BPOV
Given that I have had more time to study and to settle in at the restaurant this week, I feel more confident about my trails.
I still go back and forth on finding another job due to the awkwardness pertaining to all things Rose.
I had to face Carlisle which I was least looking forward to.
I went easy on Rosalie, I could have truly went off and got in her face, but that wasn't my nature, instead, I used my words.
I reflected on my own relationship with Renee and Hadley's with her mother. This made me want to work things out with Edward so I could be there for both him and Hadley.
I sigh, closing my locker door.
"You got this," I say to myself in the mirror after pulling my hair up.
Edward walks into the lounge giving me a smile.
It calms me only momentarily.
He moves to me easily, giving me a chaste kiss.
"You got this," he repeats with a grin.
I melt.
He cups my face before he puts his bag in his locker and gets changed for his shift.
I hang out like a creeper but try to focus on my phone and not on his shirtless form for the brief time it's exposed.
People start to trail in for their shifts.
It doesn't go unnoticed that Mike keeps looking between me and Edward. When Edward's done changing, he takes my hand in his and pulls me from the couch.
"Let's grab dinner," he tells me.
I let him lead us out of the lounge through the kitchen to the dining room.
I plate salmon and garden salad while Edward gets steak and a baked potato. I dig in while he watches me.
"I think Hadley might have a small crush on Emmett," he tells me looking amused.
"And I thought she had taste," I tease. "What makes you think she has a crush?"
"She talked about him the whole walk home and when I was putting her to bed," he explains.
"I guess it could be worse," I tell him with a shrug.
"Why's that?"
"He could be younger and closer in age," I say before losing it.
Edward should be relieved that Emmett isn't a kid, he'd have to deal with him then.
I chortle around my food as he glares at me.
Esme sits with us and explains what I should expect tonight. Nothing really changed from the first time I tried this, but she and Mike would be observing me tonight.
I'd start out at the bar with Jasper then work the dining room recommending and serving wines to the tables. My last task was working the high-tops.
I know the menu.
I know the wine.
I know the restaurant terms.
Once Jess opens the doors we're slammed, tonight would be the night that we have an abnormally high influx of customers.
It gets so busy that Edward has to assist at the bar even though he's on high-tops. The boys and I work in sync to serve our customers.
I blink at more than a few checks when I cash out some of my regulars noticing a generous tip. Edward bumps my hip with a smile in passing each time he sees my stunned expression.
"Bella, can you cover the dining room?" Mike asks almost two hours into my shift.
I shadow his and Tanya's tables jumping in with wine recommendations when asked and when the patrons are finished ordering their entrees. Esme's at the bar while she watches the floor. I knew Mike was the one judging me for this portion.
I'm getting plenty of exercise running up and down the stairs to the wine cellar.
"Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py, where are you?" I mumble scanning the shelves.
An arm wraps around me after I stand from my crouch.
I smell a scent that is so uniquely Edward.
I lean into his hold.
"Good thing I wasn't bent over," I say in his arms.
"I like you bent over," he whispers in my ear.
"I bet you do, but I am actually down here trying to find something," I bump his noticeable erection against my ass. "Really?"
"I would say I'm sorry, but I've been watching your search for a good five minutes, with your ass in the air and all the swaying, my mind wondered," he sighs guiltily.
My thoughts start to drift to that one time in particular when we were in my room and I was bent over holding onto my window sill for dear life while he pounded into me.
"See," he says, seemingly knowing where I went.
"I need to find the 2020 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py, if I don't get back up there Esme might dock me for time," I tell him, turning in his arms.
"We never get timed for wine searches," he says while letting me go to move two bays over. "This place's collection is slightly ridiculous due to Carlisle being a wine snob."
He's in front of me with my wine in hand. "Here."
I let out a sigh of relief before giving him a quick kiss of thanks.
"Maybe, I can come over after work," I offer.
A grin splits his face. "Yeah, you should," he says leaning against the shelf.
I back out of the room with a smile of my own before turning and hurrying up the stairs.
About an hour later Esme lets me take my break before she asks me to service the high-tops.
Since the wine cellar, Edward and I have had this banter going on between us. It's professional if not a little bit flirty. To be honest, it feels like foreplay to me and I can't wait for work to be over.
It also helps take the edge off of my trails.
"Hey, Bella," Esme calls from the bar after my last table leaves.
Edward's head is down while he counts out his drawer but I can see the slight smile on his face.
That has to mean something good, right?
I stop in front of Esme.
"Want to head back to the office? Mike and I will go over your review with you and Carlisle," she explains with a warm smile.
I nod.
Edward finishes his drawer locking the money in the cash bag. He moves out from behind the bar and presses a kiss to the side of my head.
"Good luck, Bell," he murmurs.
"Thanks," I mumble before I follow Esme.
"Bella, I'm not leading you to the gallows, relax," Esme says over her shoulder.
I hear Edward's laugh as we pass into the kitchen.
Esme enters Carlisle's office first while I shuffle in behind her and close the door. Mike looks way too chipper, so again I take this as a good sign as I take a seat in front of Carlisle.
"We're going to go over each portion with you as you proceeded during your shift," Esme explains while perched on the edge of her husband's desk.
"You have quickly become a favorite amongst our bar regulars. You have opening procedures down and can man the bar without any assistance. Your drinks are up there with the quality of Jasper's, which says a lot since he's a trained mixologist," she praises looking, dare I say a little impressed.
It stuns me.
"Your wine knowledge is extensive and you have excellent recommendations when pairing with the menu. We had a lot of patrons compliment us tonight on their experience in regard to your suggestions. It elevated Aro's food," she says looking over the notes she had taken.
"Usually it takes months for a server to get that kind of knowledge but it seems to come naturally for you, Bella. Our in-house Sommelier has noticed how quickly you have picked up the pairings," Mike adds.
I bite my lip trying to contain my smile.
"Do we need to go over serving, Bella?" Carlisle asks quietly. "It seems that with this glowing review of your skills, that you are hired."
He's a little standoffish, but I'm not sure if that's just his nature or if this is due to what I said to Rose. Jasper has teased that he's scared of me, but now it might actually be a fact instead of a joke.
"Thank you?" I say it like a question.
Esme lets out a laugh before giving her husband an irritated look.
"Bella, I can't wait to see what you can do here," she tells me sincerely, giving my arm a squeeze.
I nod and scurry out of his office with Mike hot on my heels.
"You really did great tonight, B," he tells me while we walk into the lounge.
I'm not sure I like him calling me B. I only allow a select few to call me that and then there is Edward when he calls me Bell, which I look at as an endearment.
It's natural when it comes out of his mouth, whether it's when he's handing me something or inside me, it feels special.
He's the only person to call me that and it will remain that way.
Edward's waiting for me on the couch when we enter.
He's already changed.
Mike stops abruptly but frowns.
I continue my way to my locker ignoring his weirdness.
"So?" I hear from the couch.
"I'm employed," I tell Edward from around my locker door as I lift my shirt over my head.
Jazz must hear me as he enters the room because he starts to slowly clap.
I roll my eyes, but I really am glad that my review went so well.
I slide my tank over my head and quickly shimmy out of my slacks to pull my jeans on. Once I'm toeing my boots on, Edward reaches past me for my coat.
"Thought I'd assist you," he murmurs.
"Such a gentleman," I tell him, patting his jaw.
"You coming out tonight?" Tanya asks us from her locker.
"We're going home," Edward answers over his shoulder while he helps me with my coat.
Tanya and Jazz respond by wiggling their eyebrows.
I stretch my arms over my head with a dramatic yawn.
Edward's arm wraps around me.
"Night, guys," he says for the both of us.
I even wrap my arm around him as he guides us to the door.
"So, Hadley is home," I say once we are walking to the subway.
"She is asleep by now Bella," he responds.
"Yeah, but what about in the morning?" I ask remembering she walked into his room the last time I was there.
"I'm her sole parent at the moment, if her being in the house every time you sleep over bothers you, we need to have a bigger conversation," he's serious and maybe a little pissed.
"I don't want things to be weird," I argue as we walk down the station stairs to our platform.
"My door will be locked, she knows you sleepover, this doesn't have to be weird," he insists.
"What about breakfast?"
"We had dinner at your place last night, dinner, breakfast, it doesn't matter," he reasons with an easy shrug.
"I'm putting clothes on after," I grumble.
"Knock yourself out," he smirks, pulling me onto our train that just stopped and opened its doors.
I stew because he seems so unbothered about Hadley possibly questioning why I was over. She's too young to understand certain things adults do to alleviate tension.
Seeming to pick up on my stressed mood Edward tugs on my ponytail as the train moves. "Bell, she just thinks we're sleeping, I promise," he says.
She's nine so he has a point.
"I'm still putting something on after," I tell him.
I don't want to chance it and possibly scar the child.
We're a little handsy once we get back to Edward's but we're quiet. Alice waves at us from the couch.
I take my shoes off while I listen to Edward telling her he Venmo'd her money for watching Hadley tonight. She reports back that she was an angel as always.
She pats his back before getting her shoes which are by mine.
"So, are you employed?" she asks excitedly.
I nod with a grin.
She hugs me before whispering in my ear. "Go celebrate," and adds a wink my way.
Good lord.
After she is out the door, I notice Edward has shut off the T.V. and the lights in the living room. He's headed back over to me to lock the door. That's when I jump him and attach my mouth to his.
His hold around me is firm when I wrap my legs around him.
"For someone who was so freaked out about Hadley seeing anything, you sure are enthusiastic in the most communal area of my house," he teases against my neck. His words are like cold water and when I move to unwrap my legs he holds my ass in place.
"Nope," is all he says carrying me down the hall.
We're quiet when we pass Hadley's room.
I squeal when he tosses me onto the bed.
"Let me go check on her and I'll be right back," he promises against my lips.
I peck his lips one more time, but he manages to pull away from me.
He leaves the door open in his wake, curious I follow after he's gone a minute. Hadley's door is only slightly open but I can hear their murmured conversation.
"Did Uncle Carlisle hire Bella?" Hadley's sleepy voice asks.
"He did," Edward responds quietly.
"She was nervous."
"She was amazing," he assures her. "Aunt Es was proud."
"I'm proud."
"Me too," he says and I can hear the smile in his voice. "Bell's going to be here for breakfast so you can congratulate her then."
"Is she sleeping over?" she asks as I move a little closer to the door so I can hear his answer.
"She is," he confirms carefully.
"Dad, I wish Bella could live here," she mumbles.
I peek in seeing him leaning over her while he kisses her head and I swear I hear him reply with "Me too."