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Word Prompt: Physical

As usual, Charlie falls asleep on the way home only to wake up the second the car stops. The quiet conversation Edward and I have been having is interrupted by her renewed pep and vigor as she starts chatting about the party...and her own, which isn't for a few months.

My mind is still on the party, too, but for different reasons. As much as I try to listen to Charlie, all I can think about is Edward's spur of the moment declaration. I didn't know he felt quite that way, and had Lauren not pushed her perfect tits in his face, maybe I'd still be clueless.

So, uh, thanks Lauren.

We haven't talked about it, actually. Lauren was mortified, obviously, and slithered away, and then Angela announced that it was time to sing happy birthday. We had cake, watched Nessa open her presents, and eventually left, pulling a very reluctant Charlie along with us.

Edward follows me inside, plopping down on the couch while I shove Charlie into her second shower of the day. She doesn't protest this time, thankfully. Instead of letting her soak and play, I scrub her down and then dry her off.

"You hungry at all?" I ask, spraying leave-in conditioner into her hair so I can work a comb through.

"Nope."

"All that cake, huh."

"I had two pieces. And a hot dog. And a strawberry."

"So you're full."

She nods dramatically, climbing onto her step stool so she can see her reflection while I brush her hair. Edward wanders in, something he normally doesn't do.

He smiles at Charlie in the mirror, and she smiles back, all teeth. "My mom has to brush my hair."

"Moms have to do that sometimes," he says.

"You should comb your hair," she says, pointing.

I snort, eyeing him. His hair's a little messier than usual today, but of course I just find that sexy. He gives me a crooked little grin. "Must've been all that playing."

"You weren't playing!" she screeches.

"Charlie, shush," I laugh, running my fingers through her hair. It's knot free now, so I give her a little smack on the butt to let her know we're done.

She darts off, and we go back to the living room - our zone.

"You doing okay?" I ask, nodding toward Edward's knee.

"Yeah, it's okay. A little sore...my doctor really has me working it, but he seems to think I'll be back to normal. Said he wouldn't have taken me on like this if he thought the damage was irreparable."

"I'm glad." Nodding, I take a deep breath. "I know how badly you miss it."

"It's been my life for so long, you know?"

"I do."

"When it first happened...when I first got hurt...I was obsessed with getting better. Like, who am I if I'm not playing? It's defined me for so long."

I nod again, understanding. In some ways, that's what it's been like with Charlie. So much of my existence revolves around who I am in relation to her. It's been a challenge to maintain a sense of autonomy. But balance is important, something Rose and Emmett remind me of all the time.

I realize that Edward's fallen quiet. He stares at his hands, seemingly lost in thought. He's probably thinking about soccer, but I'm thinking about us. What he said today...that was gutsy. I mean, I always think of him having the upper hand, because of how he looks and who he is - how I feel about him. But what if he thinks I have the upper hand? What if he's at my mercy the way I'm at his?

"What...are your intentions?" I ask, before I can chicken out. "With me, I mean? How do I fit into your...football plans?"

His eyes meet mine. "How do I fit into yours?"

I smile, nodding. "That's fair, I guess."

He shrugs, settling back into the couch, arm along the back like he always does.

"You've probably realized, by this point, that I don't do casual. I can't. But I like you a lot. And Charlie likes you, which matters to me." Now I'm the one staring at my hands. "I want this."

"I want this, too."

"I know," I whisper, laughing, thinking of Lauren's stunned expression.

"I can play football anywhere, Bella. And you...can do what you do, anywhere, I think."

My eyes fly back to his. Moving? Staying? These are big plans, but...

"Right?"

I nod slowly.

"I can be flexible," he adds.

"I want to be flexible, too. It's just hard, with Charlie. I can't, you know, travel constantly with her." My cheeks warm. "If that's even what you're saying."

"It is." He links his hands behind his head, staring forward. "It is what I'm saying."

Charlie bounces into the room, wearing backwards pajamas. "Edward."

"Hey, Chuck."

"Do you like Frozen?"

"Frozen what?"

She frowns. "Frozen with Anna and Kristoff!"

"The movie," I clarify, nudging his foot with mine. "It's her favorite. Well. One of her many favorites."

"Oh." Edward chuckles. "I've never seen that."

"Mom, can we -"

"Nope. Not again." I've only seen it about eleven thousand times.

"Moooom..."

Edward carries Charlie into her room while I follow anxiously along. Seeing them together is both incongruous and strangely natural. I don't even know how I feel about it. Endeared, I guess.

Charlie made it through about half the movie. We shut it off the second she passed out; me because I love it but I am sick of it and him because he can't handle musicals.

"I can't. My mom loves that shit...I'm sure she'd watch this."

"Well. Thanks for trying, at least. Charlie appreciated it, I'm sure."

"It's hard to say no to a face like that."

It's hard to say no to a face like his, too, but I just nod. "I know the feeling."

"So, she's out early tonight," he says.

"Do you want a beer? I picked up a case of that IPA you like."

"Yeah, sounds good."

Jumping up, I go to the fridge and retrieve a couple of bottles. I'm opening them when he joins me, sidling up alongside the counter. I love the way he touches me, like it's automatic, involuntary, his fingertips tickling briefly along the top of my jeans before disappearing.

"I'd like to take you out," he says after a moment, picking up his bottle.

"Okay. I'll get Rose to watch Charlie," I say, a little too eagerly I'm sure. I'm ready to move things along, and alone time with Edward sounds really good right now - whether we get physical or not.

Although I really, really want to get physical.

"Dinner sound good?"

"Yeah. You decide."

"You mean lead." He takes a swig of beer, and I can see the amusement in his eyes.

I take a huge sip of my own. "You're catching on."

He puts his beer bottle down, puts mine aside, lifts me on to the counter and kisses me.

xoxoxo