Author Note: Thank you for the great response to this story so far!
Pretty much everyone is in agreement that Bella should just be herself and ignore Alice. And some still wish Bella would say NO to Edward once in a while.
Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.
Chapter 17 – Downtown
It's an hour before Edward and I are to leave for Seattle, and I'm convinced that I've forgotten to pack something important — like deodorant or my toothbrush or something. I dig through my toiletries bag one more time and everything seems to be there. I need to relax.
In the end, I did end up buying new pajamas for the trip, with shorts and a sleeveless top. They're soft and comfortable and not too revealing, yet better than wearing a potato sack.
By the time Edward knocks on the door, I've got my suitcase sitting in the foyer, ready to go.
"Hey," I greet him as I swing the door open. "Let me just grab a jacket."
"This is your only bag?" he asks, pulling up the handle.
"Yeah." I shrug my arms into my coat.
"I'm impressed," he laughs. "Bree would've packed a bag at least twice that size for a three-night trip."
"I didn't pack any nice clothes for going out," I explain as I lock up the door. "Should I have?" I ask, suddenly worried that I should've packed a couple of outfits per day.
"We'll have Masen with us, so I doubt we'll go to any fancy restaurants," he shrugs. "I'm sure you're fine. Besides, it's not like there aren't any stores in Seattle if you need something."
I get settled in the passenger seat while Edward places my suitcase in the back of his SUV alongside his stuff. Once I've buckled my seatbelt, I turn around to wave at Masen, who's already settled in his car seat.
"I've brought his stroller," Edward explains once he gets in, "so he'll be easier for you to watch. If I don't put him in the shopping cart seat at the Thriftway, he wanders off whenever he sees something he likes."
As we make the long drive to Seattle, Edward asks me about my time there back in college. It's been less than three years since I graduated, but it seems so much longer sometimes. While I wish that Seattle was a bit closer, allowing for more frequent visits, I'm definitely glad that I came back to Forks after graduation.
It's around 6pm when we pull up to our downtown hotel. I try to stay in the background — keeping the full-of-energy Masen from running off — while Edward checks in, but I can't help overhearing that our room is $240 per night for the two nights we're staying here. I am really glad that Edward is OK with sharing a room with me.
After dropping our bags off in our room and taking care of Masen's diaper, the three of us head back downstairs to ask the concierge for dinner recommendations nearby where we can bring a toddler. We settle on a wood-fired pizza place only two blocks away.
It's a Monday evening, so there are quite a number of people who likely work downtown out on the street as we make our way to the restaurant. Edward is carrying Masen, and I notice several women stare as they pass us by. He really is quite the sight, holding his adorable son. Now that I know Edward better, I think of him more as just "Edward" rather than the hot guy next door, but I still have eyes, and I still think he's a gorgeous male specimen. He may not be mine, but I feel a bit of pride walking beside him.
I think we're both a little bit shocked to see that the pizza restaurant has communal seating in the main dining room. The place is packed but the hostess manages to find us three seats at one long table, pulling out one of the chairs to replace it with a high chair for Masen next to Edward.
The concierge back at the hotel raved about the desserts here, so we decide to split one large pizza and then try a dessert or two later.
"Your son is so cute," the woman next to me says, leaning in, after our server has taken our orders. "How old is he? What's his name?"
I'm like a deer in headlights for a moment, realizing she probably thinks I am Masen's mother. How do I respond to that? Do I respond?
"He's about 15-and-a-half months," Edward answers. "His name is Masen."
"Hi cutie," she smiles, waving at the little boy. "Are you guys from Seattle?"
"No, we're just visiting for two nights," I reply, "though I went to college here."
"I'm an author and I've just released my second book," Edward explains. "I'll be doing a book signing tomorrow at the Barnes & Noble in Pacific Place from 10 to 12:30."
"How cool!" she gushes. "I work just down the street; I'll try to take my lunch break tomorrow early enough to stop by."
Our server drops off a plate of dessert for the woman and her male companion, and I can't help but drool. "Is that cannoli?"
"Yes," she smiles. "I love all of their desserts, but the cannoli is my favorite. Just like my Italian grandmother used to make."
Thanks to the 600-degree wood-fired oven, our server soon returns with the sausage pizza that Edward and I are sharing. When Masen reaches for the hot pan, his dad gently moves his hand away and serves one piece onto a plate, then begins cutting it into small enough pieces for Masen to eat with his hands.
"I tried to get him fries from Pacific Pizza once, but he would only eat some of my pizza," Edward laughs.
The pizza is delicious and in no time, we've devoured most of it. We wave to the woman we'd been chatting with when she gets up to leave. She promises to try and stop by the book signing tomorrow.
After finishing our desserts, we make our way back to the hotel, letting Masen walk between us, holding each of our hands so that he doesn't escape and run out into traffic. I think again about how much it must appear to others that he's our child, but Edward doesn't seem to mind. Or maybe even notice.
Back at the hotel, I relax on one of the beds while Edward gives Masen his bath. After he's put his son to bed in the crib, he flops onto his own bed with a long sigh.
"Tired?" I chuckle.
"Yeah… driving for so long always makes me exhausted."
"What time do you need to be there tomorrow?"
"Probably about 9:30. There's no free breakfast at the hotel, but I was told that there's a Barnes & Noble Café where you can get pastries or sandwiches. We could probably have lunch there too after the morning signing, then we'll need to head to Bellevue for the second one."
"Sounds good," I nod. I didn't expect a nice hotel like this to offer a free breakfast. "Do you want to find a movie to watch or just go to bed early?"
"How about a movie?" he suggests, and so I get up to grab the remote control and the channel guide. I start to sit back on my own bed when Edward motions me over as he sits up.
"You can watch from over here with me. It's a better angle for the TV," he explains.
I try not to look too happy about the invitation as I plump up two of the pillows, making myself comfortable. While it's true that the TV is angled more for the one bed, I can't help wishing that he just wants a little bit of human companionship.
Strangely, it's not uncomfortable lying there next to Edward, both of us fully clothed. After the movie, he sits up, stretching, then stands. "I'm gonna get ready for bed. Big day tomorrow!" he smiles.
While Edward is in the bathroom, I sort through my suitcase for my new pajamas and my toiletries bag, setting those on top of my bed. I peek in the crib at Masen, who's sleeping soundly. I'm looking forward to spending the day with him tomorrow. I'm hoping he'll let me do at least a little bit of shopping in the morning. I've found a large park on Google maps that's just a couple of blocks from Edward's afternoon signing where we can hopefully hang out for a few hours.
When Edward comes out of the bathroom, I have to try really hard not to stare. He's wearing a pair of lounge pants with — I think — the Chicago Bears logo. And nothing else. It's been many months since I've seen the man shirtless, and my memories did not do him justice.
"Should I set the alarm on my phone for eight?" he asks. "Is that enough time for you to get ready?"
I nod as I pick up my things, trying to keep my eyes averted from his bare skin.
Once I'm ready for bed, I smooth out my pajamas, turning from side to side in front of the mirror to make sure I look all right and there's no side boob showing under the arms or anything like that. Satisfied, I take a deep breath, then open the bathroom door.
I look over toward Edward's bed to see him turned on his side, facing away from me. He seems to be fast asleep already.
So much for it mattering what I wear to bed.
When the alarm goes off, Edward allows me to shower first since I'll have to deal with drying my hair. I quickly choose today's outfit before heading into the bathroom.
When I open the door again, I'm almost run over by little Masen, who seems to have completely recharged his batteries overnight.
"Sorry!" Edward exclaims when I'm nearly tripped up. I look up at him, momentarily forgetting why I'd been trying not to do that, and just… gah! His shirtless torso combined with his five o'clock shadow are enough to make a girl weak in the knees.
"Are you all right?" he asks, looking at me strangely.
"Uh, yeah, yeah. Um, the bathroom is all yours. I found the hair dryer in one of the dresser drawers last night."
While I dry my hair, Masen climbs up onto Edward's bed and begins jumping up and down. I smile and laugh, wondering if I should just let him do it or stop him before he falls off and bangs his head. I settle for making sure he's far away from the nightstand.
Once Edward has showered and dressed — and shaved — he puts together a diaper bag of everything Masen will need for the day, including a change of clothes, just in case. We get Masen settled in his stroller then head for the elevator.
Having spent a lot of time in downtown Seattle, I know the way to Pacific Place, so Edward just follows my lead as he pushes the stroller. Finding the café, we get ourselves coffee and pastries for breakfast, plus milk for Masen.
When we walk into the bookstore after we've eaten, I can see that everything is already set up for the signing, with ropes framing an area for people to line up. I see a whole table full of Edward's books on sale, for those who don't already own a copy. I'd buy one of my own, but he gave me an advance copy just before the release.
"There you are!" a petite blonde woman calls, rushing up to Edward. "I was getting worried," she says, touching his arm lightly.
"We still have 10 minutes, right?" he asks.
"Yes, you're fine. I'm just used to being more in control with our authors — picking them up at their hotels and bringing them to the venues. Are you sure you don't want to ride with me later?"
"I'm sure," he says firmly. "Masen's car seat is already in my car, so it makes the most sense."
"Your son is here?" she asks in confusion, looking around. When her eyes fall on me, I wave, giving her a small smile.
"Jane, this is Bella. She'll be watching Masen while I'm working. Bella, this is Jane Volturi, who works for my publishers."
"It's nice to meet you," I nod politely, but Jane gives me a rather scathing look. I think perhaps she was looking forward to spending a few days alone with Edward.
"We should get you ready, Edward," Jane directs. "Oh, and stop by the bathroom first. You don't want to keep your fans waiting if you drank too much coffee this morning."
I chuckle at Jane telling a grown man to go pee, then smile as Edward bends down to kiss his son's head. "You be good for Bella, all right?" Standing, he looks over at me. "Meet you back at the café just after 12:30?"
"Sounds good," I nod. "I hope you get a great turnout! Masen and I will be fine."
Pacific Place is an upscale mall and unfortunately, most of the stores are out of my price range. Still, I can browse as long as Masen is occupied with a handful of toys.
I end up buying a matching bra and panty set from Victoria's Secret — hopefully for some day in the future — and a few items from The Body Shop. In no time at all, it's time to meet Edward.
After changing Masen's diaper in a nearby bathroom, I just leave him out of his stroller and carry him over to the café. He's a little flirt, waving at anyone who walks by.
"If I put you down, will you stay close by?" I ask Masen, as if he understands me. He just grins, so I tentatively set his feet on the floor. To keep him occupied, I lean over and play patty-cake with him.
"Your son is really cute," a male voice says. I look up, instinctively smiling at the man. With graying hair at his temples, he looks to be about 40 — probably a father himself. Once again, I'm unsure how to reply though, since Masen isn't my son.
"Hey!" Edward calls, walking over toward us. He picks up Masen, then glances at the man who's still standing by us with a look that seems almost… possessive. Weird. Maybe he just doesn't like a stranger that close to Masen.
"Have a good afternoon," the man says, giving me a slight wave as he walks away.
"How did it go?" I ask Edward excitedly.
"Really well," he smiles, tickling Masen's belly.
"Did the lady from last night show up?" I ask curiously.
"She did," he nods. "Made it with about 20 minutes to spare. Do you think we can just leave the stroller here while we order?"
"It should be fine," I agree. Just in case, I grab the bag with my purchases out of the pouch on the back of the stroller. I've put the VS bag inside the other one so Edward doesn't spot it.
"Oh, by the way, Jane is just finishing up, but she'll probably be joining us in a few minutes." I try not to show my feelings about that on my face.
Once we've gotten our lunch, Edward grabs a booster seat for Masen, placing it on the chair beside him — forcing me to sit next to Jane when she arrives.
"I see you bought a few things," he says, nodding toward my bag.
"Yeah, I found some things," I reply. "Most of this mall is outside my price range, but it's fun to at least look at the $800 purses at Coach."
"They charge that much for a purse?" Edward asks, eyes wide.
"Clearly you never went shopping with Bree," I grin.
"Not if I could help it," he agrees, just as Jane saunters over.
A/N: There's part 1 of the tour! Bella's been mistaken for Masen's mom a few times and she's got a new potential nemesis in Jane! Oh, and after all that worry about her pajamas, Edward fell asleep and didn't even see them.
Next update on Thursday with part 2 of the book signing tour!