Page 179 of The Heart You Kept

How many women has he driven back to Edward’s apartment?

Edward sits on his side staring out the window, his elbow is on the door and his thumb runs back and forth over his lips as if he’s deep in thought. With every mile we drive I feel him pull away from me a little more. Just ten minutes ago he was all over me like a rash and now we sit in a car together and he’s staring out the window, ignoring me.

Is it the guards?

The half-hour trip from Nice to Monaco is made in complete silence, and I wish that I could say I didn’t notice it, but his deafening silence makes me feel like we are driving to a cavern of uncertainty. One I should know better than to visit.

The car pulls into the underground parking lot and over to the elevator. The guards stay in the car while Edward comes around and opens my door for me, has he told them to do that or….

“Here we are.” He forces a smile as he takes my hand in his and helps me out.

“Thank you.”

He drops my hand again and we walk to the elevator and get in and turn to face the doors, still not a word said.

What the hell is going on here?

He drags his hand through his hair and seems weird and distracted…off. Something is not right with him.

This man is so confusing, he tells me that I’m all he can think about and then pulls away. Why would he….

Is he still in love with his ex? Is that what this is…guilt?

The double doors open straight into his apartment and he strides out. “Would you like a drink?” He disappears into the kitchen.

“Yes please.” I put my bag down on the side table and look around the swanky apartment. “It seems surreal that this apartment is above a nightclub and yet so silent,” I call.

“Yes.”

I peek around the corner and see him down a glass of scotch in one gulp and then with a shaky hand fill his glass again.

I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I do know I need to calm him down.

Ha, the irony, Miss Freaking Out Herself has to calm him down.

He reappears with two glasses of wine and passes me one. “Here you are.”

“Thank you.” I smile, I hold my glass up and touch it with his before taking a sip. “Are you alright?” I ask.

“Yes,” he snaps way too quickly. “Why do you ask?”

I shrug as I try to think of the right wording. “You seem unsettled.”

“Nope.” He rolls his lips as his eyes hold mine.

“Is this about Hermione?” I ask softly.

“What?” He screws up his face. “Why would it be about Hermione?”

“Do you still have feelings for her, is that why you’re acting weird? Do you feel guilty for being here with me?”

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Trust me, I do not have feelings for Hermione. We are well and truly over.”

“Oh.” I force a smile. “I just….” My voice trails off, embarrassed that I brought her up. “Never mind.”

“What were you going to say?” he asks.

“You just seemed to change once we left the store.”