5

Edward kept his hand wrapped around hers as he led her up under the boardwalk, down the beach, and around a half circle of large boulders. The small, private cove was surrounded by beautiful flowers and sand so pure and soft she would have thought it was brown sugar.

"Wow," she whispered.

"Good wow, or bad wow?"

Bella smiled. "Good, wow. Very good, wow. It's beautiful."

Edward laughed. "I think so." He tugged her toward a tree trunk that had fallen and was nestled in the colorful brush. As they sat, he angled his body toward her. "This is my favorite place to come."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Just kind of my solace when life gets overwhelming, I guess."

Bella nodded. "I can understand that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "Had a place like this in Arizona. Well, not like this. No beaches or oceans, but . . . but a place I'd go to when I needed to get away from everything."

"Tell me about it."

"Um." She paused. "In Papago Park, there's a place called Hole-In-The-Rock. It was formed like fifteen million years ago, or something. The red butte is naturally formed by a series of openings caused by erosion. A hole in the ceiling creates rays of light that change position on the chamber floor. Three fishing ponds surround the shadows of Hole-In-The-Rock. Anyway, it was where I'd go when I needed a place to, I don't know, deal with things."

"Well, now you can come here."

Bella smiled. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Edward brought their hands to his lips, but his eyes stayed on her. "Is this okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

He shrugged. "You did just meet me."

"Oh." Bella bit her lip. "I don't mind."

"Good. I don't want to come on too strong."

She felt her face warm. "You're so weird."

Edward laughed. "Not the first girl to tell me that."

"I'm not?" she asked, frowning.

His eyes widened. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Then how did you mean it?"

"I just . . ." He shook his head, his ears turning red. "I keep putting my foot in my mouth, don't I?"

"Maybe."

Edward laughed. "When I was little, I was a weirdo."

"I doubt that."

"No, seriously, I was. If I tell you, you can't laugh, okay?"

Bella grinned but nodded.

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, so when I was in first grade, I kind of . . . sort of ate a lot of glue."

"Glue? Like Elmer's glue?"

Edward grimaced. "Yeah."

"Why?"

"I don't know!" he exclaimed. "I was six, and I guess it reminded me of marshmallow cream puff. Kids used to make fun of me, but I still did it."

"Hmm."

"You said you weren't going to laugh."

"I'm not laughing," she giggled, but she outright laughed when he waved his hand toward her. "Okay, I am. Sorry, but it's funny as shit."

"Glad you think so," he scoffed, but his lips curved into a smile.

"We all did stupid things when we were kids, though. I mean, I used to eat dirt."

"That makes me feel less weird, I guess."

"Glad I could help."

Edward looked toward the water. "So, why are you living with your uncle?"

Bella felt her shoulders tense.

"Sorry, you don't have to tell me. I'm just being nosy."

"It's okay," she whispered, swallowing thickly. "My mom . . . she died a few months ago, and my stepfather didn't want me around anymore, so . . . so I came here."

"Where's your father?"

"He died when I was just a few months old."

Edward frowned. "That sucks."

She nodded. "He was in the military. Died in combat. Mom moved us back here. We stayed until she met Phil when I was ten. They eloped, and we moved to Arizona. Three years ago, she found a lump in her breast. Cancer. She . . . she fought, but in the end, she just wasn't strong enough, I guess."

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you both."

"Yeah," she whispered, looking away as she wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Tell me about her."

"Um, she . . . I don't know. She is . . . was so full of life. She laughed all the time, Edward. Even when she was so sick, she could barely lift her head, she tried to find the good in the situation. She kept a smile on her face." Bella brought her fingers to her mouth, trying to keep from outright sobbing.

"At the end, she . . . she slept a lot, and she'd talk to my father, telling him how beautiful I was, how much she missed him, how she couldn't wait to see him again. I'd sit next to her bed and hold her hand. And then, one night, she just stopped breathing. She just . . . she just stopped."

"She sounds like an amazing mom, Bella."

"She was," she whispered. "I miss her so much."

A loud noise drew their attention behind them, and when they looked back, they saw two boys and two girls draped over the railing of the pier. The first of the boys was big — lots of bulky muscle with dark, curly brown hair and a cheesy grin on his lips. The other boy was just as tall but lankier. He had shaggy blond hair. Next to him was a small girl with long black hair and delicate features. On her other side was a curvy girl with golden blond hair.

"Eddie's with a girl!" the big guy shouted. "Holy shit, and here I thought he was gay!"

Edward groaned as he stood, releasing her hand. "Sorry about him," he said quietly. "I didn't think they'd be here today."

"Who is he?"

Edward tensed. "My brother."

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Huge thanks to Sunflower Fran for being an amazing beta!