The Learning Curve: Chapter 37
Bella Swan's house
The knock at the front door came just as I was slipping on my shoes. I glanced at the clock; Edward was five minutes early.
I made a lunging grab for my purse off my bed and hurried out onto the landing just as Charlie made it to the front door. I froze, terrified of what was about to happen. I mean, my dad had gotten out his gun-cleaning supplies about an hour ago. Heaven knows what he had planned.
"Hello, Chief Swan," Edward said politely. "I'm here to take Bella out - if I have your permission, of course."
I was stock-still, staring at Edward. He'd put on a black jacket over a crisp white shirt, with dark, well-fitting jeans hugging his legs. I felt at once hopelessly attracted and hopelessly inadequate.
"Come in, Edward," Charlie sighed. When Edward stepped in the door, he glanced up the stairs and caught sight of me. His slow, soft smile made my knees weak.
Charlie followed his gaze and frowned. "Come on down here, Bells."
I walked carefully down the steps, determined to avoid the humiliation of a tumble. Meanwhile, Charlie had turned back to Edward.
"Son, I'm gonna give you a chance here," Charlie said. "You hear things in a town this small...but you defended my baby girl, so I'm willing to give you the benefit of a doubt. Don't screw it up."
My face was hot with embarrassment, but Edward seemed rather pleased.
"Thank you. I'll take good care of her, Chief Swan."
He nodded, reserving his comments. "Have her home by ten."
"Dad," I huffed, "We'll only have three hours in Port Angeles."
His cheek twitched. "Fine. Ten-thirty."
"Dad!"
He sighed. "Okay, okay. Eleven. Not a minute later."
Edward seemed amused by the whole exchange. "Thank you, sir. We won't be late."
Charlie nodded, but neither he nor Edward moved. Annoyed with the whole conversation, I pushed past them to the door. A surprised Edward followed me out dutifully, but he recovered by the time we got out to his car and chivalrously opened that door for me.
He ducked his head under the door frame quickly.
"You look beautiful, by the way," he said. My cheeks heated again.
"You look...really good, too," I managed, entirely overwhelmed.
He grinned and shut the door for me. A few moments later, he was turning the key in the ignition.
"Ready?" he asked with excitement in his eyes.
"Ready," I replied. And I was.
A/N: Tomorrow's date night. ;)
Since so many of you asked questions about yesterday's A/N, no, I don't work in retail (I used to - never again!) and the concert was David Cook. And since nobody seems to know who that is, he won American Idol in 2008 - he's from the area where I live, so he's kind of a big deal around here. My mom and I got to meet him after the show. It was pretty freaking awesome.