AN: So sorry for the delay in posting today. Book Bonanza kicked me in the butt last weekend. The last minute edits took me longer than expected. I literally had zero bandwidth left. I appreciate your patience. Thank you for all your gorgeous reviews. I read each and everyone and I try to respond if I can. Lots of great thoughts and feedback the last chapter. And…hmmm. Did Esme hear? We shall see. Let's see what Darling and Shug are up to now.

** Fiddling was had. All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 8

"Sometime I feel like I'm drunk behind the wheel

The wheel of possibility

However it may roll, give it a spin

See if you can somehow factor in

You know there's always more than one way

To say exactly what you mean to say

Was I out of my head or was I out of my mind?

How could I have ever been so blind?

I was waiting for an indication, it was hard to find

Don't matter what I say, only what I do

I never mean to do bad things to you

So quiet that I finally woke up

If you're sad then it's time you spoke up too."

Out of my Head by Fastball

~oOo~

Edward was slouching on one of the plush blue sofas in the clubhouse, resting his feet on an ottoman. The Braves game was in a rain delay, so he was listening to music on his AirPods to keep his mind relaxed and out of the game for a while. He was prepared. He'd gone over all the analytics, done batting practice, and had his pregame meal. Now, all he had to do was wait.

In the center of the room, Newton and Whitlock were playing a heated yet friendly game of pool. The other players lounged around the clubhouse, watching movies, reading, and hydrating. The mood in the room was upbeat. Everyone was happy to be back home after two weeks on the road. Losing the last series to the Giants was a hard pill to swallow, but they were leading their division, so the hit wasn't too detrimental. However, every game counted, so they were primed and ready for the Rockies.

Edward's eyes were closed, the music helping him float away. Suddenly, he was jostled by the large weight dropping onto the cushion beside him. Edward's eyes popped open, and his stare landed on the smiling face of Emmett.

"Hey, man."

"Hey. What's going on, Em?" Edward responded as he took out one of his AirPods.

"Nothing much. Ready to kick some ass?" Emmett slapped Edward's thigh, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"Yep. About as ready as I'll ever be." Edward took out his other AirPod; clearly, Emmett wanted to talk. Edward had learned a few things about his teammate since joining the team, and by the look on his face, he could tell Emmett was bored.

They chatted about a few breweries in the area they both wanted to hit, trying to plan a time they could go together. Conversation was always easy between them. As they got to know each other better, the things they had in common continued to stack up. Thankfully, Emmett didn't know one of the things they had in common was Bella.

Edward silently praised himself for keeping that bit of information close to the vest. He didn't even need to pull the friendship card with Emmett because he and Bella hadn't been around any of the team or each other's family. Frankly, they had barely been around each other since they made their deal.

Bella had assured Edward that Rose wasn't going to tell Emmett about their friendship. Her sister had figured it all out that night at the game. As cool as Bella and Edward tried to act, Rose was no fool. However, nobody wanted anything to interfere with Edward and Emmett's friendship or to affect them on the field.

Just as they were looking at their calendars, Emmett's phone vibrated.

"Oh, shit." He popped up off the seat and jogged over to his locker. When he returned, he had his iPad in his hands. "Sorry. Rosie texted to remind me to watch Bella play today. I hate missing so many of her games, but, you know, it can't be helped with our insane schedule."

Edward nodded. Realizing he had never seen her play, guilt crept into his conscience. As usual, he was so self-involved that he hadn't once thought to watch her play. He felt shitty. He needed to do better.

Emmett cued up the game and angled the iPad toward Edward so he could see as well. The game was in the middle of the first half.

"Bella's a rockstar," Emmett said with immense pride. "She blows me away on that field. All that fucking running. Damn."

Edward's eyes focused on the screen in front of him. "Which one's Bella?" He searched the field trying to locate her.

"She's number seven," Emmett responded with a slight smirk on his face.

Edward scrubbed a hand over his jaw, the coincidence not lost on him. She had his number. What were the odds of that?

Bella on the field was pure poetry. She was fast on her feet, yet feline and graceful in her movements. She was quite the competitor; the sheer determination on her face mirrored his own. Everything about her excited him as he watched her play.

The next thing he knew, he and Emmett were yelling at the screen. The excitement overtook them.

"Go, Bella! Get it! Get it…oh my God…goal!" They jumped off the sofa simultaneously, high-fiving each other in celebration.

The rest of the team looked up from whatever they were doing as they heard Edward and Emmett celebrating loudly. Most of them chuckled and went back to their pregame routines, but a few came over to watch over their shoulders.

"Is that Bella?" Jasper asked as he studied the screen.

"Yeah, man. She's killing it," Emmett praised.

"She's a beast on that field," Jasper commented. "The last game we went to…she just blew me away."

Edward's head snapped up when he heard Jasper say he went to a game. Feeling worse than before knowing others had been to watch and celebrate her accomplishments, he cursed himself for, once again, not being present. He really should've paid more attention. They might not be boyfriend and girlfriend, but they were in some sort of relationship, no matter how casual it might be.

He really thought he was doing somewhat better, even though neither of them felt obligated to the other. They'd texted off and on, seen each other occasionally, so why did he feel ashamed? Letting out a deep breath, Edward made a mental note to text her after his game. He wanted to insert himself a little more into her life, despite the boundaries they had in place. He wanted to catch a game, take her out, but so far, neither of them had made the time.

Before he knew it, it was game time for him. He hated not to finish watching Bella's game, but they needed to be on the ball field.

The lights of the stadium shined down on him as he warmed up. The chanting from the crowd got louder and louder as the start of the game approached. The crowd had waited long enough. The energy in the stadium was electric, and he couldn't help feeling affected and excited to get the game going. As the national anthem played, all thoughts of soccer and Bella faded from his mind. Edward was locked in and ready to play ball.

~oOo~

With a coffee mug in his hand, Edward rushed out the door for yet another photo shoot. He had overslept, hitting his snooze alarm too many times. His days off lately overflowed with special appearances, photo shoots, and ad work for his endorsements and the team. He was also still working on the veterans' fundraiser for Folds of Honor. His plate was so damn full, and today was no different. This time, it was his Nike endorsement.

Arriving right on time, much to his surprise and relief, Edward strolled into the warehouse where the photoshoot was taking place. He was immediately greeted by the Nike team.

"Edward, nice to meet you. I'm Tia, your personal assistant for the day." She stuck her hand out to shake Edward's.

Giving her his best disarming smile, Edward took her hand in his.

"Tia, nice to meet you. Thanks for helping me out today. Listen…" He leaned in close to her, so only she could hear what he was about to say. "I don't mean to be difficult or come off like a diva, but…is there any way for me to scoot out a bit early? I have a million things on my plate and only today to get them done before I head out of town tomorrow."

He noticed her eyes fluttered shut as he spoke in her ear. Edward hoped that if he used a little charm on her, she might be able to move a few mountains on his behalf.

As if coming out of a spell, Tia batted her eyes open and smiled brightly at him. "I'll see what I can do for you, Edward, but unfortunately, there are a few others involved in the shoot as well. Let me see what I can find out."

"Thank you so much. You have no idea what it would mean—" The sight across the room stopped him dead in his tracks. "Bella," he whispered. She had just stepped out from behind a curtained-off dressing room.

Tia cleared her throat, breaking Edward from his stare. "I'll just go…"

"Thank you. Is she…" His eyes followed Bella again as her assistant greeted her.

"Bella Swan? Yes, she's also in the shoot with you, along with a few others from around Atlanta." Tia's grin was wide now as she ran off to see what she could find out for him.

Bella had yet to notice him; she was busy with a wardrobe person, choosing a tank top. Edward found himself captivated, admiring her from afar. Her long hair fell in wavy curls down her back while the shorts she had on highlighted her strong legs. Just as he was about to walk over to her, Devonta Freeman, running back for the Atlanta Falcons, stepped out from the other side of the partitioned dressing room.

Edward watched as Devonta talked with Bella. His smile was wide as Bella hugged him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist to lift her off the ground, giving her a big squeeze in return. Her squeals and laughter echoed inside the warehouse, making everyone turn toward the commotion. Devonta's hand remained steady on Bella's back, occasionally grazing his thumb back and forth in a familiar manner. Their heads were tilted close together, as he whispered into her ear, as if they were sharing private jokes and intimate thoughts.

Edward couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy. That son of a bitch was making a move on her. He was whispering God knows what into Bella's ear and eliciting those squeals and laughs, not him.

He had been watching Bella with Devonta for a few minutes when he heard someone call his name. "Edward, wardrobe is ready for you."

He whipped his head toward the sound of Tia's voice, but was met with Bella's eyes as his gaze returned to her.

A smile sprang onto Bella's face as she caught him red-handed. "Cullen, what are you doing standing over there?" Bella asked, her tone light and friendly.

"Enjoying the view, Swan." Edward grinned as he walked over to her and gave her a hug. Something inside him saddened that he couldn't make her cry out the same way Devonta had moments ago.

He turned to the hometown running back and greeted him with a cool, "Devonta."

"Hey, Cullen." They clasped hands and brought each other in for a chest bump. "Where the hell have you been? We need to go pound some beers, play some golf. It's been forever."

"I know, man. It's been busy." He glanced back at Bella, hoping she could read between the lines. He hadn't really seen anyone lately; he was burning the candle at both ends most days.

Devonta's assistant called him to go over some wardrobe choices, so he excused himself, leaving Bella and Edward alone.

"We meet in the most unexpected places." Edward chuckled as he nervously ran a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, we really do." Bella's face broke out into another wide smile. "So, how are you? I haven't spoken to you since…you and Emmett watched me play on TV? Am I right?"

Bella felt a bit awkward seeing him there, though she refused to let him see it. She had reached out to him a few times, only to receive quick one-word responses, if even that. His behavior, she felt, solidified her belief in their deal.

"Yeah, Bella, about that. Listen… I'm sor—"

"Edward, we really need you in wardrobe." Tia's voice rang out, interrupting what he was about to say. He looked at her, holding one finger up to signal for another moment.

"Can we talk after all this? Maybe go for a coffee or a beer?" he asked. "I'd…I'd really like to spend some time with you. If you're available, that is. I don't mean to assume."

He looked at her with such remorse that it broke her heart just a little.

"Yeah, sure. I have some time after the shoot."

"You do?" His expression changed to hopeful.

"I do."

~oOo~

They sat in a corner booth at Edward's favorite Mexican restaurant, Nuevo Laredo. It was close to their photo shoot, which was convenient since they were hungry. The afternoon lunch crowd had faded, but it was still a few hours before dinner. They were in the sweet spot; the restaurant could be somewhat hard to get into without a wait.

Bella and Edward were ready for their beers when they arrived, each taking a much-needed drink from their mugs. They noshed on the chips and salsa Nuevo was known for while they waited for their food to arrive. The conversation was friendly and light, as always, putting Edward at ease and in the right frame of mind for the conversation he needed to have with her. He knew he had to come clean, and lay a bit of himself on the line. The mere thought of it made him queasy.

As Edward listened to Bella talk about the rest of her season, his hand started to tremble lightly. He'd felt that happen a few times recently, mainly when he was busy or tired, so he shook it off, focusing his attention back onto her.

He enjoyed listening to her. She was enthusiastic and engaging. Her confidence shined through with every word she spoke. Everything about her drew him in.

Damn, she's such a turn-on.

He realized he needed to be more engaged, to trust himself a little more where dating and women were concerned. Every time he tried to let himself feel something, his past mistakes came rushing back to him. Bella's deal truly gave him the respite he wanted, or thought he wanted, but he recognized it wasn't allowing him the opportunity to try to get past it all. He felt detached, and with Bella, he realized that was the last thing he wanted to feel.

The topic of him watching her play came up again, so Edward took the lead in the conversation, making an admission he thought would be a great opening for what he wanted to say.

"You know, that isn't the only game I've watched since then."

"It isn't?"

"Nope."

"Do tell." Intrigued, Bella leaned in, crossing her arms on the table.

"I watched you play against the Houston Dash the other night. You were amazing, by the way."

Bella was surprised. She thought he was simply being nice when he watched with Emmett.

The idea of him watching her shocked yet excited her. With his admission, he was showing her that she was on his mind, that he was trying. Right there, Bella Swan fell more in like with Edward Cullen. She gazed into his eyes while she felt the heat from her blush rise from her chest to her face. She saw nothing but sincerity and admiration staring back at her.

Just as she was about to say something, the waitress arrived with their food.

"Thank you." Edward looked up at the waitress to order two more drinks for them.

"Mhmmm, it looks so good. I'm hungrier than I realized."

"Me, too."

They each took a bite and began to settle into their meal. Edward, realizing he missed his opening, cursed himself internally. As they continued to eat, he kept the conversation on Bella. He asked questions about soccer, her training, and her travel. Much to his surprise, he consistently found many similarities between them.

"So, is all of your training inside, aside from drills on the field?" Bella asked.

"No. Aside from the weight training and stretching classes, I prefer to train outdoors. I love to go on hikes and runs. I also like to bike. I tend to do that more in the offseason and on my days off. Weather permitting, of course."

"Of course." She giggled. Atlanta weather could be unpredictable. "We should take a hike someday."

"Yeah. I'd like that. Let's try to do that the next time we're in town, or even better, after the season is over. The Georgia mountains are full of color. It's a great time to be up there."

"I haven't had a chance to get up there since I moved here. I've heard of a place called Gibbs Gardens. You know it?"

"Oh yeah. That's a great place, especially during that time of year. The gardens are fire red. It's quite the view."

"Then after the World Series—"

"Shug, no. We don't talk about that."

"Superstitious, are we?"

"Well, I mean, yeah." Edward dragged a hand through his hair. "All ballplayers are. We only talk about the here and now. Never the future."

"Then pardon me, yes…then after the season," she huffed out a laugh, "or even before, when we're both in town, we could maybe go hiking?"

"Sounds like a great plan."

Edward finished his meal and excused himself to the bathroom. His nerves were beginning to get to him, knowing he still needed to come clean with Bella. What he couldn't understand was why it was affecting him this way. He was still queasy, and his hand continued to tremble.

He stared in to the mirror, noticing some beads of sweat forming on his forehead and upper lip. He turned on the cold water in the sink and splashed his face to calm himself down. The feel of the cold water soothed him. The heat, which had bloomed on his face, abated, and he looked more relaxed. After pulling himself together, he took one last look in the mirror, and walked out.

Bella was looking at her phone as Edward came out of the bathroom. He settled back into the booth, waiting for her to put her phone down so he could finally talk to her.

"Ugh. I hate Instagram," she groaned. "You have one?"

"No, I don't. I hate all that social media stuff. But Marketing keeps telling me to open one." His disgruntled tone lingered into his next comment. "They want me to post personal things as well as 'hot' items for the organization, especially on game days. Who the hell has time for that?"

"Exactly. Though I have to admit I've gone down a few rabbit holes late at night when I couldn't sleep." She snickered.

"I've been known to get lost down a rabbit hole or two myself on YouTube. That's why I feel like it's all a waste of time."

"It definitely can be, but it does allow you to interact with your followers and fans. Plus, it's a great way to keep in touch with your friends."

"I guess I can see some merit in it. Maybe you can help me set it up." He looked at her hopefully.

"I'd be happy to."

"Thank you. The front office won't know what to do with themselves once I make it happen." Edward played with his phone for a minute, trying to ready himself for the words that were about to leave his mouth.

Finally, he found the sentiment to open the conversation. "Listen, Bella, I owe you an apology."

Bella's eyes widened at his words. "You do? For what?"

"Well, for starters, I'm really sorry for not answering your texts."

"You answered them."

"Pfft…barely, if at all. Don't let me off the hook that easily. I was wallowing. My batting coach has been on my ass a lot lately. I'm batting seventh in the rotation right now, and that hurts. I've been missing the mark, so I've been shutting everything out. Just practicing and focusing."

"Edward, you don't have to apologize for that. Remember? What happens on the road…"

"I know we have this deal, but still. Once I got my head out of my ass, I didn't feel good about it. My mom raised me better than that." He clenched his right hand into a fist on his thigh trying to keep the annoying trembling at bay.

"Well, then, I guess I should say thank you. I appreciate you thinking of me. But truly, you don't owe me anything."

"Hey." He reached across the table and took her hand. "We're friends, right?"

"Right?" Why she answered his question with a question, she didn't know.

"Then let me have this, okay?"

"Okay." She gripped his fingers a pinch tighter.

"And another thing," Edward added. "As your friend, next time you have a game and I'm in town, I would love to be invited."

Bella's mouth gaped in surprise. Edward put himself out there for her, and who was she to deny him? His green eyes were full of promise as he squeezed her hand back in assurance. "I'd love that, Edward."

"Good."

He felt satisfied so far with how the conversation was going. She was receptive and open. Her smile radiated.

"Since I met you, I've found myself wanting to make more of an effort to be present. And for what it's worth, I like it. My close friends are used to how I am, so it doesn't make me feel accountable." He shrugged, knowing it wasn't a good excuse. "You, on the other hand…you've just met me. I don't want you to think I'm an ass or something."

He shifted in his seat, feeling her eyes boring into him. He was aware he needed to make some changes, not only with her but also with everyone in his life. He'd seen the concern in his parents' eyes, no matter how hard they tried to cover it up. He was just worried he wouldn't be able to follow through, and that was what pained him the most. Historically, that was his Achilles' heel.

The brief silence gave Bella the time to process what he was saying. Though the deal was in place to protect her heart, giving them both a much-needed reprieve from the expectations of an entanglement, she couldn't help but feel a small crack in her wall.

"Oh, Edward, I don't think you're an ass. We both entered into this deal to take that pressure away. We're learning about each other, so I appreciate you being forthright about who you are and how you operate. I certainly am the last person to judge you. We all have our 'things'."

He sighed into the beer mug, finishing it with a single gulp. She was right. He didn't need to make things so serious. It was just another thing he needed to work on.

"Good. I'm happy to hear that. I hate being a disappointment."

"I feel like you're the furthest thing from a disappointment. When we're together, you're engaged, funny, sweet…not to mention dead sexy." Bella gulped as she realized she said that last part out loud.

"Dead sexy, huh?"

"So, that's all you got out of what I just said?" Bella tried to divert the conversation away from her word vomit. "Not the funny, the sweet…"

"Call me shallow, but yeah." Edward's smile beamed brightly at her. He loved the way he affected her—it gave his ego a big stroke, but it also warmed his heart. The sex between them was fucking amazing, but what he really loved was the friendship side of their relationship. They simply clicked.

"Of course, you would focus on the sex," she whisper-yelled, causing them both to laugh out loud.

"I am a man."

"Yep...yep, you are."

"And, I'm just gonna put this out there. As much as I love the time we spend together…in bed…I find myself wanting to spend time with you outside of the bedroom, too. Isn't that what friends do?"

"Our extra-curricular activities have definitely kept us in a certain arena," Bella agreed with a whisper.

Edward smiled as her cheeks reddened. "It has. And it's been great…really great, actually, so don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to cheapen it."

"No, no, I get it. And we did say that we would date or hangout when we're in town. We just haven't gotten that far."

"That far out of the bed, that is." His penetrating gaze held her in place, watching as his eyes darkened.

"I don't think we lack any chemistry where that is concerned."

Edward could feel himself straining against his jeans. He needed to steer the conversation in another direction quickly. "So, what do you say? Wanna look at our calendars and make a plan?"

"Let's do it. Ugh, make a plan, that is." Bella couldn't help laughing at the same time Edward did. She loved the idea of spending time with him as a friend. He was an amazing person to be with, so why should that be any different?

After they made their plans, which were surprisingly sooner than either of them expected, they left the restaurant and headed toward their cars.

Edward made a move to take her hand in his, walking her to the car hand in hand. Once they arrived at Bella's car, she couldn't help but be sad that their time was now over. The draw to him was always so strong. She hated the parting.

"Thank you again for lunch." She glanced up shyly to meet his eyes.

"You're welcome, again." He reached out to tuck a piece of hair that had been blowing in the breeze behind her ear. His fingers glided over her cheekbone, and he relished the silkiness of her skin. It was something he dreamed about. A lot.

Her sudden shyness, along with the blush that occasionally crept in, was endearing. She was the picture of confidence, but every once in a while, she showed him a hint of her vulnerability. It gave him a small window into her that she wasn't quite ready to share, and he understood that very, very well.

"I'll see you in two weeks," he whispered into her temple. His arms wrapped all the way around her, and he ghosted his fingers along a small sliver of exposed skin on the small of her back.

"Two weeks." She sighed out the words as she felt Edward's fingers smooth over her skin.

His lips moved to her neck, placing those featherlight kisses that drove her mad. Her hands tangled into his hair, raising his face to meet hers. Unable to control herself for another second, she leaned in to kiss him, only to be met halfway. His mouth was urgent, expectant, as his tongue swept into her mouth, licking and tasting. He pressed her body into the side of her car, nudging his hardness between her legs.

Bella moaned quietly when she felt him push up against her. His hips moved as if they had a mind of their own.

As their kisses became more frenzied, a car honked as it drove by, startling them out of their heated moment.

"Shug." Edward leaned his forehead to hers, waiting for his erratic breathing to slow down. His hands ran a slow circuit over her shoulders and back, soothing her with each stroke.

Bella could only nod, her breathing matching his. He never ceased to drive her to the brink of madness when they kissed.

Once her breathing evened out, she tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "Do you want to come over? We can move to some place more comfortable."

Shaking his head, Edward knew what his answer needed to be. "I would love to. You have no idea."

"Oh, I have some idea." Bella rubbed her hand over his aching cock.

Edward groaned at the sensation. Her touch was what he craved, but tonight, he wanted it to end differently. He needed to be true to the words he spoke at lunch. He wanted to know her more outside the bedroom. Going to her house would negate that because once he was there, he'd bury himself inside her and never leave.

He took her hand and placed it on his chest, covering her hand with his. "Bella, it pains me to say this, but I can't. I honestly have things I have to do. And I really want to keep tonight just the way it is. We had a great talk, and I'm looking forward to our hike."

"Okay," Bella responded, a look of uncertainty covering her face. She truly thought, for a moment, she was losing her touch. How could he deny the heat that was brewing between them?

"Trust me. I want to. More than you know." He put his finger under her chin, lifting her face to give her a sweet peck on the lips. "I'm already looking forward to the next time we meet up. You know, doing things outside the bedroom." He gave her a wink, trying to lighten the mood.

"All right, all right." She let out a small huff of exasperation. "I just wasn't looking forward to a night with laundry, and you're, you know, a great distraction." Bella rubbed her palms up the planes of his hard chest.

"I'm…I'm a distraction?" Edward's Adam's apple dipped.

"You, Edward Cullen, are the best kind of distraction."

AN: He is the BEST kind of distraction. SIGH…What do you think of Edward wanting to know her more OUTSIDE the bedroom? Are you excited that they have a date? Inquiring minds want to know.

The Bodice Ripper Contest is underway. Check out the contest on FB. There are already submissions available for you to enjoy. Please vote for your favorite.

I'll be heading to TFMU this year in Minnesota. Will I be seeing you? If you think you may want to join us, it's not too late. Come and join us. The dates are July 13-16th.

As always, you can find me on FB as Pamela Lorraine or in the For the Love of Sports (ward) Twilight Fan Fiction group for any pic teases and updates. I'm always around.

If you are so inclined, please kindly leave me a review and let me know what you think. Your reviews are life, and I love hearing your thoughts and theories. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

See you in two weeks.

~Be Happy

~Be Kind

~Be Blessed

~DrivingEdward