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a bit by my breathless voice。
〃Much better；〃 he approved。
〃Um。〃 I struggled。 〃Can I get up now？〃
He just laughed。
〃Can we e in？〃 a soft voice sounded from the hall。
I struggled to free myself； but Edward merely readjusted me so that I was
somewhat more conventionally seated on his lap。 I could see it was Alice；
then； and Jasper behind her in the doorway。 My cheeks burned； but Edward
seemed at ease。
〃Go ahead。〃 Edward was still chuckling quietly。
Alice seemed to find nothing unusual in our embrace； she walked — almost
danced； her movements were so graceful — to the center of the room； where
she folded herself sinuously onto the floor。 Jasper； however； paused at
the door； his expression a trifle shocked。 He stared at Edward's face；
and I wondered if he was tasting the atmosphere with his unusual
sensitivity。
〃It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch； and we came to see if
you would share；〃 Alice announced。
I stiffened for an instant； until I realized Edward was grinning —
whether at her ment or my response； I couldn't tell。
〃Sorry； I don't believe I have enough to spare；〃 he replied； his arms
holding me recklessly close。
〃Actually；〃 Jasper said； smiling despite himself as he walked into the
room； 〃Alice says there's going to be a real storm tonight； and Emmett
wants to play ball。 Are you game？〃
The words were all mon enough； but the context confused me。 I gathered
that Alice was a bit more reliable than the weatherman； though。
Edward's eyes lit up； but he hesitated。
〃Of course you should bring Bella；〃 Alice chirped。 I thought I saw Jasper
throw a quick glance at her。
〃Do you want to go？〃 Edward asked me； excited； his expression vivid。
〃Sure。〃 I couldn't disappoint such a face。 〃Um； where are we going？〃
〃We have to wait for thunder to play ball — you'll see why；〃 he promised。
〃Will I need an umbrella？〃
They all three laughed aloud。
〃Will she？〃 Jasper asked Alice。
〃No。〃 She was positive。 〃The storm will hit over town。 It should be dry
enough in the clearing。〃
〃Good； then。〃 The enthusiasm in Jasper's voice was catching； naturally。 I
found myself eager； rather than scared stiff。
〃Let's go see if Carlisle will e。〃 Alice bounded up and to the door in
a fashion that would break any ballerina's heart。
〃Like you don't know；〃 Jasper teased； and they were swiftly on their way。
Jasper managed to inconspicuously close the door behind them。
〃What will we be playing？〃 I demanded。
〃You will be watching；〃 Edward clarified。 〃We will be playing baseball。〃
I rolled my eyes。 〃Vampires like baseball？〃
〃It's the American pastime；〃 he said with mock solemnity。
===========================================================================
17。 THE GAME
It was just beginning to drizzle when Edward turned onto my street。 Up
until that moment； I'd had no doubt that he'd be staying with me while I
spent a few interim hours in the real world。
And then I saw the black car； a weathered Ford； parked in Charlie's
driveway — and heard Edward mutter something unintelligible in a low；
harsh voice。
Leaning away from the rain under the shallow front porch； Jacob Black
stood behind his father's wheelchair。 Billy's face was impassive as stone
as Edward parked my truck against the curb。 Jacob stared down； his
expression mortified。
Edward's low voice was furious。 〃This is crossing the line。〃
〃He came to warn Charlie？〃 I guessed； more horrified than angry。
Edward just nodded； answering Billy's gaze through the rain with narrowed
eyes。
I felt weak with relief that Charlie wasn't home yet。
〃Let me deal with this；〃 I suggested。 Edward's black glare made me
anxious。
To my surprise； he agreed。 〃That's probably best。 Be careful； though。 The
child has no idea。〃
I bridled a little at the word child。 〃Jacob is not that much younger
than I am；〃 I reminded him。
He looked at me then； his anger abruptly fading。 〃Oh； I know；〃 he assured
me with a grin。
I sighed and put my hand on the door handle。
〃Get them inside；〃 he instructed； 〃so I can leave。 I'll be back around
dusk。〃
〃Do you want my truck？〃 I offered； meanwhile wondering how I would
explain its absence to Charlie。
He rolled his eyes。 〃I could walk home faster than this truck moves。〃
〃You don't have to leave；〃 I said wistfully。
He smiled at my glum expression。 〃Actually； I do。 After you get rid of
them〃 — he threw a dark glance in the Blacks' direction — 〃you still have
to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend。〃 He grinned widely；
showing all of his teeth。
I groaned。 〃Thanks a lot。〃
He smiled the crooked smile that I loved。 〃I'll be back soon；〃 he
promised。 His eyes flickered back to the porch； and then he leaned in to
swiftly kiss me just under the edge of my jaw。 My heart lurched
frantically； and I； too； glanced toward the porch。 Billy's face was no
longer impassive； and his hands clutched at the armrests of his chair。
〃Soon；〃 I stressed as I opened the door and stepped out into the rain。
I could feel his eyes on my back as I halfran through the light sprinkle
toward the porch。
〃Hey； Billy。 Hi； Jacob。〃 I greeted them as cheerfully as I could manage。
〃Charlie's gone for the day — I hope you haven't been waiting long。〃
〃Not long；〃 Billy said in a subdued tone。 His black eyes were piercing。
〃I just wanted to bring this up。〃 He indicated a brown paper sack resting
in his lap。
〃Thanks；〃 I said； though I had no idea what it could be。 〃Why don't you
e in for a minute and dry off？〃
I pretended to be oblivious to his intense scrutiny as I unlocked the
door； and waved them in ahead of me。
〃Here； let me take that；〃 I offered； turning to shut the door。 I allowed
myself one last glance at Edward。 He was waiting； perfectly still； his
eyes solemn。
〃You'll want to put it in the fridge；〃 Billy noted as he handed me the
package。 〃It's some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry — Charlie's
favorite。 The fridge keeps it drier。〃 He shrugged。
〃Thanks；〃 I repeated； but with feeling this time。 〃