Thanks for reading xx
"Agh, I just don't get it!"
"Let's take it one line at a time." We were on Hamlet. Admittedly, it wasn't quite seventh grade level, but I knew that it was a good foundation for Lizzie to begin understanding the literary devices in Shakespeare's works. It also happened to be one of my favorites, so I didn't mind going deep on it.
Think it no more.
For nature, crescent, does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but, as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will, but you must fear.
"He's telling her that Hamlet waxes his temples?"
I laughed, nudging Lizzie's shoulder. "Not quite. Laertes is telling his sister to think of the future. He's warning her that as Hamlet gets older, he'll inherit new responsibilities. He might have good intentions now, but eventually his duty will ask things of him that may change the way Ophelia can trust him."
"Couldn't he just say it like that?"
I laughed again, marking up the page in front of us and walking Lizzie through each word's subtext. Despite her obvious distaste for the text, she stayed focused and polite, talking through each point and making her own perceptions.
With a satisfied nod, Lizzie stuffed her notes into a folder and turned back to me. "How'd you get so good at this?"
"Lots of practice. Eventually you learn the language, and you don't event trip up with all the Old English. It's actually very soothing to me." She scrunched her nose and I chuckled. "Everyone's got different strengths. I was obsessed with reading as a kid, but I couldn't do math to save my life. Still can't."
"How old are you?"
Rogue question, but I answered kindly. "Twenty-two."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
I choked a garbled laugh out.
"Liz!" Edward hissed. I hadn't even noticed him standing in the doorway. "Not polite," he chided.
"Hey, just being friendly," she shrugged innocently, but I saw the glint in her eye.
"Go upstairs and wash up. Dinner's almost ready." Lizzie waved me goodbye and obeyed her father, skipping out of the room. Edward turned to me, "sorry about that."
"It's okay, she's just curious."
"Nosy is more like it."
I smiled but otherwise didn't respond as I packed away my notebook. As usual, Edward walked me to the door and I tried not to notice the heat of his body behind me. I wondered idly if he was checking out my ass again.
"Any college ragers this weekend?"
I turned in shock, and chuckled shyly when I saw Edward's knowing smile. Yeah, he wasn't like most dads.
"Probably. I'm keeping a low profile though, I'm not really in the social mood this week. Any, err… non-college ragers this weekend?"
He barked out a deep laugh, and I thought how quickly it was becoming my favorite sound. "Probably. I'm a little out of the loop with that stuff though. You know, pre-teen kid and all."
"Yeah, I'd imagine that would put a dent in one's party profile."
"Just a little," he grinned. Without asking, he reached forward and hoisted my bike up, walking it down the porch steps.
"Thanks," I blushed. "See you next week?"
"Next week."
Thursday couldn't come fast enough.
—
"Your round, B."
"I'm going, I'm going," I sighed exaggeratedly, slipping out of the booth we'd occupied in the corner of our local. I squeezed between bodies and leaned over the bar, trying to catch the bartender's attention.
"Low profile, huh?" I jumped, a voice right at my ear. Edward was standing beside me, a picture of cool and casual, green eyes sparkling as he smirked down at me.
"I could say the same to you," I smiled, and yeah, I was aware of how flirty my tone was.
"Ah, see, I never said that."
"Oh, so you are having a rager, then?"
His laugh was warm and made my whole body vibrate hearing it. "My rager days are long gone. My buddy Riley dragged me out, though."
"Yeah, my roommates did the same. God forbid I spend a Friday night at home."
"A damn waste," he nodded. I noticed his eyes flicker down to my mouth for the briefest second, and I couldn't help wondering what he was thinking. I knew what I was thinking; this man was too delicious for me to be expected to act decently around. It was the first time I'd seen him so scrubbed up, wearing a white tee with no paint stains on it, a fitted jacket and dark jeans. His hair was still a mess, but in a sexy rugged kind of way. He noticed me checking him out because an amused look floated across his eyes, making me duck my head in embarrassment at being caught.
"What can I get you?"
My eyes snapped to the bartender. "Um, four Sierra Nevada's please."
"Make that six," Edward said, leaning over the bar. I shot him a questioning look and he nodded over my shoulder to where Rose, Alice and Jasper were sitting with a guy I hadn't met before. "Seems Riley's found your friends."
When the bartender slid our drinks over, Edward offered his card. "No it's okay, it was my round anyway," I argued.
He waved me off wordlessly and retrieved his card from the bartender's outstretched hand.
"Thanks," I smiled.
Edward followed me to the table, and I tried not to notice Alice and Rose's shit eating grins as I slid into the booth, Edward right beside me.
"Bella, you've met my bro right?" Jasper asked, swiping one of the beer bottles out of my hand.
"No, I don't think I have. Riley, right?"
"Yeah, nice to meet you. I see you've met Edward."
"We've already met, actually. I tutor Lizzie."
"Oh, yeah? Huh, small world," Riley said, and I swore I saw his eyes widen a little as his eyes trained on Edward.
I chanced a glance to my right and saw that Edward was dutifully studying his beer bottle, cheeks a little pink. Huh, interesting.
We fell into an easy conversation, Riley and Jasper ribbing each other in that sibling way and Alice soothing Jasper's hair whenever he looked to her to back him up. Edward was quiet, but he looked totally at ease with a lazy grin permanently etched on his face. I got the vibe that he didn't normally talk that much, but it was clear he had a quiet confidence about him, like he was comfortable in his own skin and didn't feel the need to insert his opinions on anyone.
"So, Edward. Are you married?"
I almost choked on my beer, shooting a warning glare at Rose. Edward didn't look the slightest bit concerned by her question, though, answering in a casual voice.
"No, never. I had my daughter pretty young, so there was a while where I wasn't really on the dating scene much."
"Oh yeah, how old were you?"
My eyeballs were about to pop out of my head. I kicked Rose under the table and she kicked me back, but otherwise ignored me.
"Eighteen." Still cool as a cucumber, Edward smiled, keeping eye contact with Rose.
"E's been using that kid excuse for a while, though. You should've seen me trying to get him out of the house tonight," Riley joked.
"Hey, I'm here aren't I?" Edward shrugged, bringing his bottle to his lips.
"And you're coming to James's."
"Nah, man. I draw the line here."
"Oh c'mon. You've already done the hardest part by leaving the house."
"What's going on at James's?" Jasper asked.
"Birthday bash. You guys wanna come?"
Jasper looked at us girls, eyebrows raising in question.
"He won't mind if we crash?" Alice asked.
"No way. James is a quantity over quality type of guy with his parties, if anything he'll be happier to see me if I bring people along," Riley laughed.
Alice smiled at me and Rosalie, silently persuading us. Rose shrugged and nodded, seemingly interested. I peeked sideways at Edward and noticed he was staring at me, waiting to see how I'd respond.
"Come on, Bella. It'll be fun!" Alice whined, bouncing in her seat.
"Okay," I relented, chugging the last of my beer.
"Hell yeah," Riley slapped the table in approval.
We finished up our drinks and slipped out of the bar, converging out front. I noticed Riley whisper something in Edward's ear, earning a shove in the shoulder. Edward was smiling though, and when he looked up his eyes were shimmering green.
"So, I'll see you Thursday?" I really didn't want him to leave. It'd been nice talking to him tonight, even if my body had been hyper aware of his sitting just a few inches away.
"I'm gonna come for a little bit. James is an old friend." He didn't offer any other explanation for his sudden change in resolve, but I brightened anyway.
It turned out that James didn't live far from the bar so we opted to walk the few blocks to his house. We naturally paired off, Alice with Jasper, Rose with Riley, and me with Edward hanging a few steps behind everyone.
Edward was smiling to himself, looking down at his feet. Gosh, he was so cute.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Just thinking how easily Riley can get me to change my mind."
"Was it only Riley that got you to stay?" It was obvious, but whatever. I was a little buzzed and feeling bold.
His eyes twinkled and his lips tugged into a crooked grin. "No."