have the price on them."
"And he probably dropped a pretty penny on the strawberries, Godiva chocolate, and flowers."
"What are you getting at, Dad?"
"If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't bother wooing a girl this much if I was convinced she'd turn me down. Bells, he put all his cards on the table. And it doesn't matter if he was guessing or found out. He clearly likes you and wants to take you out."
I eyed the card sitting next to me. The tickets were sitting on my desk in the room. I groaned. "It would be great to see the Thunder play live and in person."
"What's holding you back, Bella."
"I know nothing, absolutely nothing, about him other than he thinks his grammar is bad. I don't even know his last name."
"And that is why it's called dating, kiddo. You get to know the other person and they, you."
"I'll... I'll think about it," I said, hesitantly.
"Good. Now go study."
I sat on the couch, I eyeing the card. With a moan, I opened it, dialing Edward. I wanted to go to the game and maybe he was a basketball fan.