To all who are reading this, thank you.

CHAPTER 18

MISSING YOU

Bella was nearing the front of the coffee line when a chirp alerted her of an incoming text. Reaching for her cell, she unlocked the screen, saw the message, and couldn't help but smile. She'd had a feeling it would be him.

Good morning, Isabella. I hope you are doing well. I just wanted to wish you a good day at work.

Charmed by Carlisle's thoughtfulness, Bella bit her bottom lip, and started on her reply.

Thank you, Carlisle. Same to you.

Her thumbs hovering above the screen, she hesitated before adding. Talk to you this evening?

Send.

A moment later, his answer appeared and broadened her smile. Absolutely.

It had become a habit of theirs.

In the beginning, Bella and Carlisle had kept in contact with an odd phone call and a few text messages here and there. But now, nearly four weeks since Bella's return to Seattle, the frequency of their exchanges had increased to the point where they would text multiple times a day and would talk on the phone nearly every night.

It spoke of the ease with which they had fallen into friendship. Hearing his voice, or simply getting a text from him, never failed to brighten her day.

"Something has you smiling," Audrey's voice sounded over the din of the coffee shop, piercing Bella's concentration just enough to make her look up from the screen.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Bella's query caused Audrey to chuckle. "The smile on your face. You seem rather distracted this morning."

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Bella blushed, then pocketed her phone. "I was just reading a text."

As was their wont, Audrey and Bella had stopped by their favorite coffee shop on their way to work. But unlike the patrons who were currently occupying the tables, leisurely sipping their beverages, she and Audrey would grab theirs to go.

The line began to move; it was almost their turn to order.

"Somebody I know?" Audrey inquired at length.

Normally, Bella was very open with her friend. But when it came to Carlisle, she couldn't help being protective. Whether discretion was needful or not, Bella couldn't say. But the trust he had placed in her, and the risk he was taking by cultivating their friendship, had prompted her to put her guard up, and keep things on the down-low. But now that Carlisle was becoming an integral part of her life, keeping their friendship from Audrey was starting to feel wrong and rather pointless. It might also raise more questions than not. So with that reasoning in mind, Bella opted to tell the truth. The partial truth anyway, for no one could know what he was. Not even Audrey.

"Not exactly," she began. "You've seen him but you've never met."

"So it's a him." Audrey's eyes sparkled with interest. "Okay now I'm dying to know."

"His name is Carlisle Cullen."

"Cullen," Audrey echoed, her eyes narrowing as the name appeared to ring a bell. Bella reckoned it might.

"Remember that doctor in Forks?" she supplied after a moment, recalling the time Audrey had visited her in the hospital.

It took a second, but her friend's jaw ultimately dropped, her eyes widening when she exclaimed, "The hot blond one?!"

As several patrons turned to look their way, Bella laughed and shushed her friend at the same time.

"The guy who saved your life?" Audrey continued.

"Yeah."

"You're kidding!"

"Why would I kid about that?"

"I know. You're right." Audrey blew out a breath and blinked a few times. "Oh wow. So Dr. Cullen, huh? So when did this start? Are you two a thing or…" Her friend was now in full gossip mode, her excitement and curiosity rising with every question.

"A thing? No, nothing like that." After all, Bella had just rid herself of Evan. It was too soon to date. Wasn't it?

Besides, Carlisle was just a friend. A smart, GQ gorgeous, impeccably mannered friend. A vampire, she had to add as a reminder. A reminder of what? That she shouldn't even be thinking of him in terms of dating and romance?

Yeah, stop it, Bella.

"He's a nice man," she went on as warmth suddenly filled her being. "We ran into each other and talked a few times. We've kept in touch. He's just a friend."

"Uh-huh," Audrey said, like she wasn't buying the 'just a friend' line.

Despite the distance, Bella and Carlisle had grown closer, it was true. Over the course of their many conversations, they had talked and laughed, and discussed so many things. To be sure, she had gotten to know more about him. His family for instance. Not his human one, who died long ago, but his coven.

From what Bella had learned, Edward was the brother he seldom saw—him being off travelling somewhere. And Rosalie was the sister who apparently kept to herself a lot of the time. Unlike Edward, she currently lived with Carlisle, in a house situated on the outskirts of Forks.

Given the risk Carlisle was taking just by being Bella's friend, she had to wonder if they even knew about her, or if he was keeping their friendship close to the vest, same as she was.

Because they had only briefly touched upon the subject of his coven, the story of how they had become Carlisle's family remained a mystery to Bella. At this point, it was pure conjecture, but it seemed to her that the doctor harbored regret or pain in regards to his chosen siblings. Granted, he hadn't said so with words, but Bella had discerned it in his tone and in the details he had omitted or skirted around. Whether he might tell her more some day, only time would tell. For now, she had decided not to prod, and wouldn't until he seemed ready and willing to share.

"Whatever he is to you, I'm glad you made a friend. I assume he's single?"

"He is."

"Sooo," she drawled, "when's he coming around?"

"We haven't made any plans yet. Except for the holidays." When she would drive down to spend Christmas with Charlie. She and Carlisle had already agreed to meet up then. But that was a few weeks away.

"So what are you waiting for? You should invite him," Audrey encouraged. "Maybe we could all go out. Tim and I. You and Doctor Cullen. It'd be fun!"

"You're talking like it'd be a double date or something."

Audrey raised both hands. "Hey, it could be whatever you guys want it to be. You've been working so hard since your medical leave ended. I'm just saying that going out and enjoying yourself might be just what the doctor ordered. No pun intended."

Bella had to admit; she had been working pretty hard, and it would be nice seeing Carlisle again. But it was a four-hour drive, and he was a pretty busy guy.

Would he agree to come see her if she asked?

Only one way to find out, I suppose.

She and Audrey might have spoken more, but it was now their turn to order, the barista bearing a smile when she looked to them and said, "Hi, may I take your order?"

The idea stayed with her all day, and remained at the back of her mind throughout the evening when, just as she was about to climb into bed, Carlisle called her.

"Hey," Bella said, smiling as she held the phone to her ear.

"Hi. Sorry I couldn't call sooner. I just got home."

"That's okay. How was your day?" Dressed in an old t-shirt and some pajama shorts, Bella threw her decorative pillows on a nearby chair. Lit solely by her bedside lamp, her bedroom was bathed in low illumination, and the curtains were drawn for the night.

"The ER was pretty busy. But then things quieted down toward the end of my shift. What about you? How was work?"

"Honestly? The day was a bit long. I mean it was crunch-time and we were busy, but… I don't know… it's starting to feel repetitive, if that makes sense. Or maybe I'm just tired."

"You know what I would prescribe for that?"

"Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep?" she guessed on a soft chuckle.

"You got it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh, I saw your father today."

"Yeah?" Bella had just slipped into bed when Lollipop jumped on the bedspread, her fluffy tail swaying lazily as she sought a snuggly place to curl up. "Not as a patient I hope."

"No. He dropped by the hospital on a police matter. He seemed well. He works a lot, though, doesn't he?"

"All the time. He's a total workaholic. Which reminds me, I need to call him tomorrow, and check in on him."

"I'm glad you two are close." Carlisle's voice was threaded with warmth. "Charlie mentioned your upcoming visit at Christmas. He's really looking forward to it."

"So am I. Though he's not too keen on the idea of me driving down. He wants to come and get me this time."

"He mentioned that. Your accident really rattled him."

"I know. And I don't want him to worry, but I can't live in bubble-wrap." With a smile and a long-suffering sigh, Bella resettled against her pillow. "The next time you see him, if he mentions it again, could you back me up on that?"

Carlisle gave an amused chuckle. "I'll do my best." A pause ensued. "It'll be nice seeing you again."

Her mouth tugged at the corner, her eyes closing as she absorbed his words and the soft tone with which he'd delivered them. "It'll be nice seeing you, too." Her heart stirred as she spoke, and before she could stop herself, Bella's silent musings just spilled out. "I kinda miss you, you know."

It wasn't a new self-revelation. The other night, near the end of a three-hour-long conversation, it had come to her. She missed him. And now he knew.

Her spur-of-the-moment earnestness must have shocked him, for Carlisle didn't respond right away. Instead, he cleared his throat, and stammered. "You do?"

Knowing she couldn't take it back, Bella overrode her embarrassment and went with it. "Well, yeah. I like talking with you. You're a great guy, Carlisle. Back when I was in Forks, I enjoyed the time we spent hanging out. It's just a shame we can't do it more often."

Now that she had said it, Bella was about to broach the subject that had been with her since earlier that morning. But before she could invite him to Seattle, Carlisle spoke first, igniting her hopes with a single question.

"What are you doing Saturday?"

So here was chapter 18. It wasn't very long, but it serves mostly as a stepping stone to what comes next. To all who have read this story so far, thank you so much.