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not beta'd

storyline - Laugh

prompt - clear

Going back to work was kind of weird at first. My mind was elsewhere, all the time. I tried to focus, but it was as if I was seeing my old life – the life that had been current up until the Friday prior – through new eyes.

Knowing that I would very likely be leaving town soon, I spent as much time as possible with the girls. They were a little sad I was moving, but they supported me the way they always had.

And besides, I had high hopes that Edward and I would end up back home one day. I wouldn't obsess over that, because I would be where he was regardless, but it was a gut feeling. Something I just knew.

Like before, Edward and I communicated through email, text and the phone. Probably even more than before. I didn't stay home at night to chat, as I'd done before, but instead sent him messages throughout the day and then late at night, after having been with Alice and Rose.

I missed him so much, but hearing his voice and reading his words helped. Remembering our weekend together, and the words we'd shared, the promises, helped even more.

Edward had a six month lease and it had only been about three, so he was stuck in his apartment for a little while longer. He wanted me to help him pick out the new place when it was time, since I would be living there too. I'd started going online to sites like rentals dot com so I could see our options, and I'd often email him links and pictures of my findings.

Two weeks after I returned from my visit to Edward, I was at the grocery store. I was crampy and tired; it was just a matter of time before my period came and I was trying my hardest not to be too outwardly irritable to the people around me.

After adding a bottle of wine and a bag of Whoppers to the items in my cart, I made my way to the front to pay.

My phone rang, causing my heart to pound. It was Edward's ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bella. You home?"

"No, not yet. I stopped at the store to pick up a couple of things. Why, what's up?"

"Oh, I sent you something… I mean an email. A house I saw. Call me once you've checked it out; I think we can get a good deal for it."

I grinned, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder as I started loading my stuff on to the belt.

"Sounds great. I'll call you when I get home."

"Cool."

"Love you."

I could hear him smiling. "Love you too."

I was tempted to just access my Gmail account from my phone right there in the store, but that was silly. I'd be home soon enough and I could check then.

Unfortunately, I hit traffic on the way home.

"Damn," I muttered, drumming my fingers on the wheel. Apparently there was an accident ahead. The one time I wanted to get home fast, and we were barely moving.

Thankfully, though, the traffic jam did manage to clear itself up and I was able to dash home. I hurried upstairs, now needing to pee as well. Plus, I was almost desperate for a glass of wine.

I'd just powered up the laptop and taken a sip of Shiraz when the doorbell rang.

Frowning, I stood up again. Alice was out of town for the weekend and Rose had to work late, so I knew it was neither of them.

Squinting, I looked through the peephole.

Edward stood on the other side, grinning.

Laughing, I unlocked the door and yanked it open. "What are you doing here?" I almost splashed wine down the front of his shirt in my rush to hug him. "Is that… is that why you called to see if I was home?"

He nodded, still smiling.

"Sneaky!" I stood to the side so he could come in.

He put down his carryon and pulled me close, kissing me. "I had time this weekend and I didn't want to spend it by myself."

Sighing, I nodded. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

I guess we meant since the last time we'd been together, just two weeks before, but it felt like we were being a lot more general than that. Because I did miss him, in every sense of the word.

And by how he kissed me, he missed me in that way too.