Disclaimer: Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Author's Note: Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone's New Year's Eve was fun and memorable! Thank you guys so much for the never-ending love and support for this story. You truly are amazing. A little side note: I'm leaving for vacation this week (Sun 1/3-Fri 1/8) so next chapter might be a day or two later than usual. I apologize in advanced if that is the case.
I'm also sorry I didn't get to respond to reviews for last chapter! I'll make it up to you guys! I just finished on Twilighted and it totally drained me! Please know that I read and appreciate every single one! You guys really are amazing!
Enjoy this chapter!
Bella POV
I would never tire of the feel of Edward's arms wrapped around me as we slept. My back was firmly up against his chest, his arm draped securely around my waist. It felt much like the day I had almost drowned and asked him to hold me. Only this time, the gesture held more meaning. And we both knew that.
Last night had been…intense, to say the least. Everything—everything—that had been on our minds, that had been torturing us, came pouring out. It was nice to finally confront all the things that had been bothering us. I could see it in Edward's eyes the night he found me and Jacob Black on the couch together, and last night during our heated argument—he had never meant to hurt me. I understood at that moment that he was sincere and for some unexplainable reason…he wanted me. I was enough for him. By some miracle…Bella Swan was enough. He made me feel like I was enough.
And although I had addressed the situation with Jacob and expressed nothing but disgust and regret for my actions, I could not help the guilt that settled deep within the pit of my stomach. I had doubted Edward's faithfulness to me and as retaliation…I had been unfaithful to him. I needed to show him—telling him wasn't enough—that what I had done with Jacob meant nothing. I didn't turn to him because I had found him attractive. I was merely looking for some kind of comfort and I…I used Jacob.
I owed Jacob an apology, too.
I knew Edward and I still had so much to recover from—we had been to hell and back these last few months—but after last night, after getting all of our issues out in the open, I had no doubt that we would make it. We weren't going to hide our issues from each other anymore. I didn't want to be without Edward again. I couldn't.
I felt him stir behind me and I feigned sleep, suddenly feeling a little awkward and unsure of what to do. Sure, he was my husband, but this was technically the morning after and…I wasn't sure what was appropriate.
We had been separated for three months. I knew we wouldn't simply fall back into our relationship with ease; it would probably take time for us to go back to where we were. The more I though about it, however, the more I realized that there was no going back to the way we were. Instead, we would be creating something new…something stronger…and that thought made me smile.
"Bella," I heard him whisper as he placed a soft kiss on the back of my neck, his grasp around my waist tightening slightly.
"Mmm," I moaned, still going on with the charade of being asleep.
"What are you smiling about?"
My eyes snapped open and I looked up to see Edward leaning over, watching me with a crooked smile on his face, his eyes doing nothing to mask the absolute love and adoration he felt for me.
It was then I realized I had been caught.
"Oh, um…I just…I don't know. I was smiling?" I stammered unintelligently.
He chuckled lightly and kissed my cheek softly before resting his head in the crook of my neck. "Yea. And now you're blushing. Care to share?" he prompted softly.
I shook my head, probably turning about three shades redder. "Just…last night…how everything's…changed so quickly." My breathing was growing erratic and I wasn't sure why I was suddenly so nervous about confessing this to him.
I felt the bed shift and I glanced up to see that Edward was looking at me intensely, his eyebrows furrowed tightly together. "Do you…regret last night?" he asked me quietly.
I shook my head fervently. "No! No, of course not. I feel like last night we really talked. For the first time in three months…we actually talked." I paused and saw that he was still looking at me with that same intense gaze, waiting for me to continue. "I can't believe how stupid we were being," I said with a humorless laugh, shaking my head and silently berating myself for shutting him out the last few months. "I can't believe how stupid I was being," I added quietly.
"Bella—"
"Edward, don't, please," I quickly interjected. I knew Edward. And I knew that he was going to tell me that I had nothing to apologize for. But I couldn't let him think he sheltered all of the blame. "I need to say this. I shouldn't have ignored your phone calls that first month. I should have talked to you instead of shutting you out, and I'm sorry I let my emotions get the better of me.
"And I know you said we're past this, but…I still can't get over the guilt I feel for what I did with Jacob. It eats away at me, Edward, and I know I won't ever forgive myself. So let me have this. Let me take this guilt because so much could have changed if I had reacted differently.
"I forgave you, Edward. I forgave you for everything because I see it from your side…so clearly now. But I need you to forgive me. I need you to allow me the chance to be forgiven," I finished in barely above a whisper.
I knew Edward and I agreed that we were both to blame, but I couldn't help but get the feeling that he thought he was the only one who had caused this and he was the only one who could have prevented it. We both could have; I understood that now. He needed to as well.
"I forgive you, Bella," he replied, his voice hoarse with emotion.
I nodded and let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Thank you," I whispered.
He cupped my cheek in one of his hands and leaned down to gently brush his lips against mine. "Can I ask you something and you won't get mad?" he asked once he had pulled away far enough to look at me.
I looked at him curiously and nodded. "You can ask me anything."
"Did you…did you have feelings for him?"
Whoa.
I was NOT expecting that.
I leaned back a little further and took inventory of his expression. Nothing on his face gave away the reason for this sudden question so I shook my head. "Of course not," I replied, my voice making it sound as if it was the most ridiculous thing in the world. He visibly relaxed and suddenly I was curious. "Why do you ask?"
His gaze snapped up to mine and he swallowed a lump in his throat before answering, "I don't know. I knew he had a thing for you, so when I saw you guys on the couch…a really small part of me wondered if you had feelings for him. I mean, I knew you'd been drinking and you were hurt…but I just…I just had to know. Never mind," he quickly stammered out. I had never seen Edward show this insecure side of him before and it surprised me to no end.
"There's no one but you, Edward," I said quietly. "There's only ever been you."
He smiled that smile that always managed to make my heart melt before he kissed my lips once more. We both leaned back on the bed after a while as our minds reeled with the events of last night and all that had taken place.
"Can you believe Emmett and Rosalie's persistence?" I laughed quietly, shaking my head.
"I'm thankful for it," he replied. "I just wish they hadn't been so…forceful about it."
"Well, we were acting like stubborn asses…as Rosalie puts it," I replied, smiling at the memory.
Edward sat up on his elbow and looked down at me. "She said that?" he asked, his eyes dancing with humor. I nodded. "Funny. Emmett said the exact same thing to me," he laughed.
"I just wish they hadn't given us such a hard time, you know?" I said quietly. "The games…the innuendos. They made us their own little playthings. Even though it was out of love."
He nodded and sighed. "I agree. Although I didn't mind the drunken sex or truth or dare kiss," he replied huskily.
I looked at him and bit my lip softly before nodding. "Me either," I whispered.
He reached a hand out and tucked a strand piece of hair behind my ear. "What do you think they're going to expect when they get here?" he asked me quietly.
I shrugged. "Well…Emmett's either break dancing on the boat on their way over here, completely confident that their plan worked. Or…Rose is biting off every single manicured fingernail because she's scared shitless that we've killed each other."
His chest vibrated with his laugh and I relished in the feeling. It was silent for a moment longer and I noticed that Edward and I were both lying side by side on our backs, not touching. I shifted over and placed my head on his chest while hooking a leg over his and my arm across his chest. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arm around my shoulder and I realized in that moment that we would have to grow accustomed to these types of innocent touches once again. Although being with Edward was effortless, every now and I then I'd feel the shyness and wariness pass between us, neither of us knowing how far we could go and how much was too much.
My eyes had drifted closed when Edward broke the silence. "Let's not tell them," he murmured quietly.
My eyes snapped open and I glanced up at him confused. "Let's not tell them what?"
"What happened here last night."
I sat up and looked down at him incredulously. "You want to pretend we still hate each other?"
His face turned serious as he looked deeply into my eyes. "I never hated you, Bella," he said, almost inaudibly.
I knew he had never hated me and I had never hated him. No matter how hard I had tried to convince myself that I did, I knew I always loved him. The hurt in his eyes showed me that he truly thought I had stopped loving him during the time we were apart.
"I know, Edward," I replied quietly, shaking my head. "You know…I didn't mean it like that."
"Then why'd you say it?"
I laughed humorlessly and shook my head. "Do you know how hard it was to try and get over you? I mean…I had to convince myself I hated you when I knew deep down…I could never hate you. You're telling me you didn't try that? That you didn't…try and change your feelings to make the pain go away…even just a little?" I finished quietly.
He sighed and reached out to take my hand in his. "I did," he answered softly. "But it was a futile attempt."
I smiled gently at him and nodded so he would know that I felt the same way. I took a deep breath. "So…back to the topic at hand. You want to pretend we're still…fighting?"
He nodded. "We don't have to lie to them. Let's just not tell them what happened. If they ask, we just won't say anything. Just for a little while. You know as well as I do that when they find out their plan worked, they're going to be smug as hell." He paused and I nodded in agreement before he continued, "And…as thankful as I am for their interferences these last couple of weeks—since I know all their little games brought us closer—I just want to be with you…have you all to myself for a while. We'll thank them when we're ready. Right now I just want to…be with you."
I understood what he was saying. As much as I loved Rosalie and Emmett for what they had done these last couple of weeks—even if I hated them for it at the time—I wanted to be able to be with Edward without all of their questions. If we told them what happened last night, they'd want all the details and I wasn't ready to relay all of the events of the previous night just yet. I also didn't want to have to go through relaying all of the crap we had been through again either. Knowing Rosalie and Emmett, they'd bring up all the shit that had torn us apart in the first place and they'd go on and on about all the things we had done wrong. I just wanted all of these things—everything that had taken place here last night—to be mine and Edward's…even if just for a little while.
"Okay," I nodded in agreement.
He lifted my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it gently and then nuzzling it with his nose. "I missed your smell," he murmured, a small smile on his face as he closed his eyes and inhaled.
"We should get dressed. I'm guessing they'll be here soon to pick us up," I said regretfully, not wanting to leave just yet.
He nodded and opened his eyes before kissing my palm and sitting up. We both dressed in silence and made the bed, getting rid of any and all evidence that we had been there.
After everything was in order downstairs, we made our way to the upper level and decided to sit and wait for Emmett and Rosalie to arrive. Even though we didn't want to share the details of the previous night just yet, I didn't want to be away from Edward and I didn't care if Rosalie and Emmett showed up unexpectedly and saw us sitting there, Edward's arm around me as I cuddled into his chest.
"I see them leaving the dock," Edward said after a few moments.
I lifted my head and gazed out toward the lake house and sure enough, two figures were getting into the same small boat from last night. I looked at Edward and saw that he was watching me intently.
"If you want to tell them, Bella, I'm okay with that. I just though maybe…"
"No, Edward, I know," I interjected. "I want it to be ours for a little while."
He nodded and I knew he understood exactly what I meant. I leaned forward and pressed my lips gently to his before scooting further away from him and waiting.
It didn't take long for Emmett and Rosalie to arrive. We sat and watched as Emmett tied the boat to the Carlisle's and then helped Rosalie hop on.
"Morning, lovebirds," Rosalie chirped, smiling smugly at us. "Have a good night?"
I glanced at Edward and saw that he was looking down at the ground, avoiding their gaze. I looked back at Rose and nodded. "Yea, it was nice," I said quietly, keeping my answer vague.
"Nice, as in ravenous make-up sex nice, or nice as in…just nice?" Emmett questioned curiously.
I shrugged and sighed again. "Just nice, Em." I stood up and walked over to the smaller boat. "Can we head back? I'm pretty hungry."
Emmett and Rosalie stood their staring at me with their mouths gaping open as I climbed into the little boat and sat down.
"Edward, what happened last night?" Rosalie demanded, glaring at him. "Did you hurt her? Because I swear to God, Edward, if you hurt her—"
"I didn't hurt her, Rosalie," Edward said quietly, getting up and walking over to her.
"Then what the hell happened!"
Rosalie was getting angry and it was getting harder and harder for me to keep my features neutral. I felt bad for not telling them, but at the same time I felt like they could stand to sweat it out just a little bit longer.
"Edward, let's go back to the house," I finally said to him.
Edward looked at me and nodded before kissing Rosalie's cheek and clapping Emmett on the back. He walked over to the small boat and got in, expertly untying it from Carlisle's boat and starting the engine.
"See you guys later?" Edward questioned politely, looking up at them with a neutral expression on his face. He was always better at keeping a straight face than I was.
Emmett nodded dumbly and Rosalie just stood their staring at us, her mouth still hanging wide open.
"Bye, guys," I called, smiling slightly as we moved away from the boat and headed back toward the lake house.
"That wasn't so bad," I said once we reached the dock and Edward secured the boat, taking my hand and helping me out.
Edward nodded in agreement as we started walking toward the lake house. "We'll take them out to dinner soon…thank them for everything. Let them know how grateful we are."
"Hopefully they won't kill us for keeping this from them," I retorted, only slightly joking.
"They'll understand why we did it, Bella," Edward assured me gently. "Besides, even if we were still fighting, we'd have to put on the charade of the happy married couple for the rest of the family anyway. It's the same thing now except…we won't be pretending anymore."
"You're right," I agreed as we walked into the house through the sliding glass door in the backyard.
"Do you want to go out later?" I heard him ask suddenly.
I turned around and saw Edward standing their, running a hand through his hair nervously. He looked like a timid teenager asking a girl to prom.
"Like a date?" I asked shyly.
He nodded, his eyes showing me that he was actually worried I would say no.
As if I could ever deny him again.
"O-Okay," I stuttered quietly. Suddenly I was extremely nervous, too. This would be our first official date after everything that had happened. I wasn't sure what to expect.
He smiled a blinding smile at me just as Emmett and Rosalie walked in through the same sliding glass door we had just entered through. They halted their steps when they saw Edward and I standing their in the middle of the kitchen staring at each other.
"Hey, guys," Rosalie greeted quietly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she walked to the fridge and pulled out some ingredients for what I assumed would be an omelet. "What are you guys talking about?" she asked nonchalantly, as if testing out the waters and seeing how much information she could get out of us.
"Yea, what the hell is going on?" Emmett bellowed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at us.
"Jesus, Em!" Rosalie scolded, slamming the carton of eggs on the counter and glaring daggers at him. "What did I say? Ease into it!"
"Oh, right." Emmett nodded and shifted his gaze to us again, lowering his voice slightly and making it sound more polite. "What in heavens is going on?"
Edward rolled his eyes and sighed, walking over to help Rosalie with the omelets. The four of us didn't speak once as we silently worked together to make breakfast. Edward and I would sometimes brush against each other while moving around and our touches would linger longer than necessary, but Emmett and Rosalie didn't notice.
Once breakfast was made, we all sat down at the table and ate in silence. Emmett and Rosalie would glance between Edward and me nonstop. They would ask vague questions to get some insight on what the hell was going on, but we kept our answers just as vague and only spoke when spoken to.
Finally, Emmett and Rosalie excused themselves, realizing that they were making no headway with us and would be much more productive if they just went to work. Edward and I sat in the den and watched t.v. as we heard Emmett and Rosalie shuffling around upstairs getting ready.
"Okay we're leaving now," Rosalie said in an almost bored tone as she stood in the doorway of the den.
I looked at her and smiled. "Bye, Rosie."
"Bye, guys," Edward said as Emmett came to stand next to her.
"Assholes," Rosalie muttered as she turned on her heel and walked away.
"So…you guys…" Emmett trailed off, rocking back on his heels.
"Bye, Em," I smiled sweetly.
"Right. Later," he nodded curtly, and then turned to leave. We heard the front door slam and the car start as the two left.
I looked back at Edward and sighed. "What now?"
"Go get ready," he said quietly, looking at me with that same intense expression from earlier. His eyes were smoldering.
I nodded dumbly, unable to form a coherent response, before exiting the den and going upstairs to shower and change. After washing myself thoroughly, I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I went to grab my shoes when the bedroom door opened and Edward walked in, a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair dripping wet.
"Oh," I gasped, standing up straight and holding my shoes in one hand as I looked over his toned body. Sure, I had seen it many times before—and had become very reacquainted with it last night—but it was still odd seeing him like this after three months of separation.
"Sorry, I just needed to change," he said. He smirked at my expression, obviously realizing that he was the cause of my becoming flustered.
I shrugged and tried to compose myself. "It's fine. I'll, uh, I'll wait for you downstairs." I walked past him to the door.
"Bella?" he called.
I stopped in the doorway and turned to look at him. "Yea?"
The smirk was still in place as he eyed my body up and down. "Just so you know…if you were the one in a towel right now…I'd probably be going crazy trying to control myself." And with that he turned around, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open and no way of coming up with an adequate response. I couldn't believe he had caught on to my ogling him. But what's more is that he admitted that he'd be doing the same if our positions were reversed.
Now I'm flustered all over again.
I mentally berated myself on the way down the stairs to the foyer. Edward was my husband; this wasn't actually our first date.
But then why did everything feel so new? How could I have asked him to make love to me just last night and then become this shy, uncertain girl today?
Because now it's real. Now we're moving forward.
A rush of nervousness and excitement coursed through my body at this sudden realization.
"Ready?"
I jumped with a start and realized Edward was standing directly in front of me. I clutched my heart and tried to even my breathing as he chuckled and apologized for scaring me.
"Whose car are we taking?" I asked once my breathing was under control.
"Alice and Jasper went with Alice's car today, so Jasper's is still here. He said we could borrow it if we wanted to go out."
I nodded in response and followed him to the garage. He opened my door for me and I thanked him as I got in and watched him make his way toward the driver's side. We started on our way into the main part of town and I wondered where he was taking me.
"What's the plan?" I asked him as I gazed longingly out the window. Seattle was a beautiful city.
"I wanted to take you to that park. The same one we went to when Alice and Jasper had us go out."
"Why?" I asked curiously, smiling slightly at him.
He shrugged and glanced at me once before looking back at the road. "I want to do it right this time," he murmured, more to himself than me.
I looked down at my lap and smiled to myself as we continued on with the rest of the drive in silence. Edward and I both got out of the car once we arrived and we began walking on the same pathway we had walked that night. It was late in the afternoon now, so there weren't too many people around.
"No jazz band, huh?" I smirked, looking at the empty expand of grass where the stage had been that night when we had run into Jessica and Mike.
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, no jazz band tonight. I would have brought you later, but Carlisle's cooking dinner tonight." He paused and I looked up at him, seeing that same smoldering gaze from earlier. "I can't be selfish and keep you to myself," he said softly.
I blushed and looked down at the ground, not sure how to respond. He had been doing an extremely good job of making me blush today.
Suddenly, I felt his warm hand slip into mine, threading our fingers together. I looked at our now joined hands and smiled, raising them to my lips and placing a kiss on his knuckles. I looked up at him and smiled gently as he continued staring at me.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I asked him, laughing slightly.
"Like what?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes dancing across my face, making me melt under his gaze.
"I don't know. I just notice you keep…staring at me like that." I wasn't sure how to explain it and now I felt like an idiot for trying.
He stopped walking and since our hands were still intertwined, I stopped as well. He placed his free hand on the side of my face and I leaned into his touch.
"Bella, it's been over three months since I've gotten to look at you. Really look at you. I can't help it if I'm staring."
My breathing hitched at his confession and I grabbed the hand that was placed on my face. "Then keep staring. Because I'll be staring right back," I whispered confidently.
His beautiful crooked smile returned and he kissed my lips gently before we continued on our walk, our hands lightly swinging back and forth between us.
"Tell me what you've been doing these last few months," I prompted after a few moments of walking in silence.
I looked up just as he ran a hand through his hair. "Uh…not much, really. I went to work, came home, ate, slept. Everyday, it was the same thing." He paused and looked at me.
"What about you?"
I shrugged. "Same."
"How's the magazine going?" he asked.
"Good, actually. Although I think I'm finally ready for something a little…more. My editor said she'd give me a great recommendation so I've been weighing my options."
"New York Times," he suggested, smiling slightly.
I shrugged and sighed. "I don't know. Maybe."
"I thought that was your dream," he replied, sounding confused.
"It was…I just…I don't know. I was actually thinking of trying to get a novel published."
"A novel?" he asked, sounding excited. "You're writing a novel, Bella? Why didn't you tell me?"
"We haven't really been talking," I quipped, laughing humorlessly. He nodded and sighed, tightening his hold on my hand. "I'm almost finished with it. I'm hoping to find someone who will edit it and then help me get it published. It's kind of on the backburner right now."
"Well, I'd love to read it. When it's finished." I looked up and saw nothing but sincerity behind his words.
"Okay," I nodded. "What about you? How's the law firm?" I asked, effectively shifting the conversation over to him.
"It's great," he answered immediately. "Though…I'm still in the process of hiring a new assistant slash secretary. It's tough to find somebody good these days."
I nodded in understanding and couldn't help the next question from bubbling out of me. "What happened with Tanya…after I left that night?"
I saw him stiffen slightly at the memory. "I told her to pack her shit and get the hell out," he replied without hesitation.
"You said that to her?" I asked in disbelief. Edward rarely talked to anyone like that, especially a woman.
He nodded, running a hand through his hair again. "All I was thinking about in that moment was getting to you." He looked up at me, his eyes showing all of the pain and regret he was feeling. I nodded and looked down until he spoke again. "Did you go to Jacob, or did he come to you?" he asked me suddenly.
I sighed and looked back up at him. I motioned for a bench and he nodded as we sat down close to each other, our hands still intertwined and laying in my lap. I looked down at his hand and played with his fingers as I spoke.
"He was in the hallway…doing laundry or something, I guess. I was so upset and he was right there comforting me, so I let him in. We drank and…well…yea…" I trailed off, looking at him since he had walked in shortly after and knew what had happened.
"I'm sorry I keep bringing it up," he said quickly, shaking his head. "I just…I still can't get the image out of my head."
I looked down guiltily and avoided meeting his gaze.
"Is that how you felt when you walked in on me and Tanya?" he asked quietly.
I looked up at him, tired of being scared and cowardly with my emotions. "Yea, but that was different. Now when I look at it…God, it's so different." I laughed humorlessly and shook my head as Edward waited for me to elaborate. "I went to Jacob because I chose to. Tanya threw herself at you; you didn't have a choice. I did. That's what makes it so different. You'll never understand how sorry I am, Edward."
He shook his head and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, kissing the side of my head. "Bella…you said you forgave me for the mistakes I made in the past, right?" I nodded and he continued, "And I forgave you. But obviously neither of us has forgiven ourselves."
I looked up at him, shocked at his confession and he nodded slowly. "Edward—" I started, wanting to tell him that he needed to forgive himself, that he needed to move on.
But then I'd be a hypocrite.
"We'll work on forgiving ourselves together, okay? You're not alone," he assured me gently.
I nodded and sighed. "Neither are you."
He smiled slightly at me before leaning in and pressing his lips firmly to mine. I leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his waist and pulling him closer to me. I was getting really into it and just when I thought I would rip his clothes off right there in the middle of the park, he pulled away, leaving me absolutely breathless.
I opened my eyes and saw him watching me again with the same expression he had been having on his face through out the day. "You're doing it again," I accused lightly.
"What?" he asked distractedly, never taking his eyes off me.
"Staring."
He smiled softly at me before tucking a strand piece of hair gently behind my ear. "I missed your eyes," he murmured, seemingly avoiding my statement.
"What did you miss about them?" I asked rather breathlessly, though it no longer had anything to do with the kiss.
"I missed how they tell me everything."
"What are they telling you right now?" I asked, becoming completely entranced in his gaze.
He searched my eyes intently for a moment before answering, "That you love me."
"Really?" I teased, smiling slightly at him. "Maybe they're lying."
He shook his head. "No. Your eyes never lie to me." He was completely serious and my smiled faded, all traces of joking and teasing gone.
"You're right," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "They're not lying."
He smirked at me and I leaned in again, pressing my lips to his. I told myself it was to wipe the smirk off his pretty little face, but I knew it was just because I couldn't keep my lips to myself when he looked at me like that.
After sitting there wrapped in each other's arms for a while longer, we finally got up and walked the rest of the way around the park until we got back to the car.
We didn't do anything of consequence for the rest of the day. We walked around town, Edward held my hand, and every now and then I couldn't fight the urge to kiss him. We kissed a lot. It was like we were in our honeymoon stage all over again and I couldn't get enough of him.
We finally headed back home just in time for dinner. As we walked in through the front door, we saw Emmett and Rosalie sitting in the living room watching t.v. They glanced up at us when we walked in and eyed us warily.
"Hey, guys," I greeted nonchalantly as I kicked off my shoes and walked into the living room.
"Hi," Rose snapped back. I suppressed a giggle at her frustration.
"How was your day?" Edward asked casually as he came to sit on the couch beside me, being careful not to sit too close.
"Fine," Emmett replied in a clipped tone. "You?"
"Fine," Edward nodded curtly, smirking slightly and mimicking Emmett's tone of voice.
"Dinner's ready, guys!" I heard Esme call from the kitchen.
Edward stood up and waited for me to walk past him toward the kitchen. I glanced behind us and saw that Rosalie and Emmett were still staring daggers at our backs.
We sat at the table and everyone flowed into easy conversation. Alice was going on excitedly about her day and Esme discussed one of the parties she was planning this week.
During a lull in the conversation, Edward placed his hand on the back of my neck and massaged gently as we continued eating. I looked at him and smiled slightly, grateful because my muscles had been feeling extremely tense lately.
"Aw, look at those two," Esme cooed sweetly, watching us.
I blushed three shades of red and lowered my head a bit as I continued eating and Edward put his hand back in his lap.
"Yea," Rosalie snorted, stabbing her fork into her steak with a little too much force. "Look at those two."
All eyes turned to Rosalie, seeing as everyone had sensed the hostility in her voice.
"I'm just so jealous," she laughed tightly, trying to mask the sarcasm in her tone and failing epically. She coughed uncomfortably and Emmett worriedly slapped her on the back, to which she smacked him upside the head.
Everyone watched on in confusion and slight amusement. Everyone, that is, except for Edward. I glanced at him and his eyes were solely trained on mine. He was staring again. Instead of calling him out on it, I just stared right back.
Author's Note: A sweet chapter for my sweet readers. So Emmett and Rosalie do not have a clue what is going on. Are Edward and Bella being unfair? Maybe. But do they deserve some time for themselves? Most definitely. Some fun times ahead! Don't worry, Emmett and Rosalie will not be letting them off that easy :)