We spend two hours in the meadow before heading back to Edward's. I'm a little tired but try not to show it as I sit down on his couch and revel in the warmth of his central heating. His jacket helped, but with most of the fat missing from my skin and bones, the cold air went straight through me.
"What time do you need to be home?" he asks, bringing me a cup of coffee and sitting down with me. "You look like you could use a nap."
I shake my head. "Nope, I'm good. And before six, to be safe. Emmett shouldn't be off until seven, but he's surprised me before."
"Then you have time to close your eyes, and then enjoy dinner with me."
I roll my eyes, but a yawn sneaks out before I can lie again and say I'm fine.
"Come here, sweetheart."
He opens his arms, and I fall into them as we stretch out on the couch. I lay my head against his chest, and his heartbeat quickly lulls me to sleep.
I have the most wonderful dream that we do more than sleep, but sadly, it's just that—a dream. He wakes me up around five, asking if I'm okay with teriyaki chicken and fried rice as he leaves me on the couch alone.
"Yeah, but I'm not super hungry. I wish I'd brought some dessert for us."
He smiles, shaking his head. "Just having you with me is enough. But I will be stopping in tomorrow for one of the pumpkin cheesecake things. Emmett said they're delicious."
I grin. "I'll be waiting for you."
While he gets dinner ready, I flip through channels and check my phone. Alice wants to go shopping next weekend, so I text her back saying that I'm up for it. I'm not sure I am though. Shopping with Alice is much more strenuous than a hike through the woods, but I do need some new clothes. I've only lost more weight, and most of my jeans are too loose, so it's probably time to invest in some smaller clothes.
I try to eat my own sweets, but I can barely get through half a cupcake most days. My appetite has just completely left me it seems. I'm dreading my next appointment in a week to see what the scale says.
"To be fair, the rice came from a frozen bag, so don't judge me too harshly," Edward says, bringing the plates over.
I sit up and take mine, inhaling the wonderful scent. "It looks great, but this is way too much for me."
He shrugs. "Finish what you can. How do you feel?"
He asks that a lot, but I shouldn't be surprised. "Good. The nap definitely helped. Did you get any sleep?"
He smiles sheepishly, shaking his head. "I kind of just watched you, which is … probably creepy. But I can't help myself. You're so gorgeous. Also, you kind of mumble in your sleep."
Oh fuck. "What did I say?" Dear God. I had a sex dream about him, so lord only knows what I could have said.
He just grins. "You said more a few times. And you needed something. Honestly, I couldn't make out much of it. Do you usually talk in your sleep?"
"Hell if I know! Oh God, I'm so embarrassed." I can feel myself turning red as I wonder if he's lying.
He laughs softly, leaning in to kiss my lips. "Don't be. It was cute. Any chance you'd tell me your dream?"
I palm my face, shaking my head. "No!"
"It was about me." He grins cockily. "How about I make it a reality?"
Oh fuck, yes.
Thanks to May, Nole, Fran, Brier, and Meg for prereading and Sally for Beta'ing.
