Bella

"You got in late," Alice comments, as I sip some coffee, looking over the delivery routes for today. It's going to be a mad dash to get everything done, but I think we'll be able to do it.

Alice hums, bumping my shoulder, trying to get my attention.

I roll my eyes. She's right, but I'm not about to say anything.

She in turn waggles her eyebrows in a hilarious way. And I can't hold back the giggle that bubbles up.

"What? Nothing happened," I tell her. That's not entirely true. We talked, we got closer, friendlier. But nothing physical happened, like she thinks.

"Uh huh. Sure, sure."

"Alice, we talked for a bit, had some coffee. But that's all."

"I'm telling you, Edward wants to deck your halls. And you can't tell me that you coming home at midnight didn't have anything to do with it."

I just shake my head. This girl. "I don't think it's anything like that. Have you seen him?" I murmur, still trying to make a sensible route for both of us.

"Yeah Bella, I have. But have you seen you?" she asks, looking totally serious.

"My point exactly," I mumble, ready for the onslaught from my friend. She's going to tear me a new one for putting myself down in front of her. Like always.

Instead Alice lets out a frustrated huff, complete with throwing her hands up in the air before stomping off.

I give her a few minutes, while I work on the map some more.

"Bella, when are you going to see yourself clearly?" she wonders softly, making me almost feel bad for seeing what I do in the mirror. But if it wasn't so true, the rolls, the extra weight, the…well everything then I guess maybe I would see what Alice sees, right?

"Let's leave this conversation for another time, 'kay? I'll try not to make any more comments about my…uh extra…stuff if you promise to be happy and bright. It's good day. A day to celebrate. Besides, we're gonna make buttloads of money, too."

She smirks at that. "'kay, but you have to promise me you're going to be happy, too. I love you Bells."

I get up, dusting my hands off before wrapping my arms around her. We hug it out. "I love you, too," I whisper.

And when our Golden Girls moment is over, we go back to being light-hearted best friends.

More coffee and more route planning is how we spend most of morning. With a little bit of trying to convince Alice that last night was harmless sprinkled in.

I hurry along, loading as many deliveries as I can in one shot. Today is going to be crazy. It's the day before Christmas Eve and I've got a ton to do. Not only do I have to make sure I get all my presents wrapped and ready, but I have to make sure all of my orders are filled and delivered to all the customers that requested them.

"Come on cookie queen, we need to get a move on," Alice says from behind me, I look over my shoulder and give her a dirty look.

"Yeah, I'm going. If I rush too much, I'll be re-making orders."

She waves me off like it's an impossible thought.

I continue to carefully load the trunk of my tiny car.

"So you've got the Darcy's, the Gifford's, Fair's, Field's, and Hunt's orders. And I have the rest, right?"

"Yep," she answers, ticking them off her list. "You know," she says, looking at my map. "Mr. Hottipants lives around your route. You think you're safe heading out that way?"

I chuckle and shake my head. "I'll be fine, Alice."

"But what if he calls you and wants to, ah, come down your chimney?"

I crack up. "Enough," I say once I can manage to talk without a fit of laughter escaping.

She shrugs, looking as innocent as can be. "What?"

"Alright, let's go get these delivered. Do you think Jas will be fine with the front store until we get back? It can get a little hairy up there." I wonder, worrying.

"Oh yeah, he'll be fine. Besides, he can call us if he needs us."

I nod and hop in to my car.

I buzz right along through my deliveries. It's fun, going to these peoples' houses and seeing all the Christmas joy, it's just very heart-warming. And at the same time, it makes me miss some of my favorite people.

As soon as my deliveries are done, I see some perfectly wrapped presents sitting on the backseat. And it's then that I know just where I'm headed.

I know the voice in the back of my mind is screaming at me to get back to work and finish up the few pick-up orders that we have is right, but I just can't resist. I know that Ej's smile will be worth every second that I'm running around like a mad woman later with flour flying every which way.

I pull down the small familiar driveway and park my car in the usual spot.

And smile when I see a snowman sitting on the front lawn. It's adorable and so perfectly Edward and Ej. The tie that the creation is sporting is clearly from Edward's closet and does more than make me giggle. It brings me back to a night just a while ago where I was helping him tie his tie. The moment as Alice refers to it.

But to me, that night only added to my attraction to Edward. I already thought he was the whole package long before the moment. He's handsome, always has been. He's sweet, caring and every time I've observed him and Ej together it just warms my heart through and through. And on top of all that, he's so intelligent.

I snap out of my own moment and grab the gifts, heading up the slippery walkway to the front door.

After a few quick knocks the door swings open. "Bella!" Ej shouts, latching on to my leg in mere seconds.

"Hey buddy," I say wrapping my arms around him. "Is your dad here?"

"Yeah, he saw you pull in and yelled for me get the door. I'll go get him," he says, racing off to the kitchen.

"Dad, DAD, Bella's here for you!" he shouts with a cheeky grin.

I chuckle and shake my head at the kid's words. I wish there was some truth to that.

"Bella, hey. I was just rescuing the kitchen from some burning potatoes," he says, with a deep breath. I watch as a warm smile fills his beautiful face. It's one of the things I'm drawn to most about him. It's so real and very inviting.

"That's okay," I tell him. "Listen, I'm sorry for just popping in. But I wanted to drop these off. I know the next two days are probably going to be crazy for you two, so I wanted to make sure I got them to you now."

His eyebrows dip together and he smiles. "Awe, thank you so much. Ej will be so psyched."

"No problem." I put a small smile on my lips. And secretly hope he likes what I got him.

"Hey, um, if you don't have plans, it's just Ej and I this year for both Christmas Eve and Christmas day."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, my parents just can't make it here this year and with all my clients I can't really get any time away."

I try to keep the smile off my face. I feel horrible that they're going to be alone for Christmas, but it's a wonderful opportunity that will let me spend some time with them.

"I would love to be here."

"That's great, just let me know what day, or days, if you really want to get together. You know, so you're not eating burnt potatoes."

"Well my dad's in Oregon 'til the end of the month working on a job and Alice, my roommate is going to her boyfriend's family's house for Christmas."

"Sounds like you're in the same boat as us," Edward sighs softly.

I nod, holding back the emotions that are clogging up my throat.

"But please, come over, if you want. We'd love to have you hear," he says with a smile.

"I will, I'll text you tomorrow morning."

"Bella, you're coming for Christmas Eve?" Ej shouts.

I grin because the adorable boy standing in front of me is smiling so big. "You bet, bud!"

"Sweet!" he shouts, dancing around.

"Okay guys, I've got to get back to the bakery, but I'll see you tomorrow."