As always we need to send a HUGE shout out to the great group of girls who keep us readable: AWayWithWords, EdwardsFirstKiss, and LaPumkle, thank you so much for all you three amazing ladies do. All mistakes are ours.


Parallel Parenting

Chapter 12

Edward POV

I wake up and again seem to just look at Bella. My hand moves to her face. I push back her hair and then stroke her cheek with my finger.

She looks more relaxed and happy than she did last night. There's a large part of me still angry at myself about how I handled the whole situation with her flat tire, and Mike fixing it.

I was driving home and saw Bella's car pulled over on the side of the road, and right away I was deeply worried about her, and the girls. When I saw her standing there, I still felt apprehensive about what happened but also upset that she hadn't called me. When I approached she never turned my way, and the repair guy had her attention. I was disturbed when the guy pushed her hair out of the way and looked at her as if he was in love with her. I waited expecting her to tell him to get lost, but she didn't, and he upped his game by telling her he could help her relax. She again didn't tell the fucker to beat it, so I made my presence known. Bella just looked at me. When she told Mike who I was, she introduced me simply as Cordie's father. This increased my anger over the fact I wanted to claim her as mine. I know I had no right. What we have between us doesn't give me the right to place a claim on her, but I want to, not only to claim her, but to also have her claim me as hers.

The drive home was filled with me muttering to myself going through the many things I wanted to say and do to that Mike guy. By the time I arrived home I was even angrier and headed straight to my room to get changed. Bella followed me and we hashed it out. Not wanting to fight with her anymore, I stayed upstairs with the girls while she was downstairs cooking dinner. It wasn't until we sat down to eat that I realized that my anger and upset had caused Bella pain. To watch her simply look at her dinner with a fake smile on her face all the way through it hit me hard. But not as hard as when Bella turned away from me, that just about killed me. I am still unsure of what has happened between us, and how I should feel about it. I do know that no matter what has taken place between us; I don't want to stop. I know that I am deeply attracted to her. When I think back to when we first met, I felt an attraction to her even then, l despite my brain telling me I didn't.

I let out a soft sigh and lay flat on the bed. She moves instantly, it's almost as if I have pulled her with me. As Bella places her head on my chest, and my arm wraps around her, my name slips softly from her lips. I know this is exactly what I want, and what has been missing in my life. I know this is where I want her to be, in my bed, and in my arms. Bella lets out a soft sigh that is quickly followed by my name making smile. I kiss the top of her head and then gently slip out from underneath her.

"Bella, you need to get up, it's time to get ready for school."

"Okay, five more minutes," she mumbles making me chuckle.

"Okay. Five minutes, I'll get the girls up," I say.

I switch on the light as I walk out of the room heading to get the girls.

"Time to get up," I say as I give them each a gentle shake. I go over and switch on the light and then make my way back to my own room to get showered and dressed.

I walk back to Bella's room after I'm done and walk in just as she is buttoning up her shirt.

"Damn, I missed your getting dressed," I say with a smile. I am relieved when Bella just chuckles.

"You should have stayed if you wanted a show. I will say that I find it strange that you want to see me get dressed, versus taking off my clothes.

"I am easy, what can I say? Besides, either way I would see you naked at some point."

"I thought that you could see that any time just by closing your eyes?" she asks coyly.

I move to her after pushing her door closed. "I can but it doesn't mean I don't like to see the real thing too." I step close to her running my finger down her arm. "Plus you have to know by now that I like to feel you." I duck my head close to hers, so that my nose is against her neck. "I enjoy the smell of your skin," I husk out as I kiss her neck. When she doesn't pull back I take a hold of her head placing my lips firmly to hers. "God, do I miss these lips when they are not against mine," I tell her as I pull back. "Sadly, we have to part though. The girls should be dressed by now, shall we?" I hold out my hand and she takes it. As we walk out the door of her room, I place a soft kiss on her hand clasped inside my own.

~PP~

Jasper and I walk into the Irish Pub where we are meeting Emmett. Due to his height, we spot him easily and make our way over to him.

"Hi," I look to who had spoken and see it's the same guy that fixed Bella's tire. "Mike," he carries on. I know he's telling me his name but being the smart smug ass that I am, I correct him on my name.

"No, my name is Edward."

Mike just seems to look at me. "I know, I was reminding you of my name," he chuckles, and I merely give him a smile and move off to where Emmett is.

Emmett gives Jasper and me a quick introduction to the other guys who are here, some are from school, and others are from Rose's shop.

"How are things with you and Bella?" Eric asks Mike in a cocky voice.

"We're getting close—" He is only able to say as Emmett snorts cutting him off.

"Come on, she smiles at me," Mike says.

Emmett just looks at him, his eyes flicker to me before he returns them to Mike.

"She smiles at me all the time," Eric chuckles.

"Me too," James adds.

"She smiles at everyone," Emmett says with a huff. "As I have told you, Mike, she's not interested, and Rose shouldn't have put the idea into your head."

"But she may change her mind after dating me. Besides it's just because her kid is putting her off on the idea of going out with me."

"Bella…" Emmett stops and smiles. "She gets to know people and likes to know them before she dates them. Her last boyfriend was her friend for a few months before she started dating him. If she wanted to date you, or get to know you on a deeper level then believe me Kassie wouldn't be able to stop her. She's smart and would find a way around it."

"But, I want to get to know her on the level of being a boyfriend to her. I mean seriously, she's gorgeous," Mike says.

"Yeah, we know but that's not a reason to date her," Emmett states.

Mike starts to pout which makes me chuckle.

"Does she at least talk about me?" Mike asks with such a whiney boy voice, I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing right in his face.

"No, not a word," I say, and Mike looks at me with a heartbroken look.

"Look, Mike, you still have Jessica," Eric says.

"Jess is good looking, but she's not very bright. I mean she thinks that the moon is made from cheese."

I snort and laugh, which again makes Mike looks to me. "I'm serious, no joke, and she watered my plastic plant even after I told her it wasn't real." He rolls his eyes a little.

"She is a sweetheart though, which is a good thing," Emmett states.

"Brains aren't all that," Eric adds.

"Yeah, but sometimes I feel like blowing my brains out, with some of the stuff she comes up with," Mike says.

"She is better than Lauren who was just an outright bitch," Emmett says.

Mike rolls his eyes but nods in agreement.

"I wouldn't worry about Mike getting with Bella, he's not her type." Emmett says. I turn to look at him. "But you shouldn't think this game of sex means you have a claim on her. You will have to be something more than a fuck buddy with shared custody of twins for her to be interested in more than friendship." He continues.

"We've already agreed to wait and see where our mutual attraction takes us," I mutter back to him, making him chuckle.

"Then why are you looking at Mike like he could be a possible threat to it … to you?"

I shrug as I sigh. "I don't know. He clearly likes her, fuck I think he may even love her …"

This time Emmett breaks out into laughter making me stare at him. "Don't confuse love and lust my friend. He barely knows her, and he'd lucky if they've actually spent two hours in total together since they've met."

"Then why?" I ask with a slight tilt of my head towards Mike.

"You mean why did Rose think it was a great idea?"

I nod at him so he'll know that what I am asking.

"Bella's been on her own for a few years, and I'm not saying she needs a man to be complete, but Rose wants her to have someone who cares about her. You know have some time to be an adult and do adult things." He stops and chortles. "If she had known that you and Cordie were around the corner, she wouldn't have said anything to him."

"I really like her, Em."

"Rose? What's not to like," he says with a loud boisterous laugh.

"No, Bella you ass," I tell him knowing full well he knew what I was talking about.

"Again, what's not to like?"

"I think maybe it's more than like. We have agreed that we won't seek out or flirt with anyone else, but still …"

"You're scared, that you'll fall in love with her and she won't feel the same? Or you're scared about what it means to truly give yourself to someone?"

I let out a nervous quiet laugh. "Yes and yes. I've never given myself to anyone like that. After Cordie, it was easy to use her as a shield, but …"

"You want more?" he asks.

"I do, but I want more with Bella," I admit.

"How much more?"

"I'm not sure if I know. I know I want go to bed with her in my arms so that I can wake up with her in the morning."

"How is the sex?" he asks.

"Hands down the best I have ever had, just truly amazing," I tell him honestly.

"What's that amazing?" Jasper asks.

"Sex with Bella," Emmett answers candidly.

"You have had sex with Bella?" Jasper gasps at Emmett who simply looks at him as if he's stupid.

"No, dipstick, Edward did."

Jasper's face turns to me. "Wow, I never thought you had it in you," he grins at me.

"Yeah, right? You saw those two play pool together, they just about had sex then," Emmett adds.

"No we didn't," I argue.

"Your head was between her boobs," Jaspers states without a filter.

"It was a body shot," I proclaim.

"Yeah, those only take a few seconds, and you were in there for so long I thought you were getting smothered."

"Ha," I say but both Jasper and Emmett are now out right laughing at me.

Jasper calms down a little and looks at me, I know he is up to something when he grins at me. I arch my eyebrow as I take a drink of my beer.

"So, Emmett, what do think Rose will buy at Alice's sex toy party tomorrow?"

My drink gets spit out as I just look at them. "I thought it was just a girls' party, you know do their nails, drink wine, that kind of thing?"

"It is, just one with lots and lots of bedroom toys and lingerie. Oh, and don't forget that they'll talk about sex," Jasper adds.

I groan as my mind is filled with dirty thoughts of Bella, sexy underwear and toys. Again Jasper and Emmett both laugh.

"I take it that Bella left that part out?" Emmett asks.

"I hate you both," I whine as I calm down my thoughts. I clear my throat and look at Emmett. "Tell us about how you and Rose met?"

"My car broke down and I was waiting for roadside assistance, and this woman pulls over. I watched her walk to me, and all I could do was to eye fuck her. When she reached me, I gave her my best smile and chat up line. She just rolled her eyes at me, and asked me to lift my hood up. I was a little amused but stood by and watched this blond, model, work on my car. When she fixed it in under ten minutes, I was in love."

I smile at Emmet as he smiles. "She told me to bring it into her shop because it needed more work, but I would be able to safely drive home, and to her shop. The next time I met her was at her shop. I asked for her shop's Facebook page and asked if I could follow her. She said yes, and I grinned and told her my information, and to remember she gave me permission, when she saw me walking behind her in the future." Emmett stops and takes a drink. "Just a few times of me turning up at her shop, and boasting she had the best place in town, won me a date. The rest they say is history."

My eyes flick back over to the rest of the group. Mike is in the middle laughing at a joke one of the other guys has told.

"How did Mike, start working for Rose?" I ask.

"He's the cousin of an ex-boyfriend." Emmett stops and sighs. "He's not that bad. He comes from a fucked up family, and doesn't really know how to make friends, let alone properly chat up a girl. Lauren, his ex was only with him because he has some money."

I turn looking at Emmett with a frown.

"He's Rose's silent partner, and he's the reason she owns the shop," he tells me.

I nod.

"Really, Edward, he's a little dimwitted when he chats up a girl, that's all. He thinks he has to be an over confidant caveman, to get the girl. He only helped Bella out with her flat tire because he was in the area and Rose didn't want her waiting for him to come back and take over so she could go." Emmett clears his throat and smiles a little. "I have told Bella just to tell him she doesn't like him in a romantic way, but she's too worried that she'll hurt his feelings. She is a big softy."

I hum and look back at the group to see Mike walking our way. "Same?" he asks pointing at our drinks.

"Yeah, beers all around," Emmett answers.

When Mike comes back with the round of drinks he sits down next to me.

"Your daughter is very pretty, and I still say she looks familiar."

I turn looking at Mike but see him shake his head.

"She, and well … Kassie too remind me of someone, right from the first time I met them. I just can't put my finger on who it is." He shakes his head again. "Anyway, you're doing a great job with your daughter, and her shyness will go away," he stops and chuckles, "Well mostly it will anyhow. I was really shy growing up. When I was in school, I wouldn't talk to anyone my own age, only people who were younger, or adults. It took me until I was in my late teens to lose some of the shyness and relax a little."

I give him a nod and look at Jasper and Emmett who are both listening. Mike seems to just look at his beer. My eyes go to his hand which is peeling the label.

"Are you and Bella dating?" He asks as his eyes go to mine before he lets out a nervous chuckle. "I mean, you almost broke my hand, and the glare you gave me was almost as if you were telling me to back the fuck off."

"Yes, we're dating," I answer and he nods.

He looks as if he is pouting a little. "Damn, I'd have liked to have had at least one date with her."

"Sorry, but not sorry," I say.

"Just make sure you treat both her and her daughter well, and we'll have no problem, Edward." Mike holds out his hand and I shake it, but don't let go right away.

"Make sure you don't chat her up, and we definitely will not have any problems."

"Absolutely," Mike grins as we stop shaking hands. "I may have to say yes to that date with Jessica," he laughs.

Emmett just gasps. "Dude, that could be dangerous. I'm not sure she can function on a date."

I snort and then laugh as Mike turns to me.

"I am worried, I am not sure how she's able to walk and breathe at the same time."

I laugh along with all the guys.

The rest of the night goes by with a lot of laughing, and I was a little surprised that Emmett was right in the fact that once Mike calmed down he was an okay guy. He is just really shitty at chatting with women to get them to date him.

I arrive home and look around but my home feels empty. I pull my cell out and text Bella.

~Are you still awake? xoxo~

~Yes. How was your night? xoxo~

~Good, can I come over? Xoxo~

~Of course. xoxo~

~Be there soon. xoxo~

I arrive at Bella's thirty minutes later. As she opens the door, I pull her to me kissing her.

"I missed you, and the girls," I tell her, and then start to kiss her again.

"Come on, I want to look in on them and then take you to bed." I take hold of her hand pulling her behind me.

I smile as I stand at the door, seeing both girls looking so happy, sleeping together.

"Come on, you said something about taking me to bed." She says.

I turn and grin at her. We kiss the whole way to her room. I slowly close the door, so that I don't make a sound. As I turn to Bella, I am happy to see she's already undressing. Keeping my eyes on her I start to strip too.

Once we're both naked, we fall into bed and make sweet silent love to each other. This time there's no feeling of competition of who will make the other fall first.

~PP~

Bella POV

I wake up and see a still sleeping Edward. I take the moment to really look at him. Before he text me last night, I had missed him. I was relieved to find out he had not only missed the girls, but me too. I am not sure if he had planned to have sex with me before he came over or if it was just like it was for me. As soon as I saw him last night, I needed and wanted him, in every way. Last night was definitely the best sex I've ever had in my life. I only climaxed twice, and though I've managed more other times, none compared to the way he made me feel.

"Are you watching me sleep?" he husks out making me smile.

"I am," I answer.

Edward gives me a lopsided smile and I lean over and kiss his lips. I hear him hum, and I open my eyes to see that he is looking at me.

"I should tell you that Mike was there last night," he says.

I pull back and look at him as I wait for him to finish what he is saying.

"He's a nice guy," he says, but tilts his head, "Why wouldn't you date him?"

I slap his arm making him chuckle.

"He is a nice guy, but he's not very good at flirting," I say.

He kisses me again, but stops and wiggles his brows. "He asked if we were dating, and I told him we were."

"How did he take it?"

"Oh there were tears, so many tears and the pout … huge."

I cross my arms and raise my brow at him.

"What? He was fine, I am teasing. He was a little disappointed, but overall, he was okay."

"Thank, God," I whisper which seems to make him laugh again.

"I think he was more upset over the fact that he's now stuck dating Jessica."

"God, I hope not."

He looks at me and tilts his head in question.

"I mean she is pretty, but she's a little …" I stop, looking for a word that is not so mean to explain Jessica.

"Dimwitted?" He offers.

I nod at him and then shake my head. "It's not really just that, it's more that she's just … blond, high maintenance, doesn't want to work, and thinks it's cute not knowing anything. The worst part is that she's friends with Lauren."

I stop to take a deep breath and make a face as he just looks at me.

"She's a class A, worthless, b-i-t-c-h. I'm not just saying that because she slept with my ex, so before you ask that's not why."

"Did all of you go to college together?" he asks.

"Jessica, Lauren, Rose, and me, yes. Mike is a cousin of someone Rose knew. I think that's how he and Lauren ended up together. Rose always felt guilty about him hooking up with her."

Edward hums and nods at me, He moves closer to me, and his hand shifts to hold me to him as he kisses me.

"You have the most kissable lips," he tells me making me smile.

I pull back from him and give him a big smile.

"I'm going to get a start on breakfast before our girls catch us, like this."

"Do think we should tell them, about us?" he asks.

I stop and look at him.

"You mean tell them that we're dating?" I ask.

He nods and sits up.

"Maybe we should wait to see where this is going. I have a feeling this may be something they want."

Edward nods at me, and smiles. "Okay, but let's not wait too long. We can make it clear that we like each other as close friends?"

I chuckle but smile at him. "Still waiting on my BFF bracelet, thinking I may have to make it myself. I would be better at it than you, anyway."

Before he can debate with me, I walk out of the bedroom, and head to the bathroom, for a shower.

When I get back to the bedroom, Edward is sitting up with his hands behind his head. He stays there watching me as I dress.

"Would you be offended, if I give you money to buy us some bedroom things tonight?" he asks.

My head snaps around to him and he just grins at me.

"I mean I would like to pay for some of it, especially if I am going to get some of the benefits of using it."

"Who said you would get any benefits from using it?" I ask.

Edward moves quickly and pulls me so I am flat on the bed, and he's hovering over me.

"That's another reason I would like to pay for some, or at least half of it," he says, before I can answer him he is kissing me. "This is a partnership, we're equals, and split everything down the middle, like we will with the girls' birthdays', Christmas', everything."

"Fine, I was planning to take two hundred dollars with me."

Edward smiles and nods his head. "Two hundred it is then. Make sure you get some sexy, lacy, underwear too." His eyes roam my body and I know he is picturing me in some kinky lingerie.

"Go get a shower and cool down," I order.

Edward chuckles as he kisses me again.

"Don't make too much of a start on breakfast, I would like to help."

"Fine, but be quick with your shower then."

"My shower's last half the time of yours," he retorts.

"That's only because my hair is longer," I say.

"Whatever you say, cherry lips."

"Shower!" I say and point at the door.

I dry my hair and then check on the girls, who are still asleep, before I head into the kitchen.

I pour myself a coffee and sit down to drink it as I look at the news on my laptop.

"Any good gossip?" Edward asks as he kisses my cheek,

"No," I answer as he pours himself a coffee and sits down next to me.

"I say we have a light breakfast and then I can take my girls for some lunch," he says.

"Your girls?" I say with an arched brow.

"Yep, my girls."

"Daddy, when did you get here?" Cordie walks in and asks.

"Last night," he answers as she walks into his open arms.

"You should have woken us up, Teddy," Kassie says with a huff and hugs him too.

"You were asleep, and it was late," he tells her. "After we have breakfast we are going over to my house. We can swim and do a few things together before your Mom has to get ready for her party."

~PP~

"There is a part of me that doesn't want you to go," Edward mutters as I put on my make-up. "But there's another side that wants you to have fun, and relax. Besides, I will enjoy spending some time alone with the girls." He grins at me "And what a night I have planned. I think they may have a better time than they did last night," he teases.

"Doubtful, but knock yourself out," I tell him.

Edward chuckles kissing my cheek. "You look amazing for a girls' night out," he whispers.

"And you sound a little … how should I put? Oh, I know, jealous and put out."

"Believe me Bella if this wasn't a girls' night out, I may have faked being sick just to keep you here with me. Hey now there's an idea. Get yourself one of those super sexy nurse outfits to wear for when I am sick and feel a fever coming on." Edward smiles and winks at me.

"You are sick alright, sick in the head."

"Yeah but you still want me, so that makes you even sicker than me," he smirks.

I shake my head as I stand up. "Would you like me to come here when we're done?" I bite my lip to hide my hope.

"Definitely," Edward says standing and kissing me. "Come on, time to say goodbye to the girls and head out for your party."

Edward stands back while I say goodbye to both girls and then he walks me out to the cab.

"Have a great night," he says against my ear. "I would kiss you again but we have an audience."

My eyes flicker to the door to see both girls are eagerly watching Edward and me.

Edward opens the door of the cab, and helps me in, before he closes it. He stands outside as the cab drives off.

The drive to Alice's shop doesn't take long, and she is outside waiting to greet me, along with Rose.

"You two look as if you have been conspiring," I say with an arched brow.

"Who, us?" Rose says, entirely too innocently.

"Yes, you," I answer Rose. "All that is needed is a caldron, and a third person, and you could chant, 'when shall we three meet again'," I snark.

"We have our third, Bella, that's you. "Foul is fair and fair is foul," Alice chuckles making me glare at her.

"Come on in, most of the girls are here," Rose says with a laugh.

When we get to the room, I have to hide my sigh as I smile. Maggie stands up grinning widely at me.

"Hi, Kelly," she says putting out her hand.

"Hi, Maggie." I say back to her not bothering to correct her on my name. I know she knows it, and if she wants to be a child that is her choice, I'm not playing games with her.

"Bella!" Jessica calls as she jumps up and bounces up and down as she makes her way to me. "I am practicing," she quickly tells me. "I am going to be Tigger from Winnie the Pooh for Halloween!"

I just smile at her. "Sounds like a lot of fun, Jessica."

"Oh, it is going to be. I'm so excited about it!"

I muffle my laugh as she bounces back to where she was sitting.

"Everybody, this is Edward's girlfriend, Bella," Alice says loud and clear making me look at her.

"What do you mean, girlfriend?" Maggie hisses.

"Girlfriend is a girl that is someone's friend," Jessica tells her with a chuckle and then looks at me. "I know that one."

I nod and smile at her, so she knows I'm proud of her.

"I know that you …" Maggie stops before she calls Jessica a name, before turning to Alice. "Are you trying to say that he's dating her?" Meggie asks with a glare and a pointed finger toward me.

"Oh, Bella, that so great!" Jessica states loudly. "You deserve happiness, and true love."

"But her?" Maggie again asks.

"Yes, her, what's your malfunction?" Rose asks while she cracks her knuckles.

"No. No, problem," Maggie mutters sitting back down, still muttering to herself.

"Bella," Alice says and I look to see that she is holding out a glass of wine for me. "Sorry about springing that on you, but Maggie would have spent all night telling us that each toy she buys is for her and Edward." Alice adds in a roll of her eyes. "And I didn't want you feel uncomfortable."

I simply smile giving her a nod. "So you know they're bumping uglies?" Rose asks Alice before taking a sip of her wine.

"What?" Alice gasps. "I thought it was just a little heavy flirting?"

"Oh, no, they've passed that level and moved up to the horizontal hustle."

"Rose," I hiss slapping her leg.

"Good thing she came to this party, she can buy some things to keep things exciting."

"Alice, he's your brother," I gasp.

"So? I know he has sex Bella. I personally hope he is having great sex and keeps his chosen woman happy in the sack."

"You're nuts," I mumble.

"Yep, and the certificate is on the wall."

I frown but Alice points to the wall. I laugh seeing that she has a certificate declaring she is mentally insane hanging on the wall in a very nice filigree frame.

"Why?" I ask.

"Well to be honest, I was so sick of people telling me that I was insane that I decide to get it authenticated."

"That's great," I say still chuckling over it.

"Okay, Ladies, are we ready to have a look at the toys?" The woman who is hosting the party asks. When we all agree she whips out the first toy making us all laugh.

"So, I am Massie, and I will be your hostess this evening. Now, Girls, who is up for a little bet?" Massie asks looking around at us. "All you have to do it choose which one of the vibrators will cross the finish line first." As she talks, she pulls a cloth cover off a table. We all move to it, seeing there are six vibrators in a line across the top, and each one has a number on it.

"Write your number on a piece of paper with your name. The winners will receive a ten dollar voucher."

We all write down which one we think will win, and Massie smiles at us. "I think we need some music to help us get into the mood … 'Pony' by Ginuwine anyone?"

The music starts as do all the vibrators, we all shout between our hackles of laughter. One of the vibrators goes horizontally across the table, banging into the others as it goes, making me laugh even more.

We all cheer as the bright pink one makes its way across the finish line.

"The winners are Jessica and Rose, well done girls!" Massie states.

"I told you all that pink is the best color, and it's the same color as Mike," Jessica states.

"Now that is more info than I ever needed," I say under my breath to Rose who chuckles.

"Well honey my Laurent has a very large back one, and he's anything but fast." Massie says with a wink but Jessica just looks at her.

"I thought speed was important, in sex?" Jessica asks in awe.

Massie just looks at Jessica mystified. "She means he takes his time, and lasts long, Jessica. It means he's not a five second man," I try to explain.

"Oh, so fast is good?" I nod my head at her. "But long and slow can be good too? Wow, I never knew. I know some quickies can be good, right, Bella?" I nod again.

Jessica just smiles at me, and moves to the table looking over the chocolate sauce.

"Maybe one of you should take her to be spayed." I turn looking at Maggie with a glare. "What? Don't tell me you would want that," she says pointing at Jessica, "to breed?"

"Jessica may not know a lot, and may be a walking ad for the typical trophy wife, but at least she's not a class A bitch. I personally am annoyed by class A bitches, but even I wouldn't tell them to not procreate." I say.

I walk way and stand beside Rose, still fuming. "I'm really starting to dislike that woman," I grumble.

Rose looks at me and then behind her at Maggie. "And that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she likes Edward, right?"

"Nope, nothing to do with him at all, it's all because she is a class A bitch," I say as quietly as I can. "I don't understand how Alice can be friends with someone like her?"

Rose just shrugs. "She may only be showing you her bitch side because you took her man."

"Edward wasn't her man," I argue.

"But she did have her eyes on him, and you came in and swept him away without any fight. She may be just hurt and angry."

"Then why is she taking it out on me, we weren't friends? I didn't even know her, or anything about her."

"She's a woman and that in and of itself is one of the many reasons. Anytime a man they claim as theirs does something wrong that involves another woman, the woman is blamed, not the man."

"Again, Rose, he wasn't her man, in any way at all."

"But in her head he was," Rose says.

I just sigh and shake my head. "Come on forget her and buy some new toys," Rose says picking up a large one.

"Dammit," she hisses placing it back down.

"What?" I ask.

"That's the biggest one she has?"

"And?" I arch my brow and look at her.

"I want one that will make Emmett's eyes water."

"What are you going to do with it, Rose, stick it up his—" Rose snorts and covers my mouth to cut me off.

"No, he would kill me if I even suggested something like that. I wanted to find one that's bigger than him, but none of these are."

I give her an "oh" as I look at the one she set down. "He's bigger than that?" I ask pointing at it and then looking at her.

"He is," she smirks.

"Fuck, I am surprised you can walk, hell, I am surprised he hasn't split you into two pieces."

Rose nudges me with her arm as we both start to chuckle.

I picked out three toys, some chocolate sauce, and with the rest of our combined money, plus an additional sixty, I buy a few sexy undies, and several naughty bedroom dress-up items. I wasn't able to get a nurse's outfit, but there was a doctor's, that I hope will do just the same.

We call it a night a little after one in the morning. Alice, Rose, and I share a cab.

"Are you heading to Edward's?" Rose asks as we pull up outside of her house.

"I am," she smiles and wiggles her brow at me.

"Don't show him everything you got tonight, keep something to surprise him with until the other things arrive in the mail."

I nod at her and she closes the door, walking to her house. Once she's inside, the cab takes Alice home next.

"I think you will be good for Edward," Alice says with a smile. "I always knew there was someone out there for him. He's the type that has only one girl that would be perfect enough for him and that is you."

I feel my face heat up a little.

"Don't waste too much time worrying if this is going to work out or not, just go with it," she says, patting my arm.

As we pull up at Alice's, she takes her cell out. "I sent a text to Edward to let him know you're on your way. Have a great night," she winks at me as Jasper opens the door for her.

"Hey, Darlin," he says looking over at me winking. "Night, Bella."

"Night, Jasper, goodnight, Alice."

I watch as they walk into their home and then the cab drives off to Edward's home. As we come to a stop, Edward is outside to greet me. He helps me out and grabs my bags.

"Have a good night?" He asks as he hands the driver the fare but keeps his eyes on me. "Emmett and Jasper chipped in last night. They gave me money to pay for the cab, knowing you would be the last one dropped off." He quickly adds as my eyes stay on his hand.

"Oh, were you confident that I would come here, or did you tell them I would?"

Edward smirks as we walk inside his home. "I knew you would like to be here with the girls if you could."

"Maybe it was also a little of you, that made me want to come here too," I say.

"Oh, no worries, baby, I know I am," he gloats.

"Just like it was because of me … the reason you showed up at my place last night."

"You've got that right," Edward says closing his front door, and backing me against it while kissing me.


A/N: Sorry this did not post sooner, but things have gotten a bit crazy for Nikky and me. We are working on writing chapter 13 right now, therefore it could see a short delay, however, we will post it as soon as it is ready and please trust in us as always to finish what we start. With all that said, what are your thoughts so far?