A/N Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday. See you in 2 weeks.
Thank you to my beta, Breath-of-Twilight. She is the best Beta ever, and I love her. She has literally done so much work on this story, that I can't ever thank her enough. She's made it awesome.
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer is a goddess and she owns all of the Twilight universe. I own the story line. Please do not steal what isn't yours. No copyright infringement intended.
All the Loves of Our Lives
4. Encounters
By the time I had changed my outfit for the fifth time, I had almost reconciled myself that I wasn't even going to go out on this date. I felt like I had nothing in my wardrobe that was good enough to wear out with Edward. I hardly knew him, but I wanted to at least impress him by looking nice. I finally settled on a blue jersey knit dress with long sleeves and a V-neck. I didn't feel very confident in it, but I was pathetically running out of options. I had just slipped on a pair of beige heels when there was a knock downstairs on the side door. I looked at the clock; he was right on time. I swiftly made my way downstairs to answer the door, trying not to seem overly anxious. When I opened the door, he was standing there with a slight smirk on his face, and he looked amazing.
I could feel the butterflies starting to flutter in my stomach. He had on a white button up shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black pants, and black shoes. His outfit was simple, yet it accentuated every muscle that adorned his body. He looked at me from under his long eyelashes and ran his hand through his thick bronze colored hair, making it stick up in all different directions.
"You look absolutely beautiful," he said, but I didn't feel very beautiful. In fact, I didn't feel like I was even dressed appropriately to be going anywhere with the likes of Edward. He was in a league all of his own.
"You don't look so bad yourself," I replied. That was an understatement; he looked absolutely magnificent.
"So, are you ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah, let me get my purse. I'll be right back," I said, turning to go back towards the kitchen.
I grabbed my purse and met him back at the door. He grabbed my hand and led me across my driveway, across his driveway, and up the front steps of his house. I was a little confused at what we were doing there, but then I understood. We weren't going anywhere for dinner. He was having me over for dinner.
We walked through his door into his entryway. The layout of his house looked to be the exact same as mine. There were no lights on, just the fading light of the pale moon still shining through the windows. He led me through the house to the back door. Outside, a small table had been set up with a plain, white table cloth and a solitary white candle. The silverware was shining in the candle light, and I could smell the fresh flowers that were in the center of the table, in a small globe vase. Edward pulled my chair out for me. I don't think I had ever had a man, Riley included, pull out a chair for me in my lifetime that wasn't a family member.
Edward walked back into the house and brought back a bottle of wine and a tray of what looked like appetizers. He set them on a tray stand next to the table. I was speechless. Not only was he the most gorgeous man that I had ever seen, but he managed to plan an evening with me that started more memorable than any date I had ever had before. I suddenly realized that I could hear music drifting softly from the house. The ambiance was surreal; it felt like I was in a fairy tale.
"So, what do you think?" he asked shyly.
"I think, so far, everything is amazing. Did you put all of this together on your own?" I was astounded that one man could be so romantic and organized. It was my experience that men didn't really have a romantic bone in their bodies. Edward had just blown that assumption right out of the water. He was beyond romantic, meticulous, and downright perfect. I smiled at him, a true and genuine smile.
"I did. I figured that anyone can go to a restaurant, but not just anyone can make an evening special, and personal." He stared into my eyes. I loved that I didn't feel it necessary to say anything in return. We could sit there in silence. I was content, and he seemed to be, too. I knew that I had only spent a couple of evenings with him, but I felt like I had known him forever.
"Did you cook, too?" I was increasingly shocked at the effort that he had gone to in order to make tonight special.
"That's my little secret, Bella. So, tell me a little more about yourself. I feel like I don't know anything about you," he asked, but there was an undertone to his question that confused me. It may have been the fact that I felt like I had known him for years, but I think it was more along the lines that I actually had this odd feeling that I really had met him before. The more time that I spent with Edward, the more I was convinced of that.
We spent the next hour talking about anything that had to do with me. Edward would ask me question after question. I often wanted to interrupt him so that I could ask him questions, but he always deflected with yet another round of pressing questions before I even got the chance. It was so easy to talk to him, and I felt so comfortable sitting in his company, that I found the words just falling from my mouth. I told him anything and everything he asked, never once worrying that it may be too humiliating or boring. He seemed enthralled and lost in my words, and it made me feel important.
The soft light from the candle threw shadows on the soft, yet chiseled features of Edward's face. He looked at me with such intensity in his eyes that it gave me the sudden urge to lean forward and touch his face, but I held myself back. I couldn't be so forward with him; I didn't want to overstep any boundaries. He knew that I had just ended a long relationship, and I didn't want him to give the impression that I was easy or that I needed a man in my life to be complete. He must have sensed that something was wrong, because he got a strange look on his face.
"Is everything okay? You look like something is bothering you. Did I do something?" Edward asked, furrowing his brow.
"No, not at all. Everything is perfect. Really, I don't think that I have ever been on a date like this before. I mean, if this is a date…" Instantly my throat closed and my face flamed with embarrassment. I had assumed, and presumptions were never a good thing. Oh God, what if this wasn't a date, and he thinks I'm totally clingy and never wants to see me again?
"Of course this is a date. Unless you don't want it to be, I would understand. I mean, you hardly know me." There was a hint of humor in his voice that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Almost as if he was implying that I really knew him more than I thought I did. But, I was probably reading too much into it. Maybe he just wanted us to get to know each other better. That made more sense.
The wine was all gone, and he had gotten up to get another bottle. As I sat there waiting for him, I wondered what the glimmer of humor in his voice was all about. I was a little afraid to bring it up. What if I really was just looking too deeply into things, reading too much into nothing? I would look like a total fool, so, I thought better and just dropped it. Come to think of it, there were little things during the whole evening that seemed off, like the fact that he was way more comfortable in my company than I was in his. I didn't want anything to ruin this evening. It would be better for both of us if I just enjoyed our moment together.
While I sat there waiting, I looked around his back yard. He had done an amazing job on absolutely everything. The white linens and flowers against the green of the grass and the trees were beautiful, and it gave me this strange sense of deja vu. From the placement of the flowers all the way down to the way that Edward made me feel; it all left me with this strange sense of familiarity, and it left me feeling confused. It was like I was trying to remember something, yet, every time I got close enough to the memory, it just slipped out of my grasp.
I hadn't notice that he had returned until the music changed into a slow guitar melody, and then he was there, standing in the doorway, looking at me, all handsome and rugged and familiar, yet not. He slowly came back towards the table. I wished in that moment that I could read his mind, because the twinkle in his eyes warmed me to my soul. He smiled down at me as he sat the wine bottle down, then reached out and grabbed my hands, lifting me until I was standing, so I could put my arms around his neck. He slid his hands around my waist and pulled me closer still, causing my body to come in delicious contact with his, then, we began slowly swaying to the music.
I wanted to look into his eyes but I was afraid that what I was feeling would show clear on my face. I was so smitten with him, so captured and torn by his beauty and the kindness in his eyes. I was lost in this man, and it happened too easily, like breathing, and I hadn't even realized it until this very moment. Maybe it was that I just didn't want to admit that I could have developed feelings for him so fast, I wasn't sure, but I knew now in my heart of hearts, this amazing man, he was it for me.
I put my head on his shoulder and inhaled deeply. He smelled like soap and pine, and it made me feel like I was home. He pulled me closer, and I could feel his chin on the top of my head. I pulled away slightly to look up at him, and as soon as I did, I knew that I was lost. He leaned his head down to look at me, and we stared into each others' eyes. I was so lost in the raw emotions lurking behind his bright green eyes that I didn't even think twice when he tilted his head towards me, I just took both of my hands and put them on his face and pulled him to me. He didn't seem startled or disturbed by my advance, and when his lips softly brushed mine, I got lost all over again, my head swimming in a sea of pleasure and tingles, and then he deepened the kiss. His hands tightened around me, pulling me closer to him, still. The kiss continued growing more urgent by the minute. There was something behind that kiss that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was as though he couldn't stop himself. That he didn't want to stop himself. I didn't want to, either, I was pretty sure I couldn't have, even if I wanted to. But, there was something else, something more; it was like there was always something that I was just not privy to the whole evening long, not just the kiss, everything about him.
I was acutely aware of his tongue in my mouth. He tasted so sweet that I started to lose strength in my legs. Without any effort, he held me in place, caressing my back with his long, warm fingers. I knew that I didn't want this to end. I never would. Slowly, he ended the kiss and pulled away to look at me again. We were both panting and smiling, and I swear my mouth hurt from the shit eating grin that was like permanently plastered on it. I could still taste him. He was everywhere. His beauty, his breath, his taste, it consumed my entire being.
"You are so beautiful."
"Thank you." I couldn't think of anything else to say, he had taken my breath away. Literally.
He traced my face with his index finger and then curled it under my chin and brought our faces together again. This time the kisses were small and sweet, all over my mouth, my cheeks, my nose, and back to my lips. His eyes looked cloudy, no longer the bright green they usually were. They were now murky and hooded.
He opened his mouth to say something, and I waited. He snapped his mouth shut and then drew me in closer, swaying again. It was sweet, and he felt so soft and warm and perfect in my arms, and then the music ended, but still we swayed gently to the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. When we finally stopped, we stood there for a few minutes just holding each other. His muscles felt wonderful beneath my hands, but I could tell he was tense. I hated that I had done something to obviously cause it, and I felt a frown form on my face as I tried to figure out just what I had said or done to cause him to feel awkward or uncomfortable.
We slowly broke apart to look at each other. His brilliant smile beamed down at me, with nothing tense seeming to remain. Whatever it was, it had left as quickly as it had come. I couldn't help but marvel at him. How could this be possible? Was I lucky enough that he just happened to move in next door right after Riley moved out?
"Is something bothering you?" Edward asked, with a concerned look on his face.
"No, I just have a lot on my mind, these days. I try to not think about it, but every once in awhile it creeps into my thoughts." I was a terrible liar. I just wasn't ready to tell him how special he was becoming to me.
"Are you sure there isn't anything specific? I mean, I am a really good problem solver," he said with a smirk.
I didn't want this evening to be ruined with my baggage and insecurities. He had worked so hard to make sure that everything was perfect. He was perfect. I wondered what his intentions were. He could have taken me anywhere tonight, but he chose to do something more special, more intimate. Maybe, I could just tell him a little something.
"I wouldn't say that I have any problems, actually. Well, maybe one. You see, there's this guy. I really don't know him all that well, but he moved in a couple of weeks ago and he wouldn't notice me. I finally got to meet him, and he was so sweet. He saved me when I got lost in the woods, and waited with me until my runaway cat came home. I really enjoy being with him, but I don't know how he feels about me. I just got out of a long relationship, and I'm afraid to put myself out there right away. I don't want to get hurt again. I also don't want to ruin anything with this guy because he's becoming pretty special to me. How would you handle that?" I nearly choked out the last bit. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, so I just stared at my feet and twinned my fingers together.
He stood there staring at me. I didn't have to look at him to know. I could feel his intense gaze boring into me. He was probably confused or disturbed by my rant of a confession, and it seemed like forever before he said anything.
"Well, I think that this guy would be an idiot if he wasn't absolutely crazy about you. I know I am. I don't think that you could possibly do anything to ruin what could be developing here. I think we should just take it slow. Who knows, maybe we only have one attempt to get this right. I know I don't want anything to jeopardize what you feel for me, if you are telling me that you have feelings for me. I have been searching for you all of my life, and I only found you just now." He said with such conviction, that I actually felt like he had been searching for me.
He took my face in his hands again and leaned his face into mine. Our faces tilted to accommodate each other, and he kissed me again. This time there was no holding back. We knew where we stood with each other, and there was nowhere to go from here except forward.
Suddenly the door bell chimed, echoing through the house and out into the yard. He held me close, but when he heard the knock he flinched and made no effort to let me go to answer it. The fact that he remained standing there without an inclination that he would answer the door seemed odd. Was he expecting someone?
"Shouldn't you get the door?" I knew that he had heard the knock. What was with his hesitation?
"Yes, if you'll excuse me for a minute." He dropped his arms and disappeared in through the back door.
I poured myself some more wine, trying not to let my nerves get the best of me. I probably didn't need it, but I was getting overly anxious. Edward's constant flipping from calm and full of smiles one minute to stiff and distant the next was really making me wig out.
He was gone for several minutes, and I started to wonder whether or not everything was okay. When he finally came through the door he had a dark look on his face. The line of his jaw was set, and his eyes had darkened.
"Bella, I am so sorry to have to do this, but something has come up…"
I was trying to listen to what he was saying but then another man walked through the back door. He was a few inches shorter than Edward and had brown hair and brown eyes. Strangely, he looked like he could be related to Edward. I looked back at Edward, and he had an extremely worried look on his face. I looked back to the stranger, and he was beaming at me. Confusion was settling in my brain, and I wasn't sure what I should do.
"Bella, I would like to introduce you to my brother, Felix. Felix, Bella." Felix extended his hand to shake mine. He had a firm grip, and it felt like he lingered longer than necessary with my hand. I looked at Edward and thought I saw anger flash across his face.
"Bella, I am so pleased to meet you. It's nice to see that Edward is making some lovely acquaintances. Do you live around here?" I was a little caught off guard that Edward had never spoken to his brother about me. Not that I thought I was so important, but I was his only neighbor, and I also seemed to be the only person who had ever been in this house. I looked at Edward inquisitively, and the look on his face told me that he wished his brother hadn't asked me that question. I was sure of it, but why?
"Yes, actually, I live next door." I was so confused at what was going on. Edward was just standing there, his face a mask of pure anger, not saying anything.
"Maybe, I should go so you two can catch up. It was nice to meet you, Felix." I turned back to the table to grab my purse, and Edward was immediately at my side.
"Let me at least walk you home," he looked at Felix, "I'll be right back."
Edward placed his hand firmly on my back and steered me through his house. Before I could blink, I was back at my side door. I turned to look at him. Only a few moments ago I was in his arms, and now, I was headed home, early and alone.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. I didn't want this night to be over so fast. I have to deal with my brother, though. I didn't have any idea that he would be coming by. He and I don't exactly get along too well. I want you to know that tonight was so wonderful. I couldn't have imagined it better."
I certainly could have, and it wouldn't have been over already. "I understand. He's family. Really, I wouldn't expect you to not spend time with him. Just come on by when you get a chance." I sincerely hoped that I would see him again tonight, but something in the way that he was looking at me said otherwise.
"I promise I will come by as soon as I can. I can't tell you how sorry I am for this." He touched my face and smiled. My knees instantly buckled, and he caught me as I started to fall. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look him in the face. He pulled me close and tilted my head towards his face.
"Please, don't look away. I want to see your face for as long as I possibly can." This time I was the one to initiate the kiss. I wove my fingers through his hair and held him as my lips moved against his. I didn't want to let him go, but my rational self told me that I had to. I couldn't keep him here like this forever… or could I?
He broke the kiss and said, "Good night, Bella," then turned and went back to his house. I stood there for a minute, until I saw him go inside. I turned and unlocked my door, and Jakey was inside waiting patiently for me. The house was quiet and cold and I instantly felt Edward's absence. I hadn't even realized that I was so at ease and comfortable until Edward's warmth was no longer surrounding me. Apparently, I had been wrong earlier. Edward and I seemed to be equally comfortable with each other.
Since there was nothing else to do around the house, and it was too late to go for a walk, I decided that maybe it was time to get ready for bed and call it a day.
I had just reached the bathroom when I heard a car door slam and an engine turn over. I looked out the window and saw Edward's BMW back out of his driveway and take off down the road.
The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. I didn't think that I had too much to drink, but I really couldn't remember. Last night had been a blur. It had started out perfect, but as soon as his brother, Felix, had shown up, the whole tone of the night had changed. I never heard his car return last night, and I wondered where he could have gone to so late. I shouldn't get myself so attached to someone so soon. I hadn't been single that long and I really didn't know if I was ready to be in a relationship again. He was perfect, though. He had gone to so much trouble for me last night. Everything that he did was beautiful, and what had made it so special was that it was genuine. It wasn't for show, and he wasn't trying to be something that he wasn't. I had never had anyone do anything so special and so personal for me, not even Riley. Edward had actually put a lot of thought into our date. He could have taken me anywhere, but instead he wanted to spend time with me, alone.
I needed to drag myself out of bed and get something accomplished today. I went downstairs and found Jakey anxiously awaiting my arrival for breakfast. I fed him, but really had no appetite myself. My house was in a serious state of neglect. I had two weeks worth of laundry, and the dishes had been piling up, and I was sure if I looked under the couches I would find angry, scary dust bunnies snapping at me. Weren't bunnies supposed to be cute and cuddly? I shuddered. The house definitely could use a good tidying up.
Before I got started, I wanted to check and see if Edward had gotten home yet. I went to the living room window and looked out to see if I could see any sign of him. I hadn't heard his vehicle drive up last night, but there it was parked in his driveway. I hoped that since he was finally home, maybe I would get a visit from him later.
Several hours passed and I managed to tackle the kitchen and complete two loads of laundry. I had straightened the rest of the downstairs and was headed to work on the upstairs when the phone rang. I hoped that it would be him, but if he wanted to talk to me he would likely just walk next door.
My brother was on the other end of the line. I hadn't really spoken to him since he had gone to the Lake with Alice, and I felt bad that I hadn't taken the time to see how the trip went. I was having trouble concentrating on anything but Edward, and that meant that I had pretty much forgotten what was going on with the rest of the world.
"Hey, Bell, what's up? I haven't talked to you in awhile. I was beginning to think that you had fallen off the face of the earth." He was being playful, but I could hear the concern in his voice.
"I'm fine, really. I talked to Riley the other day and we cleared a lot of things up. We're still going to be friends, but I really think he did both of us a favor."
"So, what's up with the new neighbor?" This was the one question that I had hoped he wouldn't ask. It's not like I didn't want to answer, it was just more of a not ready to answer type of situation.
"I finally met him the other day. Jazz, you'd like him. He's British, so, he's very polite, and he's been very nice to me."
"Of course he's been nice. He'd be crazy to not be nice to someone like you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I could hear the indignation in my voice.
"You're adorable, and you're so sweet. I don't know any man that wouldn't fall at your feet. Really, Bella, you can't be that dense that you don't know that. I hated high school because all of my friends couldn't wait to come over and see my sister and her friends. Do have any idea what that does to a guy when all his friends pine over his sister? Dude, I have been crazy over this for years."
"Okay, you've made your point. You are so dramatic, and you know how I hate it when you exaggerate everything. I really don't think Edward is anything like any of those guys. The other night Jakey ran into the woods, and I was so upset that I followed him and managed to get myself lost. Edward said that he saw me go into the woods so he decided to follow me so that I wouldn't get lost. He got your baby sister home, and was a perfect gentleman about it." I sounded like I was trying to convince myself of what I already knew. There wasn't one thing about him that I didn't like. I would do anything to have my family feel the same about him.
"Well, it's nice to know that someone is looking out for you, but don't trust him totally, yet, Bell. I don't want to see you hurt, again. I saw Riley the other day, and I won't lie, I totally avoided him. I was afraid of what I might say to him. I know you're grown, but you will always be my little sister. I love you so much, Bell. Really, I can hardly bear to have anyone hurt you." I could hear the emotion in his voice and knew that he was near tears thinking about this. I hated to hear him in pain, especially at my expense.
"Jasper, I know. You don't have to tell me because I already know. I am a big girl, though, and I can make my own decisions. You can't hold yourself accountable all of the time. You shouldn't at all. Please know that none of this, any of it, is ever your fault. Anyway, Jazz, I have to get going. I'm right in the middle of a whole house overhaul, and I want to get back to it before I lose steam." I needed to get off the phone before he could ask me any more questions that would do nothing but make him worry all the more.
"So, do you need any help?"
"No, I'm fine, and almost finished. Love you, Jazz. I'll talk to you later. If you talk to mom, tell her I'll call her later, too."
"Love you, too, Bell. Call me if you need me."
I hung up the phone, glad to be finished with Jasper's questions for the time being. I didn't want to tell him about my dinner with Edward, because I knew if I did, there would be no way I'd get him off my back. He would end up driving me so crazy that I wouldn't want to talk to him anymore. I hated feeling like that, and I knew that that was exactly what would happen because that was what had happened when I got together with Riley, as well. Twenty questions all the time. I knew he was just looking out for me and that was sweet, but seriously, there's only so much a girl can take before she breaks.
The upstairs wasn't that dirty. I cleaned my bathroom, occasionally peeking out the window to see if I could get a glimpse of him, but no such luck. I changed the sheets on my bed and straightened up my room. There was a lot more room in the bedroom than I had realized. I hadn't really been paying any attention since Riley had left but the house overall seemed to be so empty, just the things that were mine and some of the things that we had acquired while we were together. I definitely had more closet space, but no more clothes to fill the space.
My walking clothes lay in a heap on the floor where they had been since I threw them there days before, and that gave me an idea. I needed to go on a walk and get some fresh air, get my head on straight.
With my laces securely fastened, I pounded the pavement until I reached the trail that would take me into the woods. I was a fairly sure that I wasn't going to be able to wipe Edward from my mind, but maybe, just maybe, I could push myself hard enough that I would be able to think more subjectively, with clean air in my lungs and a burning in my chest that, for once, had nothing to do with him. I knew that I shouldn't be so impatient for him to call me. I also knew that I shouldn't feel the way that I did. Edward's brother, Felix, bothered me. I couldn't quite place my finger on it, but the way that Edward acted around him made me uncomfortable. I really hoped that I wouldn't have to be seeing him again for awhile, a really long while.
Before I could untangle myself from my thoughts, I was already back in front of my house. I bent over and placed my hands on my knees and caught my breath. Our houses were both quiet. I could tell that there wasn't anyone home next door. There were no lights on in the house and all of the curtains had been drawn. The scene left me hollow inside, disappointed that I hadn't seen him before he left again.
Jakey, as usual, was waiting for me when I came back inside. I dragged myself upstairs and took a shower. I didn't want to let my mind stay idle for too long. I had too much to think about. I really needed to focus on the upcoming week. The recital was just days away, and I needed to buckle down. Tonight, I would allow myself one more night to just do nothing.
I threw my jammies on and went downstairs. Jakey was waiting impatiently to be fed, but I, however, was not hungry, still.
Monday couldn't have come soon enough. I woke up to find that Edward's car still wasn't in the driveway. I hoped that he wouldn't be gone long. There was no doubt in my mind that he was gone. As soon as Felix had walked through the door, I knew that nothing would be the same. He had swooped in and taken my new friend away. I shouldn't have any bad feelings toward Felix, he was Edward's brother. Really, I think I was just jealous and pathetically smitten. I just wanted to get to know him so much more, and maybe, just maybe he felt the same way.
When I arrived at the studio, Rose was waiting for me, ready to pounce. She must have changed her mind when she saw the look on my face.
"What's up? Tell me all about it. Is it Riley? Seriously, I'll kill him if he did anything else, I…"
"Rose, I haven't spoken to Riley in a little while. He hasn't done anything."
"Well then, is it your neighbor?" I could tell she was dying to pry.
"In a way." She was going to have to try much harder to get any information out of me.
"Well… tell me everything. I can't stand the anticipation. What's happened since Friday?"
"I've spent a little bit of time with him. Actually, we had a date on Saturday, and it would rank number one on my all time best dates that I have ever been on."
"Really? That good? Although, I'm not surprised; he is absolutely gorgeous."
"There is so much more to him than that, though. Jakey ran away, and he came to find me and help look for him. When we couldn't find him, he waited with me until Jakey came home. He has been so nice to me since we met, which actually surprised me quite a bit. He wouldn't give me the time of day until you so conveniently managed to introduce us. Anyway, he asked me if I would like to go out to dinner with him on Saturday. I accepted, of course, and when he came to get me I was so surprised to find that he wasn't taking me out to dinner, he had decorated his back yard and had dinner for me at his house."
"What was his house like?"
"I don't actually know. I was so surprised that I wasn't going anywhere that I totally made it through his house without even noticing anything around me. It was the most beautiful evening I have ever had. He had white linens, and white and green flowers. Dinner was so good, amazing really. He served me the most delicious food, but wouldn't tell me if he cooked it or not."
"What did you guys talk about?" I could see that she was not going to drop the subject unless I gave her something really good to chew on.
"Everything and anything, I don't really remember. I was so engrossed with him that I hadn't really paid any attention. That sounds terrible doesn't it? I mean, I was in the conversation at the time, but there was definitely something that overshadowed it. I was kind of sitting there when he went to get more wine. I don't know how long he was gone, when I finally noticed that I had been sitting there by myself for a little while, and I could hear music all of a sudden. I don't know how long he had been standing in the doorway looking at me, but it kind of caught me off guard. We danced a little bit and…"
"Seriously, you cannot do this to me. Just spit it out. Did you kiss him?"
"Yes, and it was insane. He not only managed the most perfect date but he is perfect at kissing, as well. I seriously could have stayed like that forever, only someone interrupted us. His brother, Felix, showed up."
"You mean there is more than one of him running around?"
"Yeah, and he is really good looking, too. There's something about him, though. I'm not really sure what it is, but Edward was pretty upset that he was there. In fact, he took me home right after Felix showed up. Then they left, and he hasn't been home since. I don't know what's up. I have tried to stop thinking about it but I can't shake this. I didn't want to get involved with anyone anytime soon, and now I find myself in a weird situation. What if he's like some kind of crazy person? I really don't know him all that well, and I find myself thinking about him all the time." I knew Rose was going to support whatever decision that I made. She just wanted to see me happy, too.
"Now, I think you're over thinking this way too much. I definitely don't think he's crazy. What if there was a family emergency? You don't know. I don't think it has anything to do with you, though. Especially if he planned a date like that; he wouldn't just turn around and drop you if it wasn't necessary. Didn't you say that he was upset when Felix showed up? See there's your answer." She knew what I needed to hear, and maybe I just needed to hear her say it.
She was a better judge of character than I was. When she first met Riley, she didn't really like him. He had to work really hard to earn her trust. I was actually amazed that she was so willing to give Edward a chance. I thought it would be much harder than she making it for him.
"Well, I don't know. I just hope that he comes home soon. It has been really nice to have someone next door. Since Riley left, Edward has been a driveway away from me. I didn't feel quite as alone as I had expected. Now that he's gone, it makes me uneasy. Sounds stupid, I know, but it's nice to know that I have someone if I need them, close by."
"You always have Emmett and me for anything. By the way, I have some news of my own for you."
I hadn't been paying any attention to anything but my own problems, and somehow I'd missed the ring on her finger. I was a crappy friend. I knew what she was going to tell me before she said anything. How had I been so oblivious that I had missed something so big? This was so big, and I ruined it with my complaining.
"Emmett finally asked me to marry him. Can you believe it?" I could see the elation on her face.
"Rose, I am so happy for you both. How did he ask?"
"We decided to take a last minute trip to Tahoe. Apparently it was only last minute to me because he had chartered a boat, and dinner was waiting for us when we got there. The boat took us out, and he did it right there in the middle of the lake, at sunset. I was so surprised. I was beginning to think that he'd never ask me." Her excitement could not be masked.
"Let me see the ring." It was absolutely breathtaking. The diamond had to be close to two carats, emerald cut and flawless. My anxiety started to rise. This was what I had wanted for myself. I wanted the husband and the wedding. Now I was alone. Riley didn't want to give it to me, and really, I didn't want it from him. Emotion and jealousy threatened to block my airways, but I pushed it back down and took a deep breath. I was genuinely happy for my friend, and I couldn't let my silly insecurities ruin that for her.
"Rose, it's gorgeous. I am so impressed. He did a good job."
"I know, right? I have something that I want to ask you. Will you be my maid of honor?"
"Of course, I would be honored. When's the wedding going to be?"
"Well, he wants me to have the wedding that I have always dreamed of, but to tell you the truth, I would take off to Vegas right after the recital to marry him in a drive-thru. It really wouldn't matter. I have been ready to marry that man for so long. Anyways, I think we are going to shoot for December. I know that it is only two months away and close to Christmas, but we figured that both of our families were going to be in town already, and we really don't want to wait that long."
"Well, we need to get to it then, don't we? But first, I guess we should go ahead and get rehearsals started. The sooner we start the quicker we're finished. The recital's Friday, then we can plan like crazy."
The rest of the day went by very fast. We worked in overdrive. There were only four days until the recital and so much to do.