AN: Just a small note about the last chapter:

Edward shouldn't have told Alice about Bella being in recovery. I knew that when I wrote the chapter, but I let him do it anyway. It was just a brother talking to his sister. He wasn't trying to be malicious, but he still shouldn't have done it. :)

Moving right along. Gotta get them to Friday! :)

Chapter 14

"You look bored, son."

Edward nodded and shifted in his seat as he sipped his club soda. He had always hated the company's holiday party. The forced mingling. The mandatory networking. The abundance of booze.

Edward cleared his throat. "How are you, Eleazar?"

The man loosened his tie. "Tired and cranky. I despise these parties."

This wasn't exactly breaking news. Eleazar was rarely in the mood to socialize, unless it was with prospective clients.

"You have enough seniority now. You could skip it if you wanted."

"Probably, but you know me, son. I like to be a team player. Makes the rookies happy and keeps Carlisle off my back."

Edward grinned and looked out into the sea of party-goers. He saw his sister, dressed in a short black dress, dancing with her husband. Jasper nuzzled his wife's cheek, making her giggle.

"Your sister looks happy. I wonder what it would feel like to be that happy all the time."

Edward shook his head. "I wouldn't know."

That wasn't entirely true. He had known that kind of happiness—for a few short days, anyway.

"Let me tell you something, son," Eleazar said quietly. "You're still a young guy, so let me give you some advice. If you do find that kind of happiness, make it your priority. It's rare to find someone who can make you smile like that. I've been married four times, and I still haven't found it. The closest I've ever come is with my kids, who I rarely see, and with my grandkids, who I won't even see over the holidays. I made work my priority for way too long, and it has cost me. I'm happy in my work, and for decades I thought that would sustain me. But as I get older, I see where I went wrong. Life is too short. I don't love the insurance business, but I'm good at it. I'm respected. I have loyal clients. But none of that matters when you don't have a family waiting for you at home at the end of the day." He pointed toward the bar. "Do you see that woman in the red dress?"

Edward glanced toward the bar. "Your wife?"

"My wife," he replied with a chuckle. "Yep, that's what she is. Do you know why she's my wife? It's because neither of us wanted to grow old by ourselves. I give her my platinum card, and she attends these boring-ass functions with me. That's our version of marital bliss. It works for us, but it isn't ideal, and it certainly isn't what your sister has with her husband. I'd give anything . . ."

The man let his voice trail off.

Edward gazed at his colleague. Is this my future? Marrying a trophy wife and devoting my life to a job I despise?

It was instinctual, reaching into his pocket for his phone.

"Would you excuse me, Eleazar?"

Without waiting for a reply, Edward rushed out into the cold Seattle air. He leaned back against the brick wall of the building, closing his eyes and taking long, cleansing breaths.

When he opened his eyes, he gazed at the city around him.

Cabs. People. Noise. Lights.

The need to be far away from all of it was overwhelming.

He needed to hear her voice.

Edward glanced down at the phone in his hand. It was late, probably too late to call, but he was a selfish man.

One tap of his finger was all it took, and then he heard her sweet voice.

"Edward?"

He closed his eyes, savoring the sound of his name on her lips.

"Hi, sweetheart."

"How's the party? You sound so tired."

He was tired. Tired of being alone. Tired of this unfulfilling life.

But more than tired, he was scared. Frightened to death that he would turn into Eleazar.

"I'm okay. Just missing you."

Bella's sigh was sweet and wistful.

"I miss you, too. Tomorrow can't get here fast enough."

Tomorrow.

It was just too far away.

He was crazy. He knew this. Would she even want him?

"Bella, would you . . . I mean, would you think I was completely crazy if I . . ."

He shook his head. It was ridiculous.

"Would I think you were completely crazy if you got into your car and drove to Forks tonight?"

"Yeah," he whispered. "Would you?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted, "but then I'd be crazy, too, because I want you here. With me."

He swallowed nervously. "Just for tonight?"

"For always."

Edward's relieved smile stretched across his face.