SIX

The house was quiet except for the sound of my sanding block against the newly constructed walls. I was running on fumes, covered in a layer of dust and specks of paint, but I didn't care. I was in the zone, focused on getting these walls ready for their first coat.

"Bella?" I heard Edward's voice call out, echoing through the house.

I blinked in surprise, straightening up. I hadn't expected him to come by tonight. "Upstairs!" I called back.

He appeared in the doorway, a lopsided grin on his face, and something hidden behind his back. His eyes roamed over me in my overalls and paint-splattered shirt, and he let out a low whistle.

"You look stunning," he said, and I could tell by the way he said it that he actually meant it.

I snorted, shaking my head at him. "Oh yeah, I'm really pulling off the 'exhausted house painter' look," I teased, trying to brush off the compliment.

Edward just smiled wider. "I need you to come downstairs with me," he said, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

"Why?" I asked, crossing my arms, already suspicious.

He didn't answer right away; instead, he moved his hand from behind his back, revealing a beautiful bouquet of peonies—my favourite flowers. I gasped, my heart doing a little flip in my chest.

"These are for you," he said, his voice softer now.

I reached out, my fingers brushing over the petals. "Edward, thank you," I said, genuinely touched. "How did you know these are my favourite?"

He shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the hint of a smile on his lips gave him away. "I have my sources," he said.

Before I could respond, he nodded toward the stairs. "Now, come on. Just trust me."

I followed him downstairs, still holding the peonies, and as we reached the living room, I stopped short. He'd set up a picnic rug on the floor with candles scattered around, cushions laid out, and a basket with a cheese platter. There were interior design magazines and a laptop open to Pinterest, all laid out like he'd planned it perfectly.

Edward looked at me, that smile of his still in place, and my breath caught in my throat. It was sweet, thoughtful, and honestly, more romantic than I'd expected.

"Thought you could use a break," he said, watching my reaction closely.

I felt my cheeks warm, and I tried to keep my voice steady. "Is this a date, Edward?" I asked, half-teasing but also genuinely curious.

He shook his head, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Nope. Not a date," he said confidently. "When you finally agree to go on a date with me, Bella, you'll know it. The standards will leapfrog so high that this will seem like just a warm-up. I'll make sure to really treat you."

I bit my lip to keep from smiling too wide, my heart doing somersaults despite my best efforts to stay calm. "You're really something, you know that?" I said, sitting down on the cushions, the warmth of the moment wrapping around us like a blanket.

Edward settled beside me, reaching for the cheese platter. "I'm glad you're starting to see that," he said, his voice softer now, his eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that made it impossible to look away.

And as we sat there, sharing cheese and flipping through design ideas, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this house wasn't the only thing Edward was helping to rebuild.

I picked up a piece of cheese, savouring the rich flavour as I popped it into my mouth. I couldn't help the moan that escaped—it was that good. Edward's eyebrow shot up, a teasing smirk forming on his lips.

"Well, now I'm jealous," he said, eyes sparkling with mischief.

I couldn't help but laugh. "You have to try this," I insisted, scooping some cheese onto a cracker and holding it up to his mouth.

Edward leaned in, taking a bite, and to my surprise, he let out his own dramatic moan. I burst into giggles at the sound, shaking my head at his antics. He gave me a playful shove and, with a mock-innocent grin, reached for the platter of cheese.

"Hey! You cheese hog!" I gasped, smacking his arm playfully as I tried to wrestle the plate away from him.

He twisted around, evading my grasp, and before I knew it, he'd grabbed hold of me, pulling me down across his lap with a laugh. He held the platter just out of my reach, stuffing another piece into his mouth while grinning like he'd just scored the winning goal.

"Edward!" I shrieked with laughter, wriggling in his hold as he kept me pinned. He tickled my sides mercilessly, making it impossible to catch my breath as I squirmed.

When he finally relented, I lay on my back on the rug beside him, still laughing as I gave him a light tap with my foot. It wasn't much of a kick, more like a gentle nudge, but it got my point across. "You're the worst!" I accused between giggles.

He grinned, his hands finding my sides again as he tickled me one last time. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that, Swan," he said, his voice low and teasing as I squirmed under his touch, my laughter echoing through the room.

We were both breathless, tangled up on the rug, our faces only inches apart. The laughter died down as we locked eyes, the air between us suddenly thick with something more. For a second, I thought he might kiss me. I wanted him to, but neither of us made the move.

Clearing his throat, Edward shifted slightly, still holding my gaze. "Come to my game this weekend," he said, his voice a little rougher, more serious.

I blinked at him, taken aback by the sudden change in his tone. "Your game?"

He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Yeah, I want you there. Watching me."

I hesitated, then gave him a small smile. "Okay," I said softly. "I'll be there."

And just like that, the mood shifted again, the playful teasing replaced with something heavier, more charged. Something that felt a lot like the beginning of something real.

EPOV

The roar of the crowd echoed in my ears. I knew exactly where she was sitting—front row, right beside Rosalie, in the seats I'd reserved just for her. Bella was on her feet, cheering like she'd been a hockey fan her whole life, her smile brighter than the stadium lights.

Emmett had just stopped a crucial penalty shot, fulfilling Rosalie's challenge to him, and I could see the look of pure pride on his face as he raised his fist in victory. He gave a quick, subtle nod to Rosalie in the stands, and even from here, I could see her smirking, more than a little impressed.

We were on the verge of victory. My teammates and I exchanged glances, the unspoken agreement passing between us. This was it. It was time to seal the deal.

The puck dropped, and everything moved in a blur. I could feel the adrenaline surging through my veins as I charged forward, weaving past the defence like they were standing still. The goal was right there, and I wasn't about to miss my shot.

I pulled back, aimed, and with a sharp flick of my wrist, sent the puck flying straight into the back of the net. The red light flashed, the horn blared, and the crowd erupted into chaos. We'd done it. We'd won.

The next thing I knew, my teammates were all over me, piling on in a blur of jerseys, shouts, and laughter. It was chaos, but the best kind of chaos, the kind that reminded me why I loved this game so damn much.

But even with all the noise and celebration, my eyes couldn't help but search for her. I looked up into the stands, and there she was—Bella—cheering louder than anyone, her eyes shining with excitement and pride. It was like she was the only person in the stadium.

Without thinking, I reached up and blew her a kiss, a grin spreading across my face as I saw her blush, her hands still clapping wildly. The look on her face was everything I'd hoped for and more.

I found Bella just outside the locker room, still buzzing with excitement from the game. Rosalie stood next to her, practically bouncing on her heels as they laughed together. I couldn't help but grin as I approached them, feeling more pumped than I had in ages.

"Thanks for cheering me on out there," I said, locking eyes with Bella. "I swear, I played my best game in a while, and it's all because of you."

Bella blushed, looking both pleased and slightly embarrassed. "Oh, please," she said, brushing me off with a wave of her hand, but I could tell she was secretly thrilled.

"Come celebrate with us," I said, turning to include both girls in the invitation. "The team always hits up this bar after a win. Drinks are on me."

Rosalie's eyes lit up, and she didn't even hesitate. "I'm in!" she declared, giving Bella a pointed look that clearly said, Don't even think about saying no.

Bella bit her lip, looking like she was ready to come up with a polite excuse, but before she could, Rosalie grabbed her arm and gave her a little shake. "Come on, Bella! You can't say no to free drinks and hot hockey players!"

Bella rolled her eyes but finally gave in with a smile. "Fine, fine, I'm coming," she said, shooting me a look that was half-annoyed, half-amused.

Just then, Rosalie's attention was snagged by Emmett, who was standing a few feet away, looking as thrilled as I'd ever seen him. "Emmett!" she squealed, racing over to him before I could even blink.

And just like that, it was just Bella and me, standing there in the afterglow of the game. I took a step closer to her, dropping my voice a little lower. "Seriously, thank you for being there tonight," I said, my eyes never leaving hers. "I wanted to play my best for you."

Bella's smile softened, and she let out a small huff, shaking her head slightly. "Fine," she said, almost to herself.

I tilted my head, grinning at her confusion. "What's fine?"

She sighed dramatically and crossed her arms, her eyes meeting mine with a look of mock surrender. "You can take me on the bloody date, Cullen," she said, her voice full of reluctant acceptance.

My grin widened into a full-on smile, my heart pounding in triumph. "Oh, I will, Swan," I said, leaning in just a little closer. "And it's going to be the best damn date you've ever had."

Bella looked up at me, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of nerves in her eyes before she quickly masked it with her usual sass. "You've set the bar pretty high now," she said, narrowing her eyes playfully. "You better deliver."

I couldn't help but chuckle, leaning in just a little closer, close enough to catch the faint blush on her cheeks. "Trust me, baby," I said, my voice low and promising. "You're not going to regret this."

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "We'll see about that," she said, her tone teasing but with an undercurrent of something more.

Just then, Emmett and Rosalie returned, laughing loudly, completely caught up in their own little world. Emmett threw his arm around Rosalie's shoulders, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. "You coming to the bar with us, Bella?" he asked, barely containing his excitement.

Bella shot a quick glance at me, then nodded. "Yeah, I'm coming," she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

We all headed toward the bar, and I couldn't help but steal a few glances at Bella as we walked. She was trying to play it cool, but there was a spark in her eyes that told me she was just as excited as I was.

This wasn't just another challenge anymore. This was about her—Bella. And I was determined to show her that I was serious about this, about us.

And if tonight was any indication, I knew this was just the beginning of something incredible.