December 25, 2022
7G
Edward complimented the meal several times as we ate, taking seconds with a smile.
"Sorry, I'm being a glutton."
"No, it's great that you enjoy my cooking. Rose is normally the only one who joins me for a home-cooked dinner."
"I'll never turn down cooking like this. Or the chance to spend more time with you." Edward blushed again and it warmed my heart.
"I'd like that too."
"So if I asked you out on Friday, you'd say yes?"
"Yes." Now it was my turn to blush.
"Good. That gives me time to plan something special."
Once we were done eating, Edward insisted on helping me clean up, which included me splitting the leftovers. He ran them back to his apartment and I hemmed and hawed over giving him what I'd spent hours working on last week.
He might think it was creepy.
He'd definitely think it was creepy.
I could make another one for myself, but he had come back knowing this was what I did for a living. And he didn't have a normal job himself.
Fuck.
"Bella?" Edward's voice behind me startled the shit out of me. "Sorry. We're still watching the movies, right? Or were you going to finish on your own?"
"Oh no, if you're willing to hang out, I'd love it if you finished the marathon with me." I looked down at the gift bag in his hand and then back to his face. "What's that?"
"Your birthday and Christmas gifts." He extended the bag and I took it from him.
"I have something for you too. I was working on it last week, but wasn't sure if I'd ever actually give one to you."
"Well, now I have to see it. But open yours first."
I opened the bag and saw a rose that looked like it was straight out of Beauty and the Beast. Beside it was a small sign designed to look like circus signage that said:
Welcome to our Circus Side Show
Weirdos & Freaks
Oddities & Wonders
"My friend, Alice, makes those signs and sells them on Etsy. She's another one I'm hoping you'll meet soon. I thought you'd appreciate the oddity part, but that was probably dumb—"
I had to cut off his nervous rambling. "It wasn't dumb. I was just thinking about what that might have felt like. Having a community around you, as odd as it seems from the outside."
"Growing up, it was pretty cool. And I wouldn't have Esme or Emmett in my life without it. Which explains the other gift. Edie calls you Princess Belle, so it felt perfect when I saw it. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to give it to you, but I'm glad you're back home."
"I'm glad I'm home too. Now, if you hate your gift, I won't be upset. Normally, I wouldn't part with it. But if there was ever a reason …"
I ended my own babbling and retreated into my office before I returned with one of the packages I usually used for shipping.
Edward took it from me and carefully opened it before he removed the glass bell jar holding his likeness in mouse form.
"Is this a little Ward the Whipper mouse?"
"It is."
"Can I ask why you wouldn't normally part with it?"
"Because he's the prototype. I have all my first editions, as it were. But I didn't have time to make a second one between your invite and now, so—"
Edward sat it on the table and grasped my shoulders in his large hands, cutting me off. "Don't give away your first edition because you felt I needed something today. Keep him. I can wait for his twin. Now, were you planning on putting him up on your Etsy?"
"I wasn't sure. I needed to get out of my funk and my mind kept wandering to you, so I started with making the little clothes as close to your outfit as possible. Then the whip. And next thing I knew he was done. It felt good to have him sitting on my work table. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep doing it after my dad died."
Edward's thumbs brushed across the tops of my shoulders in a soothing gesture. "Did he teach you how to do that?"
"Him and my gramps. Gram made all my doll clothes for me, so that was where the other part came from."
"If that's the case, then you have to keep him. He means a lot to you and he should stay here. I'm not going anywhere."
I could feel my cheeks warm as his fingers tipped my chin up to meet his eyes.
"Can I kiss the birthday girl?"
"Yes."