Thank you for all the love. Thank you to Team Harpy.

Some of y'all called it.

Chapter 6

Edward

"I'm so excited to watch your episode tonight," Jess exclaims. I'm seated next to her on the couch, with Lauren and Eric on the love seat and my parents on the other side of me. Apparently my small-screen debut is a reason to throw a party.

"It's not that big a deal. I'm only on screen for a few minutes," I reply.

"I always said he was handsome enough to be on TV," my mom gushes.

The clock to our right hits eight o'clock, and Jess shushes everyone as I fidget next to her.

I don't know why I'm nervous, but I really want to get away from here. Having my parents and friends over is too much for me right now. It's been three weeks since they had me put some scrubs on and get in front of the camera, each episode since giving me just a little more airtime. Airtime I didn't ask for. And that isn't the problem exactly.

The problem is that Bella has been distant since that day. She still smiles and interacts with me on set, but once Anton yells cut, she's off to do this or that. I want to ask her about her one eighty, but I don't really have the right to do that. So I spend my time in my office, helping with scripts and research when I'm not on set. But I live for the days I'm shooting with her. I see her smile and laugh and the way she teases her co-stars—even me.

But then I realize that maybe it's good one of us has retracted.

"There you are!" Jess squeals as she grabs my arm. I turn my attention to the screen and try not to cringe. "You should've shaved, babe," she admonishes.

"It's not like I knew I'd be thrown in the scene, Jess." From her wounded look, I might have been sharper than I intended. "Sorry. This is weird." I apologize immediately.

Her face softens. "I know, but you did such a great job."

"Thank you." I lean over to kiss her but catch her cheek as she turns to say something to Lauren.

I settle in to watch the rest of the show.

When I get up this morning, I do all of my regular routine. Nothing out of the ordinary. That ends when I arrived at work. There's insane chatter everywhere, and I'm curious as to what's causing this energy.

As I walk to Alec's office, he shouts at me to come in. I hover by the doorway because I see Bella in there as well.

"Come in and shut the door please." I do so, uncertainly. "Have a seat," he prompts, and I do. I feel some tension, but both Bella and Alec seem fine.

"So what's up?"

"Our ratings," Alec says, smiling.

"Well, that's good," I say, relaxing some.

"Yes, that's good, really good. Which is why I called Bella in here this morning, and you joined us at just the right moment. The boards are going crazy."

"Boards?"

"The network's message boards," Bella informs me. She looks at Alec. "Why this time?"

"Because of this guy right here." He gestures to me.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. They all want to know who the hot new doctor is."

"No one. He…I am no one," I assert.

"Then tell me why you got so many reactions?" He looks at his screen and starts reading from it.

"Who is the hot new doc in the navy blue?"

"I think my ovaries just exploded. Who is this new hunky doctor?"

"I'm suddenly thinking about throwing myself in front of a small sedan, so the new hottie doctor can save me."

"What's this new hot doctor's name?"

"OMG. Is #DrHottie going to be a rival for Maggie's affections?"

"I see a love triangle in the making. Maggie/Riley/DrHottie."

He looks up from his screen. "This is just a tenth of the tweets and messages we received last night and this morning. And more are pouring in." He looks at both Bella and me. "Then I got a call from the network."

"Do I want to know where this is going?" Bella asks.

"I think you already know."

"Shit" is all she says before her face becomes impassive.

"Why 'shit'?" I demand to know.

"As you were helping Bella with the scene three weeks ago, I could picture it all in my head."

"Picture all what in your head?" Bella prompts.

"You and him."

She fidgets a bit. "What about me and him?"

"Your chemistry is off the charts! It's what nighttime TV drama was made for. When he came up behind you, I could feel the magic."

She shakes her head. "He's not an actor."

"Actor? No, I'm a doctor, not an actor," I protest.

Alec waves away our objections. "Anyone can be an actor, but not everyone can have that chemistry. The camera loves you. Put you in some dark blue scrubs, and with that hair and those eyes and that jaw…you could be a movie star."

"I don't want to be a movie star. I want to be a doctor. Bella, help?"

"He's not an actor," she parrots my earlier sentiment.

"That was very convincing."

"What do you want me to say?" she hisses. "This was dropped on me, too."

"You know these people; I don't."

"Just tell them no. It's really easy."

I look at Alec. "No."

"He said no."

"Simmer down, Starlet." Alec laughs at Bella. "Picture it—" Alec dramatically moves his hands.

"Let me guess, Sicily, 1922?" she sasses.

"Can it, Sophia. As I was saying. Maggie O'Connell meets a mysterious new doctor brought in by the head of the department. His name is Dr. Liam Brennon. Maggie and Liam have instant sparks and converge on an inferno style love affair."

"Hold up; he's married," she objects.

"So is Jake, and you have no problem getting naked with him." Alec points out.

"Jake has a husband, Alec. And I'm not naked." She bites her lip. "You can't seriously be entertaining this nonsense."

"It has merit, Bella. You know Edward. You brought him to my attention. And he's already on set. But it is up to him."

Both of them turn to me where I'm sitting, shocked.

"I think you broke him." She waves a hand in front of my face, startling me slightly.

"I don't think I'm interested, but thank you. It's very flattering."

She blows out a sigh of relief.

"That's your choice, but I'm willing to offer you quadruple what you're making as a medical advisor to start with."

I swallow hard. "I feel like I'm being backed into a corner right now. I need to talk this over with my wife."

"Get back to us when you can." Alec says, then dismisses us both. I try to talk to Bella, but she disappears out of sight immediately.

I sigh and go back to my office.

"So what do you need to talk to me about?" Jess asks.

I take a drink, as my mouth is dry, and clear my throat. "Today was interesting."

"Mine, too! All my friends were blowing up my phone about your scenes!"

"That's…nice. Alec offered me more responsibilities."

"That's great!"

"You haven't heard what it is yet." I force a smile.

"Is it more money?" Her eyes light up.

"Yes, but money isn't everything."

"Depends on how much it is," she retorts.

"Three million dollars."

She jumps up from her perch on the couch and starts screaming. "Three. Million. Dollars! You took it, right? Say you took it," she demands.

"I told them I had to think about it."

"What is there to think about, Edward? It's almost ten times what you were making at the hospital."

"They want me to be on screen, Jess."

"Like an actor?"

"Yeah."

Her squealing starts again, and I stop her, gently guiding her back to our couch. "I need you to listen to me, okay? Really listen. Forget about the money for a second. They want me to appear on the screen as a doctor with dialogue and a storyline."

"Are you afraid you can't do it? Because I think you'd be great," she interrupts.

"Well, that is part of it. My storyline involves me being up close and personal with Bella. Really up close and personal."

"But Maggie is in a relationship with Riley on the show."

"I'm guessing it would be a love triangle of some sort. I don't know, but I don't think it's a good idea."

"And what does Bella think?" Her tone is casual, but I notice a bite when she says her name.

"Based on her sigh of relief when I initially turned it down, I'd say she doesn't want this to happen either."

I see the wheels turning in her head, and I know she's at war with herself. Money vs. Bella. And I know without a doubt which one is going to win.

"I think you should do it," she says, and I bite back a curse as she adds, "Hear me out."

I school my features and decide to listen to her.

"This money can give us a life we've only dreamed about."

You mean you've only dreamed about. I was quite content with my life until this shit happened, I think bitterly.

"Maybe even start that family you've been wanting," she says, dangling the one carrot she knows I can't resist. She knows I've wanted children for a few years now. I narrow my eyes on her. "We've been wanting," she corrects. "The timing has never been good until now. I can be a stay-at-home mom."

"Do you mean that?" I ask, suddenly hopeful. She has never even hinted at giving up her job, not that I would ever have asked her to, but to have a family would be a dream come true. And if she's willing to adjust the life she built for herself to give me my dream, then I should be willing to do the same. And I mean, how long could this last? I'll just have them put in my contract that if I suck at acting, I can still keep my job as an advisor.

"Okay, let's do it." I agree. She leaps into my arms, and I hug her tightly.

Maybe we can have it all.

Jessica

"Lauren, you will never guess what just happened."

"Why are you whispering?"

"Edward's in the shower, and he'd kill me if he knew I was telling you this, but guess who got offered a starring role on Olympic Med?"

"No!"

"Yes. And they're paying him three million dollars to do it. Apparently, the director saw something in him when he was on set today, and they offered him the job on the spot."

"And he just took it?" Lauren asks doubtfully.

"Of course not. You know my husband. He's never impulsive." I roll my eyes. "He had to talk it over with me."

"And I'm guessing you talked him into it?" She laughs.

"Three million dollars, and I'll be the wife of a television star. Of course, I talked him into it. But the things I had to promise to do—"

"Like what?"

"I had to promise him a kid."

Lauren starts coughing. I wait impatiently for her to finish her theatrics. "Can you focus? I only have a few more minutes." I crane my neck to make sure the water is still running.

"I thought you didn't want children?"

"I don't."

"But you're gonna have a kid so he will do this?"

"I mean, it wouldn't be the worst thing, would it? We can hire a nanny or whatever."

"So what will his storyline be?"

I bite my lip. She's not going to like this next part. I don't like this next part. "He's going to be part of a love triangle with Maggie and Riley."

"Jess, three million dollars is not worth you having to watch your husband make out with his ex-girlfriend!"

"I beg to differ. He won't cheat on me, Lo."

She softens at my nickname for her. "If you say so, but I'm telling you to keep an eye on that situation. Check his phone, pop up on that set randomly. Something in my gut is telling me you need to watch your back."

"I will. I promise. But you're wrong." I hear the shower turn off. "Ooh, I've got to go. We'll have lunch in a few. Love you; bye."

I'm sitting in bed watching TV when he comes to bed.

"I'm so happy right now, Jess," he says, curling into me.

"Me, too, Edward. Me, too."

I hear his breaths even out, and I grin the grin of a wife who is about to have it all.

The way you used to touch me felt so fine
We kept our hearts together down the line
A moment in the soul can last forever
Comfort and keep us
Help me bring the feeling back again - Didn't We Almost Have It All- Whitney Houston