CHAPTER SIX

"It's a giraffe hat," Edward told Alex as he placed the orange and brown balloon hat on his son's head. Alex seemed confused at first that he had to wear but he quickly fell in love with the strange head adornment.

"Can I have one?" Lana asked, looking up at Bella. The six of them, Bella, Edward, and the four children were standing in line at the Clown Town Fun station, waiting for balloon animals and face paintings. They'd been at the street fair for only twenty minutes and already the sun was aggressive. Sam and Carlie were covered under their respective strollers but Alex and Lana's heads were prone to the summer sun. Edward had suggested balloon hats as an alternative form of coverage since neither parent had brought hats.

"Of course, baby," Bella said. "That's why we're standing in line. You're up next. What do you want?" She was holding tightly to Lana's hand and the little girl was attached to her mother's side, waiting patiently.

"Can I have a raff too?" she asked. Bella laughed and nodded.

"Another giraffe hat please," she told the clown who was making the animals. He nodded and happily promised Lana exactly what she wanted. She looked up at the clown without an expression and Bella was sure that her daughter was either confused or terrified of the colorful man standing in front of her. Sam was resting in his stroller, happily whacking a balloon sword back and forth that had been made for him five minutes before.

"Can I get a… cat?" Edward asked, randomly thinking of an animal for his daughter to have. The second clown nodded and smiled and began constructing his feline creation. Edward turned to Bella and smiled. He was wearing sunglasses over his eyes but he had a Dodgers baseball cap over his shaggy bronze hair and was wearing a form fitting, navy blue t-shirt with khaki shorts and sandals.

"So… how was your week?" he asked. Alex was fidgeting impatiently at his side, reaching awkwardly to the find the top of his giraffe hat.

"It was slow," Bella said, smiling. She'd made herself look especially nice today, knowing that she'd be going out with Edward later in the day. She'd woken up earlier, before the kids, and had showered and straightened her hair. She'd put on denim shorts and layered tanks, one white and the other light green. She'd put on a pair of low top Converse that she hadn't worn since college. She looked young and retro.

"Mine too," Edward said. "I had to work all week. My brothers and I are working on 78' mustang, full restoration and it's mind boggling!"

"Oh? Where were you working before?" she asked.

"Just some make-shift quick lube place," Edward said. "We finally got the courage to open our own custom body shop." Bella nodded and he continued. "But anyway… we're working on different vehicles for other customers but we've got Carlisle's fiance calling about wedding plans and Jasper's girlfriend is needing to be picked up at the airport. I've got my kids to worry about. Even though Bree's usually pretty good with them, but when she needs me to watch them and it's usually at the most inconvenient time."

"It sounds like all of that chaos would make your week go by faster," Bella said, smiling. Edward laughed.
"You'd think so, huh?" he asked, shaking his head. He looked back to the kids as the clown finished Carlie's cat. He reached into the stroller and handed it to her and she smiled happily as she tested it out in her hands. Edward looked back to Bella as the first clown continued working on Lana's hat.

"It's slow because I want to be working and when I'm not working, I get restless and then the day goes by slow," he said. "If that makes any sense."

"A little," Bella said, glancing to Lana. She was growing impatient, wanting not to be the only one without a balloon creation. Finally the clown finished and he placed the hat on Lana's head and she beamed proudly.

"Okay! Ready to go now guys?" Edward asked. The children chimed in agreement and they moved along. Alex walking beside his sister's stroller and Lana attached to her mother's hand.

"So, I don't know what you'd think about this but…" Edward started, and he looked to Bella as they walked, their direction aimed at the bounce house across the street. "My brother, Carlisle, is getting married in two weeks and Jasper's girlfriend has come into town just for the occasion. We've all been dying to go out but I really don't want to be fifth wheel, you know? I know that you're married and everything but it doesn't have to be a date… just a casual outing for you to get acquainted with some new friends."

Bella felt as if God himself had come down and had turned her lips into the widest grin possible. Behind her sunglasses, her eyes were dancing. She wanted so badly to say yes but Lana was pulling at her arm and singing loudly.

"I'd love to… but my kids…" she said. Edward nodded.

"Taken care of," he said. "I already pitched the idea to Bree. I don't have my kids tomorrow night so she'd only be watching yours. You can bring them over to my apartment and she can watch them there. Whatever you're comfortable with."

He thought of everything. Bella smiled and nodded.

"Then I'd love to!" she cried, maybe more enthusiastically than needed. Edward just laughed.

"Great," he said. "Everyone will be really happy that you're coming along. I've been telling them about you, the great mom that I met at the park."

Bella smiled, not sure what he meant by that. This was a good sign though, that he was talking about her to other people. She smiled and took a deep breath, happy that everything was working out so perfectly. She wasn't doing anything to betray Michael and she was happy, something that she hadn't been in weeks.

The following night, Bella found her way to Edward's apartment based on the directions he'd scribbled onto paper for her at the street fair the day before. She'd managed to explain to Michael that she would be going out with some other young mother's that she'd met at the park the week before and that he didn't have to worry because she'd arranged for Bree to watch the kids at her house. She didn't feel bad at all that she was lying to Michael because if she had told the truth he would have either kept her at home or he would have invited himself along.

"Hey!" Edward cried, when he opened the door. It had been almost impossible to get the kids through the apartment building but in the end Bella found her way to his door. He ushered them inside and Bella smiled when she found Bree inside, waiting with a smile.

"Hi Bella," she said.

"Hey Bree," Bella answered and waved happily.

"You look great," Bree said, giving her two thumbs up as she stepped up to collect Lana and Sam. Bella pretended not to notice as Edward looked her over. She was beaming. She'd put on a pair of sleek, dark blue boot cut jeans and a black halter top that billowed at the stomach. It had been one of Bella's favorite maternity shirts in the earlier months even though she'd bought it when she was in high school. It was casual but flirty and it made her shoulders and back look great. She'd put her hair up into a fashionable ponytail and had, for the first time in months, put a little bit of make-up on.

"Thank you," Bella said, smiling.

"Anytime," Bree said, as she picked up Sam.

"Well, are you ready to go?" Edward asked, glancing to her. Bella nodded.

"Yes," she said. She kissed the kids goodbye and quickly left with Edward before Sam or Lana could voice their complaints. She felt hurried and rushed but it didn't bother her because she was going out on the town for the time in years without Michael and without her kids.

"We're meeting everyone at a restaurant across town," Edward said, as they ascended in the elevator to the parking garage. In such a small space, Bella could smell Edward's cologne and she smiled because it was the same cologne that Michael had used to wear. The one that she'd fallen in love with.

"I love your cologne," she said, not even thinking before she let the words leave her mouth. She blushed and Edward laughed.

"Well, thank you," he said. "I've been using it for years. Jessica always said that I should have tried different kinds but I was always content with the same one."

"Michael changes his all of the time," Bella said. "I always wanted him to keep the same scent."

"Well, then you're a woman after my own heart," Edward said and the quiet that ensued after his statement implied that something more than a comfortable friendship was growing between the two. Bella swallowed thickly and then smiled nervously. She felt like she was in high school, trying to keep the attention of the cute boy in her math class.

"What restaurant?" she finally asked, as the elevator opened.

"Fresco's," Edward said, as he pulled his keys from his pocket. He was wearing blue jeans, leather boots, and a white button up shirt over a forest green t-shirt. "It's sort of like a restaurant, bar, and night club all mixed into one."

"I've never been there," Bella said, as they located his car, a silver four door volvo. They got in and once they were enclosed behind the doors, the space between them was even smaller than in the elevator.

The drive across town was full of casual conversation. Edward talked about his work and Bella listened, feeling as if she'd told him enough about her life. He was so interesting and she couldn't believe that she was actually there with him.

At the restaurant, Edward and Bella were escorted to a table in the back where four other people awaited their arrival. They looked up as they approached.

"Hey guys," Edward said and he reached out to Bella, his hand falling methodically against her lower back. It was such a simple gesture but it meant worlds to Bella. Goose bumps rose over her skin and she smiled as he introduced her.

"Hey Bella. I'm Carlisle," Edward's older brother said as he reached out his hand. She shook it warmly. "This is my fiancé, Esme." He nodded to the pretty brunette at his side and she flashed a winning smile. She was practically a super model with her clear, perfect skin and her dark eyes.

"Hi Bella. It's nice to meet you," she said. Bella slipped into the booth beside Edward as the introductions continued around the table. Jasper, Edward's younger brother was sitting beside Esme and to his left sat his girlfriend, Alice, a pretty girl with short, dark hair and soft, blue eyes. She too was gorgeous but Bella was not surprised. It seemed that these kind of girls were easy for three gorgeous brothers to find.

The dinner went off without a single flaw. Both Esme and Alice were more interested in Bella and her kids than Bella ever imagined them to be and they loved to listen to all of her stories. Both Jasper and Carlisle were interested in where she came from and wanted to talk about the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, Bella wasn't much of a football fan so Edward had to change the subject.

"How about we get some drinks and then hit the dance floor?" he asked, reaching for his wallet. There was unanimous agreement and a waitress was summoned. Drinks were ordered and for the first time, Bella had to ask about which kind of drinks she should have. Esme and Alice were more than welcome to suggest different mixes and she finally settled on a Mudslide.

It had been so long since Bella had had alcohol that after she finished her drink, she felt a buzz. Her cheeks had grown hot and things suddenly seemed better or funnier than they normally would. She felt loose and free and she wanted to have fun.

"Edward…" she said, leaning into him. She'd interrupted him from a conversation that he was having with Carlisle but he diverted without question. Carlisle was easily distracted again by Esme.

"What's up?" he asked, looking down to Bella. His cheeks were red too and she could smell the liquor on his breath. But it wasn't a method of deflection. In fact, it intrigued her.

"Let's dance," she said, reaching for his hand under the table.

"Okay," he said, laughing and he put down his beer. "Guys, we'll be back."

Together they walked away from the table and moved towards the dance floor where a reggae band was playing from the stage. He pulled her in close to him and she slipped her arms around his neck, instantly finding his hips with hers. They bumped together, feeling the rhythm of the music and laughing every time that their inebriated motions left them awkwardly knocking limbs.

"I haven't been dancing since college," she shouted over the music. Edward looked down at her and grinned.

"Really?" he asked.

"I used to do it all of the time in high school and during my first year in college," she said. "With my friends. God, I always had so much fun."

"Are you having fun right now?" Edward asked, grinning down at her. She nodded and looked up to him, grinning happily.

"Yes!" she cried. "More fun than I've had in… in months! But I've noticed that about you, Edward."

"What?" he asked, still smiling. His hands were low at her waist and his fingers burned against her skin like fire. She kept grinning at him, wondering what it would be like to kiss him.

"I haven't been having any fun since I met you. Months and months without fun. And then you come along and I'm finally happy!" she cried. Edward laughed and smiled.

"Well, I've been told that I'm a fun guy!" he replied. He moved his hands higher on her back but in doing so, he pressed her closer to him. She kept moving with him, grinding with the beat of the music.

"We should do this more often," she said. "I like being with…"

"Hey!" Alice cried as she and Jasper joined them on the dance floor. Bella was interrupted and Edward's attention was deterred. "Mind if we join you guys?"

"No, not at all!" Edward cried and Bella smiled, agreeing with him. Jasper and Alice joined together and moved with the music beside Edward and Bella. The four of them continued to laugh and talk, yelling over the music so that they could be heard. They were all drunk but nobody cared. Everyone was having a good time and nobody cared about things like diaper changes and nap time. They were just a group of twenty something friends, enjoying a Saturday night together.