"Bella? What are you doing here?" Alice asks as soon as she walks into the kitchen.
"I told her that you were both spending the night here and invited her to crash here instead of driving back in the dark," Edward answers for me.
"So what did you think of the show?" Jasper questions.
Thankful that he's taking the focus of the conversation off why I'm sitting in Edward's kitchen, I fill him in on my thoughts from the show. It really had been a great night out with friends. Aside from my growing feelings for Edward, I was enjoying getting to experience something I never would have seen at home. This is why I was here and I needed to keep reminding myself of that.
"Next we'll have you at the moonshine party. Then you'll really have experienced the whole island lifestyle," Jasper informs me.
"Moonshine?"
"It's a tradition to make your own moonshine on the island. There's a big distillery out by Souris that's making a name for itself in the moonshine business. A lot of locals still make their own though. You haven't tried it?"
"No. Hard liquor and I don't mix well," I reply, remembering a few too many embarrassing moments in college.
"I'll have to get those stories out of you soon," Alice pipes in.
"All in moderation," Jasper responds with a yawn. "And with that I'm going to head up for the night. Let's go Allie cat."
"Night guys," Alice says giving each of us a hug before heading upstairs.
Again with the awkward moments.
"So I guess I should call it a night too. Is it okay if I just take the couch in the other room?" I ask.
"I've got an extra guest room you can use, top of the stairs to your right. Bathroom is directly at the top of the stairs; there are usually some extra toothbrushes under the sink courtesy of my mom and Alice. Do you need anything else?" he asks.
"No that's great."
"Do you want a t-shirt or something? I'm sure that outfit can't be comfortable to sleep in."
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," I reply.
"It's not a worry. I did guilt you into staying here for the night. I'll go grab you one. Hang on," he smiles as he walks towards another room off the kitchen. As he enters the room I try to peek and catch a glimpse of what must be his bedroom. I can't see much before he's back with a folded up t-shirt.
"Here you go. It's even clean," he says placing the shirt in my hands.
"Thanks again Edward. For letting me stay and the shirt," I say, all too aware of how close he is still standing. I look up into the green eyes and before I realize it, I'm reaching in to give him a hug.
Edward responds right away, pulling me towards him as my head hits just at his shoulder.
"Night Edward."
"Night Bella."
The guest room is spacious, with a double bed in the middle with a small nightstand by the side. The ceiling slopes down on the side of the room with built-in dressers lining the space where I'd have to bend to not hit my head. Climbing into the bed in Edward's t-shirt I smile thinking back on the night. It was nice to see Edward's playful side come out tonight. He seems to have put so much time into the farm, but there was a lot more to him than that. And while I'm thousands of miles from home, on the opposite coast, that hug reminded me of home.