After the hearing, it was presumed that JR tucked tail and left Seattle. Miss Alice spent time talking to Mariah and Thomas on Zoom, using Bella’s iPad. Their relationship was fractured, but both of them wanted to heal that relationship with their mother.
The day after the hearing, Edward had to go to the gyms to do a routine walk-through with Emmett and the managers. Bella was working on the last video of their São Paulo video series, documenting their flight back home. After finishing that video, she was going to start editing the question-and-answer session that Edward and Bella filmed while they were in quarantine.
Edward came back after driving all over the city. His eyes were weary. “You okay?” Bella asked.
“Just tired,” he answered. “I’ve gotten used to interacting with you and Miss Alice. Hell, I could handle Emmett.” He kicked off his shoes and flopped down onto the couch. “But, some of the managers are not fulfilling their jobs. Our gyms are falling into disrepair due to lack of maintenance and also because of the protests this summer. We’re lucky that we have the online platform, and that people are willing to pay for that service. However, we may still need to downsize, closing the gyms that are not …”
“Why not fire the managers?” Bella frowned, opening a bottle of beer for both of them and sitting down next to him.
“Oh, they’ve been fired. One is claiming unfair labor practices, but after providing proof of how we’ve adapted for the pandemic, it was thrown out,” Edward snorted humorlessly, taking a pull from his beer. “Are you one of those pumpkin people? You live for pumpkin spice latte?”
“No,” she giggled. “I saw this on sale and figured I’d try it. It was this or some other autumn stout. I’m not a fan of heavy beers. This one appealed to me. Do you like it?”
He took another sip. “It’s growing on me.”
“But, I do love autumn,” Bella replied. “I have a ton of fall décor and I’ll be pulling it out this weekend. Be prepared for some insane pumpkin decorations, Cullen.” She tucked her feet up under body. “When I lived with my mom, it was still so hot in Phoenix during the fall. I didn’t begin my love of all things autumnal was when I moved in with my dad. Seeing the leaves change? The scent of burning leaves? Pumpkins? Halloween? It’s awesome. So, I’m slightly obsessed. I also love Christmas and snow.”
“I like snow, but after the new year? It can go away,” Edward quipped.
“I agree with you there,” Bella said. “So, what are you going to do with the gyms that are having issues?”
“We’ll make the repairs as needed, but we may have to cut our losses and sell the locations,” Edward shrugged. “We won’t make any decisions until after the first of the year. That’s when our leases are up for renewal. It would be far more expensive to break the lease than just remain.” He tugged Bella’s legs over his lap, idly running his fingers over her calves. “Though, my heart isn’t in it anymore.”
“Owning the gyms?” she pressed, arching a brow.
“Dealing with the day-to-day upkeep and handling all of the minutia of it all,” he shrugged. “I’ve been thinking …”
“Halt the presses,” Bella giggled, leaning over to kiss his jaw. “Is the hamster working overtime in your brain?”
“You’re funny, Bella,” he deadpanned, reaching over to tickle her sides. She squealed, wriggling away from his fingers. He managed to pull her onto his lap, straddling his thighs. “Can I finish, Ms. Swan?”
She smirked at him, rocking closer to his body, and kissing his lips. “I’m sorry, Sparkle. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that I maintain part ownership of the gyms and help Emmett, but I loved traveling with you,” he murmured. “I also loved the idea of driving all over the country.”
“Really?” she asked. “Edward, it’s a big commitment and … I’m only now starting to make good money on my YouTube channel. I still have to maintain my employment with the publishing house as an editor to make ends meet. Plus, this whole pandemic thing … it’s not going away anytime soon.”
“That’s why I want to suggest we do the driving thing. Listen to this … after the first of the year, your lease is up, right?” he asked.
“That’s right,” Bella said slowly.
“We can use my condo as a home base and purchase a converted van,” he said.
