Thank you to Team Harpy- Cheryl, Pamela, Dawn, April, May, Ausha, Mandy, Teresa and Sally. You make me better than what I am in more ways than one.

25

Edward

I look at my watch for at least the eighth time, wanting to get this over with. Meanwhile, Austin is the picture of relaxation as he scrolls through Facebook without a care in the world.

"Relax, Edward."

"Easy for you to say," I mutter, trying to work out some tension in my neck. These hard-ass benches aren't really helping much.

"It is easy for me to say. Nothing that happens today is going to be a surprise. You know you're gonna have to pay maintenance. You know she's gonna object to everything you're offering. She's just lucky you didn't press charges for her stunt the other day. I still don't agree with your decision about that, by the way."

"So you've said." I pause. "Why aren't we going in like everyone else?"

He's about to answer but the rapid clicking of heels interrupts him and has me tensing up again. The acoustics in this place have me hearing her approach long before I actually lay eyes on her. Her sharp gaze cuts to me, and her mouth purses as she and her attorney, whoever the fuck, stalk past me and into the courtroom.

"That's why," Austin says, smirking. "Mike Newton, hotshot divorce attorney, or so he thinks. He makes a living off of promising young divorcees and all their husband's belongings."

"Does he win?"

"Sometimes. But they didn't have me as their attorney. Let's get in there," he instructs as he turns off his phone and stands up.

We make sure to sit on the opposite side of the room from Jessica and Mike and wait. About ten minutes later, the bailiff approaches the front of the room.

"All rise! The Court of Common Pleas Seventeenth Judicial Circuit is now in session. The Honorable Waylon Forge presiding." The judge appears and sits down. He seems solemn, bored even, like he'd rather be anywhere else but here. Same.

"Where are we on the schedule?" I ask, looking around at the full courthouse.

"The docket says fifth, but if one of those before us takes a lot of time, we might have our hearing continued onto another day."

"Awesome."

"Will you chill out!" Austin hisses under his breath.

More than once, I wish Bella was here to keep me occupied. I can't have my phone, and I'm really anxious though I try not to show it. A subtle touch to my bouncing knee tells me I'm not doing a good job with that.

It takes three hours to get to us, but I'm eternally grateful that they do.

"Attorneys Austin Marks and Mike Newton, approach the bench, please." I watch Austin get up and straighten his suit and join Newton in front of the judge. I can't hear what they're saying, but I know Jessica's attorney is annoying Austin just by the tick of his jaw. The judge is watching them like a tennis match as their words ricochet back and forth to each other. Judge Forge asks them something, and they both pass him a sheath of papers. The judge asks Austin a question, and he looks back at me before answering. The judge looks at the paperwork and at the attorneys and nods before saying something to the court reporter. Both attorneys also nod and leave the bench. Another case is called before Austin reaches me.

"What happened," I ask.

He shakes his head and motions for me to follow him out of the courtroom, promptly escorting me to the elevators.

"What—" I ask again but am interrupted by the shrill sound of Jessica's voice as our elevator doors close.

"I wanted you out of there before old Mikey reached her," he says, smiling easily at me. At my questioning look, he says, "I'll tell you over the lunch you're about to buy me."

I wait until the waitress has taken our order at The 5 Point Cafe before pouncing on Austin. "I swear to God—"

"You need a Xanax or something. Here's the breakdown for you. They didn't agree to anything, nor will they, so we'll be going to mediation, which we expected. She was asking for the maximum spousal maintenance at sixty-three thousand per month in addition to you paying the mortgage, utilities, and her car payment. I told them no way. Newton said, and I quote, 'Due to the disparity between incomes, it seems obvious that Dr. Cullen, who is responsible for the breakdown of this marriage, should be financially liable to Mrs. Cullen.' To which I reminded him that Washington is a no-fault state, so that dog won't hunt. I counter-offered thirty-five thousand, which I thought was going to make him seize. We met in the middle at forty-nine thousand per month with that money going toward all her financial obligations."

"Which is why she was upset," I state.

"If that was her upset, I'd hate to see her furious."

"It's something to witness, for sure." I laugh. Then I remember I haven't turned my phone back on. "Shit," I say as text after text appear from not only Bella but from my soon-to-be ex-wife, too. I shoot off a text to Bella first, letting her know I will call her soon and all is well, then switch to Jessica's thread and screenshot her messages before showing Austin.

He whistles lowly under his breath. "How did you survive these last ten years with this psycho?" He takes a closer look. "Did that say she's gonna put your dick in your favorite Ninja blender and press pulse?"

"Yes. Yes, it did."

He cringes. "You know, I think a protective order isn't out of the question here. This is the second time she's threatened you."

"When will mediation take place?" I said, ignoring his comment. Jessica has crossed many lines, but I really don't think she'd physically harm me.

He gives me a doubtful look before answering. "A couple months away or more. You'll be in Los Angeles by then, so I suggest in the meantime that you pay her on time, mind your p's and q's, and keep any communication with her on your part short and sweet. Keep records of all phone calls, texts, and the like, then send them to me. We may have to use it against her if push comes to shove." Our food arrives then, and while he chews on his club sandwich, I chew on his advice. I manage to eat about half of my food, and then we part ways soon after but not before he gets in a few more words.

"About Bella."

"What about her?"

"Just try to keep your relationship on the down-low. I know you don't have to, but I have a feeling Jessica is going to continue to go nuclear, and I've seen a lot of bad shit doing this job. Just be aware, man, okay?"

I nod and hurry away. I just want to get back to my parents' house where Bella is waiting.

When I arrive, she's pacing a hole in my mother's Persian area rug in the foyer. She throws herself into my arms.

"That took entirely too long," she complains.

I rub her back soothingly as I breathe her in. "I'm afraid this is just the beginning." I sigh.

She pulls back. "So, what happened?"

"Let's get comfortable," I suggest, kicking my shoes off by the door and taking her hand, leading her to the den. I get settled into the corner of the sectional, and then nestle her in front of me.

"She wanted the maximum amount along with me paying all her monthly bills until the final hearing. Luckily, Austin negotiated, and I'm paying less, and she has to use that money for her bills. God only knows what she's gonna ask for in the divorce settlement."

She turns sideways and drapes her legs over my lap. "It doesn't matter."

"Doesn't it?" I ask.

"No. Let her throw whatever she wants at us. I mean, I hesitate to say what could be worse than those photos being splashed all across the media, but if all she's after is money, let her have it. At the end of all this mess, it'll be you and me. And we can make more money," she said with a laugh.

"If we have a job," I say, snorting.

"I have lived well within my means, and I have a great financial planner. Money isn't a problem. Besides, you're a doctor, and I don't give a flying fuck about million-dollar penthouses."

"Oh yeah? How much did your house cost?" I ask, knowing it was more expensive than my old apartment.

"One point nine million. Paid for in cash, thank you very much; for LA, that was a great deal."

I groan as another thought occurs to me. "Oh, God, I haven't even started looking for an apartment." I throw my head back on the couch and close my eyes in frustration.

"Why would you need an apartment?"

"You're right. I don't even know if I have a job in LA. I can book a hotel room like you've been here in Seattle."

"Hotel living sucks. What I meant was since we're a thing now and making up for lost time, I figured you'd live with me."

"I thought you wanted to take it slow, and living together doesn't scream slow to me."

"I think I negated that statement when I jumped you a couple weeks ago, and since then, we've been going at it like bunnies, so, yeah, move in with me. I have plenty of space, and we can even make one of the spare rooms an office for you. What do you say?"

"You're not just offering because I could possibly come out of this divorce destitute and living with my parents?"

She laughs. "Partly," she teases, "but mostly because I like having you around."

I kiss her soundly.

"Does that mean yes?"

"Yes."

She squeals and kisses me again, and we just sit there laughing and kissing until my mom walks in and with an 'oh!' walks right back out.

"Mom, come back," I holler.

She does, blushing a little. "I don't want to intrude."

"In your own house?" Bella asks.

"Well, after what I walked into a couple days ago, I'd just rather announce my presence loudly in order for you to have time to … collect yourselves. I just forgot today."

"In our defense, we were in my bedroom."

"With the door open," my mom points out.

"Yeah, that was an accident," I say, finishing in a whisper.

"Anyway, we wanted to tell you the good news," Bella interrupts, changing the subject.

"What news? Oh, is it about the hearing? I have to admit I didn't answer any of Jessica's calls because I wanted to hear it from you."

My gut twists a little because I know that my mom is in the middle and is doing her best to stay objective, but she's let it slip that Jessica's behavior at work is bordering on unhinged.

"It went as expected, and we won't have a mediation date for a month or two, but that's not the news."

"Okay?"

"I'm moving in with Bella when I get to LA."

"That's great!" Mom comes over and gives Bella and me a hug, and we're chatting about our plans when Dad tentatively peeks around the corner.

"Oh, for Christ's sake. We're fully dressed, Dad."

"I would hope so, seeing as your mother is here chaperoning you two."

"Carlisle, the kids are moving in together."

"Great, how soon? I want my house back before it becomes a brothel."

Bella snorts. "Trust me, we'd be at the hotel if it weren't for the paps camping outside there. This is very reminiscent of our teenage years, and quite frankly, I'd just as soon leave that behind. New beginnings and all."

"Don't misunderstand; we love having Edward home and seeing you two together again …" Esme begins.

"But two horny couples is one horny couple too much?" Bella finishes.

"That part," Carlisle says. "Now, Edward and I are going to throw some burgers on the grill while you two rustle up some loaded fries. I feel like testing my cholesterol numbers tonight." He looks at Esme. "And don't you dare sneak broccoli into them."

She makes a sound of protest, but Bella interjects. "We won't." She gets up off my lap, and I follow Dad out of the room but not before hearing. "He didn't say a thing about avocado."

I laugh softly to myself, grateful for my supportive family and girlfriend. Lord knows I'm gonna need them.

'And all my walls stood tall, painted blue

But I'll take 'em all down, take 'em dowl

And open up the door for you

And all I feel inmy stomach is butterflies, the beautiful kind

makin' up for last time, takin' flight make me feel like…' Everything Has Changed- Taylor Swift