I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! Please let me know what you think!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight or anything associated with it!
Song for this chapter: Perfect by Jon McLaughlin
The ride to dinner was filled with a comfortable silence between Edward and I, only the radio playing in the background. We'd been having more moments like this lately, just enjoying each other's company wordlessly, using only our eyes and hands to have a conversation. Of course since Edward was driving neither of those were actually available, but I smiled to myself anyway, thinking of our quiet evening a few nights ago, sitting at my apartment with a glass of wine.
I was pulled from my daydream by Edward's opening my car door, reaching gently for my hand. "Bella, are you alright?" he asked, grinning at me. I blushed at being caught in my daze and took his hand, smiling up at him.
"Just thinking," I laughed at myself.
He chose the same italian restaurant we went to on our first date. Once the center was complete and Edward moved to Forks, we started coming once a week. He loved taking me to dinner, and I loved the time I got to spend with him so I didn't complain.
Once we entered the restaurant, a flash of red in the corner caught my eye. Alice, wearing her red silk dress from the recital, was waving her hands wildly to get our attention. Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie were at the table with her. "Oh, Edward! Let's go see everyone."
"We just saw them a few minutes ago," Edward chuckled, following behind me as I dragged him across the restaurant. I just rolled my eyes at him, grinning over my shoulder.
"Bella!" Alice called as we got closer, "Edward! Come join us!"
Edward seemed reluctant but I squeezed his hand reassuringly as the waitress went to retrieve two more chairs for the table. Emmett and Jasper stood up to shake Edward's hand as I exchanged quick hugs with the girls, excited about our sudden triple date. Edward was slowly getting used to the small family we had formed between the five of us. He met Emmett and Jasper for the first time when we were moving everything into the center. All three men had shown up to help us arrange our offices.
Jasper and Emmett took Edward under their wings right away, inviting him out with them when Alice, Rosalie, and I would have nights to ourselves. They were getting more acquainted over time, but Edward was still getting used Emmett's booming personality and Jasper's intuitiveness. I loved him for trying, though. It made me so happy to see them all getting along so well.
"Great job tonight, Bella," Emmett said, clapping me on the shoulder, "That duet was pretty entertaining!"
Edward and I laughed, both of us probably remembering our many practice sessions. "Thanks, Emmett! I really enjoyed it."
Rosalie nodded across the table, "It looked like a lot of fun!"
"So what are the odds that we all ended up here tonight?" I asked, smiling around at everyone.
"Jasper wanted to come celebrate the success of the recital," Alice explained, "And we invited Rosalie and Emmett to come too. I didn't know you two had dinner plans, but I'm glad you ended up here!"
I felt guilty for not filling Alice in on my plans. Were Edward and I so exclusive that our friends couldn't invite us along to dinner as well? I made a mental note to have some more triple dates planned in the future. This one seemed to be going very well so far.
"How is the latest training session going, Emmett?" Edward asked, placing his menu to the side.
"Great!" Emmett said enthusiastically, "Rose and I are working for a half marathon in a few months. I think we'll do pretty well."
"We better do well," Rosalie interrupted, "He's got me running every spare minute!"
Emmett smiled at her and leaned to kiss her cheek, "Thats because you're going to have to run 13 miles in a row...You wouldn't finish if we didn't run a lot."
Rosalie just rolled her eyes and leaned into him as he placed his arm around her shoulder.
"Well if you ever need another running partner," Edward volunteered, "I'd love to get out some more and start running again."
Emmett seemed surprised at Edward's willingness to spend more time with him, but he accepted wholeheartedly. "Of course! I'll give you a call."
I beamed at Edward as he relaxed in his chair, striking up a conversation with Alice about the piece she'd played at the recital. He placed his hand lightly on my thigh, rubbing circles with his thumb as he continued his conversation. I turned to Emmett and Rosalie, asking about the latest movie Edward and I had gone to see.
The rest of dinner went perfectly, full of jokes and laughter. I could tell that we were finally settling in as a new group and we would stay this way permanently. We meshed to well to not be a great big family in the end. Emmett entertained us through most of the dinner, telling us about working at the gym and some of the people that come in. We even entertained Edward by retelling how Jasper met Alice, insisting that he was at the center to take flute lessons.
"It only took a few lessons for him to work up the courage to ask me out," Alice giggled, turning to smile at the blonde man beside her who was blushing lightly. He took the teasing in stride and laughed along with us.
I knew it was nearing time to leave when Edward stood and held his hand out to me, escorting me to the dance floor. Since we came every week the house band was used to our routine and the pianist smiled and nodded at Edward as we stepped out onto the floor. They automatically began playing the song we first danced to, the saxophone covering the melody while the piano played softly in the background.
I smiled when I saw Jasper and Emmett guiding Alice and Rosalie to the dance floor as well and we all spun around the area together, drawing out the wonderful evening we had. The song ended too quickly and we all slowly made our way back to our table to gather our belongings and bring the night to a close.
I hugged the girls and told them I would see them at the center the next day while Edward exchanged goodbyes with the guys. We switched places as I turned to hug Emmett and Jasper.
"Thanks so much for the great dinner, Emmett. I really had a great time."
"No problem, Bella," he smiled down at me, "We'll definitely have to do it again sometime. And watch out, I will be borrowing Edward soon for a new running partner. Rose already told me she's done after this half marathon." I laughed at him. He met Rosalie while they were training at the gym, but after her first race she decided it wasn't for her anymore. Emmett clearly had other ideas.
"Okay, just don't steal him away for too long!" I joked, grasping Edward's hand and following him towards the door.
Edward was humming softly to himself as he opened my car door and helped me into my seat.
"Thank you for tonight," I said to him as he started the car. "I know it wasn't the romantic evening you had planned, but I really enjoyed it."
"Bella, I enjoy anything that makes you happy."
"It made me happy to see you getting along with everyone so well tonight," I admitted, taking his hand that was resting on the center console. "I love that you're getting so close with everyone."
He turned to look at me, "Why wouldn't I want to be close with them? They're important to you."
"I know...It just means a lot to me, thats all."
He smiled and kissed my hand softly before pulling out onto the street. "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"
I glanced down at my smooth gold dress and ran my free hand along the skirt, "I love this dress..." I said softly, blushing from his compliment.
"It looks amazing on you."
"You don't look too bad yourself, Mr. Cullen," I turned to him and squeezed his hand, "I love that color of green on you."
He smiled at me as I reached over to play with his tie. We pulled up to a stop light and I leaned across the car to trail kisses along his cheek, nibbling on his earlobe. "I think you should wear green more often," I continued, placing kisses on his neck now.
"Oh really?" he teased me, his voice husky.
"Oh yes...It brings out your eyes," I continued my assault on his skin as he drove through town until we stopped at another traffic light. He turned to me quickly and surprised me by capturing my lips with his. I gasped in surprise as his left hand came up to cup my cheek, holding me in place.
My mind flashed back to the kiss we shared in the classroom and I kissed him back without question, eager to get back to my apartment and repeat the events from earlier in the night. My head swam, wrapped up in the feeling of his lips against mine. I completely forgot we were in his car, stopped at a traffic light in the middle of town.
A blaring horn pulled us away from each other. Edward sped through the light, racing to get us back to my apartment. I ran my fingers up his arm lightly, not wanting to lose contact with him until I had to get out of the car.
We made it back to my apartment in record time, giggling to each other as we raced up the stairs, pausing at the top of each flight to steal a kiss or two. We were breathless by the time we reached my apartment and leaned against my doorway to catch my breath, still laughing lightly.
I looked up at Edward to see him gazing intently at me. My laughter stopped immediately as he brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. I looked at him curiously, wondering why he was so serious all of a sudden.
"I've always told you how beautiful you are when you blush..." he began, distracted by my hair as he continued playing with it. I knew my face was flushed from our trip up the stairs, and I could feel myself blushing more as his fingers left my hair and trailed down my cheek, "But this natural flush on your cheeks...Its simply irresistible."
He placed soft kisses on my burning cheeks, taking my breath away once again as he inched closer and closer to my lips.
"Edward," I whispered, impatient.
"Yes, love?" he asked, knowing full well what I wanted.
I looked at him pointedly, biting my lip expectantly.
He took his cute and immediately pressed his lips to mine, quickly deepening the kiss. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling our bodies closer together and my skin tingled at the contact. My arms snaked around his neck, pulling his tighter against mine, and my leg curled around his.
My heart was pounding as I felt one of his arms leave my waist and reach into his pocket for the keys to the apartment. The door unlocking pulled me out of my Edward induced trance and I released his lips from mine reluctantly as he smiled down at me wickedly.
"I hope you're ready," he murmured, capturing my lips once again as he shut the the door with his foot and carried me through the apartment.
Oh yes, I was ready. This was certainly going to be an amazing night.
So there's Chapter Two! Let me know what you think! I love answering your questions and anything like that!