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Blind Ambition – Chapter Seventeen

"Want me to lock up?" Jasper asked from behind Edward, who was leaning against the counter, looking lost.

"No, I'm waiting for Leah. I'll do it when she gets here," he said as he ran a hand nervously through his hair, making it stick up in weird places.

"You okay? You seem kind of off."

"I'm fine, I'm just…" Edward trailed off and shrugged.

"Really into the doc, huh?"

He smiled. "Something like that."

Jasper gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, she's really into you, too. Trust me. I know people."

"I know you do," Edward sighed. "Give Ethan a high-five from his Uncle Edward, will you?"

"More like a high-one, man. His hand is minuscule," Jasper replied, and Edward could actually hear the "proud dad" smile in his voice. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you," Edward said, just before he heard the back door to the store close. He took a step toward the front door, but stopped, hearing the bell ringing as it opened and the noise from the street.

He was expecting Leah, but the perfume that blew in his directions wasn't hers, nor was the voice that greeted him.

"Hi," Bella said quietly.

Edward's body seemed to go rigid at the thought of her being there in front of him. It had been months since he'd had any contact with her and he had, truthfully, not thought about her since he started dating Leah.

"What are you doing here?" he asked sharply, still rooted to the spot. Anger felt like it was rolling over his skin, so he took a deep breath. He didn't want her to think that her presence was affecting him in any way; she'd simply caught him off guard.

Water under the bridge, he thought.

"I, um…I just wanted to see how you were."

Edward rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses, knowing that she hated them and that she probably knew he was rolling his eyes.

"I'm fine," he replied, before turning away and carefully, albeit quickly, striding to the back room.

He could hear her footsteps behind him and noted how they had changed, much like Alice's had when she was farther along. The thought of her being pregnant and happy brought back memories of the night they split up and his chest started to ache.

"I was just locking up and leaving, actually," Edward muttered.

"Where's Jasper?" Her voice was soft, and she was closer than he thought. No matter how much he thought it was water under the bridge, it still hurt.

"He's gone. I'm a big boy, Bella," Edward snapped.

"I'm sorry, I know. I was just wondering."

Edward sighed and slipped his messenger bag over his head before he grabbed his cane from the side of it. His phone was in his pocket and he grabbed it, intent on calling Leah as soon as he was out the door.

"He's only working a few days a week now that Ethan's here," he explained as nonchalantly as he could. Edward knew how close Bella and Alice always had been. He also knew no one called her to let her know Alice had gone into labor.

"Alice had the baby?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah. He's three weeks old."

"Congratulations. I bet everyone is excited."

Edward cocked his head to one side, wishing he could make out her expression. She sounded sad, like she was regretting missing out on something, but he couldn't find it in himself to feel sorry for her.

"Emmett came home, too."

"Yeah, I knew he would be," she said, and then paused. "Are you…still seeing Dr. Clearwater?"

"…What do you mean?" he asked warily, before turning away from her and making his way back to the front of the store.

"Your physical therapy? Are you finished?"

"Oh," Edward blew out a sigh of relief. "Yeah. I'm finished," he answered, and immediately felt guilty. Not for not being honest with Bella, but for not being honest for Leah. Their relationship was nothing he was ashamed of, and it hadn't started until long after he and Bella had split, so there was nothing to hide.

"Actually-" he started to explain, but stopped when the door opened again. This time the perfume was familiar, the footsteps were light, and his whole attitude changed just knowing she was in the room with him. "Hey."

"Hi. Are you ready?" Leah asked, taking a step toward him. She stopped suddenly, though, seeing Bella already at his side. She shot a questioning look at her boyfriend and, even though he couldn't see it, but Leah was pretty sure he felt it, because he shrugged.

"Oh. Oh!" Bella said before giving a hollow, brittle laugh. "Seriously?"

"It's great to see you, Bella. You're really carrying that baby weight well," Leah said coolly before slipping her hand into Edward's free one.

Edward held his breath, waiting for his ex to respond, and not expecting Leah to have actually said anything. He definitely underestimated her.

"Thanks. I should go. Good for you, Edward," Bella said through her clenched teeth.

He gave her a nod and waited for the door to close before he exhaled, slumping.

"Well, that's not what I was expecting," Leah murmured and let go of Edward's hand.

"I didn't know she was…uh…" Edward simply stopped talking, not being able to find the words to explain what had happened. He still wasn't very sure of it himself.

"Oh, shut up," Leah said with a laugh, just before she threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his mouth.

"I can do that," he laughed against her lips. He kissed her back, cupping her face as he did, enjoying the way her body curved against his as she pulled herself closer.

"That was a little awkward, I'm sorry," Edward whispered once she pulled away.

"It's okay. You can just make it up to me later." Leah grinned, kissed his cheek, and took his hand. She pulled him out the door before he had a chance to respond.

Edward flushed and fumbled with his keys at the thought of her making things up to him, but Leah just laughed and kissed his cheek again. Edward shook his head and held out his elbow, waiting for her to lead him away from the store. Neither one of them spoke while they walked.

"What did she want?" Leah finally asked, so quietly Edward had to strain to hear it.

"To see if I was okay," he answered with a shrug.

"Are you?"

"What? Okay? Yeah, I'm okay." Edward stopped and took her face in his hands. He kissed her forehead and pulled her into his arms, feeling her sigh against him. "Totally more than okay."

Leah touched his cheek gently as she pulled away and slipped her arm through his once more.

"Works for me," she replied.

"What's on the agenda tonight?" Edward asked when he slipped into Leah's car.

"Me and you."

"Sounds nice." He smiled and leaned his head against the back of the seat.

Edward couldn't help but notice how quiet Leah was on the drive to her house. He knew it had something to do with Bella showing up at his store, but he wasn't sure just how to approach the subject. It would have helped if he'd been able to see her face and read her reaction. Of course, unless he got a miracle, that wasn't going to happen.

Instead he sighed and rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans. Just as he opened his mouth to speak he felt the car slow down and down, then turn off completely.

"We're here?"

"Yes, sir." Leah reached over and patted his hand that rested on his leg. Edward frowned, frustrated that he'd finally worked up the courage and now he'd lost his moment.

Once he was out of the car, Leah took his hand and led her up her front steps and into her house. The house smelled like fall spices and Edward could hear the rushed click click click of the dog's nails on the hardwood floor as he rushed to greet them.

"Hey, buddy," Leah cooed quietly as he let go of Edward's hand. A moment later he heard tags jingling and felt a soft nudge at his thigh, and Leah took his wrist. "He's just sniffing you. You want to pet him?"

"Yeah, of course," he answered, and let Leah guide his hand to scratch Cooper behind the ears. The dog immediately fell to the floor and flopped onto his back, waiting for his belly to be rubbed. Edward knelt to oblige him, and Leah laughed.

"I'm going to change while Cooper tells you how abused he is," she said with a kiss to the top of Edward's head.

He nodded, then slipped off his sunglasses and tucked them into the collar of his t-shirt, blinking and trying to make out his surroundings: it was like watching television with horrible reception. It wasn't long before he heard Leah's footsteps coming around the corner, and then falter. Edward stood up quickly and frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just…you hardly ever take those off," she said, as she went to him and slipped her arm around his waist. "I like it."

Edward gave her a soft smile and dipped his head, so she met him in a kiss halfway. She was expecting something sweet and quick, and was not expecting the way his arms were suddenly around her or the vigor in which he was kissing her.

Not that she was complaining.

He cupped her face as he pulled away, his eyes closed and his face still close.

"You're being very serious right now, Edward." Leah's tone was worried so he smiled.

"You know I'm crazy about you, right?"

"I think so. Is that what you're trying to prove right now?" she asked and slipped her arms around his neck.

"No," he smiled. "It's just…" Edward sighed and gripped her hips, trying to steady himself. "This is different than anything I've ever known, okay?"

"Okay."

"I've never not been able to see someone and have these feelings for them. Does that make sense?"

"I think so," she whispered.

"What I'm trying to say is: I don't think I've ever truly felt this way. Not really, anyways. And the fact is that all I have is a blurry outline of you and the picture in my head scares me, but I'm just…really okay with that. Really."

Leah was quiet as she took in his words. His hands were tight on her skin; his body was so close she could practically feel his warmth. He was there in her house, in her arms…he was hers.

"Please say something," he pleaded quietly.

"I love you, too, Edward."