Author Note:

Thanks everyone for your great reviews. Keep it up!

And again, to my great and speedy and amazing beta, tameleine.

Enjoy!

BPOV

Surprisingly enough, Rosalie hadn't taken my news too badly. Of course, she hadn't been thrilled, but then, she was being forced into close quarters with a man she unwisely never wanted to see again. Anyone could see she was still in love with him. The panic that had risen over her face the moment I dropped my bomb about Alice and Jasper had proved that once and for all.

I knew Alice was going to be a lot tougher nut to crack, and I suddenly regretted the two lemon drops I'd drank at Portland City Grill with Rosalie. I should have stayed sober and clear-headed for this particular meeting, especially considering that Rosalie, wallowing in panic, had eaten everything in sight, leaving only a bite or two for me. I'd intended to walk to Trust, a tiny lounge in the Pearl, to meet Alice, but suddenly a cab seemed like a better idea. I wasn't exactly unsteady on my feet, but I knew with the stilettos I was wearing, five blocks with all that vodka was a bad combination.

I hailed a cab and climbed in. The ride was almost embarrassingly short and the driver looked me over as I got out, probably thinking I was some kind of alcoholic, going from bar to bar. Truth was, I rarely had more than one drink, and I knew I would have to seriously watch my intake at Trust. They made notoriously strong drinks, and if I didn't get some food soon, I was toeing a very fine line between a little bit tipsy and a lot tipsy.

Alice was already sitting at one of the tables when I walked in. It was crowded and busy, just as I'd anticipated, and Alice was nearly bouncing in excitement. She loved Trust and had been extraordinarily eager to meet me, though I had a feeling that her eagerness had a lot more to do with what she wanted to discuss regarding Rose than Trust's cocktail menu and yummy tapas.

I sat down, after giving Alice a quick hug and peck on the cheek, and her gray eyes were enormous with excitement.

"This was a perfect idea, Bel. I couldn't have planned it better myself," Alice exclaimed and I had to mentally disagree with her. I should have kept myself to one drink at the Grill and eaten a hell of a lot more.

I leaned over to put my purse by my feet, and I felt myself sway a little. Alice, being observant, noticed.

"Are you okay? You look a little. . .flushed. . ." Alice trailed off, her eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Oh, I just walked from work. It's still pretty warm outside and I had to hurry," I lied, crossing my fingers under the table and praying that Alice, being understandably distracted by the immediate matter at hand, would accept the explanation and move on.

Thankfully, she glossed right over it and began chattering excitedly at me. "This place is amazing, Bel. I'm so glad you picked it. I'm going to get one of everything."

"Of the drinks?" I asked alarmingly, knowing she'd want me to keep up with her.

"No, the food, silly," she laughed. "I'd be passed out under the table if I tried all these."

I wanted to tell her that, from personal experience, she had exactly the right attitude.

"Oh, me too," I added, a trifle too enthusiastically. Alice raised one eyebrow at me, over the menu she was perusing.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she enquired, again.

Damn. I'd obviously lost my natural reticence along with my knowledge that I couldn't handle two lemon drops on an empty stomach.

"Of course," I said, and quickly moved onto the subject at hand, hoping that I could distract Alice. "Guess who I met today?"

"Who?" Alice was distracted alright, but the lengthy list of cocktail choices was battling for attention with the admittedly hot waiter who kept sneaking us glances. I breathed a quick sigh of relief.

"Edward Cullen."

At first I thought that my announcement had been lost in the middle of mojitos and tribal tattoos paired with shaggy blond hair, but after about ten seconds, Alice put the menu down and looked at me suspiciously.

"You met with Edward Cullen? Why?"

"He called," I replied. Better to keep it simple, I thought.

"And?" Alice's brows furrowed together and I knew she was running a list in her head of the possible reasons why I would have met with Edward Cullen, and she'd come to the realization that none of them boded well for her.

"You were right," I hedged, thinking that maybe this would pacify her, "he does want to reunite Rosalie and Emmett."

"I knew it!" Alice crowed triumphantly and so loudly that three nearby tables turned their heads to see what had her so excited. She gave all her onlookers a quick dazzling smile and returned her attention to me. I envied Alice her careless confidence and ability to handle and embrace being the center of attention. Someone paid personal attention to me and I could barely manage not to fall to pieces. See my encounter with Edward earlier today. I couldn't have been more awkward even if I'd tried.

"So, what's our gorgeous Edward's plan?" At my confused look, Alice continued. "But, of course he's gorgeous. He was dazzling in high school. I can't imagine what he looks like now. Don't tell me you didn't notice, Bella. What am I going to do with you?" Alice clucked in frustration. She was in fine form; I couldn't even manage to get a word in edgewise today.

"Alice," I interrupted, "yes, he's gorgeous but I don't see what the issue is. And why do you think Edward has a plan?"

Alice tossed me a look that told me I'd better start keeping up or else. "Edward always has a plan. At least he used to, and I can't imagine him changing in any significant way. He was practically a grownup in high school. Charming, suave, you know the whole bit." And demonstrating that particular set of characteristics herself, she beamed at the hot waiter, who set down the food and drinks we'd ordered and gave her a wink. I rolled my eyes, and Alice gave me a chiding look.

I didn't need to tell her that Edward had become lethal in the interim. She'd probably already guessed.

"He has a plan," I said, gratefully changing the subject and scooping hummus into my mouth with a triangle of pita bread. I needed to sober up fast because this conversation was traveling rapidly out of my league.

"Good. So what is it?"

I eyed her warily. "You're not going to like it."

"I didn't think I would," Alice responded, a bit tartly. "This is Edward Cullen we're talking about."

"He's decided that the best plan of action is to become friends again, but obviously we'd need a reason for Emmett and Rosalie to go along with that."

Alice was shoveling hummus into her mouth at an alarming rate. I quickly grabbed another piece of pita bread and smeared a big glob on before popping it into my mouth.

"And? I don't know why you're taking so long to tell me this Bella. It's like you're afraid of what I'm going to say." Alice sulkily regarded the almost empty platter and began to peruse the menu again.

I couldn't tell her that I was terrified of what she was going to say, because often, honesty was not the best policy with Alice.

"Not at all," I stalled, "actually, I think you'll find it pretty clever. Edward's decided that. . .uh. . .Jasper is going to pursue you. Romantically."

Alice was busy scraping out the last bits of hummus out of the bowl with a piece of pita, and her hand stalled.

"He what?" I didn't think I'd ever seen Alice speechless in my entire life. I figured I should enjoy this while it lasted. Chances were, it wasn't going to continue.

"It was the best idea he could come up with. You know Rosalie would do anything to make you happy."

Alice's lips pursed together like she'd been sucking on a lemon. "You do have a point. Of course, that does not mean I think this is a good plan. It's a terrible, awful, unbearable plan," she hissed. She folded her arms over her chest and her expression was positively belligerent. "If you really think I'm going to sacrifice myself to that . . .that. . .ass. . .your head needs to be examined."

I reached for my gin and tonic and took a long pull. This was exactly what I'd been afraid of.

"Nobody's asking you to 'sacrifice' anything, Alice," I reasoned, hoping that if I was calm, Alice would follow suit. "All you have to do is pretend you like him, and surely that couldn't be so difficult." After all, I added silently, you already do.

Of course, this was too much for Alice to admit. "I do not like him," Alice huffed, "and pretending to do so is going to be extremely detrimental to my peace of mind."

I had a feeling that Jasper himself was going to be a lot more detrimental to Alice's peace of mind, but I knew that saying it at this point wasn't going to be all that helpful.

"Well, nobody says you have to do it." My voice was deceptively casual and I'd already turned back to the cocktail menu. Screw sobriety.

Alice huffed again and she was clearly furious. The waiter returned and she pointedly ignored him, but I ordered another gin and tonic with a little bit of a giddy smile. His returning grin was huge, which took me aback. Was I flirting with the waiter? Me, who never did anything like this? This time he gave me the wink and took off to get my drink.

When he returned, he leaned down as he set the drink on the table in front of me. "Your friend looks a bit. . .put out. . ." he murmured, glancing over at Alice, who was examining the people walking by outside like they were the most interesting thing on earth.

"She'll get over it," I confided. The combination of vodka and gin had definitely loosened my tongue. For the better, I thought, and decided to run with it. There was no harm in it, after all. I'd never see this man again, and he was definitely attractive. Maybe not as attractive as Edward Cullen, but then he was clearly the exception to just about every rule.

"You'd better hope so," he replied, and his voice was silky, "she looks like she could take your head off, even if she is small."

"So you think," I returned, just a bit cockily. This wasn't as hard as I'd always thought it was. I smiled broadly in happiness that I could flirt too and the waiter's sculpted mouth curled into a grin.

"You're a feisty one," he said, turning to go.

"Oh, you have no idea," I carelessly threw his direction as he walked away.

I turned back to Alice, ready to share with her my flirting triumph and she was looking at me with a curious expression on her face.

"Well," she said, "that was interesting." I was confused. I didn't know how that could possibly have been interesting. It was awesome yes, but it was for sure a one time thing. I couldn't exactly go around with my confidence bolstered up with gin and vodka.

"Hmmmmm." I sipped my drink and continued to meet her interested eyes.

"Fine. I'll do it," Alice relented and though she didn't exactly look pleased about it, at least she'd agreed. I sighed in relief. I could report back to Edward that I'd gotten everyone on my end on the same page. Maybe I hadn't been completely honest and straightforward while I'd been doing it, but that was a minor issue, I thought.

I tried not to stumble out of the building and onto the street. Four drinks and a few bites of tapas later, I was not in good shape, I reasoned. The second drink at Trust had been an extraordinarily bad idea.

Alice had left first, as she had to pick something up at work before heading home. I'd stayed and taken care of the tab before teetering out onto the sidewalk. Now I stood there and wondered what I should do. If I had some more food, I'd be fine. I didn't feel like taking another cab--the booze had done its trick and I was feeling invincible and on top of the world. Stiletto heels be damned, I was going to walk uptown, find some food, and go home.

I started off down the sidewalk and decided now was as good of a time as any to call Edward and tell him my good news, at least before my false courage wore off. I looked down at my cell phone as I dialed his number, and was gratified to see that my hands weren't shaking with any nerves. I knew that if I hadn't ingested all that alcohol, I'd have been a nervous wreck right about now.

Edward answered on the third ring--just long enough for me to wish that I hadn't been quite so eager to get him on the phone. I hadn't thought through our conversation at all, which was one of my favorite tricks for presenting a cool, calm and collected front. Unfortunately, cool, calm or collected didn't seem to be in the cards right now.

"Bella. You have good news for me?"

His voice was so damn sexy, I nearly dropped the phone. Then maybe I also dropped it because my stiletto heel got momentarily stuck in a crack in the sidewalk.

"Edward. . ." I stuttered, wishing he had some other, shorter, less intimidating name to use. "Good news, yes." I ended the awkward sentence with a rather high pitched giggle.

"Are you okay?" His voice was concerned, and damn him, I found that almost sexier than when he was trying to be charming.

Why did everyone keep asking me if I was okay? I was fine. Having a few drinks didn't give every single person in my life permission to interrogate me and my fineness.

"I'm fine," I nearly growled into the phone. "I'm just walking uptown to find some food. I met Rosalie at Portland City Grill and Alice at Trust."

"Ah." The single syllable apparently said it all for Edward. I, however, was left in the dark.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Only that you've obviously been imbibing."

"Have I?" I tried to make my voice sound as innocent as possible, except it ended up coming out as seductive as I'd ever sounded in my life. I nearly collapsed to the sidewalk in embarrassment. Flirting with the waiter at Trust was one thing. Flirting with Edward Cullen was entirely another.

He laughed, a rich full sound that managed to jump start my heart again.

"Bella, Bella, Bella. You are really something else. Where are you?"

"I already told you. I'm walking to my car. And finding some food."

"I'm downtown too. Why don't we meet up?"

"Meet?"

"You need food, I need food. Why don't we . . .satisfy . . .our urges together?"

I nearly stopped breathing and blushed bright red. Thank goodness he was on the phone because I didn't want him to see the bumbling mess he'd made of me with his flirtation.

"You're downtown?"

"Well. Technically I'm at the Good Samaritan ER on 23rd." Edward chuckled ruefully and I had a feeling there was a story there.

"What happened?"

"How about I strike a bargain with you? You let me buy you dinner and I'll tell you the story in return. Where are you?"

"I'm on Everett in the North Park blocks. But wait. . ."

"Good. Excellent. I'll see you in ten minutes. Just stay right there."

"But. . ." I said to what I soon realized was dead air. He had already hung up. Gah. What was it about men and telling women what to do like they knew best? Oh well, nothing else to do but sit and wait for him. Calling him again would look extremely gauche. Better just to endure his heavy-handedness and call him on it when he showed up.

I looked around, trying to find a place to sit where I wouldn't completely ruin the outrageously expensive black slacks that Alice had convinced me to buy. There was what looked to be a bench on the other side of the block, so I trudged over, still annoyed that Edward had invited himself into my evening.

Brushing off the seat first, I gingerly sat down and hoped that I wouldn't get too dirty. Considering Mr. I'm Too Sexy and Charming's overall demeanor, I was sure he'd take me somewhere that was intended to impress me. I would have to watch my behavior and manners impeccably. The thought did not fill me anticipation, even with the added benefit of being able to look straight into those incredible green eyes all through dinner.

True to his word, eight minutes later, a taxi pulled up and Edward jumped out.

Unfortunately, in the interim, I'd managed to sober up just a tad, and as soon as I saw his large form, I cursed myself for letting him talk me into this. The prospect of having dinner with him with the glow of four drinks in me was one thing. Having dinner with him as I sobered up was a different matter entirely.

I stood up and walked over to the taxi. "Hi," I said shortly, hoping that somehow I could make it through this evening without embarrassing myself too fully.

"Sobering up I see," he chuckled, and I shot him with a glare that I was sure Rosalie would have been proud of.

Edward opened the door, and I somewhat gratefully slid into the taxi. Not that I would ever tell him I was grateful. He was an overbearing ass who was taking advantage of me. I fully expected to have a terrible time, stammering and stuttering and never knowing what to say in some fancy restaurant where I didn't recognize half the ingredients on the menu.

He slipped in beside me, and I leaned back in my seat, momentarily stunned again by how good he smelled. He was still wearing the suit from this morning, but the jacket was flung haphazardly on the seat between us, the pinstriped shirt wasn't nearly as fresh and crisp as I'd seen it earlier today, and he'd loosened his tie. I felt a little gratified to know that he didn't always look picture perfect, because I had a pretty good idea of how rough I looked. My hair was probably windblown and messy. My makeup was likely all gone, and I didn't even want to contemplate the state of my clothes.

Edward looked over and smiled at me. "Shall we go somewhere. . .let's say. . .a little bit more casual?"

I could only gape as he gave directions to the Rogue Public House, which was probably my all-time favorite restaurant. How had he known that? The whole taxi ride there, the only cogent thought that revolved through my brain was that I had somehow stunningly and completely miscalculated how good he was, and I was in deep, deep trouble.