"Is my mom going to be there?" Lily asked me as we packed a suit case for her.
"I don't think so. Your just going to spend the weekend with your grandparents. And then Monday you start school." She seemed excited to go. Edward even promised to bring her there since it was her first day. "Are you excited to see your grandparents?"
"Yea, I missed them. I'm glad dad is letting me go." I zipped her suit case shut and carried it downstairs to the door. Her grandpa was to be here any moment. I packed her a snack for the car just as the doorbell rang. When I rounded the corner she was already hugging the man that was standing there.
"You must be Bella." He said shaking my hand.
"Yes its nice to meet you Mr. Stanley"
"Please call me Greg. How's Edward holding up?"
"Um, hes busy a lot. But ok I think. I just started the nanny position two weeks ago."
"Well I'm glad he has someone he can trust. Maybe the boy I met years ago will come back. Everyone knows my daughter didn't help in that matter. She has made her choice's but we can't help her if she doesn't want help." I had a feeling this man though I knew more about Edward then he realized. I did know most of the story but this conversation was really weird feeling in front of Lily so I was glad when she gave me a hug goodbye and I watched as they got into his car and drove away.
I spent the rest of the day cleaning. I had neglected it most of the week since Lily and I spent a lot of time outside. I knew Edward would probably get after me for doing the house work. He normally got after me when ever I did anything extra. Like when he found out that I filled out the school paper work. He said that I shouldn't have had to do that.
I made veggie pizza for dinner that night even though I was suppose to take the weekend off. I just enjoyed cooking. And being helpful. Alice came home before the boys and helped me cut up the veggies while we waited.
"Any plans for the weekend?"
"Nope."
"Good, we are going to Emmett's club. Its so much fun!" She squeaked excitedly.
"Sounds fun. But I don't have anything to wear."
"How do you not have anything to wear? You've made 1200 bucks in two weeks are you telling me you haven't gone shopping?"
"Nope."
"Ok well we have about two hours before everyone will be here. Lets go shopping."
We both got new clothes and she finally convinced me to get a mini red dress and a pair of leggings to go on underneath. I bought red peep toe pumps to match. Edward and Emmett's cars were in the driveway/
"Woops, looks like we are late." We laughed and made our way inside with our many shopping bags. "Hey guys the pizza is in the fridge go ahead and grab it. We went to our rooms and then came back to the kitchen. The pizza Alice and I made was sitting on the counter and they had set the table.
"Sorry I would have made something different had I known we were going out tonight."
"No it looks amazing." Edward said cutting the pizza and serving it to all of us.
Like normal we ate quickly barely talking. It wasn't really an uncomfortable silence, more like everyone was just stuffing their faces.
"Any problems today?" Edward asked me.
"Nope,"I said taking my last bite of pizza. He gave me a weird look but I didn't really want to bring up the weird conversation I had with Greg in front of everyone else. I was glad he didn't say anything.
"So I have a surprise for your brother." I said to Alice as we started getting ready.
"Weird what would that be?"
"Remember my cousin Rose?"
"Wait the one the he had a summer fling with the summer the guys all graduated?"
"Yea, well I invited her to come out with us tonight. He doesn't have a girlfriend or anything does he?"
"No he doesn't. Seriously I can't believe she is in town."
"Yea when I told her about my new job she wanted to come see me and she had an opportunity with her job to come down here. I guess the law firm she works for is opening a office in the city. She offered to come help open it."
"Oh I can't wait to see his face. You know he hasn't been serious with a girl since that summer."
"Really? That's insane."I said shocked.
"I know. But now that we are already we need to get our butts down stairs." I put my shoes on and looked in the mirror standing next to Alice. She was wearing a skin tight black dress. As we descended the stairs there was a whistle from the front door.
"Little Bella has grown up!" Emmett closed the door behind him and laughed as we rolled our eyes. Jasper came around the corner and greeted Alice with a kiss on the cheek. Edward on the other hand seemed frozen. I blushed under he gazed and moved my eyes to the floor. Everyone seemed to be silent until the doorbell rang. Emmett turned to open it before I could stop him. "Oh my god."
"Hi," My cousins voice was soft and in shock. I hadn't gotten the chance to tell her Emmett was among the friends I had reconnected with.
"Rose, how, why, I mean, what are you doing here?"
"Bella invited me." Everyone turned to look at me except Alice who was trying to pretend to look shocked but failing.
"Um, surprise Emmett and well Rose to I guess since I didn't get to tell you Emmett will be joining us." I smiled at her and she walked in to give me a hug.
"It's been to long. And damn girl you look hot! Who dressed you?"
"That would have to be Alice." I said laughing. Rose gave her a hug as well and then seen Jasper snake his arm back around her waist.
"Well about damn time you two. Alice had the biggest crush on you back in the day. Wait does that mean you got your crush as well?" She said turning back to me.
"No, no, no, and we do not need to discuss that either. It's already 9 o'clock we are going to be late." I grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door.
"Wait who did you have a crush on in high school?" Emmett asked.
"No one." Alice and I said at the same time and we walked out the door. The drive to the club was entertaining to say the least. It took Emmett all of two seconds to fall back into things with Rose. Ok maybe not completly but they seemed pretty cozy in the limo.
"Ok Mike Newton?"
"Eww god no Emmett!" I laughed because he kept guessing.
"Why do you keep guessing Emmett, you do realize your colder then ice or whatever." Rose said elbowing him for me.
"Ouch but thanks for the clue, so if Alice had a crush on Jasper, then the only other two I really haven't guessed is well me and Edward." My face went red once again.
"Seriously can we stop this little game." Alice said sticking up for me.
"No I want to know. So it most likely wasn't me because you well pushed Rose towards me now twice. So that only leaves Edward and-"
"OK really we can change the subject now. Rose how have you been?" Edward cut off Emmett and changed the subject. I sighed in relief as Rose began to talk about her job and the other things she has been up to. I was thankful when the limo reached the club and we were let out.
The music was loud and the place was almost packed. We were let in at a side door and brought to a reserved table.
"6 shots of patron and 3 beers, girls what do you want?" Emmett asked.
"I'll have a Soco and diet." I added. Rose ordered a margarita and Alice the same. The waiter soon came back with our drinks and I knew I was in trouble after the thrid shot of patron.
"I love this song lets go dance." Rose grabbed me and Alice and dragged us to the dance floor and surprisingly the boys joined us soon after, but to sound manly Jasper added something about keeping guys off his girl.
I was surprised when Edward put his hands on my hips but I kept dancing, if I was sober I probably would have froze but I was defiantly not sober.
"Having fun?" I asked leaning into his ear so he could hear me over the music.
"Yea, I don't think I have been out since Jessica left."
"Why? I mean I know you have Lily but you could have gotten a babysitter."
"I don't trust a lot of people. And the ones I do trust are the ones out with me tonight. Other then of course her grandparents."
"Well" I said placing my arms around his neck. "We better make up for the last year of you not being able to go out." He laughed and we kept dancing until everyone's legs hurt.
"So you had a crush on me in high school?" Edward said plopping down onto the couch after we got home.
"Yea, look I'm embarrassed enough about it, you were never suppose to find that out."
"Aw, its ok. I'm honored."He said placing his hand over his heart acting dramatic.
"Your a dork." I said pushing his arm but falling into him instead. I meant to move but his arm went around me and kept me there. "Comfy?"
"Yup." He mumbled adjusting us so we were laying down. "Thank you Bella. For everything. I don't know how I was surviving for the last year."
"With the help of good friends and the people that love you. And your welcome. Though I don't feel like I have done much."
"You make her happy. Me happy." It was the last thing I heard before his breathing slowing and light snores filled the air.
"Ouch."
"Morning sunshine." I said walking up to Edward walking up on the couch. "Here." I handed him pain meds and a glass of water.
"Thanks. Um, sorry about last night."
"What are you sorry for?"
"Sleeping on the couch with you I guess I don't know."
"Don't worry about it. Its not like you fondled me."
"Yea. Still I don't want you to think I'm a creep." I laughed and he gave me a dirty look.
"Sorry but I don't think you are a creep. Far from it." I turned the t.v. on and to a random movie. Alice and Jasper soon joined us and Emmett took Rose home to shower and get clean clothes. We decided to cook out on the grill later and go for a swim.
"Your kind of amazing you know that."
"And why do you say that Miss Alice?" I asked taking my eyes from Edward who was standing by the grill dripping in his swim trunks.
"Because, you got Lily to smile again and Edward to have fun again and enjoy life. We have been trying for months to get him to be carefree again. And it took you two weeks."
"I didn't really do anything but watch Lily and make sure he had a nice sit down dinner with his daughter every night." I rolled my eyes and smiled.
"You've done much more then that believe me. You are changing that man for the better." I glanced over at Edward again. He was laughing with Emmett and Jasper. He did seem a little different. I don't know that I was the actual reason behind it but I was happy to know he was doing better.
"Hey, thank you Bella, I have had so much fun with Emmett last night and today."
"Aw, no problem. I knew how much that summer meant to you. I just wanted you to relive it again. Maybe for longer?" I laughed as she eyed me carefully.
"Ok don't start planning a damn wedding I'm sure Alice will beat me to that but yes I kind of want to make the stay permanent." We all hugged and squealed. When we broke apart the boys were looking at us weird.
"And I wouldn't go as far as saying I will beat you to the alter. Jasper and I have only been together for almost 7 months."
"You have him hook. You have to notice the way he looks at you." I said looking over at him.
"Yea I know." She giggled. Dinner was soon done and we all sat by the pool eating. The boys took our plates for us as we were to busy talking about weddings and all the fun that comes with them. We were so caught up talking that we didn't hear them come back outside and before we knew it we were being dragged into the pool.
We must have swam for hours playing chicken and water volleyball. Edward really did have it made here.
"Edward I swear I am going to hurt you!" I yelled as he came closer to me as I placed my towel around me. I had gotten dried off and he was trying to get me back in the pool. The others laughed as he continued his pursuit. "EDWARD!" I screamed as I was lifted over his shoulder and he jumped into the pool. "You are so going to get it!" We started wrestling around trying to dunk each other. By the time a truce was called I noticed we were the only ones left in the pool.
"Um, well I guess we should get out too." I wasn't sure what to say so I just nodded and followed him out and into the house. He turned to hand me a dry towel which found us face to face merely inches from each other. There was a moment of silence where I wasn't sure what was going to happen.
"Hey," We both turned quickly. "Oh sorry, I, I mean we were thinking about going to town and getting a drink you guys want to join?"
"I'm actually going to stay in. I had enough last night." I said quickly feeling embarrassed for really no reason that Emmett had caught us doing, well nothing.
"Yea you all go ahead and go, I don't really want to be the fifth wheel."
"Ok then see you guys a bit later then." He gave us a weird look and then left with the others.
"Want to see what we can rent on t.v.?" Edward asked me awkwardly.
"Um, yea sure, just let me go change." I ran to my room shutting my door quickly and leaning against it taking a few deep breathes. I wasn't sure what almost happened.
I ran a brush through my hair and but on cotton pajama booty shorts and a wife beater. I took a deep breath and made my way back down stairs to find Edward already on the couch in nothing but basketball shorts. He was looking through the PPV movies getting an idea of what we could watch.
"Anything look good?"
"Some. Have you seen the Hunger Games yet?"
"No but I have wanted to."
"Alright we will watch that." I settled on the opposite end of the couch to watch the movie. He rolled his eyes and then pulled me over to him so I was leaning into his shoulder. The movie started and nothing was said.
I laid in bed longer then normal the next morning. Yesterday had been so different. The little moments with Edward to cuddling on the couch together. I couldn't figure out what it all meant. I wasn't sure how to act around him when Lily got home either.
Edward was hot there was no denying it, its what made me had a crush on him in high school. But now I was acting getting to know him, and I was liking it and him.
Voices erupted down stairs so loud that I actually jumped. I made my way slowly down the steps to the entry way. I could hear Edward yelling and another woman screaming right back.
"Give me my fucking daughter now!"
"Jessica you need to leave." Edwards voice was low and almost a growl. I've never seen him this angry and I'm not sure that was the right word for the emotion coming off from him. Jessica on the other hand looked pale and her eyes seemed to have sunk in to her head. She was way to thin and her hair was brittle looking. She clenched her fists moving to hit Edward. I left my place on the last step and grabbed her pushing her towards the door.
"Get your sluts hands off from my Edward!" Now it was my turn to swing. I back handed her across the face which stunned her into silence. I low chuckle came from behind me.
"He said leave. Now you can do it on your own or you can talk with the police. And by the looks of you I'm sure you have some kind of drug on you so I doubt that would be a good idea." Edward walked around the pair of us and opened the front door.
She gave me a dirty look but turned out of the house and left. Edward waited till she had completely left before closing the door and turning to me. I was shocked when he wrapped his hands around my waist picking me up and hugging me.
"Thank you." He mumbled into my hair.
"You don't need to say thank you. She doesn't need to speak to you like that in your home. And she defiantly doesn't need to see Lily with the way she is looking." He hugged me tighter as my feet met the ground again. I rubbed my hand on his back to help calm him down more and then the door opened.
"Dad!" We realeased each other quickly and he turned scooping up Lily into his arms.
"I missed you baby girl. How was your stay and Grandma and Grandpas?"
"Great! We had lots of fun. They got horses!" She spread her hands wide to show the size of the horses as Greg walked in with her bags.
"Hey how was she for you?"
"Oh great, no problems at all. Hopefully we can start seeing more of her?"
"Defiantly. Just let me know when. She starts school Monday so we will have to set something up." I left Greg and Edward to talk as I took Lily's bags to the laundry room.
"Did you have a shower yet today?" I asked as she followed me.
"No. I knew I would have to have one tonight for school in the morning so I waited."
"Alright well lets go get you ready for a shower maybe we can have popcorn and a movie before bed?"
"Ok!" She ran off in the direction of her room. I heard Edward tell her to say goodbye as she ran past.
As I loaded the washer I thought more about Edward. I knew the weeks to come were either going to be awkward and completely different.