34.
Alice and Tanya are out. It's ladies' poker night at Jessica Newton's place.
I put Masen to bed thirty minutes ago and plan to watch some television without being disturbed.
It's peaceful.
I've had a tiring day and there's no better way to unwind than to sit through an episode of How I Met Your Mother.
~X~
Two hours later:
"We're back", says Alice as she comes in through the front door wit T right behind her.
"Enjoyed?" I ask.
T nods. "Course we did", she replies. The woman is good at gambling.
Alice grins at me with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes. I've seen that look before and trust me, Alice is plotting something. "I've got some interesting information for you", she says casually.
"I don't want to know", I answer bluntly.
"You'll regret it if you don't know", adds T.
I fold my arms across my chest. "Nah. I still don't wanna know."
"It's related to Bella Swan", drawls Alice. "It'll be useful for you to have deets about her since you're planning to make her fall in love with you."
Good Lord. "Whitlock", I sigh. "Is it a habit of yours to stick your nose where it's not wanted?"
"Yes", she says. "Sooo... she's twenty five years old."
I already know that.
"Her boyfriend died a couple of months back."
Know that too.
"She's a fashion designer."
I know all this stuff. Gimme new info Allie! I don't actually say that out loud otherwise she'll know that she's got my attention and she'll annoy me to death later on.
"She's having an exhibition in three weeks which I'm invited to, by the way. She doesn't know how long she'll be staying in Forks but she likes it here so far. She loves Gucci, Prada and she's interned under Armani. Gods, Edward, this girl is awesomeness. I believe that she and I are going to be best friends."
"Anything else?" I ask.
"I'm not done yet", she says. "Where was I? She's not shy but she doesn't click with everyone. That's all I'm saying. You'll find out all the rest on your own."
"I suppose you approve of her?" I question once T is out of hearing distance. Don't want to give her any ideas.
"I'd be an idiot not to", says Alice.
A comfortable silence comes over us.
"Did she say anything about her boyfriend? Paul?"
Alice shakes her head. "She doesn't like talking about him from what I know. I have a feeling she's still in love with him."
My heart sinks. I'm after a woman whose boyfriend died not too long ago and I'm making plans on how to make her mine. I know the pain of losing a loved one from personal experience and yet, here I am.
I'm a terrible person.
What makes it worse is that Paul was my friend.
And friends don't steal other friends' girlfriends, even if said friend is dead.
Maybe I can be a friend to Bella?
Will that work?