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Rule #2: We aren't dating each other

"Whoa, what's going on?" Jasper comes into the kitchen and immediately puts himself between myself and Jake. Edward is still hovering somewhere on the periphery, but I swear to God, if I get my hands on him, it's over.

"So, are you guys, like, dating?" Jake asks me, completely ignoring Jasper's question.

"No!" Edward and I answer in unison before locking eyes.

"Uh huh, sure." Jake twists away from me in a practiced move and smirks. "I'll just go get ready to leave."

"I am not going anywhere with you, Jacob Black." I throw the damp dish towel in his face and push past him, then Edward, who tries to catch me before I head down the hall.

"You're only being defensive because I'm onto something!" Jake calls out, and I slam the door to my room. Thirty seconds later, Edward comes barging in.

"Do you want to explain what the hell is going on? You were the one who was so adamant about not telling anyone!" He's red in the face, but I can tell that his previous jump to anger has turned to frustration and confusion. I quickly tell him about Jake's pestering, and he agrees that my best friend is an asshole.

"I'm sorry I jumped down your throat." He sighs. "I just—"

"Just what? Didn't trust me to keep my end of our bargain?" Scoffing, I grab some clothes out of my dresser and move to the door. "We checked in last night, but maybe it's time to reevaluate this for real."

I cry in the shower out of frustration and embarrassment. I knew, eventually, our friends would find out, but I didn't want it to be like this. By the time I'm done, dressed, and have dried my hair, I assume that the boys have left. So, I wander out to the living room and am surprised to see them all sitting on the terrible couch.

Silent and now staring at me. "What?"

"Bella, babe, we just want to talk? Would that be all right?" Jasper's voice is calm, soothing. I nod and stand in front of the entertainment center before them.

"What do you want to talk about?" I look at Edward pointedly, and he gives me a small smile.

"Look, I think we should just come clean about what's been going on," he tells me slowly. "It's not a big deal, and it's nothing for anyone to get worked up over."

I agree, "Sure, all right. Jake, Jasper … Edward and I have been sleeping together for about five months or so."

Jake raises his hand. "But you're not dating?"

Edward comes to stand next to me. "No, we're not dating. I'm not looking for a relationship, and I like the friendship Bella and I have forged."

"But, you guys are kind of perfect for each other," Jasper offers up and looks to Jake for confirmation.

Edward and I share a look before I sigh. "If you haven't noticed, Edward is an asshole. He actually called me a distraction."

"He did not!" Jasper's jaw drops before he glares at Edward.

Edward holds up his hands. "Bella's not a real prize either. She's a bitch, and she complains so much!"

I slap his arm. "I do not."

"Are you sure you guys aren't dating?" Jake asks again.

"YES!" Edward and I focus on our friends.

"Look, we came up with some rules, one of them being that we didn't want you guys to know. I'm sorry we kept it from you. I think we just didn't want it to be awkward for you because it seemed really natural for us."

"So, this just happened?" Jasper looks between the two of us.

"Yeah, Jas, it just happened. We're being safe; we're respecting each other—"

"For the most part." I snort.

Edward rolls his eyes. "As I was saying, we respect each other, but we know there's no expectations. I don't have to answer to her, and she doesn't answer to me."

Jasper crosses his arms, leaning into the cushions. "I'm obviously not the expert here, but one of the best parts of being in a relationship, Edward, is answering to someone. Having someone hold you accountable when you're acting like an idiot; someone who can call you out on your bullshit, to call you out when you're not being yourself. The sex is great, but the intimacy is the best part."

Jake nods sagely next to him, and while I totally agree with Jasper, it's not the same for us. "I can't speak for Edward, but I can't wait for the intimacy part … when I meet the right person."

The room goes silent, and I sigh. "Edward and I can have a longer discussion later, but are we good?"

The two Js nod, Edward sighs, and I take a step toward the stairs. "Should we go buy a couch? I'll spring for lunch later."

**BoU**

Several hours, three stores, and a sushi buffet for lunch later, we finally make it home. The new sectional will be delivered on Tuesday, and since I'll be home, I have to supervise. Jasper and Jake make a big production of deciding to go to the movies … without me or Edward.

I go to my room to clean up but mostly to put some distance between me and my bed buddy. By the time I'm getting my laundry together, Edward knocks on my door before peeking his head in. "Can we talk?"

I pick up my basket and nod. "Sure." He follows me to the little laundry closet and leans against the dryer. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What did you want to talk about?" I reach around him to grab my detergent pods and toss one in the washer before closing the lid and setting the cycle.

"Did you want to reevaluate this?" He waves his hand between us, and I sigh and hop up on the washer.

"You have some weird hang up about not wanting a relationship, but this is a relationship, Edward. Not a conventional one, but it is." He comes to stand in between my legs, and I smile. "We're very comfortable with each other. We care about each other, whether we like it or not."

"Maybe we should da—"

I place my hand gently over his mouth. "But you're an asshole, and I don't even want to be called a distraction. So, the ball's in your court. I'm fine with the way things are. We could probably stand to spend a little less time together when we aren't having sex, but otherwise, I'm fine."

He takes a step back to lean against the wall. "Sure, we can keep things the way they are. And you're probably right; we do spend a lot of time together."

"I'm not saying we should just stop hanging out. I'm just saying that we should be careful." I give him a smile, and he returns it, but it barely reaches his eyes.

"Right, sure. Okay, sounds good." He claps his hands together. "I'm gonna go hit the batting cages."

"Okay." I slide down from the washer and head to my room. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, maybe," he says as he ducks into his room. I wait for a few minutes before I head into my own room.

It didn't escape me that we were alone in the house, and he chose to leave. It didn't escape me that he chose to go to the batting cages—the place where he took things one step further. It didn't escape me that until I opened my big mouth, I had Edward Cullen in the palm of my hand or, more accurately, my thighs.

This is a new dynamic in our relationship, and I don't like it one bit.