Glossary:

Berthing - These compartments contain bunks for the crew's enlisted sailors. Sailors slept three high, on top of canvas bunk bottoms and mattresses.

Rule #3: We can date other people

It's been two months since Edward and I were outed, or since we outed ourselves, as it were. A lot has happened in the last 60 days, and I'm still catching my breath. I got a promotion at work, which is fantastic. I'm very excited, but it means that my sweet work-from-home situation doesn't play out anymore, so I'm back in the office four days a week, with one day at home.

I've been spoiled for the past three years being able to work from the comfort of my own home, only going into the office for important meetings or presentations. The promotion came with a small but pretty sweet office and a large enough raise that enables me to start socking more away for my future.

Rose and Emmett moved back to town a few weeks ago, and she and I have been spending as much time together as we can to make up for lost time. It's been really nice getting to know her again and to see her in a different light than the party girl I knew in college or even the one I saw at the beginning of the summer.

Embry officially moved in. And getting used to having him around is a study in patience. I like Embry; I do. He's nice and fun to be around … to a certain point. He can be hyper-critical, and he talks too much. He likes to have the last word and tends to over exaggerate things or one up everyone. He also nickels and dimes everyone in the house, including Jake, and it makes me rage-y.

We've all agreed that big purchases should all be contributed to by us equally. But if I notice we're low on toilet paper, and I buy an eighteen pack at Costco for the house; I don't go around collecting exact change from everyone. Embry does. He and I are currently at odds because I found him using my laundry pods, and I asked him to fork over the estimated ninety-two cents for it, and he refused.

The tub now resides in my room.

Edward is having his own issues with Embry and, subsequently, Jake. Edward and Jake have lived together for so long that these new infractions are causing a lot of problems between them. I try to mediate where I can, but with my new schedule, I'm not home often enough to witness a lot of it. It's been rough for all of us.

I'm wrapping up my day when I get a text from Edward asking if I want to go to dinner with him and Jasper.

Sure, should I meet you guys somewhere or?

I'm trying to nail it down with Jasper, but we can all leave together. What time are you leaving?

I'm just packing up. I'll be home in an hour.

See you later.

I glance at my watch and realize that Edward and Jasper have probably been home for at least an hour, and I wonder if Embry is home yet. I duck out of the office and hope for the best with afternoon traffic to save my friends. Jake and I have plans to go to brunch this weekend, just the two of us, so we can discuss what's going on.

As I'm waiting for the elevator to head down to the lobby, one of the accounting managers meets me with a smile. "How's the adjustment to the office going, Bella?" Benjamin is a good-looking guy with high cheekbones, dark eyes, and tanned skin.

"It's been good. I miss being at home, but I live with four guys, so work is a nice break," I tell him, and we laugh as the car dings, announcing its arrival, and we step in.

We make small talk about work things as we ride down the thirty-some odd floors to the lobby, and I say bye to him as I exit, heading for the front doors when Ben calls my name. I turn back around to find him jogging to catch up to me.

"Look, feel free to say no; I won't be offended, but"—he chuckles nervously—"would you like to go out sometime? Coffee?"

Grinning, I pull my phone out of my purse. "Yeah, I'd like that. What's your number?"

We exchange numbers with a promise to set up a time for this weekend. By the time I get home, I'm excited about the prospect of seeing Ben outside of work, and I can't wait to text him later. I walk in and up the stairs to find Jasper and Edward sitting in the living room, looking tense.

"Hey, are you guys okay?" I drop down onto the cushion next to Jasper, and he sighs.

"Edward's annoyed with me. We're both annoyed with Embry. And …"

"And what?" I look between them both, waiting for the answer.

"Jasper has a date tonight," Edward finally says, and I laugh.

"Are you really mad about that? Wait, it's not Maria, is it?"

Jasper laughs, shaking his head. "No, but it is someone you know." He winces a little. "It's Rose's sister, Alice."

"Oh, oh … oh. I didn't realize you two were talking to each other." I set my purse down and lean back. "When did this happen?"

"When we helped Rose and Emmett unload their U-Haul." Jasper's been talking to Alice for at least three weeks, and they're just now going on a date.

"Well, Alice is a good egg. I hope you have fun tonight," I tell him and stand up to walk down to my room. I'm just slipping out of my shoes when there's a soft tap on my door, and I know it's Edward.

"Come in." I sigh. He opens the door but doesn't enter. The times Edward and I have spent together have been infrequent, spent in his room, and haven't lasted very long. "What's up? Did you still want to go to dinner?"

"I was just coming to ask you that." He shrugs. "We haven't really hung out since everyone found out, and I—"

"Do you want to go to dinner? It's okay with me." I grab a shirt out of my closet along with a pair of jeans from my dresser.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." Edward smiles, and I return it. "It's been a while; I've kinda missed you."

"Same here, asshole. Let me get changed, and we can go." I shove him out the door, and he laughs.

"I could just stay in here with you." He waggles his eyebrows, making me laugh. This is familiar, and I've missed it.

"You could—"

I shriek as Edward slams the door behind him and tosses me on the bed. "We've got some lost time to make up for."

**BoU**

A couple hours later, we're sitting in a little Mom and Pop Italian restaurant in our neighborhood, waiting on our food. Edward is catching me up on what's been going on with the ship he's on and the upcoming weekend family cruise they're doing when my phone goes off three times in a row in rapid succession.

My eyes go wide. "I'm so sorry. It's usually on silent." I reach into my purse and pull it out to find three messages from Ben.

Hey, Bella!

It's me.

Ben. (Sorry)

I giggle and send him a quick text to tell him I'm busy with a friend and turn my volume off. Dropping my phone back into my bag, I apologize again. "I'm sorry. You were saying?"

"I'm also studying for the Chief's exam." Edward leans forward on the table in our booth. "Who was that?"

I don't answer, but my phone vibrates loudly in my bag. "A friend from work."

"Do you need to answer that?" He's looking at me as our food is delivered, and I thank our server.

"No, I told him I was busy right now. He can wait." I take a bite of my half of the torpedo sandwich we're splitting while Edward stares at me.

"He?"

"Yeah, Benjamin. He's in accounting. He's nice." I'm covering my mouth, trying not to spew food all over the table. He continues to stare at me, and I sigh. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." He picks up his own sandwich and begins to eat.

"So, tell me about the exam."

We get through dinner without any further outside interruptions, and I finally ask him how he's dealing with Embry. "How's that going?"

"I know you're supposed to talk to Jake alone this weekend, but you should know that Embry's been talking about joining you two," Edward warns me, and I groan. "I don't know what we can do or say; Jake doesn't see it. You know he's in love with him."

"Yeah, I think so too," I tell him as we get to my car. "I'll make sure it's just me and Jake, and if it's not, then Embry will get to hear what I have to say too."

By the time we get home, I'm ready to call it a night. It's been a long week, and we both have to work tomorrow. "Thanks for tonight, Edward. I had fun." I move down the hall to my room while I hear Edward sigh behind me. "What?"

"Do you want to watch a movie or …" He trails off, and I roll my eyes.

"I'm good after earlier, and you and I both have to get up early tomorrow." I walk back to him and pat his cheek. "Raincheck?"

"Sure. Goodnight, Bella."

"'Night."

**BoU**

By the time I'm logging off of my work laptop on Friday, Ben and I have set up a dinner date for Saturday. I'm excited, and he seems like a nice guy. We texted throughout the day; I'd even filled him in on the Embry situation, and he gave me some solid advice. Because of that, I finally just asked him if he was free. When I warn him that I might cancel if things with my roommates go sour that morning, he says he understands and tells me to stay strong and let him know.

I heard Jasper come in a while ago, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of Edward. I make my way out of the back den and into the kitchen to find Jasper poking in the cabinets. "How was your day?"

"Good; how about you? Are you done?" He pulls out a bag of granola that he knows is mine and looks at me pleadingly.

"Go ahead, and yes, I'm done." I climb up on the island and stare at him.

He shoves a handful of granola into his mouth before offering me the bag. "Are you still talking to Jake tomorrow?"

"Yeah, why? Is Embry trying to whisk him out of town before we can go to brunch?" I snort and almost choke on an almond.

"No, but I was thinking that maybe I should go with you, especially if Embry forces himself into your time." Jasper zips up the bag and replaces it in the cabinet. "I think you might need back up."

"Does he still think he's coming with us?" I hop down and pull my phone out of my pocket to text Jake.

"Bella, they're both planning it. I had lunch with Jake." Jasper gives me an apologetic look.

"I can't catch a break with this guy! It was so much easier before Embry moved in." I look up exasperatedly. "Was it easier before Embry moved in?"

"Maybe. I didn't officially live here though, so I don't know." He shrugs. "I like him, but this is too much. He's overbearing."

"No, I'm with you. Ugh, okay, why don't you and Edward just plan to come tomorrow?"

"Edward won't be here in the morning. Didn't he text you?" Jasper moves to the fridge just as his phone vibrates on the counter. "Someone in his division got sick, so he had to take his duty for tonight." He answers his phone and mouths "Alice" to me and walks out to the back yard.

Later on, Jasper and I order a pizza and discuss our plan for talking to Jake at brunch, and I go to bed early. Come Saturday, as he and I are waiting in front of our go-to spot, we see Embry's car pull into the parking lot, and I start to fume.

"Keep calm, Bella." Jasper, always the voice of reason, places a hand on my shoulder, and I nod.

Brunch is a tedious affair, and by the time we have our food, I broach the fact that I had hoped Jake and I would be alone, so we could talk.

"Embry wanted to come, and what my baby wants, my baby gets," Jake says, giving him an air kiss, and it takes everything in me not to retch.

"Yeah, that's very obvious." My snide remark earns a glare from Embry while Jake sets down his fork and focuses on me.

"What's wrong?"

With Jasper's help, I lay out all the issues we're having that Jake seems oblivious to. As I'm starting to wind down, I'm feeling better just getting it off my chest, but Jake seems confused.

"Why am I just hearing about this?"

"Because you spend every free minute with him! I asked you to have brunch with me, just the two of us, and you brought him!"

"Well, Bella, you brought Jasper," Embry says coldly. He's been eating this entire time while Jake, Jasper, and I have let our food go cold.

"Jasper offered to come because he heard you had wormed your way in." I sigh. "Jake, if you're happy, I'm happy for you. But not at the expense of all of your roommates, myself included."

Jake is silent for a few minutes before I see him reach over under the table and grab Embry's hand; at least, I hope it's his hand. "Bella, the rental agreement is in my name. I added Embry last week. Since I'm pretty sure I'll be living with him longer than I'll live with you, you know what you need to do if you don't like it."

"Are you kicking me out?"

"No, of course not. But Embry has made me realize that I pay more for everything in the house, and I need to be smarter about my finances." Jake's face is pinched. I've never seen him like this.

"Jake, you have the master bedroom with an en-suite. When was the last time I asked you to pay me back for groceries? When have I ever been late on my rent or balked when we needed to pay more toward something?" I'm so angry that my vision is narrowing.

"Like I said, if you don't like it …"

"Sure, okay. Whatever." I grab my purse, fishing my wallet out. I throw enough cash down on the table to more than cover the entire bill plus tip. "Jasper, you ready to go?"

As we walk out, I hand my keys over to him with a shaky hand, "Can you drive?"

Jasper takes the back roads to avoid the freeway, letting me be silent in the passenger seat. I'm sulking, trying not to cry when he finally breaks the silence. "Are you okay?"

"No, I'm pissed. How are you so calm?" I shift in my seat to look at him.

He shrugs. "I was already thinking about moving out. I hated living in the berthing and roommates are just the same situation; no offense."

"None taken, I guess." I study Jasper's profile as he drives. "Have you spoken to Edward about this?"

Jasper sighs. "No, but I'd bet anything that Edward will just stay. He'll grin and bear it." Jasper chuckles humorlessly. "Edward has his head so far up his own ass …"

We're silent for the remainder of the ride, but I think about what Jasper said. When we get home, Jasper tells me he's going to see Alice, and I head to my room. I text Rose and tell her what's going on, and she's sympathetic. She even offers me their spare room until I find a place if I want to leave sooner rather than later.

I'm looking at available apartments near my work when I hear the front door open. After a few minutes, a tap sounds at my door, but since I figure it's Jake, I don't answer. "Bella? It's me."

Edward's voice sounds tired from the other side of my door, and I sigh. "It's open."

"So, I heard that brunch went super well." He's leaning against the door jamb and smiling like a loon.

"Yeah, super fun." I scoot over and pat the mattress. "How was duty?"

He climbs onto my bed and pulls me under his arm, into his side. "It was fine. Are you okay?"

I don't realize I'm crying until he wipes at my tears. "I'm just frustrated. I never expected things to go like this."

"So, you're gonna move out?"

I sigh. I don't want to have this conversation while I'm upset. But Edward is being nice to me. "I'm already looking at places. I won't stay in a situation that makes me uncomfortable. Jake is, I don't know, blinded by love, I guess." I look up at Edward, who is staring off into space. "You're gonna stay here, aren't you?"

"I might just move back onto the ship," he says absently and tugs me closer. The warmth of his body is comforting, and after the small crying spell and being annoyed, I'm tired.

I wake a few hours later, sprawled across Edward's chest with his arms wrapped around me. I sit up gingerly and grope around for my phone, and when I see the time, I panic. I only have about forty minutes to get ready for my date and meet Ben. He's texted me and having not gotten a response, he's taken that as a go.

I text him quickly and tell him we're still on but that I had just accidentally fallen asleep, but I can't wait to see him.

As I'm getting dressed, Edward stirs. "What's going on? Are you going somewhere?"

"Oh, yeah. I have a date." I smile widely and pull up my pants. "I didn't plan on falling asleep, but I really appreciate you coming to check on me. Thank you, Edward." I lean over him and press a kiss to his cheek, but as I stand to move away, he grabs my hand.

"Wait, you have a date?"

"Yeah. Remember, I told you about that guy Ben from my work? The other night?" I pull away and move to the dresser to pick out some jewelry. "We're going to dinner tonight."

"On a date?"

I turn around to see him sitting on the edge of my bed, looking confused. "Yes. I just said that. We agreed we could date."

"Right, the rules." He swipes a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry; we just woke up, and now you're leaving? For a date?"

Now I'm confused. "Yes?"

"The fuck you are." He stands, immediately moving to block my door.

"What are you talking about? Get out of my way, Edward." I take a step toward him, ready to physically move him, but he just glares at me.

"What do you mean you have a date?" With his arms crossed over his chest and the mean mug, he looks like a bouncer in a club.

Sighing, I perch on the edge of my bed. "I'm sorry, what are you upset and/or confused about? You told me you weren't interested in dating anyone. I am, or at least, I'm not opposed to it. He asked me out, and I said yes." I stand up after glancing at my alarm clock. "I don't have time for this, Edward, and I'm not your girlfriend. You've spent the last seven months making that perfectly clear to me."

I watch his face cycle through a series of expressions, all while Edward tries to keep the glare masking his face. After a moment, he shakes his head and steps aside, opening the door. "Have a good time." He walks out and down the hall into his room.

"Thanks," I mumble before grabbing my purse, phone, and keys, and racing downstairs to get out the door.

I'm about ten minutes away from the restaurant when Ben texts me to tell me that he's on his way but got caught right behind an accident. I tell him not to worry and grab a table when I get there.

Just as I'm getting settled and the waiter walks away with my drink order, my phone vibrates again. This time it's Edward.

Edward: I need to talk to you.

Bella: It's going to have to wait. I'm on a date, remember?

Edward: I'll be waiting.