Chapter 8

"Room for two more?" I asked as we sat down on the second sofa.

"There's always room for my best friend and favourite brother!" she replied.

"Favourite brother? Thanks Al but don't let Emmett hear you say that!" Edward teased.

"So Edward," Jasper started, "what's the thrill of applying for the job at the hospital? You're a partner in a major law firm in Chicago and you want to move here to work medical malpractice?"

"That's pretty much it," Edward responded thoughtfully. "I was made a partner very young, only two years out of law school, and I've been there for 8 years now – I'm ready for a change. I've been working 80 hours a week for most of those 8 years, and instead of feeling 34 I feel about 60. The money is nice but I need time to live – there's no point having money if I'm not enjoying it."

"Wow – there's the honesty that Bella deserved that first summer Edward!" Alice chided him gently.

"Well Alice, if I'm going to be moving to Seattle I should probably get off on the right foot with Jasper…and letting Bella get to know me better isn't a bad plan either," he answered curtly.

Jasper, with his innate ability to ease tension in a room, steered the conversation back to less dangerous territory by asking, "So if you get the job, how soon will you be moving here?"

"I'll have to give at least two weeks' notice at the firm and find someone to take over the lease on my apartment, and probably make at least one trip back here to find somewhere to live, so probably about a month from when I find out…if I get it…" Edward trailed off.

"You don't sound hopeful of getting this job, Edward," Alice chimed in. "And that's not like you – where's that cocky big brother of mine gone?"

Edward grinned at Alice and said, "He's gone into hiding. I have almost no experience in malpractice work but I'm hoping the rest of my work will speak for itself."

We all sat back in silence after that and watched Coldplay together. It finished right on 6 and Alice bounded up off the couch. "Who's hungry? I'll cook!" She looked around at all of us and even Jasper couldn't help looking doubtful – Alice's cooking left a lot to be desired.

"How about we order in? My treat for letting me stay? Edward countered. "But you can choose what we have," he added hurriedly, seeing the dejected look on Alice's face.

"And you're paying?" she checked.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Yes Alice, I'm paying."

She clapped her hands together like a little kid and announced, "Turkish banquet it is then!"

Alice grabbed up the phone and ordered a full banquet for four from our favourite Turkish place and asked for it to be delivered. Jasper and Edward didn't seem too fazed but I knew what delivery meant – there would be a couple of bottles of wine involved.

"Should we use the dining room for something different?" she asked when she was off the phone.

"Why not?" I answered. "I'll give you a hand to set the table – the boys can have some bonding time."

We gathered plates, cutlery, wine glasses and napkins from the kitchen and moved into our small dining room. It was designed on the plan of the apartment to be a study but Alice and I had both wanted a "proper" dining room, even though we had the table in the kitchen. We shopped around until we found a small enough dining setting and even though it was cramped, it was still nice to have a more formal area to have meals with guests. In true Alice style, she dug out some candlesticks and a couple of candles that weren't the same colour and placed them happily in the middle of the table.

"It's so nice to be able to do couple-y things like dinner with you!" she whispered softly so the boys wouldn't hear. "Even if it includes my brother."

I gave her a hug to say thanks, not wanting to let her know how sad I was that Edward would be leaving soon.

Being Alice, she knew I was upset and she pulled back, held me by the shoulders and whispered fiercely, "Bella, Edward is one of the best lawyers out there. He will get this job, he will move to Seattle, and you guys will get your happily ever after."

There was so much conviction in her words that I nodded my head and drew a deep breath. "You know what Alice? You're always right – I'd be crazy to bet against you!"

"Damn straight you would!" she grinned back at me, just as the doorbell rang.

"I got it," Edward called from the living room. "Since I'm paying and all," he added under his breath, still not quiet enough for us not to hear.

"I heard that grumpy bum!" Alice hollered as she moved into the kitchen to get the wine from the fridge.

She came back in with Jasper and Edward who were loaded down with the amount of food Alice had ordered.

"Geez Alice, how many people did you order for?" Jasper asked.

"I ordered a banquet for four – we're feeding two growing boys now, Bella!" she teased me with a twinkle in her eye.

"Umm Alice?" Edward questioned, "I think Jasper and I have finished growing…"

"Well, some parts of you keep growing." She winked at me as she said that and I felt my face turn the same colour as the beetroot dip I'd just opened.

"Keep it clean for dinner Alice!" Jasper exclaimed in mock frustration.

We all got stuck into the food then, and it wasn't long before Alice was opening a second bottle of wine.

"Not too much wine, Alice – I've got an interview in the morning," Edward cautioned.

"That's ok – Bella will help me finish it!" she chirped.

I groaned loudly and slumped in my seat. "No, Alice," I corrected, "Bella will not help you finish it – Bella has a busy day planned tomorrow, besides which, you have to work and I won't be driving you if you miss the bus…again. And Jasper's on day shift tomorrow so he'll already be at work…speaking of which…"

I turned to Jasper. "Any chance you can do my graveyard shift tomorrow night for me? Don't forget I did a double for you last week…" I wheedled.

"I dunno Bells," he replied, "I've got the day shift tomorrow so I guess I can take your graveyard, and I've got the afternoon shift on Tuesday so I can go home and sleep…" he trailed off.

"Thanks Jazz, you're the best!" I jumped up and ran around the table to give him a hug.

"Yeah, just remember that next time I want you to swap me a graveyard shift," he answered with a grin. "Do I want to know why I'm doing your shift?"

"That would be me," Edward answered for me. "My flight leaves at 3 on Tuesday and Bella has offered to drive me to the airport. And with Seattle having so many reschedules with flights lately because of the weather, I didn't want to her be running late for work because of me. She also mentioned that you owed her a shift, so I thought maybe she'd like to call in the favour so we could spend some more time together before I left instead of Bella needing to sleep before work."

Alice was grinning from ear to ear as she said, "But I'm sure you'll still be spending plenty of time on Tuesday in bed, right Bella?"

I groaned audibly as I shook my head and looked at my feet under the table. Again Edward answered for me. "Alice, I care for Bella very much and I'd like to spend some more time with her, getting to know each other before I leave. I can't very well waltz in here, sleep with her, and then leave again, can I? It's rude and I know you'd never let me hear the end of it!"

Jasper saved the day again by interrupting. "Al honey, I should probably be off soon – I have a few things to do at home before work tomorrow. How about I give you a hand to clean up so Edward and Bella can spend some time together?"

I shot him a grateful look as I quickly pushed my chair back, Edward following my lead. "Thanks Jazz," I said to my first best friend. "Night Alice." I moved around the table to give my second best friend a hug, then turned and moved towards the door.

Edward bade Alice and Jasper goodnight and followed me out of the dining room, where we made our escape to my room for the night.