EIGHT

EPOV

The bar was buzzing with energy as we all gathered around the pool table, drinks in hand. Bella and Rosalie were giggling, their cheeks flushed from a combination of laughter and the drinks they'd been steadily consuming. Emmett and I exchanged a look, both of us trying not to smile too wide at the sight.

"I'm just saying, you girls don't stand a chance," Emmett teased, racking up the balls as Rosalie narrowed her eyes at him.

Bella shot me a look, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, really? You think we're that bad?" she asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Absolutely," I said with a smirk. "We'll go easy on you, though. Promise."

Rosalie shot Bella a wink, and I saw a glint of mischief in their eyes as they took their positions. For the first few shots, they played into our hands, missing the easiest hits and asking us to show them how to line up the cue properly.

I moved in behind Bella, wrapping my arm around her waist to guide her shot. "You've got to hold it steady, baby" I said, my voice low in her ear. "Like this."

She leaned back into me, that perfect ass daring to push up against me, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "Oh, like this?" she said, letting the cue slide slightly off track on purpose.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not quite. Here, let me show you again." I repositioned her hands, enjoying the warmth of her skin beneath my fingers. As I leaned in closer, I caught a whiff of her intoxicating scent – strawberries and freesia. It was almost enough to make me lose focus.

Suddenly, Bella twisted in my arms, her lips brushing against my ear. "You know, Edward," she whispered, her breath hot against my skin, "I think I've got it now."

Before I could react, she slipped out of my grasp and lined up her shot. With a swift, precise movement, she sunk two balls in one go. The clack of the balls hitting home echoed through the bar, drawing a few impressed looks from nearby patrons.

Emmett's jaw dropped. "What the—"

"What just happened?" I muttered, straightening up behind her, not quite believing my eyes.

I grabbed Bella's waist, pulling her close and looking her dead in the eye. "Alright, what's your secret, Swan? How are you suddenly pool sharks?"

Bella giggled, leaning into me with a twinkle in her eye. "Rosalie trained us in college," she said, barely able to keep a straight face. "We used to practice to pick up cute guys at bars. Worked like a charm."

I shook my head, letting out a low chuckle. "You played me," I said, pretending to be hurt but secretly loving the way she looked right now—cheeks flushed, eyes bright, and absolutely loving every second of this.

Bella's laughter turned into a delicate purr as she traced her fingers along my jawline, tucking a short loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You were absolutely on fire out there tonight," she whispered in a sultry tone, her eyes locking onto mine. "I was almost worried that the ice would melt. You're so hot doing your thing... especially in those tight slider boots."

"Skates," I corrected with a laugh, watching as she shrugged, her pout turning into a shy smile.

"I can't skate at all," she said, her eyes wide and almost childlike. "You'll have to teach me someday."

I nodded, my gaze locked on hers. "Deal," I said softly. "I'll teach you. You're kinda adorable when you're drunk, you know that?"

Bella leaned in closer, her lips just inches from mine, her breath warm against my cheek. "Wanna know a secret?" she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Anything," I whispered back, my pulse pounding.

She smirked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have a dangerously intense crush on you."

My heart raced at her words, and I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. For the first time in ages, I felt like I was the one being seduced.

I moved closer to her, our faces so close that our breaths mingled. "Looks like we have mutual feelings," I purred, my tone filled with desire and playfulness.

Bella's eyes widened slightly, and then she gave me the most adorable smile, her cheeks flushing even more. I could tell she was trying to act nonchalant, but the way her eyes sparkled said it all.

I straightened up a bit, still holding her close. "Come on, let me get you home," I offered, knowing full well how these nights could catch up with you in the morning.

Bella shook her head stubbornly, a playful glint in her eye. "No way. I'm having too much fun," she said, her voice a little slurred from the drinks but full of conviction.

I chuckled, knowing she'd probably regret this decision in a few hours. "You're gonna wish you'd listened to me when you wake up with a hangover," I teased.

But instead of letting go, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me even closer. Her eyes roamed over my face, and then she tilted her head slightly, studying me with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "How do you have so many nice teeth for an ice hockey player?" she asked, her voice half-wondering, half-teasing.

I laughed, caught off guard by the question, and shrugged. "Lucky genetics, I guess," I said. "Plus, I know a good dentist."

Bella's laughter bubbled up, the sound filling the space around us, and I realised that I was completely gone for this girl. I'd gone from trying to win her over to desperately hoping she never looked at anyone else the way she was looking at me right now.

Bella's arms were still looped around my neck, her laugh softening into a smile that did things to my chest I wasn't ready to deal with. She was so close I could see every fleck of colour in her eyes, the way they crinkled at the edges when she smiled, the way her lips curved up like she was holding back a secret.

"Well," she said, her voice low and a little teasing, "I think you're the first hockey player I've met who doesn't have a toothless grin."

I smirked, leaning just a bit closer, so close that our noses were nearly touching. "Maybe I'm not like all the other hockey players," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Bella's smile faltered for just a moment, and something softer crossed her face, something that made my breath hitch. I didn't want to rush this—whatever this was. I wanted to enjoy every second, every moment of this slow fall.

"You're not," she said, almost too quietly, like she hadn't meant to say it out loud. Her arms were still around my neck, her fingers playing with the hair at my nape, and I knew I could get lost in this forever if I let myself.

We stayed like that for another heartbeat, the world narrowing down to just us, and I knew then that I wasn't going to let this girl go. Not now. Not ever.

"Come on," I said, gently loosening her hold on me but not letting her get too far away. "Let's get you another drink before you start asking more weird questions about my teeth."

Bella laughed, and as she did, I felt my resolve tighten. This girl had no idea how far gone I was for her, but I was going to make damn sure she found out.

The car ride home was filled with the sound of our off-key voices, belting out a Sabrina Carpenter song as loud as we could. Rosalie and Bella were leading the charge, their energy infectious, and even Emmett and I couldn't help but join in, laughing through the lyrics.

Emmett caught my eye in the rearview mirror, shaking his head with a fond smile. I knew what he was thinking—it wasn't that weird for us to be singing pop songs with girls. We had a sister, after all. This was familiar territory.

When we finally pulled up to their place, the girls were still giggling and buzzing with the night's energy. I insisted on walking them to the door, not ready to let the evening end just yet.

Rosalie turned to Emmett with a smirk and blew him a kiss. "You should call me," she said, winking. "Because I'm going to think about you naked either way."

Emmett burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. "I'll call you tomorrow," he promised, still grinning. "And I'll remind you of that when you're sober."

Bella tried to get out of the car gracefully, but ended up stumbling right onto the grass, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. I didn't hesitate; I scooped her up into my arms with a chuckle and carried her toward the door.

Rosalie opened it for us, her eyes still twinkling with amusement. "Her room's down the hall on the right," she said, stepping aside to let me in.

I took a quick look around as I walked through the apartment. It was stunning—filled with unique art pieces, stylish furniture, and a vibe that was pure combination of them both. You could tell she and Bella had put their hearts into making this place their own.

Gently, I laid Bella down on her bed, pulling off her shoes and tucking her in. She was still smiling up at me, her eyes half-closed, but the joy from the night hadn't left her face.

As I turned to go, she grabbed my hand, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who'd had a bit too much to drink. "You're the very best," she murmured, her words slurring slightly. "And I like you for way more than your house."

I couldn't help but laugh softly at her words, my heart doing a weird flip in my chest. Then she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "Edward. I picture you naked sometimes too."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her drunken confession, even as my heart raced at her words. I leaned down, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Is that so?" I murmured, my voice low and teasing. "Well, I'm flattered, Bella. We can discuss it more when you're not drunk."

She pouted adorably, her eyes already starting to drift closed. "You're no fun," she mumbled, but there was a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

I laughed softly, tucking the blanket around her. "Get some sleep, beautiful. I'll call you tomorrow."

As I turned to leave, I heard her whisper, "Promise?"

I looked back, my heart melting at the sight of her, all soft and vulnerable. "I promise," I said quietly, "Goodnight, gorgeous."

She smiled up at me, looking so content and comfortable that I almost didn't want to leave. But I knew she'd be in good hands with Rosalie, and I'd see her again soon enough. As I closed her door softly behind me, I couldn't help but feel like this night had been a step closer to something I never wanted to let go of.

I made my way back to the living room, where Rosalie was sprawled on the couch, her eyes half-closed but a smirk still playing on her lips.

"You two are adorable," she said, her words slightly slurred. "It's almost sickening."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Thanks, I think. You okay here? Need anything before I go?"

Rosalie waved her hand dismissively. "I'm good. Just gonna crash right here." She paused, then fixed me with a surprisingly sharp gaze. "You're good for her, you know. Don't mess it up."

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "I won't," I promised. "She's... special."

"Damn right she is," Rosalie muttered, already drifting off to sleep.

I let myself out, locking their door behind me, before finding Emmett still in the truck scrolling on his phone. He'd agreed to be our designated driver. During the season he was incredibly sensible, refusing even a drop of alcohol. I had the occasional social drink, trying to stay in top form too.

"God they're something else," he says as I buckle up, "I can't help but think our mother set this all up. Like she was pushing her in your direction."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "She's not that subtle, Em. If she was trying to set you up, we'd know it."

Emmett grinned, starting the engine. "True. Remember when she tried to set Alice up with that guy from her book club? I thought Alice was going to combust from embarrassment."

We both laughed at the memory as Emmett pulled away from the curb. The streets were quiet now, the late hour leaving only a few stragglers out and about.

"I honestly think she's still got that crush on Jazz," I say, "she never got over that."

"That's just weird," Emmett shakes his head, "I don't need to think about my best friend and little sister."

"Stranger things have happened," I shrug.