NINE

The sunlight streaming through the blinds was way too bright, and my head was throbbing with the aftereffects of last night's fun. I groaned, rolling over and squinting at my phone on the bedside table. There was a message from Edward that made my sleep-fogged brain jolt awake.

Check your doorstep, it read, followed by a little winky face emoji.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, curiosity outweighing my exhaustion. Padding to the front door, I pulled it open and couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. Sitting there were two cups of coffee and a packet of painkillers, each with a note attached.

I grabbed them both and read the labels. Mine was labeled 7pm tonight. Yours, Edward, and Rosalie's simply had her name on it.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I headed back to Rosalie's room. She was still snuggled up in her bed, her hair a tangled mess, looking far too cozy to be human. I climbed in beside her, nudging her awake with the cup.

"Morning, sunshine," I said, my grin widening as she cracked one eye open and groaned. "Look what Edward left us."

Rosalie sat up slowly, taking the coffee from me with a groggy smile. "He's a saint. Marry him or I will," she muttered, taking a long sip. Her eyes lit up a bit as she read her name on the cup. "He's got style."

"Emmett won't like that," I tease.

"Nonsense. I'll have them both," she shrugs, "throuple that shit up."

I snorted, nearly spilling my coffee. "I'm sure they'd both be thrilled with that arrangement."

Rosalie waggled her eyebrows suggestively, but the effect was somewhat ruined by her messy bedhead and the dark circles under her eyes. We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, sipping our coffees and letting the caffeine work its magic.

"So," Rosalie said finally, her voice a little less croaky, glancing at my note. "What's this about 7 PM tonight?"

I showed her Edward's note closer. "No idea."

"Sounds like a date. You better go shave those legs, baby," she smacks me playfully, "and other things."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You're terrible. And who says I need to shave anything?"

"Please," Rosalie scoffed, "I've seen your legs. You're practically a Sasquatch."

I threw a pillow at her, which she dodged with surprising agility for someone nursing a hangover. "Shut up. Maybe I like being au naturel."

She laughs loudly.

"I'm sure he'd have his way with you either way he's that obsessed," she lazily plays with my hand, "it's time someone saw you for your full worth and kneeled. You're a queen."

I felt my cheeks flush at Rosalie's blunt words. "You're ridiculous," I mumbled, but there was a flutter of excitement in my stomach. Edward and I had been dancing around each other for weeks now, stolen glances and lingering touches that never quite crossed the line into something more.

"I'm right and you know it," Rosalie said smugly. She stretched languidly, wincing slightly as her hangover made itself known again. "Now, be a dear and pass me that painkiller packet. We've got some serious primping to do if we're getting you ready for tonight. I don't have time for a headache."

I groaned. "Rose, it's barely noon. We have plenty of time."

"Nonsense," she declared, popping two pills and washing them down with coffee. "Beauty takes time, darling. And we're starting from scratch with you."

I swatted at her arm hard. She shouts a profanity through her laughter.

"I'm telling Emmett sexually something gross about you," I threaten as I get up.

"Like what?" she snaps playfully.

"Like how you secretly have a thing for his dad," I shot back, grinning wickedly.

Rosalie's eyes widened in mock horror. "You wouldn't dare! That's a sacred secret between us, bestie."

I laughed, heading towards the bathroom. "Watch me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go de-Sasquatch myself apparently."

"That's the spirit!" Rosalie called after me. "And don't forget to exfoliate!"

I rolled my eyes as I closed the bathroom door, but I couldn't help the smile that played on my lips. As I started the shower, my mind wandered to Edward and what he might have planned for tonight. The flutter in my stomach intensified.

After a thorough shower (and yes, I did shave everything, though I'd never admit it to Rosalie).

We met once again in my room, where Rosalie practically dove into my closet, tossing clothes left and right as she muttered to herself about "making an impression" and "easy for him to rip off."

I watched in amusement as Rosalie tore through my wardrobe, occasionally holding up an item for inspection before tossing it aside with a disapproving "tsk."

"Rose, you do realise I'm not going to a red carpet event, right?" I said, catching a flying sweater before it hit me in the face.

She emerged from the closet, arms full of clothes. "Darling, every date is a red carpet event when it comes to Edward. The man's a walking Adonis, for crying out loud."

I couldn't argue with that. Edward was unfairly attractive, with his tousled bronze hair and piercing green eyes. Just thinking about him made my heart race a little faster.

"Aha!" Rosalie exclaimed triumphantly, holding up a slinky black dress I'd forgotten I owned. "This is perfect. Sexy, but not trying too hard. You'll knock his socks off."

I eyed the dress skeptically. "Are you sure? It's a bit...revealing, don't you think?"

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "That's the point, sweetie. Now try it on before I force you into it myself."

Grumbling, I slipped into the bathroom to change. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, the hem falling just above my knees. I had to admit, I looked good.

When I emerged, Rosalie let out a low whistle. "Hot damn, girl."

I blushed, fidgeting with the hem.

"Stop it," Rosalie scolds, "now bend forward."

I always complain we're too comfortable. She reaches down the front of my dress repositioning my breasts.

I yelped as Rosalie's cold hands adjusted my cleavage. "Rose! Boundaries!"

"Oh please, like I haven't seen them before," she scoffed, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "There. Now you've got some serious va-va-voom going on."

I glanced in the mirror, my eyebrows shooting up. The dress looked even better now, accentuating curves I didn't even know I had. "Wow," I breathed.

"You're welcome," Rosalie said smugly. "Now, let's talk hair and makeup."

The next few hours flew by in a whirlwind of curling irons, eyeshadow palettes, and Rosalie's running commentary on all the ways Edward might ravish me tonight. By the time 6:30 rolled around, I barely recognised the woman staring back.

"Now hand me your panties," she holds her hand out.

"What the fuck?" I gasp at her.

She continues to hold her hand out.

"Rose!" I exclaimed, scandalised. "I'm not giving you my underwear!"

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Not the ones you're wearing, dummy. I meant hand me your panty drawer. We need to pick out something sexy for later."

I felt my face flush crimson. "Who says there's going to be a 'later'?"

Rosalie fixed me with a look. "Honey, have you seen yourself? Trust me, there's going to be a later."

Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at her words. I reluctantly pulled open my underwear drawer, allowing Rosalie to rifle through it.

"Boring... granny panties... oh honey, no," she muttered, tossing aside pair after pair. "Don't you have anything remotely sexy?"

"Hey!" I protested. "Those are perfectly sexy."

"Those are about as sexy as a potato sack," Rosalie retorted, still digging through the drawer. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Aha! Now this is more like it."

She held up a lacy black thong I'd forgotten I owned. It had been an impulse buy months ago, but I'd never had the courage to wear it.

"I don't know, Rose," I hesitated. "Isn't that a bit much for a first date?"

"It's not like he's going to see it if you don't want him to," she said with a wink. "But you'll know you're wearing it, and that confidence will show."

Reluctantly, I took the thong from her and disappeared into the bathroom to change. When I emerged, Rosalie gave me an approving nod.

"You look like a knockout," she said, nudging my shoulder. "Edward Cullen is going to freak."

I let out a breath, feeling the flutter of nerves return as I smoothed down my dress. "Thanks, Rose," I said softly. "I'm still feeling a little tired, but I'm trying to shake it off."

"You've got this," she said, squeezing my shoulders. "Once you get a wine in your system you'll feel better."

Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Right on the dot—7 p.m., just like he'd promised. I felt my pulse quicken, the nerves kicking up a notch.

Rosalie gave me a wink. "Go knock him dead, my queen."

I took a deep breath and headed to the door, smoothing down my dress one last time. When I opened it, there was Edward, looking ridiculously handsome in a crisp button-down shirt and dark jeans that fit him a little too well. His eyes roamed over me, and a slow, appreciative smile spread across his face.

"Wow," Edward breathed, his green eyes sparkling as they met mine. "You look absolutely stunning."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, but Rosalie's pep talk echoed in my mind, giving me a boost of confidence. "Thanks," I said, offering him a coy smile. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

His crisp white button-up shirt and black trousers accentuated his lean, muscular frame perfectly. I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him.

Edward chuckled, running a hand through his tousled bronze hair. "I try. Are you ready to go?"

I nodded, grabbing my purse from the side table. As I turned to leave, I caught sight of Rosalie peeking around the corner, giving me an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I rolled my eyes at her, but couldn't help the grin that spread across my face.

Just as I was about to step out the door with Edward, he pulled something out from behind his back—a bunch of peonies, fresh and beautiful, their delicate pink petals practically glowing in the evening light.

"Seriously?" I said, my eyes widening as I looked from the flowers to him. "How did you find out these were my favourite?"

Before Edward could answer, Rosalie burst into laughter from behind me. "He listens well, Bella," she said, grinning like the cat that got the cream.

Edward just shrugged, a playful smile on his lips. "I pay attention to the details."

I shook my head, trying to fight the smile tugging at my own lips as I took the flowers from him. "Okay, fine," I said, pretending to be annoyed but failing miserably. "You're off to a pretty good start."

Edward's eyes sparkled as he leaned in closer. "Just wait until you see what I have planned for the rest of the night," he said, offering me his arm again.

Rosalie stepped forward with a grin, taking the peonies from my hands. "I'll put these in a vase for you," she said, giving me a wink. "You two go have fun."

"Thanks, Rose," I said, giving her a grateful smile as she disappeared into the kitchen with the flowers.

Edward offered me his arm again, and I took it, feeling the butterflies in my stomach flutter even harder. With Rosalie's approving smile in the background, we finally stepped out the door and into the night. Whatever Edward had planned, I was ready for it.