BPOV

I had spent most of Saturday going over everything Edward and I had discussed. I still wasn't sure how to process his interest in me.

Since I met Hadley, he had softened toward me, but I didn't know until now why. I was genuinely nice to her without an agenda.

I hadn't known who her parents were, I just felt for the girl.

Like Alice said we were kindred spirits and maybe we were.

Once Emmett got home from the farmer's market, I had to come clean about my hand. He told me not to worry about rent, but I didn't want him to cover my half, especially after he got moody about me eating the rest of his breakfast burrito.

I hated owing people.

Charlie was like that, he'd do anything for anyone, but he didn't owe favors to people. I guess this characteristic rubbed off on me.

I also inherited his stubbornness, which Edward kept pointing out I had.

Later on that day, I also called Esme back letting her know that I was okay. She was worried about me I could tell, but part of me wondered how much of that worry was due to Edward being in her ear about Rose.

Rose was her niece by marriage. I didn't want to come between their relationship.

It took me ten minutes to convince her until she reluctantly told me she needed to go for the staff meal.

Sunday was very much the same as Saturday, I laid around contemplating everything. I even tried to pinpoint why Edward wanted to possibly date me.

I only knew about Rose, who was a supermodel beauty. Her tattoos and nose piercing fit her tough exterior and if I was an outsider making an observation, I would have thought she was a cool girl that had no insecurities.

I knew that wasn't the case.

Edward claimed he wasn't attracted to her, but even when he was drunk something about her had to have pulled him in.

I was curious about what attracted him to me.

I had long brown hair that hit my lower back.

I was petite with curves and a cinched waist.

I hated it when I was going through puberty because I was hips and ass and flat on top. Most of the boys at school were all about boobs. I hadn't gotten them until the summer before college.

To compare, Rose had an hourglass figure and had to be at least close to six feet tall.

I hated myself for even comparing. Only dating a handful of guys, I never wondered about why they were with me or worried about their exes, but with Edward, I spent hours overanalyzing.

I only pause my contemplations when he sends me a text around five.

Stuffing your face with dinner, yet? (kiss face emoji) – E

Nope. – B

You should stop in tonight. – E

Can't I'm ready for bed. – B

Matter of fact I was already lounging in my bed.

It's five. – E

I can hear his deadpan coming through.

Am I still watching Hadley tomorrow? – B

If you are up for it, her dismissal time is at three, but her bus won't drop her off until three twenty. – E

Send me the address and I'll be there. – B

He sends me a Google Maps link.

I don't get home usually until six on most weeknights except on Fridays. – E

Do I need a key? – B

How presumptuous of you, Swan. – E

I glare at my phone and he must sense it.

Hadley has a key. – E

Tell her I'll see her after school. – B

Will do. Thanks again for doing this, I mean it. – E

After texting with him I start to spiral in my room.

Edward was trusting me with his child's well-being and life. I couldn't picture him being an overly mushy man, but with everything he has sacrificed for her to have a well-adjusted childhood, it was clear what kind of man and father he is.

She's the love of his life.

Thinking about it made me miss Charlie.

These thoughts join me through the night and follow me into now while I eat breakfast with Em.

"A kid is a big responsibility," he lectures while he chews his Fruity Pebbles.

"She's not my kid," I argue since he's acting like I'm raising her.

"Yet."

I roll my eyes.

"I'm babysitting, she's in fifth grade," I reiterate to him for at least the fifth time.

"He got pissed about you being in his way, if things go sideways with the kid, he'll start World War three with you," he says knowingly.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Em. I truly appreciate it," I droll.

"I'm just saying," he says, holding his hand up in defense. "It's not you, it's him I don't trust."

I glare at him while I eat my Pop-Tart.

"What if I had stayed in Forks to teach?" I ask after I swallow.

"Wasn't that gig for teaching teenagers? Those are your peers."

"Students can't be your peers," I tell him exasperated.

He shrugs.

With one last bite, he stands. "I need to head out," he tells me, grabbing his messenger bag. "So, dinner tonight?"

"I'm not sure when I'll be back," I answer honestly.

"Text me," is all he says before he's out the door.

I clean up his dishes since he was too lazy to put his bowl in the sink. It had been something we were working on. Edward thinks I eat like an animal, but if he saw that I lived with an absolute slob kabob, he'd see my eating habits aren't as bad in comparison.

My phone starts ringing and I reach over to the counter to pick it up.

"Hello," I greet.

"Hey, sorry I hadn't gotten back to you yesterday," Alice chirps in my ear.

She tried to call me Saturday but I was vegging out on the couch with Em and when I called her back yesterday it went to voicemail.

If I was being honest, I was a little leery to say too much to her since she and Edward were somewhat in cahoots together. I still didn't know how long they knew one another and if they were friends or just neighborly.

"No problem."

"I was stuck in the bookmobile taking inventory all day yesterday," she sighs. "Edward told me that you are watching Le after school."

"I am, we talked things out," I say vaguely.

"I hope you're not too mad at me," she says after a minute.

"I'm not mad but this is something that I think we need to discuss in person," I tell her.

I knew I wanted to set boundaries with her like I intend to do with Edward. I'm fine with having this friendly arrangement with him, but I prefer to keep the specifics between only us.

"Okay," she says slowly.

Like I've scolded her.

"I'm sorry, I'm still in a little pain from the stitches," I use as my excuse.

I would really like to discuss this in person though, with Alice being such a new friend, I don't want her to think I'm this miserable monster who holds grudges.

In college, I spent a lot of time keeping to myself, which may have hindered me socially. I knew my roommate, Lauren, wished she had someone fun to go to parties with every weekend but she was stuck with me who attended roughly two frat parties a year.

"That sucks— shit, hey I need to go, they're getting kids lined up outside," she explains.

We agreed to text later.

Since I now have all this time on my hands, I finally start to read the copy of Pride and Prejudice I bought a few weeks ago.

As always, I get sucked in for a few hours until I notice it is almost two.

"Christ," I say out loud.

I reach for my phone that's laying on the coffee table seeing Edward left me a message fifteen minutes ago.

Let me know if you need anything. – E

Shouldn't you be working? – B

I supervise, so I have a minute sometimes to text. – E

Uh-huh, we'll be fine, but you will be the first to know if we need anything. – B

Hey, Bell? – E

Yeah? – B

Thank you (kiss face emoji) – E

I smile wide.

I decide to get ready, switching my sweats for gray skinny jeans and I keep on my white cropped t-shirt. I slide my feet into my worn Docs, put my black leather jacket on and wrap my gray blanket scarf around me before searching for my crossbody.

I look in my mirror throwing my hair haphazardly into a low bun. I forgo any makeup, I didn't feel like getting all dolled up when I'm there solely to watch Hadley.

I sigh and grab my phone before leaving.

I follow the directions that Google gives me and am surprised by how short my walk is to his building. I'm even more surprised that his building is a brownstone in the swankier neighborhood two blocks over from mine. How could Alice afford this?

I see a few Lululemon Mommies huddled together as well as a few women who look like me in normal clothes.

I walk toward where Edward instructed me the bus drop off would be.

I stand by myself fiddling with my phone while I wait, I can feel curious eyes on me but I don't look up.

"Excuse me," a voice says.

I look up seeing one of the Lululemon Mommies with platinum blonde hair approaching me.

"Yes?" I ask cautiously.

"Are you a new nanny?"

"Huh?"

"Picking up one of the kids," she clarifies.

"I'm a friend of Edward Cullen's and am picking up Hadley," I tell her unsure why I'm explaining myself to her.

Her jade eyes widen before narrowing.

She looks me up and down before saying, "A friend, interesting."

"Okay," I respond lamely.

"My Tinsley goes to Berkeley Carroll with Hadley, they're in the same grade," she tells me, holding out her hand. "Irina."

"Uh, Bella," I say awkwardly, shaking her death grip.

"So, Alice isn't watching her today?"

"No, she's out of town."

"Are you friends with her too?"

"I am."

"She's a lovely girl, takes care of her aunt," she says, pointing two houses down to where Edward's brownstone resides.

I nod, giving her a tight smile.

"Are you from around here, Bella?"

"I live two blocks over," I say clipped.

"It's really nice how they've built up over there," she comments.

I glance behind her to see her cronies huddled even closer in hushed conversation.

A bus comes toward us and I step back a little when the doors open and a bunch of kids file out. I notice Hadley with her head down and wringing her hands.

One thing I know is that Edward has an adorable child.

She's in a blue and white striped dress and a jean jacket with Sherpa lining the collar. Her hair today is in two French braids that lead into a ponytail. I wonder if Edward does her hair himself and then remember my own nightmare of Charlie trying to do my hair when I was little.

She must have seen me from the bus because she was walking toward me still with her head down. When she stops in front of me she looks up, giving me a timid 'hi'.

"Hey," I say feeling like an asshole because she obviously remembers how I behaved the other night.

Irina is still standing beside me and watching the shit out of our interaction.

"It's been a—pleasure, Irina," I tell her before wrapping my arm around Hadley and guiding her home.

Hadley walks quietly beside me and I give her shoulder a squeeze. She looks up sadly.

"Are you upset that I'm here?" I ask awkwardly as we walk up the steps.

Her eyes widen behind her cobalt frames and she frantically shakes her head. "I thought you were mad at me because of my mom," she says.

"No, no, no," I get out firmly. "I wasn't having a good night and behaved like a jerk, none of that had to do with you."

"Your night was bad because of my mom," she insists.

"Hadley, you are not your mom besides I would never blame you for anything she does," I tell her softly.

Though she has her mother's eyes, she searches my face intently like her father does.

"My dad is disappointed in her," she murmurs before continuing. "But he's always disappointed in her."

I'm not sure how to respond to that so I distract her by asking about her key.

"Oh yeah," she says unlocking the front door.

We step into what looks like a small lobby, I follow Hadley to the only door on the first floor.

"Where does Alice live?" I ask curiously.

"She lives upstairs with her Aunt Cindy," she explains, opening her door.

Their apartment screams wealth and I panic slightly inside.

The living room is open, covered in cherry wood beams and floors, and furnished with rich leathers. It screams bachelor but I see the signs that a little girl lives here as well with her artwork framing the walls and pictures of her childhood adorning the mantle of the fireplace.

Hadley just kicks her shoes off by the door and throws her backpack on the chair.

"Uh, should I take my shoes off?" I ask her.

She giggles. "Dad is weird about the floors," she says, rolling her eyes in amusement like it's an inside joke between them.

I carefully take my Docs off to be on the safe side.

I watch her take a tablet and notebook out of her bag, she walks down the hall so I follow. She leads us into the kitchen and again I'm floored.

It's like we're in a greenhouse, just windows galore with a high ceiling. It looks like this had to be an addition.

Hadley gets a Waterloo Sparkling Water and a pack of apple slices out of the fridge, setting them on the island.

"Would you like one, Bella?" she asks me politely, holding up her canned water.

Edward would have boujee water.

"It's black cherry," she sells.

"Okay," I say, taking the one she hands me. "Thank you."

She gets situated on a bar stool and starts doing what I assume is her homework.

If it wasn't for her age, I'd question why I was here. She clearly doesn't need a sitter when she's playing host to me.

I think about when I was her age and how Mrs. Cope would watch me after school. I'd fight her on doing my homework at the kitchen table Charlie bought from the flea market in Port Angeles.

"Nobody likes sass, Bella," she'd tell me.

Hadley is this respectful miniature middle-aged lady which says a lot about Edward since he's the one raising her.

My phone buzzes when I'm unwrapping my scarf and laying it on the back of the chair next to Hadley, my jacket follows.

"What are you working on?"

"Social studies, I have a report I'm doing on Eleanor Roosevelt," she tells me, and then she quickly turns her tablet to face me.

It looked like a textbook but on a tablet.

"Are you in public school?" I ask confused that any public school in Brooklyn could afford tablets for students.

"No, I go to Berkeley Carroll School," she says.

I nod with a frown.

I let her do her homework without distraction and look at my phone to see I have a text from Edward.

Is she behaving? – E

I know you are not referring to your sweet angel child. – B

I take a sip of my drink and it's amazingly refreshing.

She has her moments, trust me. – E

I don't buy it, Richie Rich. – B

And there it is. – E

You could have warned me. – B

That I work hard and live comfortably? – E

I roll my eyes.

Hadley is watching me with a smile when I look up from my phone.

"Yes, Miss?" I ask.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Bella?" she asks seriously.

"Nope, why?"

"You're all smiley," she laughs. "My dad has been smiley when he's on his phone lately."

I bite my lip trying to hold back my laugh.

"Bella, can I see your hand? My dad said Uncle Garrett did your stitches," she says sweetly.

"It looks kind of gruesome," I warn because I didn't like looking at it much myself.

She doesn't heed my warning and gently takes my hand in hers. She is her father's daughter through and through. She inspects my wound with sadness and empathy.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," she says sincerely.

I cup her cheek with my good hand. "Learn from my mistakes, never pick up glass with your hands, always use a dustpan to clean up," I tell her dramatically.

She giggles.

It takes her about an hour to complete her homework. She finishes her water and snack during this time.

I watch how she daintily nibbles on her food and how she cleans up after herself. To be honest it seems like Edward might have the dream roommate.

Hadley takes me into the living room to watch some TV.

"So are you with your dad all week?" I ask her.

"Yeah, I only go to my mom's on weekends. My dad tells her he doesn't like to disrupt my school week, but sometimes I stay over if I don't have school the next day," she explains.

She looks like she wants to say more but seems to be holding back.

"Bella, did your mom and dad argue a lot?" she finally asks.

"My dad raised me, my mom left when I was in Kindergarten," I tell her.

Her face drops.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs. "So you never see your mom?"

I shake my head.

"My dad is a pretty good dad though, he wanted me to move back home after college," I say with a smile.

"Because he missed you?"

I nod so I don't have to explain the complexities of becoming your own person to a nine-year-old.

She surprises me when she says all families are different.

She tells me her dad doesn't have parents and that her Aunt Esme was for all intents and purposes his mother. I'm paraphrasing obviously.

My thoughts go back to what Edward texted me about working hard and living comfortably. From what Hadley has just told me, Edward has had his fair share of struggles but he has built this nice life for himself and his daughter.

We sit in a quiet silence while I let Hadley watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She giggles at the absurdity of these ladies while they fight about whether or not they think Erika should give back the earrings.

I read and love the classics. I never said I didn't support mind garbage.

We're so captivated by the drama that we don't hear Edward come in.

His hand rests on top of my head, startling me.

"What in the hell are you watching?" he asks, balancing a pizza box under the arm that isn't touching me.

"Housewives," I mumble.

He looks down at me in amusement, but only gives my head a squeeze before he walks down to the kitchen.

I stand to follow him, Hadley doesn't even move, her eyes stay glued to the TV.

"So, should I be worried that you are letting her watch that trash?" he asks while he grabs plates out of his cabinet.

I take in his appearance, his black and white plaid button down and black slacks look tailored to his body, not to mention his ass looks good in those pants. I love the black skinny tie he's wearing too.

"Earth to Bella," he says, waving his hand in front of my face.

"Sorry," I say blinking.

He smirks as he leans down to kiss me.

My hands have a mind of their own when my good hand wraps around his tie to pull him closer.

"Hi," he grins when he pulls back slightly.

"Hi," I breathe.

His arms wrap around my waist pulling me to him.

"I hope you like pepperoni," he says.

I nod.

"Maybe you should eat here. I don't want your eating habits to rub off on my kid," he teases before giving me another quick kiss.

"Your house is—"

"Just a house," he says, cutting me off.

His hands come up to cup my face.

"When my parents died they left Esme and me with a nice inheritance. We both used it to cover means of living and school. I use my salary to pay for private school for Hadley— I'm not Mr. Moneybags, Bella," he explains.

His eyes do their usual searching to see if I believe him.

I do.

I realize I'm used to a dad who worked double shifts at the station and is as frugal as can be.

"I'm sorry, I was just a little surprised. The nannies and Lululemon Mommies threw me off a little bit, and then when we walked into the house—"

He snorts in amusement while his thumbs brush my cheeks. "Lululemon Mommies?"

"Yeah, I met Irina—"

He groans.

I eye him carefully as his hands leave my face to rest on my shoulders.

"What did she say to you?"

"Uh, she asked questions but really didn't delve into too much, why?"

He turns his face so he's looking anywhere but at me.

I bring my hand up to direct his gaze on me.

"Should I be worried about this reaction?" I ask him quietly.

"We dated last year— nothing serious," he says quickly.

"Oh," is all I can say.

He has to have a thing for blondes.

"Bell—"

"Edward, it's fine," I wave him off and step out of his hold to grab a plate and a slice of pizza.

Hadley walks in with a smile.

I watch Edward kiss the top of her head before he gets her food ready for her.

She sits beside me at the island and Edward follows sitting on my other side. His one hand remains on my thigh while he eats with his other. He asks Hadley about her day and she talks animatedly about her Social Studies project.

I'm too distracted to listen since Edward's hand is burning a hole through my jeans. Every so often his hand moves off my thigh to grab a napkin to wipe sauce off my face.

Hadley giggles at this.

She gets no sauce on her whatsoever.

Maybe I'm as big of a slob as Emmett.

Once we're finished eating he tells Hadley to go get ready for bed. She listens without argument and I'm a little amazed.

I glance at my phone seeing that it's only seven thirty.

"What time is bed?"

"Nine on school nights," he tells me, wrapping his arms around me. "She needs to get a shower, PJs on, and brush her teeth, all that good stuff."

I nod.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders guiding me out of the kitchen to further down the hall to his bedroom.

His room, like the living room, is Cherrywood and leather, except his duvet, which is white and stands out amongst his navy walls.

I take a seat on the edge of his bed while he moves around his room grabbing sweats and a t-shirt.

"So she didn't chase you away?" he asks unbuttoning his shirt.

"Haha, like I told you earlier, she's a sweet angel child," I tell him watching his abs and biceps flex as he pulls his t-shirt over his head.

We change in front of each other at the restaurant all the time but this is different. We're in the privacy of his room and I'm memorizing every muscle that moves.

He smirks at my leering.

His slacks are now unzipped, he stalks over to me grabs me by the face, and kisses the ever-loving shit out of me.

I don't know what it is, but every time we kiss he holds my face in this possessive way that I don't want him to let go.

When he lays me out on his bed is when I feel his friend greeting me.

"Uh, I know you're the parent but I don't think I want Hadley finding us like this," I whisper, letting my fingers brush the stubble along his jawline.

He nods but gives me one last kiss for good measure.

His erection is prominent in his boxer briefs while he changes into his sweatpants. I notice it dying down while I'm still lying flat on my back as I watch him throw clothes into his hamper.

"Are you a neat freak?" I ask him.

He laughs but joins me on his bed wrapping me in his arms.

"I'm not a fan of clothes all over the place, but I don't think that classifies me as a neat freak," he says, giving me a squeeze.

"You can never see my room then," I tell him, playing with his hair.

"Oh yeah, why's that, Bell?" he asks teasingly.

"I have a clothing pile on the only chair in my room," I confess.

His smile grows and he leans down to kiss me.

He lets his hands roam until he has a handful of my ass and our kisses grow more heated. I pull back when I need air to breathe.

"Shouldn't I head out since she has a bedtime routine?" I say suddenly.

"She usually has a small snack before bed and we read a little, but I was hoping you'd stay and hang out for a little bit after I put her to bed," he asks hopefully.

"Okay," I agree.

We go back out to the living room where Hadley is sitting on the couch. She's in navy sweatpants and a gray t-shirt, her hair damp and tangled.

She hands Edward her brush and he carefully brushes the knots out of her curls. My heart squeezes with how gentle he is with her.

I laugh when she negotiates three cookies out of him for her snack.

When he tells her it's time for bed she listens without argument. He tucks her into his side and they walk down the hall together.

Curious, I let a few minutes pass before I stand outside her door. They have a whispered conversation about how glad they both were that I watched her after school today. Once Edward starts reading what I'm pretty sure is Harry Potter, I sneak back down to the living room.

Emmett sends me a text.

Are you sleeping over there? – Em

I'll be home in a bit. – B

Booty call – Em

I roll my eyes.

Edward joins me twenty minutes later with a smile.

He puts the TV on but mostly for noise before he pulls me onto his lap.

"This is friendly, right?" he asks softly in my ear.

I turn my head and kiss his jaw as my answer.

"So, have you been friendly a lot?" I ask slowly.

"I've dated, but I wouldn't say we were friends, Irina was a lesson I learned from," he explains.

"How so?"

"Tinsley is a little bully, her mother is an even bigger one," he tells me with a frown.

I want to ask more but don't want to pry.

"I wanted to ask you something," he tells me.

"Shoot," I respond playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Would you maybe want to stop by the restaurant Friday night before closing? Everyone is going to Tavern and I miss you not being at the bar— you can come home with me. I mean I can bring you home," he rambles.

"I think I can add it to my calendar," I answer teasingly.

My answer earns me a kiss.

"So, Hadley isn't here on the weekends," I approach.

"No, Rose gets her on the weekends unless something comes up," he says while his fingers inch up my shirt.

"Are we going to discuss Rose?"

He groans. "Do we have to tonight?"

"Not tonight, but I would like to know more," I tell him seriously as his lips start to lick and suck my neck.

I need to know what I'm getting myself into in regard to Rose. I do let my questions drop while we make out and maybe heavily pet on his couch.

Something about this screamed this was not 'friendly', he was trying to woo me.

A/N: I'm pretty sure Edward wants to be heard next chapter! As always share your thoughts!