6
Edward's eyes widened. "With me?"
Bella nodded. "I should thank Gunther personally, don't you think? It's the only courteous thing to do."
"What about your family?"
"What about them?"
"Don't you think they've missed you?"
"No."
"Bella —"
"That's not my name."
"Then what is your name?"
"I told you I don't have one."
"What have people been calling you?"
"Those words aren't appropriate for polite conversation."
"That bad?"
She nodded.
"And your family sent you away?"
Again, she nodded.
"Why would they do that?"
"Tell me why you weren't there for your wife?"
Edward sighed.
"Why are you here, Eddie?"
"What do you mean?"
Bella smiled. "I heard your brother say you've been sitting next to me for four days. Why?"
Edward shrugged. "Wanted to be sure you were okay? For Gunther, I mean."
"Yeah, for Gunther." Bella bit her lip. "I'll understand if you don't want me around. Kind of the story of my life."
"Where else would you go?"
She shrugged and then winced. "I'll figure something out."
"Doesn't seem like I have much choice," he scoffed. "Besides, Gunther would never forgive me."
"So, I can go home with you?"
"Yeah."
Bella smiled before throwing the blanket off and swinging her legs to the side.
"Hey, slow down," he said, standing and placing his hands on her shoulders. "You have cracked ribs and a dislocated shoulder."
"I want to go now."
"Okay, but we need to get you in a splint and get your discharge papers together."
"How long is that going to take?"
Edward shook his head. "Let me see if I can speed up the process a bit."
"You're going to come back, right? You're not going to leave me."
"I'll be back, I promise."
Bella smiled before shifting back onto the bed, covering her legs with the blanket. When Edward found Carlisle and Jasper standing at the nurses' station, laughing, they shared a look before turning toward him.
"She needs a sling and her discharge papers."
"Why?"
"You said there wasn't any medical reason to keep her here."
Carlisle scoffed. "I did, but we can't just let her disappear again."
"She's not disappearing," Edward said, shrugging.
"How do you know that?" Jasper asked. "Her brothers have been looking for her for fourteen years. They're going to be here in two days, and they deserve answers."
"I know, but she doesn't want to see them."
"Why? What has she told you?"
"Nothing," he lied.
"Well, where is she going to go?" Jasper pressed.
"With me."
The second the words left his mouth, two sets of eyes widened. "If I don't let her stay with me, she's going to bail. At least this way, you know where she is, right?"
"You're taking her home? With you? To your house?"
Edward nodded. "Get her papers together and a splint for her shoulder."
"Eddie —"
"I'm not asking for your permission, Carlisle. She's coming with me, so make it quick. I need to get back to Gunther."
Edward turned to go back into Bella's room but stopped when Carlisle said, "Mom's on her way."
He sighed.
"She's worried about you, Eddie."
"So I've heard," Edward quipped. "Put a rush on her paperwork."
"Eddie," he called out, but Edward ignored him as he stepped into the room, closing the door and leaning against it.
"Do you need to use the bathroom?"
Edward's eyes snapped to Bella. "What?"
"You look like you're about to shit your pants."
He shook his head, his lips curling into a smile. "No, I'm not, but thanks for asking." He sat again. "What should I call you?"
"Excuse me?"
"You said your name isn't Bella, and you gave Jasper some attitude about calling you Miss Swan. So, what should I call you?"
She smiled. "What do you want to call me?"
"You're putting this on me?"
Bella nodded. "Seems fair to me."
"How is that fair?" he exclaimed.
"Just is," she replied. "So, what's my new name?"
"What's your old name?" he countered.
"Told you I don't have one."
"Everyone has a name."
Her eyes darkened. "Not everyone. Not anymore."
"Then let's decide on a name. How about Izzy?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Just . . . no," she said.
"What's your middle name?"
"It used to be Marie, but I don't like that, either."
"You're not making this easy."
"Hey, picking a name is serious, Eddie."
He rolled his eyes. "Only my family calls me that, by the way."
"Why?"
"My mom started it when I was little. They never stopped, even though I told them I didn't like it. Eventually, I quit fighting it."
"Are you close to your mom?"
"Used to be."
"But not anymore?"
He shook his head.
"Why?"
"I don't want to talk about that."
"Okay. We got off track anyway. You're supposed to be picking me a new name."
"As long as there's no pressure," he quipped.
"I've gone this long without a name. What's a while longer?"
"Why do you think you don't have a name?"
"I just . . . I just do."
"Okay. Let me think." Edward leaned forward. "How about Bee?"
"Bee?"
He nodded, gesturing toward her hip. "You have a bumble bee tattoo."
"You saw my tat?"
"You were on your stomach when Gunther found you. I rolled you onto your back, your dress was ripped, and I . . . I saw it. But that's all I saw."
"Oh, okay."
"So, how do you feel about Bee?"
She smiled. "Okay."
"Yeah?"
She nodded, but before either could speak again, the door to her room opened. Edward stood as Carlisle and Jasper entered, the first carrying a stack of papers, a black arm sling, and a pair of light blue scrubs. Bella looked from them to Edward and back.
"Am I free to leave now?"
"In a minute," Carlisle said, laying the papers on the bottom of her bed. "I need to put this sling on."
"Why?"
"Because you have a dislocated shoulder. I was able to reposition it with closed reduction, but you will need to wear this sling for a few weeks until your shoulder is healed."
She nodded before looking at Edward. "You'll help me with it."
"Bella —"
"That is not my name!" she screamed.
"I'll do it," Edward said, yanking the sling and scrubs out of Carlisle's hand. "Okay, I'll do it. Just settle down, all right?"
Bella nodded.
He looked at Carlisle and Jasper. "I'll get you when she's dressed."
Though neither looked comfortable, they nodded and left. Edward took a deep breath before placing the sling on top of her discharge papers.
"Do you think you can dress yourself?"
Bella smiled. "Been doing it for years. Just need you to help me stand."
Edward put the scrubs down and held out his hand toward her. Bella slid her fingers across his palms, wrapping them around his wrists. Edward placed his other arm around her waist and helped her shift to the side of the bed.
"You good?"
"Yes," she whispered, tilting her head back and looking at him. "You have pretty eyes."
"Oh, thanks."
"You're blushing," she said.
"No, I'm not."
"You are," she laughed, then winced. "That was stupid."
"Then maybe you shouldn't do it," he chuckled with a smile. "Sit for a minute. I'll slip the bottoms up your legs. When you're ready, you can stand and put them on the rest of the way. Is that okay?"
"Sure."
Edward released her, immediately missing the feeling of her in his arms. He picked up the light blue scrub bottoms before squatting before her. His eyes lifted to hers as he slipped them over her feet, pulling them up her legs to her knees.
Bella placed her hands on his shoulders before she stood. Covering his hands with her own, she pulled them the rest of the way up and under her hospital gown. Turning, she slipped it off, causing Edward to inhale deeply. Her back was covered in thin scars. Some of which he knew were old, others were fresh.
"How'd you get those?" he asked, unable to keep from touching one of the newer scars.
Bella over her shoulder at him. "I wasn't obedient."
"Who did this to you?"
She shook her head, picking up the top and sliding her arms in before pulling it over her head, whimpering when lifting her dislocated shoulder.
"Careful," he said, grabbing the back and pulling it over her scars. "You don't want to move your arm too much."
"I know."
"You do?"
Bella nodded. "Not my first dislocated shoulder."
"It's not?"
She shook her head.
"How many have you had?"
"Too many." Bella sat on the bed. "I'm sure they did all kinds of scans and shit, didn't they?"
Edward nodded. "Said you've had a lot of breaks. Old ones that haven't healed properly."
"I know."
"Bella —"
"Told you that's not my name."
"Sorry. Bee, who hurt you?"
"When can we leave?"
"You have to give us some answers if you want our help."
"Who said I wanted help?"
"Guess you didn't, but at the same time, you're insisting I take you to my home. That's a lot to ask, don't you think?"
"Suppose you're right. I'll make you a deal, Eddie. You tell me about your wife, and I'll tell you why my family sent me away."
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