Happy early update! I plan to be drunk tomorrow—correction, I plan to be drunk all day tomorrow so you get the update early!

Thanks to my Coffee Girl Team: Brie, Kitchmill, Jen, Kelly and Kim. As always…I edit this up until I post, so any errors after their work are completely mine.

So, I just remembered someone else I rented a car to…Paul McCrane, he was an actor on ER and drove a Prius. He was the complete opposite of his character on the show, so light and carefree. He had a wicked sense of humor and my mom was a total fan girl, though if it had been George Clooney we both would have lost it—hence the reference to the man in this chapter.

True fact about my mother and me...We worked next door to each other when I worked for the rental car company. She was the office manager to the auto body shop next door. We handled all the rentals for them and I got to meet a couple stars through her there. My mom and I are a hoot when we are together, and I miss our closeness since she now lives in Florida and I live in Oregon.

Chapter Eighteen

The rest of the awards show passed in laughter and alcohol, the latter of which I only consumed sparingly because the last thing I figured Edward needed was a lush on his arm. Dinner was haut cuisine, small portions that left me hungry and craving a hot dog…or three. I think my stomach even growled after they had cleared our dessert plates.

"Don't worry, we'll stop at In-n-Out before we head to the after parties," Edward whispered.

I giggled and nodded. Apparently this was the norm for awards nights, and all I could see in my head for the rest of the evening was an animal-style Double-Double and a chocolate shake. Well, that and George Clooney's fine ass. Now there was a man who aged well. If I thought my mom was jealous of me dating Edward, it was nothing compared to when I showed her the picture Edward took of me with the man himself the next morning. I thought she might've been contemplating licking my phone, and that grossed me out. But that was mom, and I loved her.

But back to the recap of my first night at an awards show…

By the time the show finished, I was ready to leave. It was amazing how fast everyone left after the hours it took to get inside in the first place. Jane had already left, telling us she still had a long night of fielding calls about me. I felt bad until she told me to suck it up; it was a part of her job. I just yes ma'amed her and made both she and Edward laugh.

Edward cracked up when I asked for extra napkins and then tucked them into my dress before I ate my burger. I may not have known exactly how much my dress cost, but I was not taking a chance of ruining it. The second I bit into the juicy goodness, I moaned. It was heaven after the tiny piece of salmon I had eaten earlier.

"You really have to stop with those noises, coffee girl. They're not helping me maintain my composure over here," Edward complained as he watched me make love to my delicious cheeseburger.

"Suck it up, Eddie. I'm hungry, and while this isn't as good as my Cupid's, it's a close second." I took another bite and my eyes rolled back into my head. It was good and hit a spot that had been empty for way too long.

He shook his head at my antics but then dove right in to his own food. When we were done, I fished out the compact I'd slipped into the handbag Rose loaned me and checked my teeth. I knew there would be more press and photogs at the after party because my mother was nice enough to enlighten me before I had left for Rose's house. I popped in a breathe strip and offered one to Edward as well. He smiled and slid the strip into his mouth.

"We've arrived, sir," the driver announced, and I quickly gathered up all the trash and double checked to make sure I hadn't spilled anything. I may not have been the tidiest person in the world, but I wasn't rude either.

Edward got out first and then helped me out. The line for the press wasn't nearly as long as the one at the award show, but Edward ignored them all and only had us pose for a few of the photographers before he led me inside. I didn't know what I had been expecting, and clearly I'd imagined it was going to be more than what it actually turned out to be.

A band was playing, but all it really entailed was more elbow rubbing and alcohol consumption. They handed out gifts from sponsors, and Edward amassed a large pile of boxes and envelopes.

By the time the night was over, I was exhausted and running on fumes. I was ready for bed, but not ready for school to begin again.

With a few stolen kisses while the driver waited for Edward after dropping me off at Rose's to get my car, I said goodnight to my love.

I didn't know how my car found its way home, but I was glad I didn't have to figure it out.

When my head hit the pillow, I wondered if this was what Cinderella felt like after the ball.

~o~o~o~

I didn't know what I was expecting when I stepped foot into my Management and Organizational Behavior class, but the icy glares and whispering were not enjoyable. I was so happy that this was my last semester and that I had the internship which would keep me off campus more.

With a sigh, I took a seat toward the back of the class so I could make a quick escape. I could hear the whispering of a couple of girls who chose to sit in the row behind me.

"I can't believe he would date someone like her," jealous slut number one stated.

"I know. He could do so much better. I mean, she's not even that talented," slut number two added.

I turned and looked at them, and in my calmest and most deadly voice, I said, "Which are you most bitter about, the fact that I know exactly how Edward kisses or the fact that you'll never find out?"

They both were shocked at my outburst, but I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of bringing me down. I was Edward's girlfriend and I wasn't going to let anymore outsiders interfere with our relationship. If the awards show taught me anything, it was that no one's opinions outside of Edward's and mine really mattered.

I was now frenemy number one. Bitches had better watch out because Isabella Swan was not about to let her man go just because people didn't like the idea of us together. Needless to say, they weren't the only trouble I encountered that day.

When I reached my second and final class for the semester, History of Performance Practices, I was met with Eric and Kate's shocked faces.

"Why didn't you tell me, Bella? I would have kept the secret for you," Kate grumbled.

"It's still pretty new. We haven't been together that long."

Eric scoffed. "New? It's apparently not that new if you spent the holidays with each other's families. Guess I can see why you turned me down before. I wasn't rich enough for you."

I was a bit hurt by his insinuations, and while I never intentionally led him on, I wasn't a bitch to him either. "First of all, I can't believe you could think of me in such a way. I've been nothing but nice to you. When you asked me out last semester, I turned you down because Edward and I had just met and I'm not the type of girl who dates two guys at once. And second of all, we've only been seeing each other for a few months but I met his mother before I even accepted a date with him, so technically holidays together weren't that big of a deal."

When Eric huffed and walked away, I turned to Kate and addressed her question too. "It is still new, Kate. Why would I want to risk telling everyone when I absolutely hate being the center of attention? That is a huge negative when you date someone in the industry."

"I just thought we were friends." She was right in a sense, but I couldn't help the way I felt.

"I just didn't want to tell anyone until I knew if this was going to last. I didn't want to be the laughing stock of CSUN if it didn't work out."

She nodded in understanding. "I can see that. Some people here can be so fake. Now that you guys have ousted yourselves as a couple it must be serious."

I blushed and smiled. "It is."

"Come on…tell me?" Kate was a fan of gossip, but she wasn't getting any more from me.

"Nope. You'll just have to wait and see like everyone else." It was fun to joke around with someone.

She growled, and I laughed. "Fine. But you're sitting next to me in class and taking notes for us both as payback for last semester. Don't think I've forgotten about the starry eyed girl who borrowed my notes back then." I giggled and shook my head at her silliness. "Good, because this explains so much about how you were acting."

"Okay. Stop teasing. I'll take notes for us."

She stopped me before I could enter the classroom. "Just tell me one thing…are his lips soft?"

I couldn't help but throw my head back and laugh heartily. "Soft as silk," I taunted once I had my laughter under control.

She sighed and pulled me into class. "Guess I'm gonna have to live vicariously through you."

It was nice to know that there was at least one person wasn't going to turn on me.

~o~o~o~

The evening shift at the coffeehouse was just as frustrating. My coworkers all treated me differently and turned their noses up at me, and I hated it. Even some of the customers did double takes, like they were trying to guess where they had seen me before. It was nerve-wracking, and I couldn't wait to go home.

By the time I had parked my car at home, I was over the whole day. I went inside and showered before I climbed into bed.

When I picked up my phone to set my alarm, I saw I missed a call from Edward so I called him back.

"Hi, Eddie." I couldn't keep the despair from my voice.

"Hey, coffee girl. What's the matter?"

"Ugh…just a day from hell. Everybody was rude or talking shit behind my back. Needless to say, I'm glad the day is over and I only have to attend classes once a week this semester."

"I'm sorry that you had to go through that." I could hear the regret in his voice.

"It's okay, Eddie. You are absolutely worth it."

His chuckle echoed through the phone. "That's good to know. What about work? Did you have any problems there?"

"Yeah, but after this morning I expected it." I picked at the polish that was already peeling off my nails from the awards show.

"I'm sad to say it will probably get worse before it gets better, love. I hate that I have to go out of town for filming so soon after we came out as a couple."

I knew he was right, but I didn't have to like it. "I know. I start the internship tomorrow. I hope I don't spend my time doing nothing but fetching coffee just because I know how. I'm really hoping I get to learn something while I'm there."

"If it's not giving you what you want, you know I would still help you out any way I can."

"I know, but I need to do this on my own. Thank you, though. Just knowing you're a call away if I need you is enough." I did appreciate the offer even if I desired to do it on my own.

"I'm going to miss you so much, coffee girl. I hate that I can't pack you up in my bag and take you with me."

I giggled. "I hate that I can't be with you either, but it's only six weeks. You'll be back March 1st, and I won't be able to keep my hands off you."

"Promise?" Edward groaned out.

"Maybe you can even teach me the fine art of phone sex. We have to start somewhere, right?" I was actually getting a bit hot and bothered with his breathing in my ear and the roughness of his voice.

"Fuck! You're killing me, coffee girl. I'm so hard right now."

I whimpered at the memory of his hard length rubbing against me in Vegas and clutched my legs tightly together, heat and wetness building between my thighs. "But what a way to go…"

My words hung in the air for just a moment before he replied. "I'm not going anywhere before you are mine in every single sense of the word." Oh dear… "Even after we make love, I know I'll never feel satisfied. I'll want you again and again and again." Come to mama… "You own me, Bella, and I want to spend the rest of my life owning you the exact same way."

So what should a girl who has been taught possession is nine-tenths of the law have said?

"You already own my heart, Eddie, and someday soon you'll get to possess my pussy exactly like you want."

He groaned loudly and I meant every word.

Hope you liked the little teasing. The first lemon is just around the corner. Thank you for all the love and support. See you all on Friday. Have a very happy New Year everyone! xx Dee