I was a complete and utter failure at answering reviews last week. I have no excuse except laziness.

Chapter 11

I'm woken the next morning by an incessant buzzing. From inside my room and outside. I stretch and groan, moving my legs around the silky soft sheets on the bed. They are truly the best thing I've ever had against my skin.

And that includes Edward Cullen's incredibly sexy palm.

Smiling at last night's memory, it wasn't only the hand holding and the embarrassing but pretty awesome moment with the kiss-cam that's got me feeling warm all over.

It's the gentle way Edward made sure I had a good time last night. Checking in with me, explaining a play when I didn't quite understand what happened. Asking me repeatedly if I was hungry or wanted anything. As much as his focus was on Joey – rightfully so – I could feel his attention on me as well. It was almost as if I'd never had a first date before. All the giddy butterflies.

The buzzing ensues, and I look at my phone on the nightstand. My eyes widen as I see ten missed calls from Michael. Ten. I don't think he's called me that much the entire time we've been seeing each other.

Was seeing. Was. Past tense, because I believe I ended things with him yesterday. There's no way he didn't pick up on that when I told him not to bother calling me. There are a few voicemails, but I put the phone down, not ready to be yelled at and be called selfish again. I see one of the calls is Aro, but he can also wait.

Sitting up in bed I realize the other buzzing is from the crew of workers out on Edward's lawn. He hadn't told me what today would bring, just that it was another thing to cross off the list, which I'm dying to get a look at. I tell myself it's just so I know how much more stuff there is to do, but I know it's because I really want to know so I can prepare myself for the final cross off and this assignment is officially over.

Showering, I take a moment to enjoy the feeling that I'm excited about something without brushing it off as silly. Excited about seeing them, being with them, spending the time. Most mornings for me are rote when I'm not out in the field; showering, dressing, grabbing my latte at Starbucks and then work. It's an action I do on autopilot.

I like not knowing what the day is going to bring.

I'm walking into the hallway when I hear knocking on the kitchen sliders. Edward is peering at me, a boyish look about him with hands in pockets and bare feet. Opening the door, I ask. "You know this is your home, right? You've never knocked before." I turn and he follows me to the kitchen.

"I figured I should stop doing that." He reaches up for a coffee filter. "But I still wanted to make your coffee."

My heart does a weird little somersault. "You don't have to, you know. I can manage." I smile at him as he pulls the coffee grounds from the freezer.

"I know. I like to." He glances at me from under some hair that's fallen across his eyes. "Consider it part of the Cullen Airbnb experience."

We watch the coffee drip into the cup. Billy's Chowder House again. I suppose I'd protest if he tried to give me another. "Is that something you considered doing? With this place?" I'd be shocked if he had.

"No, never. Even though I don't live here, it's still mine. I don't need to rent it out."

That reminds me of something Alice said at the party. "I assume the restaurant is popular, especially in summer. But winters have to be less busy, right?"

"They can be, sure."

"So, forgive me, but how do you keep this place afloat? The taxes, the upkeep. Must cost a fortune."

Edward leans on the counter and crosses his arms, smiling at me. "Reporter mode today, huh?"

"Well, I mean, even if I weren't I'd be curious. This house is huge and it's on the ocean for Christ's sake. A house like this in the Hamptons is well over ten million. This has to be close."

He laughs. "Definitely not that close. More like in the two's, but I don't really know what it's worth."

"How could you not know?"

"I wasn't ever interested in selling."

"Not even after…when it was…"

"All mine?" Edward turns and hands me the hot mug. "No."

"I'm sorry, part of being a reporter is being incredibly nosy."

"Bella, stop apologizing for asking questions." He throws me one of those charming Edward Cullen smiles. "I don't mind talking to you about this stuff."

Sipping the coffee, I'm at a little loss for words. Does he not mind because I'm being paid to tell his story? Or does he not mind because maybe we've formed a friendship? Gah. When did I become such a girl? "Well that's good," I reply lamely.

He must pick up on it because his hand rests lightly on my arm. "I mean it. It's nice having someone to talk to."

"You're close to Alice and Jasper, aren't you? Alice said you've known them since high school, that they're your closest friends."

"They are. But, I don't know. It's not the same." He peers out the window at whatever is going on out on the lawn. "Let me go talk to them and then we'll make our way out for the day."

"Can I have a few minutes to return some calls?" I look out the window next to him. "Whatever that large structure is, isn't for today?"

"Nope. That'll be ready tomorrow, hopefully."

"What is it?"

"You'll see. Come on, go grab a sturdy pair of hiking boots and a helmet."

He's lucky I don't spit my coffee out. "Excuse me? Please tell me we aren't going spelunking. Please," I whine.

"Okay, I won't tell you." He has the audacity to start laughing at my stunned expression. "Not a lot of caves around here, don't worry. We're having a very safe day. Two feet firmly planted on the ground." He makes his way out the sliders only to stick his head back in.

"Maybe."

All but one of the voicemails are from Michael. Drunk, at different times of the evening telling me that I should be there, that I'm rude, that I'm selfish. The kicker is the last one telling me he misses me and was really excited to 'show me off' at his work function, which turned out to be a proposal for one of his co-workers and his girlfriend.

So glad I missed that dinner.

I call Aro back first.

"I wondered if you quit on me," he says without even a hello. "Haven't heard from you in days."

"Why is your first assumption I quit? Because of the assignment you gave me?"

"No, the assignment is fine. It was your poor attitude."

I'll give him that. "Well, that's changed. A bit," I stress, not wanting to prove him right immediately.

"You were supposed to be back today, yes? Some fancy dinner with what's his face."

"I was, yes. That has also changed. More than a bit." I fill him in on our text conversation. Aro has always been one I can confide in to an extent, and telling him about it knowing he never liked Michael anyway is my way of saying sorry for being a real bitch this last week.

I hear his lighter spark and he draws a deep drag. Part of me wishes I was there talking to him in person. I always enjoy sitting in his office with him, debating world news or just looking down at the Manhattan street saying nothing. If I'm being honest, I think I like it there because it feels warm. Comforting and familiar, almost fatherly. Like what you would expect your dad's den to be like when you came home to visit at Thanksgiving. Newspapers strewn about, the television on, glasses slipping off his nose. A movie-worthy idea, I know, but the only knowledge I can draw from.

"Can't say I'm upset to hear about that."

"Didn't think you would be. So, this assignment is taking a little longer than I thought. I'm going to need a few more days." The thought of leaving in even a few days isn't a pleasant one, like it would've been just a week ago.

"Everything going okay?"

"Yes," I say and smile. "It's going much, um, better than I thought but I still have some information I need to gather, some interviews to wrap up and…"

After I don't finish, Aro prompts me. "And?"

"And… It's nice here."

"Did I just have a stroke? You, Carrie Bradshaw wanna-be and self-proclaimed city girl, are enjoying the simplicity of rural life?"

I shoot him the finger through the phone. "It's not that rural. I haven't seen a cow or anything. In fact, they have a lovely store I got you a gift from." I eye the Reny's bag on the dresser with the adult onesie in it. I should send it Fed Ex so I can laugh at him sooner.

He ignores me. "And the owner and his dog? How are you faring with the subjects?"

"Just peachy." I still haven't told him I'm actually staying with them. "May I have an extension or not?"

"Of course, if you feel you need to stay because you've underperformed and haven't completed your task, by all means. Stay."

Now I say it out loud. "Fuck you, Aro. I'm staying because I'm not satisfied. Not because of you or any lack of execution on my part." And definitely not because of Edward. No, sir.

"Whatever you say, Bella. Talk soon." And he's gone.

I growl and throw the phone on the bed. Now is not a good time for me to call Michael back, when I'm feeling annoyed. I gaze out the window as I sit and see Edward talking to the workers on the lawn. I can't really figure out what's going on, but I'll find out soon enough, I guess.

The thought of being able to stay for a few more days makes me feel like I'm glowing from the inside. Warm, comforting and familiar.

Much like in Aro's office.

I cautiously enter Edward's living room from the back sliders, waiting for some weird item that will alert me to what the day's adventure is. Like a pile of carabiners and ropes or something.

Instead, it's just Edward sitting on the couch, Joey in his bed at his feet. Edward is dressed in flannel lobster pajama pants, sipping from a mug.

"Well this doesn't look like cave jumping."

He smiles at the sound of my voice and looks over. "Nope. Not today. Today is a no bones day."

"So, like we won't be breaking our bones kind of no bones day?"

He gets up and reaches for Joey. Lifting him around his belly, Joey just sags back down when normally he'd stand up ready for a lift. "No bones day. Today we have no bones." He pets his head and lets him go back to sleep.

I sit on the couch. "Does this happen a lot? Is it something to be worried about, and go to the vet or something?"

Edward laughs. "No, nothing like that. It's Joey's way of saying he needs a rest. Too much excitement lately and he's stubbornly protesting."

"I guess we have been busy. Okay, so a day off. I suppose I could go to the library like I've been meaning to." I motion for the door and start to get up, but Edward's hand stops me.

"Just because it's a no bones day doesn't mean we have nothing to do. It's still a water bowl list day." He gets up and goes to a drawer under the television and pulls out three DVDs, holding them up one at a time. "We start with Goodfellas. We then go to the real stuff, The Godfather and then Part Two."

"I have never seen The Godfather. Either one. Isn't there three?"

His eyes bug out. "You've never seen The Godfather? Not even the first one?" He says it like I'm an alien.

"Well, no. I mean, who would've shown those to me? I was more the Tim Burton-type if I went to the movies."

"Not even on cable?" He's still screeching like I've committed some sin.

"Didn't have it."

His face softens. "Well, you're in for a treat, young lady. Maybe we'll skip Goodfellas till the end." He looks at my attire. "Go change into something comfortable. It's going to be a long day of doing nothing."

I get wrapped up in his excitement and head to the big house to change. The men are still working on the lawn, and I can't even fathom what that might be. Changing out of my jeans, I put on some new leggings and one of my sleep t-shirts.

Edward is making a second cup of coffee, and I see he's already brewed me one. "The Sex Pistols?" His eyebrows raise as he blows over his cup and looks at my shirt.

I point at myself. "Angry kid, remember?"

"Can't see you with a safety pin through your nose or a mohawk."

"I did dye my bangs green once. Not a good look."

"Not for anyone." He leads me to the couch and picks Joey up, placing him on his lap before throwing a blanket over the two of them. I take a few pictures before joining them under the blanket Edward holds up for me. The FBI warning comes on the screen and I can't help but fidget. Sitting around watching movies is so unlike anything I ever do, I'm somewhat anxious.

"You okay? Too warm?"

"No, it's not that. It's nice. I just don't ever do this. Take a day to do absolutely nothing. I almost feel guilty."

"Not today. Not on no bones days. Those are freebies. We also get to eat popcorn at eleven o'clock in the morning."

We fall silent as the DVD screen comes on, but Edward doesn't hit play.

"You have to take time for yourself. Take care of yourself, even if that means a day of not getting dressed cause you just don't feel like it. You never know what's coming, never know what might be the last time you get to do something." He rubs Joey's head.

"You and Joey did this a lot, didn't you?" It's not really a question, knowing that there were a lot of days Edward couldn't even get out of bed.

"Well, some days we had no choice. Those were my no bones days," he says with a wry smile. "What else was there to do but watch movies? I felt sick when I'd try to read, so movies even with my eyes closed were something. And Joey stayed next to me, just like he is now."

I look at Joey, snuggled up against Edward's left side, his chin propped up on the blanket covering Edward's thigh. A lump forms in my throat. "He likes The Godfather, does he?" I say, mostly just to say something.

"My dad did. It was his favorite. So Joey and I would watch it… after… when we were feeling particularly sad."

"Oh." I pull one foot up under me so I'm half leaning against the back of the couch, facing him more fully. I don't ask him if he's sad today. "Tell me more about your parents."

"We have a movie to watch."

"Just anything. Something small, something funny or something you haven't thought about in a long time." The reporter in me should be getting facts; ages, where they were born, how they met, but I want Edward to tell me something he wants to share.

"Let's see. They honeymooned at Dollywood."

"Really?

"Okay, that's enough, Joey's getting impatient for some moody mafia trumpet music."

He presses play and I only have moments to settle in before I whisper, "You know, you really need to stop saying enough when you're done talking. I'm never going to be able to leave because I won't have all the facts."

He smiles down at me. "Enough."

I did 'borrow' a little something in this chap. There was a Tik Tok run by a guy named Jonathan. He owned a pug and would document and declare if it was a 'bones' day or a 'no bones' day.

RIP, Noodles - you were a good boy.

CarrieZM and LayAtHomeMom would be a hoot at Dollywood.

This is for Squiggy.