Three

"You really like this spot, don't you?"

Startled, Bella threw her hand up to her chest as she looked over, finding Edward standing a few feet away.

"Sorry, thought you would have heard me. Mom says I have very heavy footsteps."

"Oh, it's . . . it's okay," she whispered, tightening her arms around her knees. "What are you doing here?"

"Just out for a walk." He gestured toward the sand next to her. "Can I sit?"

She nodded, watching as he lowered himself.

"Did you eat?"

"No. Did you?"

"I did. Got some fried fish." He moaned. "So, fucking good, Bella."

"Sounds good."

He smiled. "Did I say something earlier to upset you?"

"No," she replied with a frown.

"Are you sure? I mean, you aren't the first girl to run away from me, but you're the first I wanted to chase after."

"Why'd you want to chase me?"

"Because . . . I don't know. I hadn't really thought about how I was going to defend myself. Kind of a lame pick-up line, wasn't it?"

Bella smiled and shook her head.

"I got a smile, at least. Must not have been too bad."

The smile slipped off her face.

"And it's gone," he groaned. "Good job, Edward, way to make a fool of yourself."

"It's not you."

"It's not?"

She shook her head.

"Oh, well, in that case." He leaned back on his hands. "You never told me where home is."

"I don't . . . I don't really have a home anymore."

"You don't?"

"No."

"That sucks."

"It does." She dropped her hand into the sand, using her finger to draw a heart. "I used to live in Arizona."

"Why don't you anymore?"

Bella shook her head, looking at him. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, that's fair." He shifted so he was lying on his side but leaning up on his elbow. "How about I tell you about myself?"

"Go for it."

"It was a cold and stormy night." He grinned. "I'm just kidding."

She laughed.

"Mom and I moved here about a year ago."

"And where did you live before a year ago?"

"Chicago."

"Why'd you move to Myrtle Beach?"

"My parents split; Mom felt Chicago wasn't big enough for me, her, Dad, and his new, much younger girlfriend."

"Oh."

"He's an ass."

"Sounds like it."

"He married her last month. Asked me to come in for the wedding but seeing as she's only a couple of years older than me, I kinda told him to suck my dick."

Bella laughed.

"He didn't find it as funny as you clearly do," he scoffed.

"So you don't see him anymore?"

He shook his head. "Don't really want to, either."

She nodded.

"You live here with your uncle?" he asked, tilting his head toward the cottage.

"Yeah, I guess I do."

"He's the guy who owns the surf shop in town, isn't he?"

She nodded. "Carlisle. His name is Carlisle."

"Hmm, didn't strike me as a Carlisle."

"Why not?"

"Just a really old-fashioned name, I guess."

"It's a family name. My grandfather, his dad."

"Guess that explains it. I'm named after my father, too. Edward," he grimaced.

"I like your name."

"You do?"

She nodded.

"Oh, well, in that case, I guess it's not so bad."

"You're weird."

"Story of my life, Bella." Edward laughed before his phone binged with a text. He pulled it out of his pocket, frowning before he said, "I've gotta go. Mom is getting . . . antsy."

"Okay."

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Nothing."

"Want to hang out?"

"With you?"

"Unless you see someone else sitting here."

"I mean, what would we do?"

"Go on an adventure, of course."

"Okay."

"Yeah?" he asked, grinning. "You're not going to stand me up, are you?"

"No," she laughed.

"I'll pick you up at eleven."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Bella," he said before standing and running back toward town.

"Goodnight," she whispered. "Edward."

—TBHC—

Bella waited until she could no longer see Edward before standing and walking back to the cottage. Carlisle was sitting on the bottom of the steps, his elbows resting on his knees, his chin in his hand. The grief and sorrow etched on his face almost brought her to her knees.

"You make a new friend?"

She shrugged.

"I've seen him hanging around town. Came by the shop a couple of times. Never bought anything, though."

Bella wasn't sure how to respond, so she simply stood there.

"Sit with me."

Sighing, she sat beside him, feeling him wrap his arm around her shoulders.

"I know you didn't want to stay with me, Birdie, but Phil just . . . he needs some time."

Tears flooded her eyes, trickling down her face as she nodded.

"Your mom, Birdie . . ." Carlisle looked away. "She fought, she did, but she just . . . Cancer's a bitch, you know?"

Of course, she did because she'd been there every single day watching as cancer slowly and painfully killed her mother.

"Tell me what I can do to help. Just . . . tell me what you need," he pleaded.

Her lips trembled as she said, "I need her."

"Oh, Birdie."

Carlisle pulled her into his arms, holding her as together they cried.

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