A/N: I couldn't help myself. I had the chapter ready and got a little impatient.

Also, I did make changes to chapter 2, which will be reflected in this chapter. I hope I fixed the asshole problem.

Happy reading!

3

Bella

I've known Edward Cullen almost as long as I've known Alice. I remember the first time he came home from college, carrying a massive bag of laundry as he walked through the front door of the Cullen's home. Esme had scolded him for dropping it by the door and just leaving it there. He grumbled about getting it later, to which Esme gave him her signature glare. Needless to say, he moved the bag to the laundry room off the garage. He would've been around twenty-one at the time.

For years, he was this enigma, the man that would ruffle my hair and say 'hey, kid' when he was home. He'd been someone whose existence had been on the periphery, but all of that had changed when he'd come home for Alice's wedding.

I'd gone downstairs in the middle of night that first night at the Cullen's house, unable to sleep, thinking that pie was the cure I needed for my insomnia.

The house had been dark and quiet as I made my way to the kitchen. I'd just taken my first bite when the kitchen light was turned on, and I had to swallow the scream that wanted to escape so I wouldn't alarm the rest of the house, because standing in the doorway was Edward. His hair was a mess and pajamas rumpled, clearly he had been tossing and turning like I had been.

Before this moment, I hadn't taken the time to take him in. He was tall, like he'd always been, of course. Unlike when he'd been home before, there was an exhaustion that seemed to be permanent in his usually bright green eyes. He looked older, but not due to age, it was like there was this cloud hanging over him now, masking the normally vibrant man that walked the halls of his parents home, giving his mom and sister shit. He hadn't been like that since he'd arrived. I didn't like it. Didn't like this version of him that was standing before me.

Despite all of that, he was as handsome as ever, and that was doing funny things to my insides.

When he said something about both of us having the same idea. I remember that I'd offered to leave, and he said that I only had to if I wasn't planning on sharing, which when it came to Esme's peach pie, I never wanted to share. I told him that it was my favorite, hoping to get across how painful the idea of sharing it was for me. He walked over, saying it was his as well, sticking his finger in the pan, collecting some of the filling, before putting it in his mouth. I never thought that someone licking pie filling off their finger could be so sexy. The action was causing certain parts of me to take notice, that I was ignoring. I blame the Harlequin I'd been reading before I'd come downstairs. That was the only explanation for what was happening to me.

That was the first of many nights we shared together, talking in the darkness, which offered both of us a certain level of boldness. I shared things during those nights with him that I'd never shared with anyone. I was already starting to fall for him before that night he told me I was beautiful, that just solidified it for me. There was no going back for me after that.

Those few weeks that he was home after the wedding were bliss and I tricked myself into thinking he was mine. I'd stupidly fallen in love with who I thought he was. The night before he left to go back to New York, he promised to return for Christmas, that we would tell our families about us then if this was something we both still wanted. I'd been so filled with hope as we made love that night. When he left Copper Creek the next day, he took a part of me with him that I never got back.

The first weeks of him being back in New York, we talked all the time. He called me every night when he got home from the office, regaling me with stories of what he'd done that day, and I told him about getting my job at Safe Haven, something that I'd been so excited about. He was the first person I'd wanted to tell.

Then, there'd been a shift. Things were rough for him at work, and I was in training for me new role. It wasn't the same anymore. Our daily calls became every other day, then sporadic at best. The demise of something that had once meant so much to both of us, was slow and painful. The only way to save us both, was to end it. Even though it had been my suggestion, it still hurt like my heart was being split in two. I just couldn't bare the thought of us ending up hating each other.

The months after were hard. I was still close to his parents and had dinner with them from time to time, and every time they would bring him up, it was like a punch to the gut.

When he came back for the holidays and asked to meet for coffee, part of me knew what he was going to tell me, and I tried to prepare for it, but it didn't take any of the sting out of him actually speaking the words engaged. I'd met his now fiancé a few times over the years. She was beautiful, model pretty, just the type of person that would fit into his life so easily back in New York.

He'd broken the news so nicely, which only made it hurt worse somehow. He didn't want me to hear from anyone else, or to be blindsided at his parents Christmas party when they were making the official announcement. If he'd been an asshole or a douche, it would've made it so easy for me to hate him. Part of me wished he had been, but that wasn't his nature. It never had been, never would be.

I held it together, even though I shattered right there at the coffee shop, knowing I would never be able to get those pieces of me back.

Leaving that day, I swore I'd never speak to him again, Which had been easy considering he hadn't been home since then. The only news I got about him was from Alice or Esme, and in recent months, the tabloids when they plastered his divorce on their front pages. It was the only thing I could think to do to shield what was left of my heart. I knew I wouldn't be able to take seeing their happy life. The thing that made it worse was that even though my heart was splintered, I still loved him for so long afterwards. My heart hadn't been able to let him go.

I never expected to run into him (literally), ever again. So imagine my shock when I look up at the man I ran into at Mod Olive on a random Monday night and find the man I'd never expected, or wanted, to see again.

"Edward." Was the only thing my mouth could think to say as we stared at each other, both in shock.

"Hi?" It comes out as a question. Obviously his brain is working about as well as mine is.

When I come partially to my senses and realize I'm still pressed against him, I take a shaky step back, wobbling slightly on my heels. One of his hands comes out with the intention of helping steady me, but stops just short of touching my arm, like he thought better of it, and drops it back to his side.

"You're back." I state the obvious, feeling panic bubbling up inside my chest.

"It was a spur of the moment." The fact that he feels as awkward as me gives the petty part of me a certain amount of satisfaction.

"Oh." Is my only response, because the only thing going through my mind in this moment is: I have to get out of here.

"Bells," Zafrina places her hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"

I nod, swallowing. "Have you paid the bill?"

"Yeah." She's standing next to me with both of our bags, the book I gave her under her arm.

"Let's go." I take my bag from her and rush out of the restaurant as fast as my heels and slight intoxication will let me. My phone is in my hand before I hit the sidewalk, searching for an Uber.

I hear Zafrina's rushed footsteps behind me as she works to catch up with me. the fact she can run in her spike heels makes me envious. "What was that back there?"

I finish selecting my Uber, the app saying the driver will be here in ten minutes. "Nothing."

She grabs my arm, turning me to face her. "I know what nothing looks like, and that wasn't nothing." This is one of those time that I hate that she can read me so well.

I run my hand through my hair, the panic and shock of seeing him again still running through my veins. Why did he have to come back? Why did I have to run into him?

Feeling drained, I lean against the brick building, taking a moment to catch my breath before I try to explain the situation to her.

"He's my sort of ex."

"Sort of ex?" She looks at me in confusion. "Girl, I'm need more details than that if I'm going to hate him on your behalf."

I actually laugh a little at her words, and I do as she asks, telling her everything that happened between us.

"That dick!" She exclaims, making an older couple walking by glare at her, but she either doesn't notice or doesn't care. That's one of the things I love about her. She doesn't water anything down, always speaking her mind. It sometimes got her in trouble, but she remained true to herself anyway. "I mean he tells you he's engaged just a matter of months after you two break up. Who the fuck does that?!" She comes to lean against the wall next to me. "I could go give him a piece of my mind if you want. Shake my fist at him and let him know just how bad he fucked up because he let someone as amazing as you go."

I give her a watery smile, leaning my head against her shoulder. When Zafrina loves someone, she loves them fiercely. "I love you."

She sighed, leaning her head against mine. "I love you, too, bestie." We're quiet for a few moments before she adds: "What would you do without me?"

I laugh at her unexpected comment. "Wither and die?"

-SH-

I was right in my assumption that I would pay for my night out, because when I wake up Tuesday morning, my head is pounding and my mouth feels like it's filled with cotton. Things only get better when I look at my phone and see it's eight-fifty. I'd slept through my fucking alarm.

I rush to get ready, shoving a granola bar in my mouth as I run to my car. When I walk into the office, miraculously only five minutes late, I see Zafrina at the copier in the reception area looking about as good as I do, which helps me a feel a little better.

The morning is rough as I trudge through the narrative I'm writing for a grant that Kate and I found yesterday. It was a small foundation grant, only a five-thousand dollar award, but every little bit counted, especially right now.

At lunch time, Zafrina comes into my office carrying bags from Sonic and two coffees from Copper Creek Rosters. How she always knew what I needed, I would never know.

"Here you go, bestie." She grins as she hands over a crème brulé cold brew and one of the bags from Sonic.

"You are officially my hero." I moan when I take a sip of the coffee, my caffeine deprived system rejoicing. "I was dying in here. Kate was talking to me a little while ago and I was struggling to comprehend what she was telling me and she asked me what was wrong."

Zaf snorts, her own coffee almost coming out of her nose. Coughing she asks: "What did you say?"

"That I didn't sleep well." I say around a bite of burger. "I couldn't very well tell her that I was hungover."

She laughs, continuing to cough. "Oh my God."

"Yeah." I take another bite, already feeling my hangover starting to subside. "That's how my day has been going."

"So," Zaf says, taking a dainty bite of a fry. "I ran into our friend from last night at the coffee shop."

I chew slowly, wondering where she's going with this. "And?"

"And he asked me if you were okay." She crosses her legs, taking another bite of her fry. Under normal circumstances, I would enjoy this little game she was playing, but right now it just made my brain hurt.

"Zaf, you're killing me here, just tell me what happened without all the dramatics. My brain can't handle that right now."

She sighs, taking mercy on me. "Well, I basically told him to fuck off, and that because he hurt you, he was my enemy now."

I almost choke on burger, because I can so see her doing that. "What did he say?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. I left before he could react. Like I was for one second going to give that prick a chance to worm his way back into your world."

"Have I told you how much I appreciate you?" Before Zafrina, I didn't have any friends in town. I'd been pretty lonely when she came along, giving me no choice but to be friends with her.

She tapes her chin, thinking for a moment. "Not today. You could definitely stand to say it more."

I roll my eyes at her. "I do, though. More than you will ever know."

We finish eating lunch, our conversation swerving, thankfully, away from Edward. By the time we're done, my hangover is finally gone and I'm finally able to focus.

Even though I don't want them to, my thoughts go back to last night at Mod Olive. And I know Zafrina is wrong about one thing. He was already back in my world.

A/N: I love Zafrina. She's inspired by my real-life bestie.

See you next time!