Chapter Seven

"How did surfing go?" Bella asked Edward as they headed down the street from the tattoo parlor with the group. She'd been amazing as Leah did her tattoo; she probably didn't even need to hold his hand, but she did anyway. Thank God, both of the oversized, muscled artists had appointments. He wouldn't have been able to handle one of them hovering over her nearly naked body.

He wasn't sure how he managed not to embarrass himself when Bella pulled off her dress earlier, the red bikini top and shorts she wore beneath in full view. It hardly helped when she had to straddle the chair so Leah, Seth's sister, could work on her shoulder.

"It wasn't that bad, and Alec was patient, but at the same time, pushy." Edward shrugged, wincing when the skin around his tattoo stretched a bit. "We bet that by the end of the lesson, I'd be able to stay standing on the board for more than minute. I didn't."

"But you have a custom drawing ready," she said, looking confused. His hand lifted to place a stray flyway curl behind her ear. She smiled at him, the tension she had the day before almost gone, or at the very least, not on the surface anymore. It was still there and he had to remember that.

"I've wanted one for a while, but I had to wait until I was eighteen." Edward had told her about his brother when Seth worked on the date of Riley's death. It wasn't something he kept hidden, and it would've likely be disclosed if they continued to hangout anyway. "There's nothing wrong with letting them think I never wanted a tattoo." She giggled and bumped his shoulder. "How are you doing okay? Is it hurting a lot?"

She managed not to shed a tear while Leah worked on her. He would never admit he almost had when Seth started the shading on his tattoo. That shit hurt. Bella had nearly passed out when Leah wiped away blood the first time, but he squeezed her hand and she got through it.

He didn't like needles. She hated the sight and smell of blood. What a pair they made.

"I'm good," she whispered. They had stayed behind the group that had once again grown. They met up with a couple of girls, one that Angela knew from back home. Bella seemed to know them too, but didn't appear glad to see them. "You can go with them if you're, um, you know, into one of them."

He wasn't interested in any of them, but didn't she know that? They looked like all the other girls they'd seen today. Scantily clad in an area full of kids, all giggles and smile, blonde hair blowing, wearing makeup as if they were heading to the prom. Not like Bella, at all. She looked fresh faced, and at most, had a little something to darken her lashes. Her lips didn't need a thing, already a nice color of pink.

"Did one of them do something to you?" From her stiff posture and something in her eyes, he could tell someone had hurt her. Was one of the girls a part of it?

"One of them is my ex's sister." As if the girl had heard her, she sent Bella a look that would melt steel, but offered him a smile. Instead of returning it, he looked at Bella. That first night on the beach, she had said that rumors and gossip were the base of evil in small towns. The cold shoulder from former classmates and that probably explained why it was only her and Angela, too.

Edward sensed there was more to the story, but didn't push. "We can go on our own for a bit."

She hesitated for a few seconds, catching Angela's attention. "Mind if Edward and I go for a drive?" Bless her friend, because she seemed to realize that Bella was uncomfortable. Angela handed her the keys and kissed her cheek, indicating that she'd call when everyone was ready to head back to the house. Edward tossed Alec the keys to the van and asked him to keep an eye on Angela.

Half an hour later, out on the open highway, Edward had to ask Bella something. "You two are staying alone at that house, aren't you?"

Bella stiffened in her seat, eventually relaxing. "Yeah, we are. I'm sorry I lied, but we need to be careful. My aunt and uncle live nearby, though."

"I don't blame you for lying. It was smart, and I won't tell anyone."

"I know you won't. It's just, my dad is a cop, so I was raised to be cautious and always be aware of danger." She chuckled in a way that wasn't funny, like she hadn't always been aware.

Edward offered her a smile to help calm her down. "I cry when I get tattoos, you're in no danger with me."

Bella shook her head, laughing a little. It was a hundred times better than the last one. "I have a feeling you're the most dangerous."

She tried hard to sound like she was teasing him, but he heard the worry in her voice. He understood it, too. He'd only known her for one day, and already he wanted to spend as much of the trip in her presence as he could.

That was scary shit.

They hadn't discussed what their plans were after the end of the trip, and maybe it was a good thing. If he knew that she was going to some school hundreds of miles away from his, he wouldn't pursue her knowing he'd have to give her up.

The wind blew her hair everywhere, enough that she had to pull it up, having him hold the steering wheel so she could. She looked incredible in the afternoon sun. If it only affected him, the decision would be easy. It didn't matter how much it would hurt later. He still wanted her.

.

.

.

Bella and Edward weren't ready to go back to the house, deciding instead to head to area known for some great hiking trails. They playfully mocked the tourists with selfie sticks and fanny packs. When the wind picked up, he held her hand and eventually tucked her against his side. At some point, a nice woman asked if they'd like a picture. Cautious as always, Bella agreed after a moment of hesitation and handed the woman her camera. He wrapped his arms around her, very pleased when she smiled for the picture.

"You two are too cute." The woman handed back Bella's camera and Edward couldn't help but take a picture of the LCD screen with his phone. He wanted a copy and he wasn't the most patient person.

"Come on," Bella said a few minutes later, walking a little too close to the cliff's edge to peek over it. He tugged her back against his chest, his heart pounding hard. "Is someone afraid of heights?" Edward glared at her and shook his head, mimicking her position earlier. Her eyes widened as her fingers tightened around his, pulling him back. "I see what you mean. Jeez." Edward laughed and kissed her nose.

She led him away from the cliff side, though it was a beautiful area, and decided to climb a little higher. Twenty minutes later, Edward was groaning due to the steep incline.

"For someone so small, you sure have a lot of strength," Edward said, sitting down on the warm rock and panting twenty minutes later. Bella laughed and tossed him one of the bottles they bought at a store before heading to an area. Edward's friends had called and said they were back at their house, and that Angela and the other girls had joined them. They made plans to barbeque in a couple of hours.

"My parents like to hike whenever we can," she said, sitting down beside him. Her shoulder bumped against his, her skin warm from sun. She pulled up her knees and let down her hair, giggling when the wind immediately played with it.

"I love when you do that," Edward said.

"Do what? Giggle?" She scrunched up her nose and rolled her eyes. "It's too high pitched, but I can't help it."

"It's cute."

She smiled, her eyes closed with her head tilted up to the sun. "You're cute."

Edward leaned back, propped himself on his elbows. "Yeah? I was wondering if you preferred blonds or something." She laughed. "You made me question my hotness. That's so mean."

"Like you don't know already," she said, flicking his arm. "Leah couldn't take her eyes off you and she's got a man. You turned heads when we were in town and everywhere we went today."

He shrugged. "I thought they were looking at you. Not going to lie, some of those girls that stared at you put a few ideas in my head."

"Ugh, you are such a guy," she said, pushing him hard enough for him to fall to his side. Once he recovered, he pounced, tickling her sides, her cute laughter ringing out.

"Edward," she cried, almost in tears from laughing so much. "No kisses for you." That put the tickling to a grinding halt. "I knew that would work."

He hovered over her, propped up on one arm and their legs practically weaved together. "Do you want to kiss me?"

She answered by lifting her hand to run her fingers through his hair. His gaze drifted to her lips, right before she pulled him close. They were softer than he imagined, both perfectly formed and full. Any chapstick she'd had on was gone, but the residual flavor wasn't, cherry and vanilla. He was instantly addicted. The taste of her mouth was sharper from the cinnamon mint they shared earlier. He fucking loved it. The glide of her tongue against his was easy, gentle, and fucking perfect for a first kiss. Well aware that someone could stumble onto them, he slowed down to pull away, but went back for one last kiss.

Her thigh shifted a little higher, making him groan. She sighed as they lay back, both staring at the cloudless sky. They remained that way for another twenty minutes, her hand in his, both humming the song he played for her the night before.

"Hush now don't you cry…"