BPOV.

I was falling off my feet, all the fatigue that had accumulated over the past few hours finally caught up with me. It has been exactly two days since our conversation with Edward, and this was the last time I saw him. Fortunately, the problem wasn't that Edward got scared of my emotional baggage, deciding that I wasn't worth his attention. The reason was my wild workload, and today was not an exception. My shift seemed to go on forever, and as much as I loved my job, I was emotionally exhausted, and Edward's absence did not help the current situation in any way.

I fell on my couch in the living room, where not so long ago I had been lying in the arms of Edward and groaned internally. How much I missed him couldn't be considered healthy. Trying to distract myself from my suffering, I switched from one thought of Edward to another. I replayed our conversation about Jacob in my head. The very first emotion that I had experienced then was a relief, my most unpleasant secret had been revealed. But then my fears had come out. The biggest reason why I hadn't wanted to have this conversation with Edward had been my fear that he would understand that my past could become a big complication in our still new relationship. I'm not the naive girl I once was. In a relationship, you must be crystal clear with me. No reservations or secrets. No control over my actions. No imposed friends. My relationship with Jake left a certain imprint on my life, and I have to put up with it. But Edward seemed to accept all my emotional baggage and wasn't intimidated by the potential difficulties. Something told me that none of this would be a problem in our future, since our relationship already at that moment was so different from my previous experience. My thought process was suddenly interrupted by the ringing of my cell phone. Glancing at the screen, I discovered that the caller was my mother.

"Hi, mom!"

"Hey, honey!" my mom's cheerful voice came from the speaker. "Baby, finally I could get through! Your phone has been out of reach all day! Your dad already wanted to ask his old friends for help!"

I didn't even want to think about what kind of friends my dad had been going to ask for a help, and even more, I didn't want to think about how they could help him. My parents had never tried to hide the fact that before meeting my mom, my father had planned to have a military future. Then my mom's pacifist attitude had radically changed my dad's life, but his friends remained the same.

He had got his business degree and took my grandpa Higginbotham's place at the firm after marriage. But his military training and various connections had a positive effect on his success in the business environment. Many outsiders were afraid of my father, and they were probably right. My father was not the person you would like to mess with. But he definitely had a huge soft spot for my mother and me.

"You know I always put my phone away when I'm in the hospital. It's the rule."

"I know, baby. But we are your parents. It's normal for us to worry about you. Now tell me how are you doing, baby. Your voice sounds unusually tired. Are you doing well at work?"

"Mom, everything is perfect. I'm just tired."

"Are you sure? You sound a little bit off today? Are you feeling well?"

Sometimes I forgot how sensitive my mother was to my changes in mood. After my depression because of Jake, my parents had begun to blame themselves for not noticing the change in me earlier and that they couldn't help me. After thinking a little, I decided to tell my mother about Edward.

"Mom, I'm fine. But I really have something to tell you about." There was a short pause between us for a few seconds." I met a man a few days ago and we are dating now."

That was it. The bomb was dropped. And the explosion didn't take long. As soon as the meaning of my words reached my mother, I heard a deafening scream of delight.

"When did it happen? Who is he? How and where did you meet? I want to know absolutely everything! Baby, I'm so glad that you started dating again."

Recently, my mother especially began to worry about my personal life. She was afraid that because of one mistake I would stop dating men. And this meant one thing, I could not give birth to her grandchildren. This situation reached the point when she periodically tried to introduce me to some young colleagues and partners of my father. And many of them were really good and worthwhile men, but they just couldn't make my heart beat like Edward could. I took a deep breath and prepared to tell my mother a short history of our acquaintance.

"I met him on the beach not far from my apartment. I talked to him for a few short minutes and we didn't even ask each other's names when we parted. But the next day I met him at the hospital. He turned out to be the new surgeon, and for the more Edward is Rosalie's cousin."

"So his name is Edward and he works as a doctor, just like you? What does he look like? Is he tall and blue-eyed like Rosalie and Jasper? Baby, I'm so excited! Tell me something else! "

"Mom! I think the entire population of the Forks now knows that I have a boyfriend. I'll tell you everything, just please speak a bit more quietly."

" But I can't help it! I was waiting for it for so long, young lady."

I felt my cheeks light up red. It's one thing to listen to a lecture about guys from my friends, but when my own mother interferes in this matter, it's different. I sighed and continued my story.

"So, then we met at Rose's home and he asked me on a date there. Ahead of your question, the date has already passed and he invited me to a very good restaurant. Yes, we are dating now, and yes, I like him. A lot. I think he likes me too. And answering your previous questions yes, he's tall. I think 6.3. His eyes are the most beautiful and deepest green that I ever saw, they do have something in common with Rose, but overall they are not alike."

"Bella, I'm so happy for you! I can hear it in your voice, you are happy with him. And it seems like you already have some deep feelings for this guy. Be careful, but don't let your fears control your life. Otherwise, you can miss something important."

"Thanks, Mom. How are you and dad? Forks is still the same rainy town, or you finally managed to see the sun this year?"

"It's not that bad. Yes, compared to the sunny west coast, the climate here is a little worse, but this even has its own charm. The vegetation here is incredible."

Charm my ass. If rain seven days a week can be called a charm, then Forks really has it in full.

"Oh. I almost forgot to tell you important news!" My mom's voice was filled with enthusiasm and I could almost see the image of my mom trembling with delight."I'm releasing a sequel to my book! My editor said the agency was inundated with questions about my book series, and they approved my sequel almost immediately. Isn't that great? "

I groaned inwardly as soon as my mother mentioned her well-known book. The one, with a source of inspiration I never wish to know. I hoped that Edward would never know that my mom is one of the most popular adult book authors, otherwise he might reconsider his desire to date me.

"My agent is trying to persuade me to arrange another meeting with my readers, and I just thought, maybe I should organize one on the sunny west coast? After all, I missed the sun and you so much! And with that new boyfriend of yours…"

''Boyfriend? I hope it's not that Black bastard?'' Charlie's sudden and angry voice made me groan inwardly for the second time that evening. ''Isabella I demand all information you know on this guy immediately."

"Dad! Stop. Please, you don't need to do this. Edward is different."

"Sure, baby. What's your Edward's last name?"

"Charlie! This is such good news! Stop scaring her, you remember how much I want grandchildren."

"Rene, I have to check him out. I will not repeat my past mistakes. Our baby deserves the best."

At some point, I stopped listening to them. I could still hear my mom's raptures and my dad's muttering, but my brain refused to perceive their speech.

"Mom, Dad! I love you, but I have to go. Bye!"

Without waiting for their answer, I hung up. With a loud groan, I fell onto the sofa and covered my face with my hands. I loved my parents with all my heart, but sometimes communication with them exhausted me too much. My head was about to explode, and at that moment I felt a physical need for Edward. As if the time spent without him was hurting me.

I grabbed my phone again and texted Edward, hoping that he was already free. I waited for an answer for several minutes, but it never came. Sighing sadly, I decided to go for a run. Quickly changing into my running clothes and grabbing my wristband, I went down to the embankment. After running for about an hour, I moved towards the house. Stopping just in front of the beach area where I first saw Edward, I suddenly decided to sit on the sand and enjoy the sunset, which looked so much like the sunset that day.

Such a familiar action now seemed somehow strange, as if I was missing something. Or someone, my inner voice told me. Such a sudden admission to myself shocked me. How could I get attached to Edward so quickly? My doubts about starting a new relationship were still with me, but I definitely didn't feel my previous fear. What I said to my father today was true, Edward was different.

When the sun was already almost completely drowned in the ocean, I realised that I had been sitting on the beach for too long. The temperature began to drop sharply, and my running clothes did not warm me at all. As I was about to leave, I was chained to the place with such a familiar velvety voice.

"What such a beautiful woman is doing here alone?''

A smile spread across my face, and a slight chuckle escaped me, as soon as I heard the familiar phrase.

"Is it some cheesy pickup line of yours to get a woman?" I tried my best to sound serious and not interrupt our acting. "Cause it's quite dark here and you can't see my face."

Finally, I turned around to look at him. He looked incredible as usual, even in a regular black hoodie and wide black shorts.

"Oh, I just have a hunch that you are pretty. And I'm never wrong. " His deep voice sounded much more seductive this time, and his gaze riveted to my lips made my insides turn over.

"H-mm." My response was drowned out by such a welcome kiss, effectively ending our acting.

The kiss was soft and gentle, but when he deepened the kiss, and his tongue found mine right away. After a while we broke off, hot palms passed over my frozen hands and Edward frowned.

"Bella, you're freezing! " Without waiting for my answer, he pulled off his hoodie and handed it to me. From his glance, I could immediately tell that he would not accept objections, so I just silently took it.

Edward quietly sat down on the sand next to me and hugged me. We sat there for a few seconds just enjoying the closeness of each other and the soothing sounds of the surf. He broke the silence first.

"I saw your message when I finished at work. I called back immediately, but you didn't answer. So I decided to try to find you and came to this place." He put his chin on the top of my head and tightened his grip on me. "I thought we decided it was dangerous for you to be out alone so late, and I would be more than happy to keep you company."

Several conflicting emotions arose in me. The very first emotion was anger. How dare he command me? I won't let a man rule my life again by telling me what to do. But another part of me understood that Edward's motives were different from Jake's. This wasn't the first time he showed his sincere concern for my safety. Taking a deep breath, I took his hand in mine.

"Edward, I understand that you didn't want to do anything wrong with your actions and words, but I ask you to understand me. I've lived here for a long period of time and until recently I came here almost every day. I appreciate your concern, but I'm already a grown-up woman and I'm perfectly capable to decide for myself what and when I can do." I squeezed his hand tighter in the hope that he would understand that I didn't want to offend him.

I heard a sigh behind me and began to prepare for his reaction to my words. This was probably the first time I expressed my disagreement with him so vividly. But his reaction surprised me. He pressed me tighter to his chest again and sighed into my hair.

"I know, Bella. And I understand that you have done this dozens of times before we met. I can't stop you from doing something you like, but you can't stop my worries. I just hoped that you would understand that now you don't have to do this alone."

How could I stay angry at him when he said such things? Wasn't I the one who thought not too long ago that my evening ritual now felt less complete?

"I know Edward. I like spending time here with you. And I promise that if I want to sit here, I will call you, but let's not dismiss the possibility that I will probably want to be here alone sometimes. Treat it as a compromise."

"Deal." I turned around to see his trademark grin, and couldn't resist reaching out to kiss him. How does he manage to get his way without frustrating me?

"Tell me how was your day today? Met any other single and handsome doctors here?"

I rolled my eyes at his remark, but then I smiled.

"Why Mr. Cullen, are you jealous?"

"In these shorts? Very much. I probably need to buy a fly swatter to drive away all the onlookers."

I understood that he was joking and that no one was looking at me at all, but his playfully jealous comment caused an incredibly pleasant feeling in me.

"Well, there was only one very handsome and equally modest doctor." I kissed him on the corner of his mouth, which twisted into my favorite grin."But seriously, the most interesting thing that happened to me today was my conversation with my parents."

I mentally winced as I remembered my parents' reaction to my news. But apparently, I shuddered not only in my head but outside too, as Edward sent me a questioning look.

"I told them about you, and their reaction was a little bit embarrassing. My mother's joyous cry was probably heard within a radius of several miles. At the same time, my father was trying to find out all your passport data in order to check you through his databases. Not the best reaction from your parents when you are almost thirty years old."

Edward laughed softly, squeezing me against his chest, and I gave him a look that could kill, but he ignored it.

"Hm, should I be afraid of your father's checking? Does he work in the police or something? I thought you said that he has something like his own company? "

"Why? Do you have something to hide? " I squinted my eyes trying to look suspiciously, but secretly I was a bit afraid of his answer.

"Hm, let me think." He theatrically pressed his fingers to the chin, as if he was trying hard to remember something. "Does killing someone count?"

I rolled my eyes and playfully punched him on the shoulder.

"If you really killed someone, then we would no longer sit here together. My dad has a lot of interesting contacts, so he'd take care of it already."

Edward looked at me with wide eyes, and I gave him a sweet smile. Perhaps I threatened him a little now. But he must know in advance that Charles Swan is no joke.

"But you don't have to worry too much. I think my mom won't let him do anything, she really wants to have grandchildren."

I first joked, and only then the meaning of my own words came to me, and I felt how my cheeks began to blush. Great job, Swan. First, you threatened him, and then you told him about having kids together and all of it on the same second date. It will be a miracle if he continues to talk with me after all of this. But Edward, God blessed him, decided to brush off my stupidity.

"Well, it looks like our moms definitely have something in common. And besides, I think our kids would be extremely beautiful, so it's a crime to waste such a good gene pool." Edward winked at me playfully and then changed the topic to a safer one.

We sat some more, joking and poking each other, but unfortunately, we needed to go to work tomorrow, so we decided to go to sleep. Edward, as a true gentleman, which he was, insisted on chaperoning me to the apartment.

Standing at the door we had already exchanged a bunch of goodbye kisses, but then one of us started a new one and everything went from the beginning. At that moment, when I seriously thought about inviting him inside, Edward distracted me with his question.

"I want you to meet my parents. Come with me to my family dinner on Sunday?"