'm soooooo sorry for the delay in my updates, but hey, now you have something to read on New Years day! So Review, like or just read!
Happy 2017 and may it be miiiiiiiiiiiles better than 2016!
I didn't see Edward in the following week. The dinner and Tanya had made me realize three things:
1. Edward Cullen was a man with unfinished business.
2. I was on the way of falling for him. Hard.
3. I had neglected my shop for long enough.
And while I wasn't mad at him for Tanya I didn't understand so many things. Like why did he talk to her for so long? Had Tanya and him really been engaged at some point? Was she still involved to some extent? I know Alice explained all of this to me on Sunday but I had a feeling that Edward played his cards close to his chest, even concerning his family and especially his love life. I was insecure, a feeling I despised. So I stayed away, only texting him occasionally throughout the week. I needed a break, my life had been invaded by Cullen's.
And since I ignored the two first realizations I worked on fixing the last one. So I basically never left my shop from Monday to Friday. It was not the first time I lived at my shop, but before the reason was inspiration- not isolation.
It was a calm week with mostly wedding cake consultations, summer was approaching and so was the hectic wedding season. Berry, chocolate, fruit, mint, citrus, fudge and flowers- in every combination imaginable. Friday had been a particularly rough couple wanted flower petals in their cake. It was a bridezilla-warning on that one. But as a true professional I gently steered them off track and suggested an alternative solutions. Like having candied petals on the cake instead. I said a kind goodbye with an appointment for a tasting before going into my walk-in freezer and screaming my frustration off. Like I said: professional.
I got raised eyebrows from Alice when I got out, but Angela just shrugged and continued on working. She was busy as well. Since Alice wanted to branch out a bit, we had started training a replacement- Tia. She was a bubbly, no-bullshit kind of person. The one disadvantage she had was the nonexistent pastry experience, which is why she worked with Angela. She learned all of the basics and got a feel of the place.
At 6 pm the girls were ready to go home and I was preparing for lock-up. I loaded up the van and had just pulled out of my parking spot when my phone rang and not being able to see the caller ID I answered.
"Are you avoiding me?" Edward. He sounded forlorn and pissed off at the same time. A feeling of guilt consumed me.
"No, not at all... Yes. I think." I fumbled. I truly hadn't thought about it that way. I had always been a loner, a person that liked privacy and time alone. I assumed that people were the same.
"You have? Why?" I could feel the hurt radiating from Edward. Then the mood switched. "It doesn't matter. If you don't want to see me then I won't force you. Bye." Anger. I got desperate.
"NO! Edward wait!" The thought of him being mad at me made me feel queasy.
"What?!" He snapped.
"Are you busy tonight? I need to see you for this." It was something better explained face to face. And I wanted to be able to touch him. Actually talking to him made me miss him like no other.
"Yes, I am." He replied a touch softer. Slightly mollified I said:
"Oh, I should have known, sorry. How about Sunday?" I would have said tomorrow but I was going to Rose and trust me, that was a whole day event.
"Sunday works." He said after letting out a deep sigh.
"So Sunday breakfast at my place?" I said sounding hopeful.
"That sounds great, I'll be there." Another sigh, but this time it was a relived and happy one.
"I'll see you then." A long pause followed my final words where I just reveled in the connection. But after three or so minutes it begun to feel slightly ridiculous.
"Should we hang up?" I asked hesitantly. I pulled up and parked in my garage.
"Yeah, I just... I really missed not seeing you this week Bella and I'm not used to the feeling." He said shyly. My heart soared. I leaned my head back on the cool leather seat.
"I know the feeling. I missed you like crazy." I responded.
"Bella, I..." I heard a door opening and a dark voice yelling "Edward get your bony ass over here!" It could only be one person.
"Emmett." Me and Edward said at the same time.
"I have to hang up Bella, but I'll call and see you."
"Absolutely, I'll se you Sunday, bye."
"Goodbye my Beauty." He hanged up. I got a fuzzy feeling. My Beauty?
I paced the length of my office. Did some work. Helped Emmett killing a snitch. Paced some more. Worried.
Shit, shit, shit - shit.
What is Bella doing with me?
She said that she wasn't mad, but fuck, I would be mad as hell if she did something like what I did on Sunday and didn't explain it. But she seemed sincere and since there was a chance of anger I kept my distance. A life with Alice as a sister and Esme for mom taught me that much. If a women is angry- Retreat, regroup and let her control the pace.
I immersed myself in work, looking into details I usually delegate onto others. Mindless work. My mind started going back to Bella. Our day in the shop. The kiss, fuck the kisses. The way she looked with her hair messed up by my hands and her lips, swollen by my lips. I wanted to start worshiping her on the spot. My Beauty.
But the stupid ranting I did before that was thoroughly embarrassing. But she seemed so unaware of the affect she had on me.
When she leaned back against me in the bakery, moulding herself to me was one of the rare moments in my life when I felt calm, relaxed. At peace. She did it to me.
I got shit constantly through the week for not focusing and as the week progressed- the more shit I got. I was restless but couldn't work. I read but couldn't concentrate, I ended up just skimming the words. Only one thing was constant.
The way she bites her bottom lip.
"A new shipment of guns are arriving at exactly..."
The electricity between us. Serious, funny and deadly sexual.
"Alongside the weapons are rare silks and fabrics scheduled to..."
Her hips has a special sway that make her ass look out of this world.
"We suspect a elephant in a pink tutu is plotting to avenge the..."
That chocolate cake. Damn.
Thunk.
"Edward! For fucks sake! What's gotten into you?" Jasper had slammed a big wad of documents on my oak desk. Scaring the absolute shit out of me and making me actually leave my chair for a few quick seconds- not that I would never admit it.
"What Jasper?!"
"Have you been listening to anything I said for the last half hour?" Shit. We have a weekly briefing to ensure that we are always un top off things. And I had just zoned out during it.
"YES! Of course I have!" I tried to save the situation.
"Suuuuure you have. What's happening tomorrow Eddieboy?" Jasper leaned back in his chair with a smirk.
"Tomorrow? It's the shipment of silks and fabrics. And don't call me that." I said, bluffing confidence but not irritation. Jasper only raised one eyebrow.
"That's next month."
"I... I... I" I couldn't for the death of me think up a response.
"So what are you exactly thinking about? Because whatever it is, it's messing with your brainwaves. And not in a good way."
"Can your brainwaves be messed with in a good way?" I might be stalling.
"Edward." Jasper looked serious, I couldn't put off the answer any longer. But I didn't know the answer either. I needed to talk to Bella first. I switched to Boss-mode.
"Jasper. I do not answer to you. You answer to me. I'll snap out of it, but do not expect a heart to heart." Jasper cowered a bit.
"Yes Boss."
That was the way my whole week went, Bella sporadically texted me which only made me miss her even more. I got more and more irritated. Why was she still avoiding me!? Did I not mean anything to her? Was this some kind of game? Fuck waiting.
After pacing the floor of my office for the entire Friday afternoon I called.
As soon as I heard the line pick up I snapped. This girl has put me through a week of impatience, memories I cannot control and constant longing.
"Are you avoiding me?" I was not small talking. I needed answers. And the insecure response I got from her didn't help. When she confirmed the fact that she did, indeed, avoid me, I felt empty. Like someone had hollowed me out and left me. I will not allow anyone to make me feel like this, not even my Beauty. I needed her to stay away. And I told her so.
Then she told me that she wanted to see me and my resolve to stay away melted. She wanted, no needed to see me. She missed me. I kicked myself for being unavailable tomorrow and I couldn't wait for Sunday. Our long silence got interrupted by an opening door. Emmett stood in the doorway gesticulating for me to follow him, when I shook my head in a no he yelled.
"Edward get your bony ass over here!"
"Emmett." Me and Bella said at the same time. Huh, she must have heard him via the phone. Since Emmett is still wildly waving his hands around I guess that it's really important.
"I have to hang up Bella, but I'll call and see you." At my words Emmett stops waving and zeroes in on me with a weird expression and mimes. "Bella?" I just stared back at him and did not focus on my parting words to Bella.
"Goodbye my Beauty." I hang up and then realize my mistake. My eyes lock with the surprised ones of Emmett.
"Beauty?" Questioning.
"Uhm, yes."
"Are you dating Sugar?" He moves forward, away from the door which he then closes.
"I think so." Do not aggravate the giant. Do not.
"You think so?" His right eye twitches.
"Yes I think so, we haven't talked about it. So leave it." He looks like he's frustrated, but then, so am I. I sigh.
"Was it urgent Emmett? Or did you just find it fun to disturb my phone call?" I dragged my hand through my hair.
"Ooh, was it a important call?" Emmett leered at me while he wiggled his eyebrows, showing me exactly what he meant by important. "Also, it's time to leave."
"Fuck off Emmett." I said as I left him behind in my office. I needed air.
Soooooome more Edward my lovlies!