EPOV

I loosened my tie as I stuck my key in the lock. I wanted fucking answers as to why Bella was with my sister last night. I tried to stay professional with Jessica around, but I wanted Rose to grasp how angry I truly was.

Her response was, "It's none of your fucking business… Anthony!"

Jessica asked me to the opening of a bar that her ex owned her goal for the evening was to make him insanely jealous. The only problem was when she pointed him out to me he was entranced by a gorgeous brunette… my gorgeous brunette.

Bella's eyes locked on mine from the bar and I did something that even disgusted myself. I pulled Stanley to me kissing her senseless, I needed Bella to hate me; she needed to see I wasn't good for her. I was nearly successful avoiding her calls for the past three weeks.

She looked devastated as Emmett tugged her by the hand out of the bar. Even he looked like he wanted to punch me.

I started through the foyer hearing the TV in the living room someone had to be up. I peeked in and Carlisle was on the couch.

It took me a few minutes the think of how I wanted to handle this. It could have been coincidence that they met each other, but knowing my sister, it wasn't. The only way she would know of Bella would be from Carlisle.

"I should have known you would be here," I started trying not to be too loud because Emery was still sleeping. "What the fu…"

I looked down at the something that was now attached to my leg. Two familiar brown eyes were looking up at me and the boy hugged my leg again.

It finally clicked, Rylan was Alice's nephew and Alice told me some of his story correctly. Her sister's kid, I'm stupid, I call Emmett my brother even though he's just my brother-in-law.

I looked at Carlisle as he stood so he could collect the small child, he stopped when Rylan lifted his arms to me requesting, "Up."

I obliged and as we watched each other I could see Bella in his eyes. He laid his head against my shoulder, snuggling into me.

"I deserve an explanation," I said in a clipped tone towards my brother, though I patted Rylan's back to let him know he was okay with me.

"Edward," he sighed.

"Oh there you are, whore extraordinaire," Rose mumbled sleepily, stumbling into the room. She only had one of Emmett's t-shirts on; you would think she would at least change before she came downstairs, at least for the children's sake.

"I want the truth of how you know Bella," I demanded my tone still soft, for the baby in my arms.

She glanced at Carlisle giving him a look that screamed, 'keep your mouth shut'.

"I was getting some books for Carlisle's birthday, I met Bella, we hit it off. The little one was with her and we set up a play date for him and Emery," she shrugged nonchalantly.

I looked over to Saint Carlisle knowing he could never tell a lie. He kept his gaze on Rylan who was playing with the end of my tie.

"I need coffee, it's too early to deal with Edward's emo bullshit right now," she sighed flicking her hair over her shoulder.

Carlise went to take him again, except for Rylan wasn't having it, he clung to me.

"Is this first time you've met?"

"No, I met him almost a month ago when he was with his aunt."

"Amazing," Carlisle, said more to himself than to me.

"What?" I asked cocking my head towards him.

"It took him until bedtime last night to warm up to me," he murmured smiling at me.

"Really?" I asked and he nodded.

Rylan was content lying in my arms and it freaked me out. Apparently, this little boy liked me because he clung to me whenever he saw me. I briefly remembered Alice telling me his father died of leukemia and I recalled Bella telling me she wasn't able to attend college. Things were clicking into place and the guilt blindsided me as I realized how terrible I had treated her.

Bella stumbled into the room wearing the same clothes she had on last night. She froze once her eyes met mine and I couldn't quite get a read on her emotions. She cautiously walked over to us keeping her gaze on her bare feet.

"Uh… he is mine, please," she whispered holding her arms out for him.

I gently tried placing him back in her arms, but Rylan had other ideas. Shaking his head furiously and repeating 'no' was making it clear he didn't want to go anywhere.

Bella's eyes widened at her son's behavior, her expression telling hinting that this was not a regular occurrence.

"Maybe if we sit he can decide what he wants to do," Carlisle suggested.

"I need to get home," she pleaded with him quietly.

This was not helping me with my 'keep Bella away from my damned soul' crusade. I sat down on the couch with Rylan and he wasn't budging. Bella sat next to us and he did take her hand in his little one. "Ma…ma…ma," he babbled with a grin.

"C'mon baby, I want to see my Ry-man," she cooed brushing his hair away from his face.

"Kiss," he demanded leaning forward, she smiled kissing him saying 'muah' and caused him to giggle.

It was killing me having her close she could probably hear my heart pounding. This display with her son was making me feel even shittier; she looked like she was an amazing mother.

Last night I wanted to hate her, every time I had been with another woman Bella's face or eyes would appear making my instantly flaccid. As of right now Bella was the only woman able to make me hard. Aro had received phone calls from a few clients who said I wasn't living up to the rumors they had heard about me.

In an eerily calm demeanor he told me that if something didn't change in my performance then he would practically shove Viagra down my throat.

I sort of tricked Jessica by going down on her, Aro said nothing about that as long as the client was pleased…

The sick feeling in my stomach returned, Bella was watching me carefully. "Was this your whole idea?" she asked meekly.

"Excuse me?"

"Get me to call you then decided I wasn't good enough, forcing your family to befriend me so you wouldn't feel bad," she ranted quietly as her face turned red.

"I would never do anything like that," I promised.

"I called you."

"I know," I whispered.

"Bella you're up," Rose smiled carrying in two mugs of coffee, her smile soon dissipated as she saw how close Bella was to me.

"I need to get home."

"Stay, eat breakfast with us, Rylan has to be hungry," my sister insisted, flashing her charming smile.

Sometimes I hated Rosalie with a passion that was indescribable.

I went into the kitchen pulling Emery's old booster seat out of the hall closet for Rylan. Carlisle set it up, but when we went to set him in it, he flipped out. I really needed a cigarette.

So the decision was made that he would sit on my lap. Rose got everything out for pancakes and I rolled my eyes knowing she was setting up for Carlisle. When the time came, he stood up and prepared our food. Bella kept sneaking glances at me making Rosalie frown.

"So Bella what did you think about Michael?"

"A… Mike?"

"Yeah, I'd say he was pretty smitten with you, he texted Emmett after we got home asking for your number," she grinned excitedly.

"Uhh…" Bella choked out.

"He is a catch, one of Seattle's most eligible bachelor's, the best thing about him is that he is dependable," she said giving me a pointed look.

I get it Rose, I'm the devil, now do you see why I kissed Jessica the way I did?

I got distracted from the conversation due to the infant in my arms tugging on my tie. He gave me another baby grin and surprised me. "Kiss?" he asked.

I leaned down letting him kiss my cheek; I noticed all eyes were on me.Carlisle was focused on the food, but I could see the happiness written all over his face. Bella looked like she was about to cry and Rosalie definitely wanted to kill me.

"He's very sweet," I told Bella.

"He is," she smiled faintly. "He usually doesn't take to strangers like this, he's usually only around my family."

"He is a good judge of character," my brother finally decided to speak.

"Saint Carlisle's mission to save Edward," Rose muttered.

"You both call him Saint Carlisle?" Bella asked confused as she pushed her glasses up.

Adorable.

"Carlisle believes there is good in everyone," Rose explained.

"That isn't true because all people are not good," she frowned.

"Exactly."

"You both shouldn't think of it like that," he chided shaking his spatula. "Everyone can be good meaning there is potential for it. I never said they automatically were."

After breakfast and many eyes on me, I walked Bella out to her car. She refused to look at me; once I got Rylan in his car seat, his lower lip began to tremble. I knew if I didn't step away from the car I might start to cry with him.

"I'm sorry," Bella, sighed getting into her car. My hand had a mind of its own and went for her wrist.

"May I please explain myself?"

"You don't owe me anything, Edward," she said flatly. "You don't know me and we're not friends, your life is your business."

"I really did want to get to know you," I pleaded with my eyes.

"I didn't stop you," she started loudly, but realized the small audience in the back seat. "I just… you talk about me to Alice and then you were with that girl. I don't appreciate being treated like that. I knew I had no chance… I mean look at you!"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked furrowing my brow.

"A girl like me doesn't date a man like you…" she trailed off looking away.

Here this gorgeous, perfect woman doesn't think she belongs with me, but she could never be more wrong. I'm the one that doesn't deserve to be in her presence. I am nothing, but a whore and an asshole.

"Bella, I believe you are far better than me, so please don't try to lessen yourself."

"Can I leave?" she asked as her bottom lip began to quiver.

I let her go not wanting to cause her any more distress. She ducked into the driver's seat turning the ignition on. I sighed backing away knowing this wasn't how I wanted things to end with us.

I walked back into the house where Rose was sitting on Emmett's lap and Carlisle was in the chair across from them.

"Dude, you need to leave Bella alone she's a good kid," Em sighed.

"I was trying to leave her alone, but some how you all befriended her," I hissed.

"Edward I'm allowed to have friends and you don't have a say as to who they are," Rose glared. "Besides I think you proved yourself quite nicely last night."

"What happened?" Carlisle asked with a horrified expression.

"He totally was sucking face with a client," Rose snickered. "She couldn't even compete with Bella."

"Edward why did you ruin this?" he asked sadly.

"I ruined this! I didn't want to bother her, because I have a fucked up life," I yelled. "Do any of you know about that baby's father?"

They shook their heads, all three of them afraid of the answer.

"Her sister-in-law told me he died of leukemia and I'm guessing it was while she was pregnant. Now why would I want to make things more complicated for her?"

"But outside," Rose protested.

"See this is where you never mind your business Rosalie…" I snapped. "I won't be seeing her again so you don't need to worry over it."

"Good because she has Michael anyway," she said knowingly, but I knew she was trying to make me jealous. I channeled Anthony; he never became jealous because he had the world at his feet.

"She can have him," I shrugged turning to leave.

As soon as I stepped foot in the driveway I was hit with the memory of Bella getting into her car and our discussion. You don't need her Edward. The voice in my head assured me, but the question was why did my heart contradict that voice?

A/N: So is Edward an ass or misunderstood? What do you think guys? Dolphin62958 is my beta and I appreciate her helping me out with this!