Fourteen
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes," she lied. She wasn't, but if she were honest with Carlisle, he would insist on closing his shop and hanging with her all day. He'd already taken on the responsibility of caring for her, and she refused to be more of a burden than she already was.
"Birdie," he whispered with a shake of his head.
"I'm fine, Carlisle. Just . . . just go to work. I've got plans with Edward, anyway."
"I'm closed tomorrow. How about we spend the day together? We could go to the Art Museum. You used to love going there when you were little."
"I'd like that."
"Me too."
Carlisle stood and walked to her bedroom door, pausing before he looked back at her. "I love you, Birdie, and I'm glad you're here."
"I love you, too," she said, trying to keep the whimper from lacing her words.
"Birdie," he said.
"I'd better get moving, or I'm going to be late," she told him, standing and reaching for her towel on the closet door.
"Let me know if you need anything."
She nodded, but when he was gone, she sat on the bed again. Tears burned her eyes as she picked up her phone and found Phil's name under her text messages. She scrolled through their backlog, smiling when she saw the stream of silly memes and Tic-Toks they'd sent each other. Her mother would tease that they were like a couple of teenage girls trying to one-up each other. Of course, Bella would counter that she was indeed a teenage girl, while Phil would follow up with, "I'm just getting in touch with my inner child."
Renee would laugh and wave them off, telling them they were incorrigible. The last video he sent her was the night before her mother died. Three months later, he was putting her on a plane and forgetting she existed.
Biting the inside of her lip, she tapped on the keyboard, using her thumbs to type, "Hey. Just thought I would check in. Hope you're doing okay. I miss you." And holding her breath, she pressed send.
Dropping her phone on the bed, she hurried into the bathroom to get ready for her date with Edward.
—TBHC—
"Bella!"
She turned and saw Edward walking toward her. He smiled, causing her cheeks to warm. She couldn't deny that Edward stirred up feelings thatshe'd never had before, and it scared her. Losing him, too, would be the final crack in her already broken heart. First her mother and then Phil, who hadn't replied to her text, yet it showed he'd read it.
Sooner or later, Edward would realize she wasn't worth his time or attention. And when that happened, she would be alone — again.
"Hey," he said once he was just a few feet away. He stepped closer, pressing his lips against her cheek, which did nothing to keep the heat from rising once again.
"Hey," she murmured, biting the inside of her lip.
"You okay?"
She nodded. "Just . . . Yeah."
Edward frowned. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"Clearly, it is."
Bella sighed. "It's just . . . Can we go somewhere else?"
"Of course. Did . . . did someone say something to you?"
"No, no, I . . . There are too many people and . . . I don't know. I just want to do something else."
"Okay, sweetheart. We can do whatever you want."
"Thanks," she whispered.
Edward raised his hand to her cheek. "As long as I get to spend some time with you, that's all I care about."
Bella smiled. "You're kind of charming, but you know that, right?"
"I don't actually. I think I'm awkward and weird."
"Well, I don't see you like that at all." Bella paused. "I need to tell you something, though."
"You can tell me anything."
"You're going to get mad?"
"No, I won't, he reassured."
"You will."
"Are you leaving?"
"No, no, of course not," she said. "Um, last night, Whit came to my house."
Edward's smile dropped. "He did?"
She nodded. "I didn't invite him. I promise."
"I believe you."
"You do?"
"Yes. But . . . why was he there?"
She shrugged. "He said he wanted to see me. I didn't let him stay, though."
"You didn't?"
She shook her head. "Of course not."
"Good. That's good."
"But I did see him again this morning."
Edward's eyes widened.
"I was on the beach, and he came up to me."
"Okay."
"He told me he's changed."
"I bet he did," Edward complained. "I'm guessing he brought you flowers, too, didn't he?"
She nodded.
"Sounds like Whit."
"I told him I wasn't interested, Bella explained."
"You did?"
"Of course I did."
"Why?"
"Why? Because . . . because of you."
Edward grinned. "Me?"
"Yes, you. I . . . I really, really like you, Edward."
Somehow, his smile grew. "You do?"
"Yes," she mumbled, once again feeling her embarrassment spread to her cheeks.
"I really, really, really like you, too, Bella."
"That's a lot of reallys," she chuckled.
Edward laughed, stepping even closer as his hands cupped her face. "You could add a million more, and it wouldn't come close to how much I like you, Bella. You . . . you've rocked my world."
"I have?"
He nodded, his eyes flickering to her lips for a moment before he said, "Can I kiss you, Bella?"
"Yes."
The word had barely slipped between her lips before he closed the distance between them. His arms wrapped around her, one hand sliding up her back and into her hair. The smell of his minty-fresh breath brushed across her face, and she found herself inhaling just before his mouth touched hers.
Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Huge shoutout to Sunflower Fran for getting this back to me so quickly.