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"But you're older than she is," he challenges. "And you don't know her music. And no offense, but you're no Arnold Schwarzenegger."
"I brought her breakfast in bed and bought her a corset and let her teach me to grind and …hair modeled for her!" The mother of all indignities.
"So?" I know he's playing me with his devil's advocate routine, but he's still pissing me off.
"So, she loved those things about me."
"What's your evidence?"
"She TOLD me!"
"Edward. Call me crazy, but it sounds like you were making the girl pretty damn happy."
"Up until I wasn't."
-o-
"Right. Your Incredible Hulk impersonation. Let's dive back into that moment."
I sigh heavily and pull my left hand through my hair, which, being the wrong hand, is surprisingly uncomforting. Banner regards my pained expression and reassures, "Edward, I promise we're getting somewhere. Just stick with it. Trust me."
Trust. I doubt he used the word by accident; he doesn't seem to say anything by accident.
"Fine. So, she's surrounded by these …physical specimens. And she puts her fingers in the one guy's hair."
Banner's eyebrow lifts but he's silent.
I explain, "She's a professional hair stylist. It was business."
-o-
"Does she always conduct business just outside the men's room?"
"Hey!"
"Easy, tiger. Did Bella know about your jealousy issue?"
"Yes. I'd already screwed up before this. We had an arrangement."
"What's that?"
"I'd agreed to try not to go caveman and she'd agreed to try not to incite the beast."
"And how was that working?"
"Pretty well. I mean, I still had my challenges, but we were both doing our best. Bella was wearing less revealing clothes at work and trying to be less flirty."
"And that made you feel good, that she was modifying her behavior for you?"
-o-
Truth be told, it was starting to make me feel incredibly guilty. "Yes and no. I was pleased she was willing to put forth the effort, but I was starting to feel like an asshole. I mean, who am I to tell her how to dress, how to act?"
"Someone who recognizes his triggers and asks someone he cares about to help him."
"Are you saying I wasn't wrong then?"
"I'm saying you did the best you could, short of getting professional help. Edward, it's not the world's job to make sure you don't overreact; it's not even your girlfriend's."
A/N: Hmmm... XXX ~BOH