oOo
"Oh, hi Bella! How good to hear you!" Alice's voice was chirpy and joyful.
How did she manage to always seem so happy?
"Hello Alice. Is this a bad time to call?"
"No! Actually, I have the evening off! Jasper's at the Phoenix Cinema, but it's just a small champagne reception. I'm taking a footbath right now, and having a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon!" She giggled happily.
"Wow, that sounds good. Maybe I should do the same."
"Absolutely! What else would a girl do on a cold night such as this, all alone, without a man to get cuddly with?"
Bella scrunched up her nose.
"So, what are you up to, Bella? Going out later tonight?"
"No. I just got home from the museum."
"Which one?"
In the background, Bella could hear some scraping sounds that made her wonder what Alice was doing.
"Sorry," she explained without Bella having to ask. "Just cleaning the cat litter! Those little bastards," she grumbled under her breath.
"What did they do?"
"Ugh, you don't want to know! Elmo pooped outside the box, and Beeker is in hiding again after he managed to throw half the litter out of the box. Ugh!"
"Oh dear," Bella laughed. "I'm so happy right now that dogs do their business outside!"
"But you need to pick it up! That's disgusting!"
"Okay, you win." Bella took a sip of tea, waiting for Alice's next outburst.
"Which museum?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Which museum did you visit, Bella?"
"The National Gallery. And I went with Edward."
Her toes were cringing. She bit her lip.
There was a long silence.
"Edward, as in Edward Cullen?" Alice said at last.
"Yes?"
"That's good, Bella. That's so good. He freaking needs someone like you."
"I'm sorry?"
"He needs someone like you," she repeated.
"What does that mean?"
"I think he's had some bad times, and you've such a sunny personality."
"Well, that's hardly how I'd describe myself, but thank you," Bella muttered.
"Did you have fun?"
"I don't understand you guys," Bella said instead of answering Alice's question. "On the one hand, Jasper tells me to not go out with Edward because he's difficult or whatever, on the other hand, you say it's great that we met. Why are you being so mysterious about him, anyway? What's the big secret?"
"I don't know. Why? What did Jasper say? All I know is that he was a drunk asshole to you the day his dog died, and that later that night, he went all cuddly on you."
Bella groaned at the memory.
"Jasper wouldn't tell me anything. Just said he'd heard some things from Emmett McCarty." She sighed in frustration.
"Are you meeting him again?"
"I don't know." She was silent for a moment. A man with a dog passed by two storeys below, and she thought of Edward and his grievance about his dog. She hadn't asked him about his name. She'd remember next time.
"Bella?"
"Sorry. Yes. I mean, I hope so. I gave him my number."
"And was there some vibe, anything that felt romantic?"
"He kissed my cheek."
"Oooooh," Alice squealed. "You like him, don't you?"
"Yes," Bella whispered. "I do."
"Then don't listen to what anybody else says, Bella. Meet him again. Get to know each other. Find out if there really are any skeletons in his cupboard. And then decide for yourself."
"You're right," Bella said. "Thank you, Alice."
"Hey, what do you say to a girls night next weekend? You and me, Leah, and maybe Victor?"
She was referring to one of the waiters who frequently worked for Whitlock's Brand.
"Victor's a bitch," Bella retorted. "The last time I saw him, he hugged me and told me I looked so, so exhausted."
"But he's funny."
"Okay, okay. But ask Angela too. She'll balance him out."
"I suggest you guys come over and we have a few drinks and then go to a bar or something."
"That sounds great, Alice."
"Make sure you have something interesting to tell us until then about your love life," Alice giggled.
"I don't work well under pressure, you know."
A few minutes later, they said goodbye, and Bella took a long, hot shower, which warmed her from the outside. Her insides were still warmed by the afternoon that lay behind her.
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