A/N: Hi ladies! I don't want to keep you in suspense for too long today, so I'll give you the new chapter without much further ado.

I just want to quickly but thoroughly thank my betas evelyn-shaye and EdwardsMate4 who are really the best betas I could imagine. I also want to thank my prereader Vampgirl79 for her help and support.

So, here's the new chapter. See you at the bottom.

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine, it's all SM's.

******POMH******

Chapter 26 – Limbo

On Monday, I met Alice for lunch. As usual, we ate at a restaurant a few blocks away from the store. Her lunch break was only one hour, and we didn't want to waste any time by her having to drive across town.

"So, how was the rest of your weekend? Have you talked to Edward?" Alice asked as soon as we sat down.

I decided not to answer her question about Edward because I didn't actually know what to tell her. He'd assured me that everything was alright, but I still wasn't sure that it really was. "La Push was nice. You know, I haven't seen Billy and Jake's sister in years. It was almost like old times. I think Jake and I got some part of our old friendship back. We reminisced a little about Leah, driving lessons, stuff like that." I smiled because I had really enjoyed the trip, although I was still sad that I hadn't gotten the chance to spend the weekend with Edward.

We were interrupted by the waitress coming to take our orders.

"Have you talked to Edward since Saturday? He was acting kind of strange," Alice wanted to know as soon as the waitress left our table.

I took a sip of water to consider my answer before I spoke. "I texted him last night to tell him that Charlie asked about him."

"Charlie asked about him? What did he say?" She was leaning closer to me, eager to hear the story.

"He wanted to know where Edward was and why I didn't bring him. I told him Edward had to work." I frowned, still not really buying it.

"Is that true? It sounded a bit like an excuse when he said it." So she had gotten the same impression I had Saturday night.

"I'm not sure. He called me after he got the text. We talked for a while. He said he was tired from his trip and shocked to see Jacob. He assured me that I hadn't done anything wrong. He just warned me about Jake and assured me that he wanted to see me. Unfortunately, he has to take a client to dinner tonight." I suppressed the tears which I knew would well up if I gave into the feelings of insecurity and loneliness that were constantly gnawing at me.

A waiter came and brought our drinks, keeping Alice from answering immediately. I was glad to get a minute to calm down.

"That's good to know. I know you were a little anxious after he left. But he wants to see you, that's good. Oh, that reminds me, Jasper got tickets for a hockey game tomorrow night for the four of us and one for Jacob, too. You know, he wants to spend some more time with him, since they were good friends back in New York. And Jake will be coming to our pre-Christmas party on Friday, as well." Alice and Jasper had a party one or two weekends before Christmas each year. Alice loved to indulge her passion for decorating, and their house always looked like Santa Claus exploded in there. "Jazz figured now that you're okay with each other again, there's no reason not to invite him." She didn't seem to fully agree with Jasper, especially after I told her about Edward's feelings toward Jacob, but she didn't vocalize her concerns.

"Edward and I didn't talk about tomorrow, but I think Jasper will fill him in, and we'll talk about it tonight." It was so strange to be in this relationship limbo. Everyone was seeing us as a couple, and most of the time, we acted accordingly, but we still hadn't had the talk.

"When will you tell him, Bella? You need to make things clear between the two of you." Alice's expression showed concern. She was sure Edward loved me too, and I just needed to tell him to make things right. Unfortunately, I wasn't that convinced.

"As soon as I get him alone. I don't know when that will be, but I don't want to wait any longer. I'm feeling more nervous with each passing day."

The waitress served our food and after saying, "Go, get him, girl," Alice changed the subject, telling me about her plans for the party and the Christmas presents she intended to buy for Jasper's family. I listened to her, answered "yes" and "no", and laughed in the right places, but the whole time, my mind was only revolving around Edward. I hoped so much that soon everything would be in the open and okay between us.

****POMH****

Sorry, baby. I just got home. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night. - E

I was already in bed, although far from sleeping, when close to midnight, I received Edward's text. I was angry and incredibly disappointed that I wouldn't hear his voice. I was craving his body as well as his company in general.

No worries. See you tomorrow at the game? Good night. - B

I texted him back, trying to make light of the situation. After ten minutes, I still hadn't gotten an answer and guessed that I wouldn't be getting one that night. Sighing, I rolled to my side and wished for sleep to come.

****POMH****

Tuesday morning, I woke up still tired and in a foul mood. I dragged myself out of bed and drove to work. I needed to prepare a shoot for an ad that was scheduled for later that day. I tried not to think of Edward and the fact that he hadn't answered my message from the night before. I was rarely in a bad mood, but that day, my assistant avoided me as much as possible.

It was almost noon when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

"Hi," I greeted Edward with a relieved smile on my face.

"Hey, beautiful. I'm sorry I didn't send you another text last night, but I was so tired that I switched my phone off. I only saw your message this morning." His smooth voice made me relax and immediately lightened my spirit.

"You don't need to be sorry. Did you at least sleep well?"

"Not really." He paused, and I felt anxious again. "I miss you." His confession calmed me down and made me smile again.

"I miss you, too. Good thing that we'll see each other tonight." I tried my best to sound seductive.

"About that, I'm not going to the game." My face fell at once and my heart began to race in my chest.

"You're not going?" I was struggling to hold back the tears. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong after all.

"Look, Jasper told me that Jacob was coming, too, and I don't like him. I know that you forgave him, and that's okay, but I can't stand to be around him. I'm sorry." We were both quiet as his words were sinking in. He wasn't okay with Jacob and our friendship. "I want you all to myself when I see you the next time, anyway. And I'm not so much into hockey, you know?" I didn't really know what to think other than I needed to see him.

I hoped I didn't sound as desperate as I was feeling when I replied, "Then I won't go either. You and I can do something together tonight."

"No, as much as I want to see you, I don't want to keep you away from your friends. You only have this week to spend time with him, and you should, if you want to. Just because I don't like him doesn't mean you can't see him." He was calm and sounded determined.

I felt defeated. "If you say so." Edward wanted me to go without them. But I still needed to see him. "But tomorrow night, I have a business dinner, and I don't know when I'll be home. Will you be free Thursday?" At that point, I was grasping at straws.

"I'm afraid I'll have to work late on Thursday. We have a deadline for a campaign. But, hey, there's still the party on Friday. We'll see each other there. And, this time, I won't go home without you, I promise."

"Okay, I guess it's Friday, then." I was feeling physical pain, knowing that I wouldn't be with Edward for another three long days.

"I'm really looking forward to that." His voice was soft, like a caress.

"Me, too," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I have people waiting for me. I'll text you later."

"Yeah. Bye then." I love you.

The three words were burning my tongue, fighting to get out. I really needed to say them, and I really needed Edward to hear them.

Friday.

****POMH****

Just like Edward, I wasn't really into hockey, either, or any sport for that matter. But going with the right people, it could still be fun. Too bad the right person was missing that night.

We had very good seats. Jasper had worked with everyone who was anyone in Seattle over the last four years, and he always had some strings to pull to get what he wanted. Alice and Jasper were sitting next to each other, with Jake on Jazz's other side and me next to Alice. The guys were talking tactics all the time, while Alice and I were talking about everything else, like people in the audience. The whole time, I worked hard to ignore the empty seat to my left where Edward should have been. It was a nice night, but I'd had better ones, especially over the last six weeks.

When the game was over, I offered to drive Jacob to his hotel, considering that I was going in that direction anyway whereas Alice and Jasper would have to take a detour to take him there.

"Bella, what are you doing tomorrow night?" he asked when we left the parking lot.

"I have a business dinner. A modeling agency I occasionally work for is planning on expanding our collaboration, and Mrs. Humphrey, the CEO, wants to negotiate the conditions. I don't like to do these things, but sometimes I have to." Once again, I regretted that I couldn't see Edward because of that stupid business meeting.

"What about Thursday?" What was he up to?

I was confused. "I haven't planned anything for Thursday, yet. Why are you asking?"

"I wanted to invite you to dinner," he said a little nervously.

My brows furrowed as I contemplated his suggestion. "I don't know if that's such a good idea." I couldn't go on a date with him. It was a different thing when the others were around, but I didn't want to go out alone with him.

"Why not? Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean it like a date or something. I just want to have dinner with you. See, I owe you a dinner invitation. I know we're not talking about what happened back then anymore, but I'm aware it was a very shitty thing to sleep with you without even buying you dinner before. Maybe you could see it as some kind of compensation for the date we should have had eight years ago." His eyes were fixed on my face as I pulled into an empty spot at the side of the street, across from his hotel.

"I don't know, Jake. I have to think about it. Is it okay if I give you my answer tomorrow?" It felt like going to dinner with Jacob alone would be cheating on Edward. I needed to talk to him about it before I could give Jake an answer. I wasn't afraid of him, but it just didn't feel right.

"That's okay. Just call me, or better, text me. I'll be in meetings from morning till afternoon tomorrow." He smiled and left the car.

I didn't wait for him to enter the hotel before I drove away.

****POMH****

Wednesday morning, I had an appointment at the agency with Ben. He was in charge of the ad we had shot the day before, and I needed to go over some things with him concerning the digital finishing. It was just easier to talk about those things in person than to do it via email or over the phone.

It didn't take long until we agreed on the things I'd do with the photos. When I left Ben's office, I still had a little time before I needed to meet with a model at the studio, so I decided to go and see Edward.

"Come in," he said when I knocked on the door to his office.

Slowly, I opened the door and stuck my head in inquisitively. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

He looked up from the papers on his desk, and his eyes went wide while his lips curved into a brilliant smile. "Hey, beautiful. What a wonderful surprise. Come in."

I stepped inside and closed the door. As soon as I turned around, Edward's lips were on mine, his body pinning me to the door. In seconds, his mouth was devouring mine like a starving man's first meal. His hands were first on my waist, pulling me as close as possible before they moved under my shirt, stroking the naked skin above the waistband of my jeans. My hands gripped the hair at the nape of his neck, holding on tightly.

Without hesitation, his hands grabbed my thighs and he lifted me up, pressing me even harder against the door as he started grinding his hard-on against my aching center. I moaned at the delicious friction.

We stayed like that for what felt like a long time. I was close to exploding from just dry-humping like that, Edward only moments away from coming in his dress pants, when an alarm went off.

Pulled out of our frenzy, Edward reluctantly pulled away and set my feet back down on the floor. Both of us were panting for air, and my hand moved up to touch my swollen lips.

"What was that?" I asked when I felt oxygen reach my lungs again.

"I really missed you," he said, planting a light, gentle kiss on my lips.

"I see. But that's not what I meant. What was that alarm for?" I took a few steps into the room as Edward walked to his desk, looking at his phone.

"I have a meeting in five minutes. Grrrrr." He pulled his hair in frustration. "You have no idea how badly I need you, but I don't have time right now."

I touched his cheek with my palm, making him look at me. "Friday," I promised.

"Friday," he repeated with conviction.

As he turned around to gather his things, I remembered that there was something I needed to talk about, but I didn't know how to start.

"How was the game last night?" he asked, saving some files on his computer.

That was my opening. "You know, I'm not really into sports. But it was nice. Actually, Jacob invited me to dinner tomorrow night. I don't know if that's such a good idea, though. I mean, it's not a date or anything. I would never go on a date with him. He just said, he owed me a dinner invitation, you know, for the date we never had." I knew I was rambling, but I didn't know what I wanted to hear. Did I want him to tell me I should go? No, I actually wanted him to ask me not to see Jacob again. I needed some proof that Edward loved me. So I was holding my breath, waiting for him to say something.

His lips formed a tight line for a moment. Then he spoke in a cold, guarded tone. "You should go, if you want to. I need to get to my meeting." He bent down and quickly kissed my forehead before he was out the door, leaving me standing alone in his office, more confused than ever.

********POMH********

A/N: I know, this wasn't what most of you were hoping for. First they were cockblocked, and then they didn't get the chance to talk. This talk is a burning issue to me too, but we have to wait and see.

So next week I promise, many things will happen when "The Shit Hits the Fan".

… "I'm sorry, Jake. I can't," I said in a small voice. …

What is it that she can't? Looking forward to your ideas. Tell me here or on FB in the Payton79's Fanfiction group.

One more thing, now that the story has become quite angsty for my taste, I'll try to update a little more frequently than once a week, maybe ever five days or so. Anyway, I probably won't keep up the Tuesday updates for longer. To still know when the next chapter will be up, you should put POMH on alert if you haven't already done so.

See you when "The Shit Hits the Fan".