BPOV

I blink up at the ceiling while I try to fight off sleep.

Edward is stuck in rehearsals tonight, it didn't happen often if he could help it but he had an upcoming movie he was composing for so he was ironing out the final details for it.

Since I myself worked until nine, I ended up ordering a pizza and guzzling down two Stellas' with it.

It had been a rough day, Rose was still as hostile as ever, even though three weeks have passed since our engagement celebration weekend. Her ire with me today was because her uncle assigned me to a high-profile case.

A high-profile case that was heading into pre-trial. In all honesty, I got into criminal law to be a prosecutor, but the D.A.'s office wasn't hiring when I graduated. That's when Jasper Sr. swooped in with an offer.

At first, I hated the idea of helping to get the accused off, but Edward told me to look at it as helping the wrongfully accused, which he was right. Not everyone is guilty but a part of me hates the job when someone privileged gets away with a crime.

I don't know why my thoughts keep drifting back to the beginning, maybe it's nostalgia or maybe it's where everything with Rose started to go south.

I can't help but remember the months of cat and mouse we went through after I saw him at the bar so long ago.

He was relentless, but again it was his charm and insistence that initially won me over.

The first time I saw him since the bar was at a charity poker game held at his uncle's house.

~PR~

I sat watching Pete and Tyler glare at their cards, Rose seemed almost pleased with her hand, and Jasper Jr. was aloof as always.

I take a sip of my whiskey before raising my bet.

The guys' eyebrows raise in surprise.

Emmett is standing near Rose puffing on a cigar. I hadn't seen Edward since we arrived so I assumed this wasn't his thing, but when I saw Emmett, I was waiting for him to just pop up.

"I'm out," Tyler mumbles as he folds.

Rose looks a little disappointed.

Pete follows his lead.

I never told my group of law school friends that my dad taught me to be a card shark and that poker was my game of choice.

I had beaten both Charlie and his best friend, Billy, at the age of twelve more times than I could count.

I may be getting a little bit of satisfaction from this.

I feel the hot breath against my ear before I hear him.

"She's bluffing," Edward tells the table.

I clutch my cards to me before I turn to see him standing upright blowing smoke circles from his cigar.

I glare before turning back around.

Rose glares at him before raising her hand.

I counter.

Jazz folds and she calls it with a subpar hand.

I win with a full house.

Since I won this game, I get moved up to Jasper Sr. 's table for the next one.

Edward leans against the wall talking with Emmett and his presence is now distracting. I finish my whiskey and ask the cocktail waitress floating around the room for another one.

This game is a little more intimidating now that I'm playing with Rose's uncle, her father, Carlisle, and a few senior partners from some of the biggest firms in Chicago.

The game starts out simple enough but when I'm left facing off between Carlisle and Maggie, a senior partner at McGil & Schwartz, I start to sweat.

I notice Edward watching me intently with an amused look.

I hold my own as I raise my bet.

Maggie folds and it's only me and Carlisle.

The thing I love most about Rose's dad is he's laid back and playful. He makes a show of studying my face before he calls showing his hand.

A straight flush.

I make sure to look stricken before laying down my royal flush.

I hear Esme's tinkling giggle from behind me while Carlisle belts out a hearty laugh.

The room breaks out into good-natured applause and my face heats from the praise. I seem to have won the charity poker tournament.

I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until Rose's uncle stops to talk to me about law school and asks if I've thought about any internships yet.

I'm honest and tell him about what I've discussed with my advisor, I also mention that I'm working as a paralegal at Brosnan Mayer.

"Take my card and keep our firm in mind for your internship or if you get bored at Brosnan Mayer," he tells me with a wink and a warm smile.

I stare at his card before I decide to go find Rose, and as I turn the corner I bump right into Edward.

"If it isn't the girl of the hour," he smiles which makes his eyes crinkle and it's probably the first genuine smile outside of his usual smirks.

I shrug.

"My dad was impressed, Rose and I can't ever beat him," he says conversationally. "Who taught you how to play?"

"My dad," I tell him evenly.

"He must be proud," he says like he's grasping at straws for things to say to me.

"He was," I say flatly, not really wanting to discuss Charlie at the moment.

Edward frowns.

"I'm sorry," he says and his sincerity almost breaks my icy mood with him.

"Thank you," is all I have to say.

I move past him but his hand gently rests on my forearm to stop me.

"I don't know what I did to offend you—"

"I'm not offended, I'm trying to leave so I can find your sister," I sigh as soon as the half-truth is out of my mouth.

He lets go, holding his hands up.

~PR~

I shake my head at the memory. Edward would never say it but I was a bitch to him for far too long.

The next time I saw him after that I can't say I was much better.

~PR~

"What crawled up your ass?" Angela asks when I slide into the booth.

"Lauren," I mumble.

Lauren Mallory was a third-year associate at the firm I'm working at and an all-around pain in my ass.

"You should talk to your boss—"

"Last time I even mentioned something to him, she started to retaliate," I tell her, cutting her off. And by retaliate I mean she dumped all her pre-trial research on me and told the other associates that her tasks were priority.

So, now I just had to grin and bear it when it came to her.

Today, however, I was at my limit. She intentionally did everything she could to keep me late. I almost didn't bother to rush home and change out of my work clothes, but I felt like every time I went out I looked so formal, stuffy and that just wasn't me.

I was the kind of girl who liked to throw back a few beers and talk baseball or football. The beer, the baseball, and the football were all things I bonded with Charlie over and they were all I had left.

"Well can I say you look hot in that dress," Ang says, giving me a nudge.

I smile because I bought this dress last week not knowing when I'd ever get the chance to wear it with my schedule. It was a silk black dress with straps and hit about mid-thigh. I threw a green flannel over it and paired it with black knee-high boots.

It was comfortable and made me feel confident.

"Thanks," I tell her sincerely as I run a hand through my hair. "Want me to get you a refill?"

She nods.

"Cosmo, doll," she says, throwing me an air kiss.

I roll my eyes at her drink of choice.

It was her go-to when we'd go out.

"Be right back," I tell her before I navigate through the crowded bar.

I lean against the bar trying to flag down a bartender. It becomes embarrassing after my fourth attempt but an arm just passes my head when the female bartender closest to me turns her attention my way.

"What can I get you, Ed?" she asks with a flirty smile.

"I believe she's been waiting here for you to serve her," the oh-so-very familiar voice says over the loud crowd.

The girl frowns and I close my eyes briefly.

"What would you like, Bella?" Edward says in my ear.

I let out a sigh while opening my eyes.

"A Cosmo and a Heineken," I tell and move to hand her my card.

"Can you put it on my tab, Claudette?" he asks just as she reaches for my card.

Claudette…who the hell names their child that?

"Sure thing," she says as her smile dims.

"I can pay for our drinks—"

"Who's the Heineken for?" he asks, cutting me off.

"Not that it's any of your business, but me," I snap.

"I'm just trying to be friendly—"

"You don't need to be friendly. I have enough friends in this very busy life of mine," I inform as I yell.

To be honest I don't know why I'm this fired up. Was it due to my shitty day with Lauren or the fact that I just want to kiss the ever-loving shit out of him every time I see him, but know that I can't because he has a girlfriend? It might be one or all of those things.

The bartender hands me the drinks and I flee the scene back to our booth. I hunch myself in my seat hoping he doesn't come over here.

"Was that Edward you were reading the riot act to?" Ang asks with an amused smirk.

"He bought our drinks."

"And you yelled at him?"

I shrug.

She watches me as she takes a long sip of her drink.

"I'm going to ask you this and don't want you biting my head off but have you even asked him about the coked-out girlfriend?" she asks carefully.

I shake my head.

"Bella I really think you need to outright ask him about her because it's not adding up with the way he looks at you—"

"Rose said—"

"I know you are school friends but sometimes I think Rose is super competitive with you. Like she doesn't want you getting your perfect life," she says bluntly.

"But that's her brother," I say dumbly.

"Doesn't matter, she doesn't want you winning in her world," Ang states simply before taking my hand in hers. "I don't know where he went but next time you bump into him talk to him."

I nod with a sigh.

~PR~

Little did I know that it would be another month until I bumped into him and on that night he was with Tanya.

~PR~

"Thanks for coming, I was afraid Pete was going to be a third wheel tonight," Rose says as she gives me a quick hug.

She sent me an urgent text three days ago asking me to fill a seat at her table for a benefit dinner her mother was co-chairing at her father's hospital.

I didn't realize that Pete would be here until now.

I frown while looking down at my freshly pedicured toes in my strappy heels, my navy gown hitting the tops of my feet.

This is a setup.

"Pete is here?" I ask slowly.

"He needed a date," she says as if it's obvious.

I glare at her because we've been over this more than once. I don't have romantic feelings for Pete and yet she keeps trying to push us together. It was like she wasn't listening to me or she just didn't care, take your pick but I can only say no to Pete so many times before it becomes uncomfortable for the two of us.

She loops her arm through mine ignoring the current foul mood radiating off me.

Rose strides into the hospital's fully transformed atrium, lights shimmer around the support beams and elaborate floral arrangements fill the open space.

The space is beautiful.

I watch her grab a glass of champagne off a tray and hand it to me before she grabs one for herself. She navigates us around the room until we're heading to the table that Tyler and Pete are occupying.

I almost stop in my tracks when I see Edward and Powder Nose at the same table.

"Keep up," she tells me.

This was a set-up, she knew that Edward would be here and that he'd bring Tanya.

She knows I won't make a scene even though I'd like to, so I bite my tongue.

Pete stands with a smile as soon as he sees me and I fight not to roll my eyes. I made a mistake when I hooked up with him. My judgment was cloudy and I was lonely having only arrived a few months prior, but that was almost four months ago. Since then I had a talk with him expressing my hope for only friendship.

Apparently, he didn't hear a word of what I said.

I notice Edward's frown as I take a seat next to Pete. I'm going to assume that he didn't know I was coming.

Esme and Carlisle both greet me with warm smiles while Tyler gives me a nod as he slings his arm around Rose's shoulder. Tanya ignores me like I don't even exist.

"Bella, this is an unexpected surprise," Esme says from beside me.

"Rose invited me a few days ago," I explain.

"Pete's date came down with the flu," she says from the other side of Pete.

I glare because she hadn't told me this.

"That is so kind of you to fill in at such short notice," Esme says kindly.

"Bella's an angel in a crisis," Rose beams.

I want to hit her.

Edward is watching us and even he looks as annoyed as I feel, maybe because I'm in the presence of his girlfriend and that won't work in his favor.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," I announce to the table like they care.

I make sure to grab my clutch with my phone in it before I leave the table.

I can't leave without it looking bad in front of Rose's parents. It would be disrespectful since this is their event. They can't control how their kids behave or they don't even know there is a real problem.

I'm stuck with Pete for the evening and Edward is here with his girlfriend.

Once I'm in the restroom, I splash my face with some water. I look up in the mirror and pat my face with a paper towel. I'm glad that I opted out of makeup and kept it light with waterproof mascara and lip gloss. I notice my face is slightly flushed from either embarrassment or anger. I'm not even sure what emotion should be appropriate at the moment.

I close my eyes for a minute and take a deep breath, when I exhale I open my eyes feeling a little better. I just need to be able to compose myself while I'm back at the table.

I quickly reapply more lip gloss before I leave.

I stop in my tracks when I see Edward leaning against the wall like he's waiting for me.

"Why are you out here?" I ask hesitantly.

"You looked upset," he shrugs.

"This isn't appropriate," I say as I try to move past him.

He steps in my path so I can't escape.

"You keep running from me and are now saying things like this isn't appropriate—"

"Because it isn't, your girlfriend is waiting at the table for you," I snap while cutting him off.

"Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend," he says with a disbelieving laugh.

"Rose said you've been with Tanya for five years," I argue.

Understanding fills his eyes before anger flashes in them.

"Rose is giving Pete a pep talk out there trying to give him tips on how to win you over. Should I believe that you're dating Pete?" he asks.

I'm a little thrown.

"I wouldn't believe everything my sister says," he bristles. "Tanya and I are friends and colleagues—"

"She kissed you in front of everyone at your party," I huff out in irritation.

"Exactly she kissed me, I never kissed her back. She was high off her ass too—"

"So you just let women eat your face," I say loudly.

He quirks an eyebrow as his eyes search my face. What he's trying to find I'm not sure, but I'm beyond annoyed because someone is trying to play me for a fool.

"Look, I'm going to be honest with you, I've been trying to get to know you for months, and every time we see each other I'm met with such hostility from you," he says frankly.

"Shouldn't that tell you I'm not interested?" I say snottily.

"I normally would have backed off after your rejection at the card tournament but that first night out on my terrace I knew that I needed to make the effort with you," he says softly and gives me a crooked smirk.

"Why?" I ask, tilting my head.

"Why?" he scoffs before ticking each point off on his fingers. "You're smart, funny, and gorgeous, not to mention my family is enamored with you."

I feel like melting.

"But Tanya—"

"Isn't my girlfriend, I'm not going to lie to you and say we haven't slept together in the past but we haven't been together in over six months. She is my date tonight because she's usually my date to most functions, I don't make much time for dating," he explains and I can see the sincerity on his face.

"I was engaged before I moved here," I reply, seeing his surprise. "He cheated on me."

"I'm sorry," he murmurs his apology.

"I'm busy with work and school and don't have much time for a relationship," I tell him though I'm not quite sure I mean it.

"We can be friends, hang out," he offers easily. "No expectations."

"And Tanya?"

"Is now a friend like Emmett is a friend."

"You've seen Emmett naked?" I gasp playfully.

"Funny," he says dryly.

~PR~

I shake my head at the memory.

That night changed everything.

When we got back to the table I told Pete that it wasn't a date and that I was there as a favor to Rose. I made sure to be clear with my words. Tanya even tried to hang off Edward the rest of the night but he too set boundaries with her.

It was when he asked me to dance after dinner that his parents shared a knowing smile and Rose caught on that something shifted between me and her brother.

I stretch in our bed before my eyes start to drift shut, when I wake the dark sky is starting to brighten through our blinds.

Edward's arm is thrown over me and I turn so I can see him.

I watch him breathe for a few minutes, wondering when he got home.

I glance at the Echo Dot on the night stand seeing that it's five o'clock.

His arm tugs me closer in his sleep and I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat under my ear as it lulls me back to sleep.