Chapter 22

Edward was completely taken aback by the odd feeling that overcame him, just from a simple smile from a girl he hardly knew. He didn't understand it, and quite frankly, it freaked the hell out of him. So much so, in fact, that he planned to do whatever possible to not only avoid being alone with Bella, but also prove to himself just how much he loved his girlfriend.

"How was the store?" Edward asked Rosalie the moment she walked through the door. He even went as far as kissing her hello, right on the lips, which was unusual for them.

They had never been particularly affectionate – especially not when other people were around. Their relationship had always been more reserved, or "mature", as Rosalie had often referred to it. In her opinion, there was no need for such flippant displays. Edward had never experienced such a lack of tenderness with a girlfriend prior to Rosalie, but he just figured that was how respectable couples behaved and he was striving to become that type of man, both professionally and personally.

However, being in his childhood home, with the very affectionate parents who raised him, and his unexpected bewildering attraction towards Bella, Edward was feeling confused and beginning to lose touch with what he held to so much importance just a few weeks prior. He needed that kiss. He needed to tighten that anchor before he completely drifted off to sea and lost everything he had been working towards. He was convinced that Rosalie was his lifeline to the world of sophistication, and he wasn't ready to give that up just yet.

When Edward finally released her from the anomalous kiss, Rosalie looked at him confused, unsure if she should be irritated, or suspicious that he was guilty of something. She probably would have scolded him in some way, but with so many people around, she decided to let it go for the time being. "Well, your brother is something else," she grumbled quietly, unsure what else to say in that moment.

"How much did he offend you?" Edward asked her, making no attempt to keep his tone low and discreet. "Like, do I need to yell at him, or punch him in the face?"

"Hey now, I was a perfect gentleman," Emmett said defensively as he helped put the groceries away.

"I don't think you even know how to be a gentleman," Edward retorted.

"No, he was fine. Overly loquacious, but fine," Rosalie spoke up.

"I was not locatieous," Emmett disputed before turning to Mikey who was quietly eating his breakfast. "What is Locatieous?"

"Loquacious means you were overly talkative," Mikey answered evenly.

"Oh, well if being friendly is loctetious, then I guess I was locatitus."

"Loquacious," Mikey corrected between bites of his cereal.

"Whatever. Where is Jake? I'm going fishing and he said he wanted to come with me."

"Shower. He will be down soon," Mikey responded.

"Cool. I can't wait to hang out with someone I can be locatius with," Em said bitterly while looking at Rosalie.

She just rolled her eyes.