A/N: Okay, I get that many of you aren't too happy with Assward, but I encourage you to trust the process. There's still hope for him in that cocky stalker head! In regard to the comment about posting schedule - I'll be posting every Saturday, with teasers in my group (hmerdan's fiction spot) on Wednesdays and extra information on Mondays after posting. As always, thank you to Kneon and her beta magic. And now, on to chapter three!
BPOV
I had hoped swimming a few laps would ease my tension after dealing with Edward Masen, but it turned out to be all for nothing when he showed up at the elevator bank. Who did that asshole think he was? Like I cared that he's a gorgeous, famous hockey player. That's not enough to get me to drop my panties in a smelly locker room. And then he had the nerve to approach me this morning! I was fuming when I made it back to the condo to find the three boys sprawled around the living room, scarfing down the Oreos and ketchup chips we'd bought the day before. "Hey, Bell!" Seth greeted. "When are we heading out for breakfast?"
"You mean that's not breakfast?" I snorted.
"It's just an appetizer," Brady explained. "An amuse-bouche."
"Where the hell did you hear amuse-bouche?" I asked in shock.
He shrugged. "My mom watches Friends re-runs all the time. I think Monica said that once."
I shook my head, amused and slightly disgusted. "Why don't you guys clean this mess while I take a shower? I don't want Dad paying a cleaning fee for you slobs."
The three of them grumbled but hauled themselves off the couch to clean their filth while I went to wash the chlorine off my body.
Once I was clean and dressed, and I joined the boys in the living room, proud of what they had done. "It actually looks good, guys!" I smiled at them. "Let's bring the bags down to the garage so we can check out."
The three of them spent the elevator ride debating what they wanted to eat, while I prayed we wouldn't have a run-in with a certain cocky hockey player. Luck seemed to be on my side, as we made it to the garage and packed up the trunk without incident. On the way back to the elevators, my phone chimed. "Okay guys, we need to hurry," I rushed them. "I told Ang I was just looking at a neighbourhood, and she and Jess made an appointment with the landlord."
"What?" Seth groaned. "Why?"
"Because I'm in town anyway," I shrugged, pressing the button for the lobby. "He wants to meet at noon to check out the place."
"But what about breakfast?" Collin whined. "We're so hungry!"
"You guys just ate a pack of Oreos, a bag of ketchup chips, AND half a bag of Doritos, and you're still hungry?" I snorted.
"We've got a game today," Brady commented with a pout.
I couldn't help the loud laugh that escaped me as the elevator doors opened to the lobby. "Yes, we can still get breakfast, you human garbage disposals!" I promised them. "I swear, Dad's gonna need a second mortgage just to feed you animals."
"We're growing boys!" Seth answered. "And we've got a big game. We need our carbs and protein."
"He's right, you know," A not-welcomed velvety voice interjected, causing me to jump. I couldn't but glare at the cocky smirk that stood behind us. "Can't expect them to play on an empty stomach."
"Edward!" Seth cheered. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I was just on my way out to grab breakfast and saw you guys. I thought you could join me."
"No, thank you," I replied woodenly, but I doubt he could hear me over the three boys agreeing. "Guys, we don't have time. I promised Jess and Ang I'd look at the apartment before we head to Douro."
"Oh, you're moving here?" He asked, flashing me a crooked smile, Asshole.
"To the city, but nowhere near here." I waved around aimlessly, hoping he'd get the hint. "We're looking near U of T."
The smirk on his face grew. "I actually used to live around there in the Annex!" Seriously? Of course, that was where Jess and Ang were sending me… "Back when I played for the Marlies, I rented a place up there. In fact, my favourite brunch spot in the city is around there. I'd love to take you there. All four of you."
"It's fine, I'm not really a brunch person," I stated coolly.
"What are you talking about?" Seth scoffed. "You love brunch! You and Leah go out all the time!"
"Thanks for the reminder, Seth," I replied through clenched teeth. Does no one get the hint? "But, like I said, we don't have a ton of time."
"Come on! Please, Bell?" Seth whined, shortly joined by his friends.
I looked up at him with the most venomous scowl I could muster, but he just smiled in return. "Your dad won't need a second mortgage if I'm buying," He offered at the last minute.
"Well, I don't think we'll all fit in my Civic," I threw out as a Hail Mary. Can't change space in a car!
"So, you can put your car in my spot, and we'll all take my SUV. Back seat's big enough for three growing boys." Shit.
"Fine," I spat out. "Boys, you wait here while I go with Edward to park."
As the boys cheered, I stomped back towards the elevator, with him following closely behind. If he thought he could win me over with some eggs, he was in for a rude wake-up call.
"I'm only doing this for my brother," I stated acidly, staring at the elevator doors.
"I know," He nodded with a grin. "But for now, I'll take what I can get."
Once we got in the elevator, I hit the button for P3 harder than necessary, and somehow hurt my finger. Not wanting him to sense my weakness, I turned away and shook out my hand.
"You okay?"
"Peachy," I grumbled and sucked on the top of my index finger.
"I want to apologize for last night," He offered, trying not to look at my finger in my mouth. "I'm not usually like that. My teammates got in my head, and I took some terrible advice…"
"It's fine," I fumed. "It really doesn't matter, anyway. I'm sure we can both be perfectly friendly over brunch for Seth's sake. Then, I'll head back to Keene, and we'll never have to think about this again."
"Okay, just brunch," He agreed with a sigh.
After a few minutes of shuffling cars between spaces, we'd finally gotten the boys and were headed towards this supposed amazing spot.
"So, what's so special about this place?" I scoffed in the front seat. Brunch may be one of my favourite meals, but that's because it's dependable. It's hard to screw up brunch.
"They have everything you could want. Healthy, cheat day, sweet, savoury… even gluten-free, if that's your thing."
"As long as the plates are big!" Brady chimed in from the back. "I'm starving."
"You're always starving, porker!" Seth mocked him.
"Boys! Enough!" I scolded. "You're all porkers."
"It's the flaw of our species," Edward sighed sarcastically. "We spend our teen years consuming everything in sight."
"And now?" I shot him a questioning look.
"Oh, we still do. We're just more subtle about it," He replied with a playful wink. I tried to keep glaring at him but couldn't help the small smile that creeped up on my face. Damn, his cuteness!
Once we found a parking spot, the boys bounded out of the car in the restaurant's direction, followed closely by the two of us. Something about this casual walk felt so normal that I was almost tempted to reach out and grab his hands. NO! He's a man whoring asshole! I scolded myself internally and shoved my hands deep in my coat pocket as he fidgeted with his sunglasses.
As we approached the intersection closest to the restaurant, I saw the street sign stating we were passing Loretto Lane and realized. This wasn't just the same neighbourhood; it was right around the corner from the condo. I couldn't help but shoot him another glare. "What did I do this time?" He whined.
"How did you know?" My eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he just stood in front of the window looking confused. I pointed sharply at a grey building around the corner. "That's the building Ang wants me to look at. How did you know?"
His eyes bugged out in surprise. "I didn't, I swear. That's where I lived when I was with the Marlies!" I gave him a skeptical glare, and he crossed his chest. "Scout's honour, I spent a few good years in suite 718!"
Okay, he had me. That made way more sense than him somehow finding out exactly where I was looking to move and somehow tricking his way into coming along. Still, I had my eye on him. "Fine, well, this place looks crowded." I waved through the window. "I doubt we'll even get a table."
He shot his signature cocky smirk. "Don't worry, we'll get a table," He promised and led the four of us inside.
"Hi, welcome to Insomnia!" A perky dark-haired hostess greeted us, eyeing Edward like he was the meal. "How many in your party?"
"Five, please," I stated acidly. Did he really think watching him flirt would get him into my good graces?
"Well, we're really busy," She sneered at me. "It'll be an hour wait."
"Is Benito available?" Edward asked.
"Ummm, yeah," She flashed a flirtatious smile. "Let me go get him." With that, she sashayed away. To Edward's credit, he barely paid attention to her.
"Look, if it's going to be an hour wait, maybe we should just go somewhere else," I offered. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I have an appointment at noon, and then I have to get the boys to their game out of town."
"Just trust me," He assured me. "You'll have plenty of time for everything. I can even hang with the boys while you're touring the apartment."
"You'd do that?"
He shrugged, "Sure, they'd probably be bored, anyway."
This seemed like way more effort than required just to get into my pants. I felt very confused as an older Hispanic man approached us. "Edward! Long time no see!"
"Benito, good to see you!" Edward smiled and hugged the older man.
"You too! You brought company? The last time you were here with someone was-" Benito started, but Edward quickly laughed.
"Yeah, it's been a while," He sighed and changed the topic. "Look, I know it's Sunday and you're slammed, but if there's any way for the five of us to get a table…"
"Of course, of course!" Benito grinned. "Anything for you, Edward! The private room's empty at the back. Follow me, I'll take care of you personally,"
"Thanks, Benito," Edward grinned. "How's Maria doing?"
"She'd be doing better if she followed doctor's orders," He grumbled, launching the pair into a conversation about this Maria person and a recent appendectomy as we maneuvered through the crowded restaurant. "Here you go!" He waved at the table set up in a secluded room and placed the menus in the centre. "You look, I'll be back in a minute."
"Throwing around your star power for special treatment?" I mocked him as he held out a chair for me.
Edward shook his head. "It's not like that. When I lived around the corner, I came in here all the time. Even now, I try to come as often as possible. I still use the barbershop next to the condo, so at least every six weeks. Benito and Maria have been with me through a lot."
This was a different side of the cocky hockey player I met last night. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but it intrigued me. "So, if you come here so often, what do you recommend?"
"That depends," He grinned at me. "Are you sweet or salty?"