First & Ten Chapter 4
BPOV
The pounding wouldn’t stop. I tried to bury my head in the pillow but that didn’t seem to muffle the noise. I groaned and rolled over and suddenly there was nothing beneath me and my ass was hitting the floor with a thud. What the fuck? Where was I? I didn’t want to open my eyes to find out but since the pounding was continuing I had no choice. I was going to shut up whatever the hell was causing that infernal racket, hopefully permanently.
I opened my eyes and glanced around but it was still damn dark so I couldn’t see a hell of a lot. It appeared that I’d fallen off a couch. Why the hell was I sleeping on the couch? I pulled myself up by the cushion and knew instantly that it wasn’t my couch. This was much softer. No wonder I’d been sleeping there.
The pounding continued and I finally realized it was coming from the front door. Who the hell was coming over at the crack of dawn? Hell, dawn didn’t even have a crack yet, it was still dark. My head was killing me and the knocking was not making anything better so I made my way toward the door as best I could. “Damn it,” I muttered as I walked into a chair. My shin would have an ugly bruise later. I gripped the wall behind the chair and held on as I followed the knocking. Who the hell knocked for however many minutes it had taken me to wake up and find the door? Some inconsiderate asshole, that’s who. He or she was going to get a mouthful whenever I figured out how to open the door.
I fumbled my way through a chain lock and a bolt and finally the knob and flung the door open, wincing automatically at the light spilling in from the hallway. Clearly I was not in a fucking house. Was I in a hotel? What had I done last night? I squinted, trying to take in whomever was in front of me but not really able to focus yet. I rubbed my eyes and tried to look again, encountering a chest. Oh shit, I knew that chest. It all came flooding back, the tingling touch, the flirting, the near kiss, the bimbo, the phone number and the digital recorder. Really, God, are you that fucking cruel? Let him see me in my worst light last night, while I was looking good, and now let him see me at my worst physically. Lovely. What was I even wearing? It looked to be a ratty t-shirt and some boxers.
Jasper’s, that’s where I was. His house…or condo, I guess. And apparently Edward was here as well, waking me up in the middle of the night for some unknown reason. Maybe he wanted to call me a bitch and break my recorder, I deserved it. “Bella?” he asked in disbelief and I sighed as I heard that voice again, probably for the last time after I’d overreacted last night. Still, if I was going to suffer the humiliation of having him see me looking like crap, at least I should be able to gaze upon his perfection one final time. I finally tore my eyes away from his chest and looked way up…he was at least a foot taller than me now that I wasn’t in heels.
He looked down at me, some expression I couldn’t quite decipher on his face. Irritation? Disgust? Hatred? All three? His green eyes were narrowed as they took in my no doubt terrifying appearance. I lifted a hand and grimaced as I felt the tangles in my hair. Yep, definitely at my worst. Karma was a bitch and she was getting back at me in a big way for my behavior with him.
He was looking at me expectantly and I realized I hadn’t responded to him yet. “Yeah, it’s me. What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” It came out in a raspy croak but he must have understood because his lips twitched for a second before stilling.
“It’s not the middle of the night. It’s 6 AM.” Like that was any fucking better? I didn’t have to be up until 10 at the earliest, since I was working tonight. Ugh, work. And here was Edward Cullen, star football player, wide awake and ready to go at 6 AM?
“I knew you had a good work ethic but damn. This is insane. What are you doing banging on Jasper’s door at 6 AM?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “What are you doing at Jasper’s at 6 AM?”
“Having a hot threesome with him and Alice, of course. What do you think?” That’s good, Bella. Be a bitch again. Didn’t you vow last night to apologize for jumping to conclusions? Well yes, I had, but he probably jumped to one just now when he saw me in Jasper’s clothes looking like death warmed over.
He threw back his head and laughed. Well, damn, that was harsh. I realize I look like shit but I looked good last night. There was no reason to assume that Jasper and Alice wouldn’t want me to join them in bed, was there? “What the hell are you laughing at?” I hissed.
He stopped chuckling and put his hands in his pockets, which drew my eyes to what he was wearing. Holy shit. He had on one of those tight black muscle shirts that showed his body off perfectly and left his gorgeous arms uncovered. Perfectly defined, tanned arms…I actually felt my hand rising to touch one and jerked it back abruptly. What was wrong with me? And he was wearing shorts, showing off equally tanned and toned legs beneath. Well, since this was to be my last interaction with him, at least I could enjoy the view.
“I’m sorry, I just…the way Alice & Jasper were last night, I can’t imagine them even noticing you if you were in bed with them.” Well, that was fucking insulting. And sadly, probably true. But it was rude to point it out.
“I happen to be very good in bed. They both would have noticed had I been there.” Damn it, where was my filter? Edward looked down and coughed and ran a hand through his hair. Very smooth Bella. You have long fingers and I’m good in bed. Let’s see if we can combine those two things and make a little magic, why don’t we? Jeez.
He muttered something, I couldn’t quite make it out but I did hear “sure you are.” Of course he doubted me. I’d commented on his fingers for crying out loud. I was ridiculous. Why did I have to see him again? I should have been able to pen a nicely worded apology letter for Alice to have Jasper deliver and that would have been that. But no, here he was, looking like a model for athletic wear, laughing at my lack of bedroom skills. There really was no God. Well, Bella, it’s time to suck it up. Speaking of sucking, he looks damn tasty. Oh no, we’re not doing that shit again. Time to act like a normal twenty four year old woman, not a horny sixteen-year-old boy.
“Forget I said that. Listen, Edward, I don’t know why you’re here but…”
He looked up then and pinned me with that gorgeous green gaze. “I’m here to get Jasper. He wasn’t answering his phone and we always head in now to get in a workout before practice.”
“You go in at 6 AM every day?” I asked, my voice echoing my shock.
He shifted beneath my questioning gaze. “Well, not every day but most days.”
“And when he didn’t answer his phone, you decided to drive over and pound on his door for an hour?” I demanded.
“I didn’t drive anywhere. I live in this building.” Well, that was slightly better, but only just. “And Jasper must have turned off his phone so I came down to wake his ass up.”
“Why can’t you let him sleep? You knew he was with Alice last night.”
He crossed his arms and an adorable pout moved over his face. I wanted to bite his lip, despite my irritation with him. “I couldn’t sleep so I didn’t think he should,” he murmured, almost too softly for me to hear but I caught it, barely.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Why in the hell was I asking? Was it any of my business? It felt like my business and I wanted to know though. Damn I’m rude.
His eyes met mine and I felt heat move through me. He was waking me up in every way this morning, damn him. “Can’t you guess?” Of course I could. I’d pissed him off and made him worried that I was going to write some expose on his playboy ways. He’d probably been on the phone with his publicist and agent all night.
“Were you really that worried that I was going to write a story about you?” I still needed to apologize for that but I wanted to know where his mind was.
“No. Somewhere around 2 AM I came to the conclusion that you didn’t seem like the type that would do that, not to me.” His eyes were still on mine and I felt that draw to him that I’d felt last night. What was wrong with me?
“What led you to that conclusion?” I was honestly curious. The fact that I was on his mind at all was flattering, even if it was for the wrong reasons.
“I don’t know,” he answered, slipping his hands back into his pockets and shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Instinct I guess.”
“You have good instincts, on the field,” I told him and he shrugged. “They’re good off the field as well, it seems.” He flashed me a smile then but it didn’t stay on his face for long. I missed his smile, which was ridiculous since I’d known him for a few hours and the majority of that time I’d been upset with him. “I’m sorry that I made you think that I would write a story about you. I would never do that.” Well, I would have thought about it if he’d walked off with the blonde bitch in front of me, but I still wouldn’t have done it. Probably.
He nodded and then looked down the hallway and then back at me again. Jeez, I was rude, making him stand out in the hall for ages. I hoped we hadn’t woken the neighbors. “Do you want to come in?” I still had to apologize and I wasn’t letting him leave until this was done. Alice would never forgive me if I caused any kind of strife between her and Jasper and alienating his best friend just might do it.
He eyed me for a second before answering. “Sure, for a few minutes.” I stepped aside and he walked in, his arm brushing mine and that electric jolt going through me again. It was a good thing that I’d never see him again after this morning. The effect he had on me was unprecedented…either my mouth was blurting out inappropriate things or my body was ready to attack him at all times. It was insane.
He reached to his right and flipped a switch, bathing the room in a harsh white light. “Ugh,” I murmured, my eyes not liking the harsh glow. The hallway light had been somewhat muted at least. Edward chuckled and flipped the switch again, making his way to the windows and opening the blinds a little bit. How about that, the sun was starting to rise; I guess it really was morning.
He turned to face me. “Can I get you anything? Water? Aspirin?” Drugs? He was my savior.
“Do you know where he keeps it?” Edward smirked and nodded. “Yes, please.” He disappeared and I sank back onto the soft couch. I wondered if Jasper would mind if I just stayed on this couch forever. I’d be unobtrusive. I heard water running, the sound making me long to stick my pounding head under the faucet for a little relief, and then a glass appeared before me. I grabbed it like a lifeline and plucked the two white pills from the hand he held out to me. Again, I felt the buzz but it was more important that I get the medicine in me than touch Edward. Well…maybe it was. It was a tough call, to be sure. I swallowed the pills and took a long sip of water. My mouth still tasted like ass but at least I might sound normal when I spoke.
Edward sank into the chair that I’d walked right into. It appeared to be made out of the same material as the couch but had wooden legs. Of course it did. And of course he sat in the object that had wounded me. It made a weird sort of sense.
“Look, Bella,” Edward said, right at the same time that I said, “Listen, Edward…” We both broke off and looked at one another and laughed, which didn’t do my head any favors. It seemed we were back in sync, the way we’d been last night before the incident. I scowled and motioned him to go ahead.
He sat back and drummed those elegant fingers on the cushy chair. He shook his head and stilled his nervous movements and pinned me with his gaze. “I’ve done nothing but think about what happened since I left last night.” I was surprised. He was supposed to have been getting ready for the season opener, wasn’t he? Then again, he did say he realized that I wasn’t going to write my story about him at 2 AM. “And I mean, I know things changed after that girl came to the table but I really don’t know why.” His fingers ran through his hair again. God he was beautiful. I wanted to touch him. But still…
“You don’t know why?” I knew Edward was not stupid. He’d graduated USC with honors in only three years while playing football. He could have gone to any school in the nation, including Notre Dame and Stanford, so he was no fool. How could he not know? Maybe he was an idiot savant or something…smart about everything but women. Was that possible with someone who was probably as experienced as he was?
He shifted in his chair and glared at me a little. “I know that you got mad after the girl came over. I got rid of her as quickly as I could. I’m sorry she asked you to take a picture of us but I really thought it was the best way to get rid of her.”
“You thought I was mad that she asked me to take your picture?” I laughed at him, although really, he was right. I had been mad when she asked me to do it. That just wasn’t what had made me turn on Bitch Bella.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well I saw your face and your gritted teeth, so yeah.” Hmm, I guess I hadn’t hidden my irritation as well as I thought I had. Still…
“What happened after I took your picture, Edward?”
He pursed his eminently kissable lips. “She asked what I was doing later and I said I was hanging out with you.”
Idiot. I rolled my eyes. “You said you were hanging out with your friends, not me specifically.” He hadn’t given her the impression we were together. Then again, we weren’t, I just reacted like we were. At least we were idiots together.
“Okay. Semantics, but sure, I said I was hanging out with my friends.” See, he wasn’t dumb; he’d just used the word semantics. Perhaps he was socially challenged? Maybe the savant thing wasn’t so far off after all.
“Then what happened?” I asked, prodding him along.
“She made it clear that she wanted me to hook up with her later and she gave me her number,” he answered.
“Aha!” I shouted and winced at the sound crashing through my head. He shushed me and I looked around guiltily. Alice could sleep through a bomb but I had no idea if Jasper could. I should be quiet. “That was what made me mad, Edward, not the picture.”
He tilted his head to the side and studied me like I was some interesting science experiment. “You got mad because I took her number?”
“Duh!” Oops, that was kind of loud again and I winced at the pain in my head.
“But I threw it out, right next to you, as soon as she walked away,” he pointed out.
I bit my lip and shrugged sheepishly. “I didn’t see that. All I saw was you agreeing to call her and taking her number, then turning back to me like nothing happened. And right before she came over I thought…” I broke off, cursing myself for continuing.
“You thought what?” he asked, leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and cradling his face in his hands. I wanted to cradle his face in my own and lean forward to kiss him.
I sighed. “Well, it’s just that before she came over we were really getting along well and it seemed like you were going to…you know.”
He grinned at me. “I was going to what?” Asshole. I wasn’t going to answer. I glared at him and he chuckled. “Kiss you?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows at me. He looked ridiculous and I laughed with him.
“Maybe.” At least it seemed like we were on the same page. He didn’t look repulsed by the idea and he wasn’t laughing about it. Or was he?
“So, you thought I went straight from nearly kissing you to making a date with a groupie, to then trying to kiss you again?” Well, when he said it like that I sounded pretty foolish. I didn’t like that one bit.
“Maybe,” I said again.
He sank back in the chair and laughed again, kicking his long legs out in front of him. If I shifted a little bit I might just be able to look up his shorts and see…stop it, Bella. You know you want to know just how long it is, you already practically asked him the moment you met him. Sigh, the pervert inside was not shutting up.
“Well, no wonder,” he said, laughing softly. “I think I’m thankful that all you did was threaten me with a story.” His understanding should have made me feel good but instead I felt rather small. I shouldn’t have acted like that, no matter the reason. He wasn’t mine.
“No, I really didn’t have the right to do that to you,” I told him. “You didn’t owe me anything and I overreacted. I acted like there was something more between us than there was and…”
He leaned forward then and put his hand on my left arm. It felt like I was touching a live wire. “No, Bella, you had every right to be angry. I was sure that you saw me dump the number and honestly, that was stupid of me. It’s just…” he broke off and grimaced. “This is going to sound egotistical as hell, but it’s God’s honest truth. Girls give me their number every day. Everywhere I go, at least one slips me her digits. In the beginning, I tried to give them back, or tell them I wasn’t interested and it just didn’t work. They would stay and argue and try to slide it into my pants or proposition me even more, follow me around…it’s just easier to take the number and let them think I might call. I guess that’s kind of a dick move too but it works. I didn’t even think about how that looked to you and I’m sorry about that.” His words rang with sincerity and his eyes echoed their truth.
“I believe you. And it’s nice of you to say that I had the right to be angry but we weren’t together. And I probably just imagined…”
“Imagined this?” he asked, tracing his pointer finger up my arm. I felt the jolt again and shivered under his touch. I nodded mutely and watched those gorgeous digits moving over my pale forearm. “So are we both imagining it then?” His face was only six inches away from mine. I could cross that in about a second and take that kiss I thought I’d never get. Except for the fact that I probably reeked of tequila and had breath that would kill a rhinoceros. Not gonna happen.
“I guess not,” I answered, leaning back so as not to end him with my death breath. His pointer finger traced lazy circles on my arm and I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of him touching me. I really didn’t think it would ever happen again and yet here he was. Maybe I was dreaming. Shit, that was probably it, I was still sleeping and this wasn’t real. Well, I may as well enjoy it either way. I opened my eyes and he was still there, looking as real as could be. If this was a dream, it was a good one.
He ran his finger over my hand then and clasped it in his own. “I told myself that I imagined it all, you know,” he murmured. “But then there you were, standing in Jasper’s door, wearing Jasper’s clothes and having a raging case of bed head.” I tried to tug my hand from his but he laughed and kept hold of me. “And you were still as beautiful to me as you were last night when you were all dressed up and perfectly groomed.”
I snorted. “Come on, Edward, look at me! You’ve dated supermodels and actresses for crying out loud! I’m nothing compared to them.”
His hand tightened on mine. “Yes, I have dated famous women. But you know what? Not one of them affected me the way you did.”
“You don’t have to feed me lines, Edward. It’s pretty clear that I’m already interested, seeing as I already acted like a jealous girlfriend.”
He shook his head. “It’s not a line, Bella. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since I met you. I tried to watch film on the Saints and I couldn’t concentrate because of you. I can tune out anything when it comes to film study. I’ve been in the room with Tanya ranting and throwing things and not noticed because I was absorbed in the game. Nothing breaks my concentration. Or nothing did, until you came along.” I didn’t know how to react to that. Part of me was flattered and another part of me was frightened. I didn’t want to fuck up his game.
“That’s…” I tried, not sure what to say.
“Messed up?” he asked with a rueful smile. “Yes, it is. I think it’s just because I felt so drawn to you but then it all blew up and I was disappointed. I was supposed to be off girls for the next year, it was a promise I made myself after I got out of my last relationship. But then I met you and I felt something I’d never felt before. I want to explore it, Bella. That is, if you even want to.”
Why the hell wouldn’t I? “Why wouldn’t I?” At least I managed to leave the word hell out when I asked him. Kudos for your restraint, Bella.
He looked uncomfortable and squeezed my hand again. “Well, because that thing last night…it’ll happen again if we go out. I mean, I won’t accept a number in front of you again, consider that lesson learned, but they will approach. It’s part of the package that comes with me.” He grimaced. “I don’t like it any more than you apparently did.”
Hmm, so in order to date the hottest guy on the planet, I would have to deal with other women propositioning him. Was it worth the aggravation? One look into those gorgeous green eyes and I had my answer. “I think I’d like to try. That is, if you want to deal with my occasional spurts of possessiveness.”
His eyes twinkled as he grinned at me. “I don’t mind a possessive girl. It makes me feel kind of special in a weird way. Though, I may feel the same way when a guy approaches you.”
I rolled my eyes. “As if that is going to happen. I guarantee you; more guys would approach you than they would me.” He laughed but didn’t deny my words. Naturally, you have to deal with both sexes when you go out with Edward Cullen.
“So, I don’t really go out on Friday and Saturday nights, because of practice and games. Maybe we could do something on Sunday, after the game? If you want?” He actually looked nervous, which was rather surprising and adorable at the same time. Did anyone ever turn him down?
“I’d love to. But Edward?”
“Yes, Bella?”
“You were honest with me about your life and why you took that number and got rid of it the way you did. I feel like I need to be honest with you as well.”
“About what?”
I bit my lip and tried to tug my hand away but he held fast. I sighed and looked at his stunning face. “In college, I dated a guy who was, well, he was the you of Arizona.”
“The me of Arizona? What does that mean?” He looked perplexed and I wanted to kiss him but refrained.
“The big man on campus. He wasn’t an athlete, but he was student body president and fraternity president and homecoming king and all that stuff. Mr. Popular, I guess you’d say. And for some unfathomable reason he wanted me, just like you do.” He opened his mouth and I shook my head to stop him from interrupting. “Yes, I know I have self esteem issues, you don’t need to tell me that. Alice has berated me over it for years.” He laughed. “Anyway, James and I had a media law class together and we hit it off and he swept me off my feet.” Just like Edward Cullen could with very little effort. It scared the shit out of me.
“We dated for six months that I thought were perfect; until I found out he’d been sleeping with several girls behind my back. It was probably more than that, but I knew about three. While I’d been fantasizing about graduation and getting a place together, he’d been sleeping with a cheerleader, the school treasurer and a teacher. It did a number on me.”
He let go of my hand and stroked my cheek gently. “Bella, I can be lot of things. I can be an egotistical asshole when it comes to football. I can be distracted and too focused on the sport. I can be sarcastic and annoying. One thing I’ve never been is unfaithful. Even when I was unhappy in my relationship with Tanya, I didn’t cheat on her.”
“I know it’s ridiculously early to talk about all this, before we even go out, I just felt like you should know why I reacted the way I did. I promise that I won’t claw anyone’s eyes out on Sunday night.”
He flashed me a smile and brushed my hair back from my shoulders. “I like knowing more about you, Bella. And I’m glad I know why you got mad. I think anyone would have. I was honestly just so used to it that I didn’t even think about what I was doing and what I could be conveying to you. I’m sorry for that.”
“And I’m sorry that I scared you with my writing. I promise that I would never do something like that to you, even if you did walk off with a bimbo in front of me. It’s not who I am.”
He touched my cheek again and I felt the charge down in my toes. “I didn’t think you were. So, how about instead of going out on Sunday night, and risking the bimbo army, we have dinner at my place?”
“You can cook?” I asked. Was there anything the man couldn’t do?
He laughed. “I can cook a few things, but I was thinking of ordering in. I’m not overly ambitious after a game.” He would be tired and beaten all to hell and he was going to take me out? That seemed ridiculous.
“Are you sure you don’t want to do it another night?”
“Yes, I’m sure. If I could do it tonight I would. I want a chance to make up for a bad first impression.” He flashed that lopsided smirk at me and I felt the urge to jump him again. Alone with him in his condo? This was going to be dangerous.
“It wasn’t all bad,” I told him. I’d enjoyed the night right up until bimbette appeared.
“No, it wasn’t.” He stroked my cheek again and then stood reluctantly. “I have to get in. Looks like Jas will be late. Do you need a ride home or anything?”
“No, Alice drove my car over here. I’m good.”
“So I hear.” Oh God. I blushed as I remembered those ridiculous words I’d uttered to him earlier. What if he wanted me to prove it? He laughed. “I’m just playing with you, Bella.” Please do! “I’ll see you Sunday night, say eight?” I nodded and rose to walk him to the door.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to me. “Will you program in your number?” I felt warmth surge through me as I put my number into his phone.
“What, no napkin?”
He grinned. “No, yours is a number I want to keep.” He took his phone and shot me a grin. “See you on Sunday night.” He gave me a little wave and made his way to the elevators. I watched his very fine ass until he got to the end of the hallway and then closed the door and leaned against it. Holy shit, I had a date with Edward Cullen. What a turnaround a few hours makes.
“Alice, wake up! I need you!” Screw sleep, we had things to talk about. Alice came dancing out of the closed bedroom, also clad in a t-shirt and boxers. I guess that explained my wardrobe. “Were you awake the whole time?”
“Of course I was!” Jasper followed her out of the room, bare-chested and wearing some gray sweat pants. Dear Lord. My eyes were on hot guy overload this morning.
“She was sitting on the floor listening at the door,” he told me with a sleepy smile. “I take it Edward went in?”
“Uh, yeah, he wanted to get a work out in before practice.” Jasper nodded and wandered into the kitchen.
“I told you he wasn’t a player!” Alice exclaimed. “When he said that, about how beautiful you were last night and how beautiful you were this morning,” she sighed. “I knew he was a romantic. Didn’t I tell you he was a romantic, Jazzy?” He mumbled something from the kitchen. “I’m so glad you two fixed it yourselves! I was up half the night coming up with plans to bring you together again…”
“So it was a set up?” I asked. Damn it, I knew it.
Alice batted her eyelashes at me. “Not exactly. Nope, it wasn’t. I just hoped you two would like each other. I didn’t plan for it.” Jasper laughed as he came back in the room. “Shut it, Jazzy.”
“I’m not saying a word. I’m going to get dressed and head to the stadium. Will you two be alright here?”
“Oh yes, we have tons to discuss!” Alice told him, running over and leaping into his waiting arms. She gave him a much too intimate kiss and he patted her on the ass and released her back on the floor. “Now, Bella, what are you going to wear?” Oh hell, here we go.
Jasper returned wearing a shirt this time, which was really too bad. Though, it got me wondering what exactly Edward would look like shirtless. I’d seen him in ads before but in person he was even hotter. I needed to get that thought of my head right away. It would lead to very nonproductive Bella. “I’m out. Do you have a message for me to give Edward?” he asked with a sly grin.
“Tell him that next time he sees her in this state of undress, she better be wearing his clothes!” Alice said with a giggle. “And tell him you helped me change her. That’ll get him good and worked up.”
Jasper grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “That sounds good. See you ladies later.” He left and locked the door behind him.
“Did you have to say that, Alice?”
“What? He’s dealt with your jealous side, let’s get his going!”
“Jasper did not help you change me, did he?” Alice just grinned at me. “Alice! Did he?”
“Hey, at least he can tell Edward what he’s missing!” she said with a cheeky smile. I plucked a pillow off the couch and hit her with it.
“Great, wonder how many football players can see me naked before the year is out?”
“I think just one more,” she said with a knowing grin. Yeah, one more would be perfect.
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