2brown-eyes rules!


All Apologies—Nirvana

"Come on now." I pat the dash, urging my sputtering baby to make it to the Shell station before giving out completely. "Just a little further and I can roll to the pump."

I turn Nirvana down so I can listen as the truck chugs and hiccups. My foot works the pedal, pumping it quickly to keep the droplets of gas flowing into the carburetor. I heave a sigh of relief as I turn the wheel into the drive and aim for the pumps.

Until I see red.

The Trans Am is parked on the opposite side of the pump where I'm headed, and it's too late to maneuver anywhere else. I smack the steering wheel, frustrated that I've let myself get caught in a situation like this. I piddle around, afraid to run into him in the store, but then I realize I have a better chance of dodging Edward in there than out here.

I grab a five from my wallet and speed-walk inside. I spot him quickly, grabbing drinks from the cooler still dressed in his scrubs. I slink down the end aisle, making sure to keep low. Once he's paid and went out the door, I go to the register to pay for my own gas.

I loiter around, waiting for him to be done, but after he hangs up the pump, he walks over to my truck and turns to the store. I duck, but I'm positive he sees me, so I huff a breath and head outside anyway.

He's leaned against the bed, every tall, sexy, inch of him, and I avert my eyes so I'm not openly ogling him. "Hey," I say softly, moving to the pump so I have an excuse not to look into his eyes. "Just leave the hospital?"

"Bree told me about your conversation," he says, ignoring my attempt at small talk. "And she shouldn't have showed up at your work."

I hit the five-dollar mark, but I keep the pump in the tank so I can pretend to still be busy. "You didn't say that to her, did you?" I meet his eyes, anxious for an answer, and his expression says it all. "Edward." I sigh, hanging the handle back on the pump. "If you have an opinion on anything between Bree and me, it's whatever her side is."

He stares at me for a beat before his brows furrow. "But she shouldn't ha—"

"No, Edward," I interrupt, shaking my head. "She shouldn't have come to my work, but it's not your place to police your girlfriend. You've got to be her rock, standing firmly by her side, even when she isn't so perfect."

His face falls, and he looks a little lost if I'm being honest. "So I fucked up again."

"I bet a nice bouquet of flowers and a sweet apology would go a long way…" I trail off because, frankly, the words are killing me.

"She does love flowers." He gives me that lopsided grin that I love so much, and then it falls. "But she won't love that you suggested it."

"Probably not."

He palms the back of his neck. "Nor that we're casually chatting at the gas station."

"To be fair," I say, smiling a little. "We"—I motion back and forth between us—"did that. She was so kind about us when she didn't know about the truck …"

"Yeah." He snorts a laugh. "I couldn't have stayed with her if I didn't tell her."

"You did the right thing."

"I know," he says softly. "I'm beginning to think we're right where we're supposed to be."

"That's funny." I huff a laugh. "I had that same thought a few days ago."

Mase jumps to the tip of my tongue, but I hold him back, deciding to keep him to myself until I know more about what he is to me. This conversation has been cathartic in a lot of ways, and I don't want to rock the boat. Seeing Edward today hasn't hurt like it usually does, and that's progress.

I'm oddly at peace.

Happy for him.

And myself.

That's what forward progress looks like.

"Later, Bella," Edward says softly before ducking into the driver's seat of his car.

I watch until he's no longer in sight before pulling onto the roadway in the opposite direction.

It's a symbolic gesture.

And I smile to myself.


A perfect poem from Rebadams7:

I won't be cold

I won't be alone

It might not be

The one I loved

But one

who gives me home

I might have seen stars

But I'm warm by the fire

I hope you shine on

I pray you are free

There is no forgetting

Not to be

But I refuse to be cold

I'll not be alone

I gave you to the world

I'll want you from home

R

Only 2 more this week, guys!

See ya tmr :)