Chapter 6
Soon enough, Bella learned the new guy's name was Larry Brown—one of Edward's friends. He'd been invited to join them and had grabbed a table adjacent to their booth.
As everyone settled in, it became painfully obvious that Scarlett and Larry were hitting it off. Larry was all charm and wit, dropping jokes that had Scarlett giggling non-stop.
Meanwhile, at Bella's end of the table, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different. The tension was so thick you could frost a cake with it.
"Why's everyone so quiet over here?" Larry called out, noticing the silence. "That's no fun at all." He slid over to their side of the booth. "Mind if I join you?"
Bella scooted over to make room, her thigh briefly brushing against Edward's before she quickly adjusted.
"I just don't know what to talk about," she admitted with a shrug.
Since Larry hadn't been at their previous encounters, he had no idea about her history with Edward. Bella decided to keep it that way, playing the part of a casual acquaintance. Larry started a conversation, and before long, they were chatting like old friends.
From the corner of her eye, Bella noticed Edward nursing his drink, his jaw tight, eyes downcast. When he wasn't smiling, he looked like winter personified—beautiful but cold enough to give you frostbite.
She could practically feel his displeasure radiating in waves.
But what did he expect? He was the one who'd made it crystal clear he didn't want marriage, wouldn't "be tied down" for anyone. Wasn't that code for "don't associate me with you in public"?
Fine. She'd give him exactly what he wanted.
Larry studied Bella's features under the amber bar lights, clearly intrigued. The softness in her expression, the way she listened intently—she wasn't his usual type.
"So," he ventured, leaning closer, "you seeing anyone? How old are you anyway?"
"Twenty-six," Bella replied. "And no. Very single."
Larry let out a low whistle. "Twenty-six, huh? Your parents must be all over you about settling down. Mine haven't stopped with the wedding hints since I turned twenty-five."
Bella's fingers froze mid-tap against her glass, just for a heartbeat, before she recovered. "I've thought about it," she said carefully. "Just haven't found someone worth the commitment."
That seemed to pique Larry's interest even more.
They continued chatting, oblivious to the growing collection of empty bottles on Edward's side of the table.
"Excuse me a minute," Bella finally said, standing. "Need to use the restroom."
After she left, Larry watched her disappear into the crowd with obvious appreciation. "She's got a great personality," he mused, then shook his head. "But my parents would have a fit. Wrong background, you know? And marrying a girl like that—bye-bye freedom. Should probably stop flirting with her, right Edward?"
He looked to the self-proclaimed bachelor for validation.
To his surprise, Edward stood abruptly, not bothering to respond.
"Hey, where are you going?" Larry called after him.
"Restroom," came the clipped reply.
Larry's eyebrows shot up as he watched Edward stride away.
Bella had barely stepped out of the ladies' room when a strong hand caught her wrist, spinning her around and pressing her back against the wall.
Edward's mouth crashed down on hers, stealing both her protest and her breath.
"Edward, stop!" She managed to break away, gasping. "Are you insane? We're in a public hallway!"
He clearly couldn't care less. When she tried to duck away, her knees betraying her as she slid down the wall, Edward simply caught her with one arm and lifted her back up.
His right hand gripped her chin, tilting her face up as he reclaimed her mouth with bruising intensity.
The crisp scent of his cologne invaded her senses as he dominated the kiss. All Bella could manage were muffled sounds of protest, her fists ineffectively pushing against his chest.
When he finally released her, she sagged against him, hating how her body betrayed her.
"Funny how you suddenly have so much to say to other men," Edward's voice was dangerously low, "but nothing for me."
Bella heard the jealousy threading through his words.
"You're angry?" she asked incredulously, finding her voice. "That's rich. Since when does the great Edward care what any woman does?"
"Weren't you the one who said you'd never be tied down? That marriage was a prison sentence?"
His dark gaze dropped to her kiss-swollen lips, something possessive flashing in his eyes.
Seeing her anger, his mood visibly lightened. "Are you upset?"
He brushed his thumb across the corner of her mouth, wiping away smeared lipstick. "Over something so small? You're being ridiculous."
"Don't touch me!" Bella slapped his hand away, a surge of white-hot anger coursing through her.
It wasn't just anger—it was disgust at his casual entitlement. At being treated like some toy he could pick up and discard at will.
"What exactly am I to you?" The words tumbled out, unstoppable now. "You made it perfectly clear you wanted to be free to sleep around. That nothing would tie you down. And I accepted that! So why can't you just stay away from me?"
Her voice cracked slightly. "Now you show up, acting all possessive—what am I supposed to be? Your secret booty call? Your on-demand girlfriend? What?"
The emotions she'd bottled up for weeks came pouring out. She'd already been on edge tonight, and hearing Edward so casually dismiss any possibility of commitment to Larry had been the final straw.
Those words still echoed in her mind. She was certain he'd said them deliberately for her to hear.
The smile vanished from Edward's face with alarming speed, leaving behind that unreadable mask she'd come to dread.
Edward was terrifying when he wasn't smiling—all sharp edges and impenetrable walls.
His piercing gaze seemed to cut straight through her anger to the vulnerable truth beneath: she cared too much, and it was killing her.
As her rage subsided, humiliation took its place—hot and suffocating.
She couldn't stand to be near him another second.
"Just—forget it. Tell Larry I left." She pushed past him, practically running toward the exit.
She texted Scarlett as she fled: [Heading home. Meet me outside if you want a ride.]
Scarlett joined her minutes later, but not before snagging Larry's number. She chattered all the way to the taxi stand.
"What a shame I didn't get that gorgeous friend's contact info too. The tall one with the broody eyes? Talk about eye candy."
"Wait," she added, turning to Bella. "Weren't you sitting with him earlier? Did you get his number?"
Bella stared out the window, her reflection ghostly against the city lights. "No. And trust me, you're better off. That's the jerk I told you about."
"WHAT?!" Scarlett's jaw dropped. "The world is seriously too small. Oh my God, Bella, I'm so sorry! I had no idea!" She frantically shook her head. "That's it—I'm officially declaring a fifty-foot restraining order from both of them."
Her dramatic reaction finally coaxed a small smile from Bella.
"That's not necessary," she said, the knot in her chest loosening slightly.
Seeing Bella's smile, Scarlett relaxed, and they rode in comfortable silence.
Instead of heading to her apartment, Bella directed the driver to her parents' house. Fallon had been nagging her to visit, and tonight she needed the comfort of home.
Her parents were already asleep when she arrived. She tiptoed to her old bedroom and collapsed fully dressed onto her bed.
The consequences of her emotional drinking binge hit hard the next morning. Bella squinted at her phone, saw she was already an hour late for work, and groaned, pressing her palms against her throbbing temples as she called in sick.
She had just dragged herself up to brush her teeth when a knock rattled her bedroom door.
"Bella!" Fallon's voice cut through her hangover like a chainsaw. "It's practically noon! I know you're in there—stop pretending to be asleep and come eat something!"