96
A few hours later, I kick everyone out and order pizza so we can spend some quality time together until Bella calls to say goodnight.
"I got a text from her earlier," Angela says as she plops down on the couch with a plate and her laptop. "She wants to Skype with us tonight since she can't be here tomorrow."
Alice flips through channels while we wait for our vampire to call, and we end up re-watching the R-rated movie she picked out all those months ago. It makes me miss her even more.
We don't have to wait long. The computer pings, and Angela answers immediately.
Bella's face fills the screen. She looks exhausted, if that's even possible.
"Hello, my beautiful family."
Angela and Alice dominate the conversation.
"This freaking sucks. You said you'd be here," Alice grumbles.
Angela pops her sister on the shoulder. "She can't help it, you twit. Bella, you won't believe what we spent the day doing!" She pulls at the neck of her shirt, showing off the realistic vampire bite on her neck. "Rosalie is practically an artist."
Alice snatches her phone off the table. "I'm sending you all the pictures we took. You won't believe what I did to Jasper."
Bella smiles. "I miss you guys."
I poke my head around Alice. "We miss you too."
I stare at her, hoping I'll be able to read how she's doing without asking.
"Is everyone prepared for tomorrow?"
"Yeah," both twins mutter.
"Victoria and Laurent booked a private room at the courthouse for us to wait until they call for us to ensure that we won't run into Gi—"
Angela makes a choking sound.
"So we can have privacy before our case is called," I correct.
"That's great. I wish I could be there for you guys."
"Me too."
Understanding that Bella and I need a few minutes of privacy, the girls bid their goodnights and head upstairs to get ready for bed.
"You look like shit, Edward."
"Thanks."
Bella frowns. "You're still not sleeping?"
I shake my head. "You aren't here. Do you have any idea when you'll be home?"
Bella's nose twitches slightly. "All I can say is that I'll be home soon."
I don't want to press the matter because I know it'll just upset her, and our time is limited. I don't want to spend the minutes we have making her sad.
"The girls seem to love their bodyguards."
"Yeah, Rosalie and Emmett have joined their little group. Emmett told me they were planning on sticking around once everything blows over." I reach out and run my thumb over the computer screen, wishing it was her skin I was touching. "I think you're going to like them."
"I actually met Rosalie in grief counseling before she found Emmett."
I frown. "You never told me you were in therapy."
"Yeah, I ran the group. It was just a place for vamps who were changed against their wills to talk about the things we'd missed out on. Growing old, procreating, things like that." She sighs. "Rosalie left the group when she stumbled across Emmett."
I wince because the irony in the girls' gory makeup session was written all over Emmett's face before he left tonight. Rosalie found him bleeding out in the middle of a forest after he encountered an angry mama bear.
Bella rolls her shoulders and gives me a serious look. "Are you worried about tomorrow, Edward?" she asks.
"Yes and no. I'm worried the girls will be affected by sharing a room with ... her. I'm not worried about her winning. Victoria and Laurent have worked her into a corner she'll never be able to crawl out of."
Bella nods. "I wish I was there, but I know it'll be fine. You should try to get some sleep and call me as soon as they read the verdict."
"I love you."
"I love you too."