Reading some of your reviews, and how some are relating to this story, has made my day in a way I can't explain. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. :-)

And thank you to AJasper ForMe, Louise Lewin, Vancouver Canuck Girl, and Capricorn75!

No Matter What

Chapter Three

*X*—Edward Masen—*X*

"Masen, I need you to give me at least two more hours today!"

Over the music streaming through his headphones, Edward heard his manager yelling out to him and raised a hand of acknowledgment in the air.

Most of the warehouse guys hated Ephraim. They hated when he demanded they give him overtime. They hated the way he spoke, the way he walked. They especially hated the way his pot belly brushed up against them when he came in too close to talk to them.

But somehow, he and Edward had a different kind of relationship.

Over the four years Edward worked in the warehouse he never talked back, always arrived early for his shifts, and when overtime was needed he gave it willingly.

To Ephraim and some of corporate, Edward was a model employee. They admired his candor, his loyalty, and what they considered a 'go getter' attitude. In return, he earned their respect. But they didn't realize his attitude had nothing to do with his personality and everything to do with the fact he had nothing else going on.

With his singular life he had no reason to balk at the extra hours, avoid coming in on weekends, or to request holidays off.

Lately, the realization gave Edward an unfamiliar feeling akin to loneliness.

The guys often teased him about how lucky he should feel at not having anyone to answer to, and being able to do whatever he wanted. Edward sure didn't feel lucky not to have those things, though.

It burned at him slowly over the years—the realization that there were things he'd never have. But for the past few days, it had been amplified.

Maggie had asked a lot of questions recently. Those of the 'why aren't you married' and 'how come you don't have kids' persuasion. When she asked, he appeased her—he knew how do that well. But inside he wished he could give her an answer. He didn't feel desperate for marriage and children, no more than the average man who just wanted those things for his future, but knowing some things may never happen made the innocent intent of the questions sting.

"You working overtime, too?"

Edward pulled out one of his earbuds and nodded at his co-worker, James. Even as Ephraim's nephew, James didn't like his uncle any more than the other guys did. But he never complained about the hours and this was one of the many reasons Edward got along with him.

"How about this weekend? You coming in?"

Edward shrugged. "We'll see." He wasn't scheduled and hadn't been asked, but he'd be up to it if Ephraim mentioned it to him.

"Well, if you do and need a ride, call me. I know the bus schedule sucks over the weekend."

Ah, the bus. For the first time all day—since he came in seven hours ago at five in the morning—Edward smiled. Not just a grin, but a wide genuine smile.

For the past few days, he had lingered around the bus stop hoping to catch sight of two very special girls he hadn't been able to get off his mind. His lack of success hadn't deterred him. Since it was Friday afternoon when he saw them last week, he hoped to find them there again today.

It had to be the day he saw them again. If it wasn't, he had no idea what he'd do.

James' eyebrows quirked up in confusion, wondering why Edward was smiling at him in such a way.

"Nothing." Edward continued smiling, waving a hand in the air. "Just thinking."

"Oh, I figured that much." James chuckled.

Thinking the conversation was over, Edward went back to examining his clipboard. He wanted to make sure the day's inventory had arrived and shipped properly. Once finished with that task, he'd be able focus on doing extra things not required during his regular work shift. When he looked up and saw James still standing there, he blinked. "Yes?"

"Umm … how's your brother?"

"He's fine." Edward nodded and kept his face stoic. On the inside, though, he was fighting off smiles. Several weeks ago, Edward went out with James and a few guys from the warehouse for drinks. Jasper came along, and he'd suspected the two hit it off but couldn't be sure.

Jasper's sexuality wasn't a secret, but it wasn't something he openly discussed with people, either. Not even his brother. He'd had girlfriends and boyfriends in the past, but he's kept them equally at arm's length. As far as his family was concerned, Jasper knew they didn't care. He just chose to keep that part of his life private. If he found someone he planned to marry, he would bring them around the most important people in his life. Before then, he didn't think they deserved the privilege.

"He gave me his number," James hedged, his eyes searching Edward's for a reaction.

Edward kept his game face in place and went back to looking at his clipboard. "Yeah?"

"Yeah … do you think I should—"

"You guys working, or what?"

Both men groaned as Emmett McCarty, the afternoon shift supervisor, drove by on the forklift.

Edward always ignored him. He didn't have time to argue with someone who only got a promotion because he had originally turned it down.

James on the other hand … "Fuck off." Well, he always talked back.

"Excuse me?" Emmett stopped the lift and started climbing down. James didn't seem fazed.

"You heard me."

"Enough," was all Edward said. "Here." He handed Emmett his clipboard and explained which pallets came in and which had yet to arrive. "And you." He pointed to the other side of the building for James to get working on something else. "I'm here for an extra two hours. In that time, I need peace." Edward might not have had the title, but he had the clout to demand this of them. Neither man dared to argue. After a long minute of a silent stare-down they walked away.

"You're a supervisor, you know," Ephraim said to Edward as he punched out later that day.

Edward shrugged. "No, that would be Emmett."

Ephraim let out an uncharacteristic snort but said nothing else. This conversation had been repeated several times over the past few months, and it always ended up with the same result. Everyone thought Edward deserved the promotion. Except Edward. He never gave a reason why he declined the position. He wasn't even sure of the reason himself. But it simply hadn't felt right to him and that was the only answer he'd been willing to give.

*X*—*X*

With each step of Edward's short five minute walk to the bus stop, his heart rate and anticipation grew.

A lot was riding on the outcome of his interactions with the girls if they were there—including, but not limited to, the livelihood of his car.

While Jasper didn't tell him much, Edward told his brother everything. So last week at game night, one of the first things he mentioned was his brief encounter with Briella and her mom. Through teasing, Jasper made it clear Edward would get his keys once he got the 'hot mom's' number.

When he got to the empty bench, he sighed. But he didn't lose hope. His phone pinged and he laughed when the message opened to a picture of Jasper holding his keys in the air with one hand, and simulating a very interesting gesture toward the car with the other.

Deep in a texting conversation with his brother, it took a giggle at his side to bring his mind back in focus. When Edward snapped his head up, he beamed at who was smiling back him. Suddenly, the week didn't feel as tedious now that he was staring back at the two girls he'd been hoping to see.

"Hiya!" The little girl waved with her whole arm.

"Hi, Princess Briella." Edward smiled, hoping her eagerness resulted from her remembering him and not just her propensity to be friendly.

When she plucked her toy phone out of her little backpack and waved it in the air, he knew she remembered, and he waved his as well. The sun gleaming off it elicited a happy squeal from her, and Edward decided it was one of the best sounds he'd ever heard.

"I'd be careful with that." His gaze snapped up, half worried her mom was warning him away from them. Her voice was smooth and calming, smoother and lower than most women but still quite feminine. In its own way, he thought, it definitely suited her. "It's a nice phone. I wouldn't want her to break it."

Edward grinned, thinking about how Maggie had dropped his phone and shattered the screen a few months prior. "It has insurance. But thanks."

The chiming of the fake phone cut off any more conversation between the two adults, and the next words out of Briella's mouth sent Edward's stomach plummeting. "Hi, Daddy!" She sang into the phone.

Of course. Edward shook his head. He hadn't even thought about any male counterparts. But he should have. Where there was a kid was normally a dad, and sometimes a boyfriend or husband. As subtly as he could, he glanced toward 'hot moms' ring finger, and noted it was bare. Although these days that didn't necessarily mean anything.

He'd learned a lot of married and engaged people never wore their rings.

He shook that thought off, focusing his attention back on the little girl's big eyes watching him. She'd already forgotten about her fake conversation, and was just staring at Edward. Had she not been a child, most people would have found the nature of her stare creepy or annoying. But Briella merely looked curious.

"What's matta with your arm?"

"Briella." Bella's voice rang out scolding with a hint of mortification. Children didn't always know when to keep their concerns to themselves and Briella was about to learn that important lesson. "You apologize right now."

The poor girl was confused. She could tell she was in some sort of trouble, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what she'd done.

"It's okay." They were sitting on the opposite side of him from where they'd been last week, and with a shorter sleeved shirt some of his scars were more visible. So Edward jumped in to defend her though he knew he shouldn't have. He'd learned a time or two not to interfere when Maggie got reprimanded. But even adults had questions when they saw him. How could he fault a child? "I got into an accident."

"An assindent?" Briella looked genuinely worried. "Did you falled or something?"

"Something like that."

"Did it hurts?"

"Yes …" He nodded, smiling softly. "It hurt, but it doesn't anymore."

"Oh."

She lifted her hand as if to touch his arm, but Bella intervened. This beautiful and sweet man was being far too kind and patient with her daughter. She didn't need to push his buttons by literally letting her poke him.

"I'm sorry." Bella shook her head and pulled Briella's hand back. Edward waved her off with his other hand, sparking another round of questions from Briella about his 'drawings'.

"My mama has a pretty picture, too!" She stood up, pulling at her mom's shirt. "Of my foot. Show him, Mama!" Bella let the little girl pull her up to a standing position, and Edward smiled wide as he took her in.

Last time, he remembered, she was in a uniform of sorts—the type people who work in hospital and doctors' offices wore. Now she was wearing jeans and a tight fitting t-shirt that hugged curves he didn't realize she'd had the first time around.

"Maybe some other time." Bella laughed, bending down to pick Briella up and tickle her. "I can't really take my shirt off here can I, silly girl?"

"You're the silly!" Briella giggled.

Longing.

As he watched the two of them, Edward realized the feeling he couldn't identify earlier in regards to his current life wasn't loneliness, it was longing.

Longing for things he'd lost, and longing for things he could never have.

The familiar sound of bus tires screeching had the girls straightening up, and Edward felt himself losing his nerve. That wasn't how he'd pictured things going the next time he saw them.

But he'd stood in his own way more times than he was willing to admit. It appeared as though today would be no different.

Asking someone for their telephone number led to conversations.

Conversations led to dates.

Dates led to 'alone time'.

And 'alone time' led to people actually seeing him—seeing all of him.

There was no way to predict how Bella would react.

Right now, he was certain he didn't want to find out after all.

So instead of taking the plunge and asking for her number like he had planned—once the bus came, he waved them forward and went straight to the seat in the back.

Soooo ... what did you think?

Yes, I know. Edward's a little shy and scared. But girls can ask for numbers, too. Right? :-)

Until Next Time

~Lo