暮色-第42部分

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〃So　who　was　it？〃　he　asked；　setting　two　plates　on　the　counter　next　to　me。　

I　sighed　in　defeat。　〃Edward　Cullen。〃　

To　my　surprise；　he　laughed。　I　glanced　up　at　him。　He　looked　a　little　
embarrassed。　

〃Guess　that　explains　it；　then；〃　he　said。　〃I　wondered　why　my　dad　was　
acting　so　strange。〃　

〃That's　right。〃　I　faked　an　innocent　expression。　〃He　doesn't　like　the　
Cullens。〃　

〃Superstitious　old　man；〃　Jacob　muttered　under　his　breath。　

〃You　don't　think　he'd　say　anything　to　Charlie？〃　I　couldn't　help　asking；　
the　words　ing　out　in　a　low　rush。　

Jacob　stared　at　me　for　a　moment；　and　I　couldn't　read　the　expression　in　
his　dark　eyes。　〃I　doubt　it；〃　he　finally　answered。　〃I　think　Charlie　chewed　
him　out　pretty　good　last　time。　They　haven't　spoken　much　since　—　tonight　
is　sort　of　a　reunion；　I　think。　I　don't　think　he'd　bring　it　up　again。〃　

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　trying　to　sound　indifferent。　

I　stayed　in　the　front　room　after　I　carried　the　food　out　to　Charlie；　
pretending　to　watch　the　game　while　Jacob　chattered　at　me。　I　was　really　
listening　to　the　men's　conversation；　watching　for　any　sign　that　Billy　was　
about　to　rat　me　out；　trying　to　think　of　ways　to　stop　him　if　he　began。　

It　was　a　long　night。　I　had　a　lot　of　homework　that　was　going　undone；　but　I　
was　afraid　to　leave　Billy　alone　with　Charlie。　Finally；　the　game　ended。　

〃Are　you　and　your　friends　ing　back　to　the　beach　soon？〃　Jacob　asked　as　
he　pushed　his　father　over　the　lip　of　the　threshold。　

〃I'm　not　sure；〃　I　hedged。　

〃That　was　fun；　Charlie；〃　Billy　said。　

〃e　up　for　the　next　game；〃　Charlie　encouraged。　

〃Sure；　sure；〃　Billy　said。　〃We'll　be　here。　Have　a　good　night。〃　His　eyes　
shifted　to　mine；　and　his　smile　disappeared。　〃You　take　care；　Bella；〃　he　
added　seriously。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　muttered；　looking　away。　

I　headed　for　the　stairs　while　Charlie　waved　from　the　doorway。　

〃Wait；　Bella；〃　he　said。　

I　cringed。　Had　Billy　gotten　something　in　before　I'd　joined　them　in　the　
living　room？　

But　Charlie　was　relaxed；　still　grinning　from　the　unexpected　visit。　

〃I　didn't　get　a　chance　to　talk　to　you　tonight。　How　was　your　day？〃　

〃Good。〃　I　hesitated　with　one　foot　on　the　first　stair；　searching　for　
details　I　could　safely　share。　〃My　badminton　team　won　all　four　games。〃　

〃Wow；　I　didn't　know　you　could　play　badminton。〃　

〃Well；　actually　I　can't；　but　my　partner　is　really　good；〃　I　admitted。　

〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked　with　token　interest。　

〃Um…　Mike　Newton；〃　I　told　him　reluctantly。　

〃Oh　yeah　—　you　said　you　were　friends　with　the　Newton　kid。〃　He　perked　up。　
〃Nice　family。〃　He　mused　for　a　minute。　〃Why　didn't　you　ask　him　to　the　
dance　this　weekend？〃　

〃Dad！〃　I　groaned。　〃He's　kind　of　dating　my　friend　Jessica。　Besides；　you　
know　I　can't　dance。〃　

〃Oh　yeah；〃　he　muttered。　Then　he　smiled　at　me　apologetically。　〃So　I　guess　
it's　good　you'll　be　gone　Saturday…　I've　made　plans　to　go　fishing　with　the　
guys　from　the　station。　The　weather's　supposed　to　be　real　warm。　But　if　you　
wanted　to　put　your　trip　off　till　someone　could　go　with　you；　I'd　stay　
home。　I　know　I　leave　you　here　alone　too　much。〃　

〃Dad；　you're　doing　a　great　job。〃　I　smiled；　hoping　my　relief　didn't　show。　
〃I've　never　minded　being　alone　—　I'm　too　much　like　you。〃　I　winked　at　him；　
and　he　smiled　his　crinklyeyed　smile。　



I　slept　better　that　night；　too　tired　to　dream　again。　When　I　woke　to　the　
pearl　gray　morning；　my　mood　was　blissful。　The　tense　evening　with　Billy　
and　Jacob　seemed　harmless　enough　now；　I　decided　to　forget　it　pletely。　
I　caught　myself　whistling　while　I　was　pulling　the　front　part　of　my　hair　
back　into　a　barrette；　and　later　again　as　I　skipped　down　the　stairs。　
Charlie　noticed。　

〃You're　cheerful　this　morning；〃　he　mented　over　breakfast。　

I　shrugged。　〃It's　Friday。〃　

I　hurried　so　I　would　be　ready　to　go　the　second　Charlie　left。　I　had　my　bag　
ready；　shoes　on；　teeth　brushed；　but　even　though　I　rushed　to　the　door　as　
soon　as　I　was　sure　Charlie　would　be　out　of　sight；　Edward　was　faster。　He　
was　waiting　in　his　shiny　car；　windows　down；　engine　off。　

I　didn't　hesitate　this　time；　climbing　in　the　passenger　side　quickly；　the　
sooner　to　see　his　face。　He　grinned　his　crooked　smile　at　me；　stopping　my　
breath　and　my　heart。　I　couldn't　imagine　how　an　angel　could　be　any　more　
glorious。　There　was　nothing　about　him　that　could　be　improved　upon。　

〃How　did　you　sleep？〃　he　asked。　I　wondered　if　he　had　any　idea　how　
appealing　his　voice　was。　

〃Fine。　How　was　your　night？〃　

〃Pleasant。〃　His　smile　was　amused；　I　felt　like　I　was　missing　an　inside　
joke。　

〃Can　I　ask　what　you　did？〃　I　asked。　

〃No。〃　He　grinned。　〃Today　is　still　mine。〃　

He　wanted　to　know　about　people　today：　more　about　Renée；　her　hobbies；　what　
we'd　done　in　our　free　time　together。　And　then　the　one　grandmother　I'd　

known；　my　few　school　friends　—　embarrassing　me　when　he　asked　about　boys　
I'd　dated。　I　was　relieved　that　I'd　never　really　dated　anyone；　so　that　
particular　conversation　couldn't　last　long。　He　seemed　as　surprised　as　
Jessica　and　Angela　by　my　lack　of　romantic　history。　

〃So　you　never　met　anyone　you　wanted？〃　he　asked　in　a　serious　tone　that　
made　me　wonder　what　he　was　thinking　about。　

I　was　grudgingly　honest。　〃Not　in　Phoenix。〃　

His　lips　pressed　together　into　a　hard　line。　

We　were　in　the　cafeteria　at　this　point。　The　day　had　sped　by　in　the　blur　
that　was　rapidly　being　routine。　I　took　advantage　of　his　brief　pause　to　
take　a　bite　of　my　bagel。　

〃I　should　have　let　you　drive　yourself　today；〃　he　announced；　apropos　of　
nothing；　while　I　chewed。　

〃Why？〃　I　demanded。　

〃I'm　leaving　with　Alice　after　lunch。〃　

〃Oh。〃　I　blinked；　bewildered　and　disappointed。　〃That's　okay；　it's　not　that　
far　of　a　walk。〃　

He　frowned　at　me　impatiently。　〃I'm　not　going　to　make　you　walk　home。　We'll　
go　get　your　truck　and　leave　it　here　for　you。〃　

〃I　don't　have　my　key　with　me；〃　I　sighed。　〃I　really　don't　mind　walking。〃　
What　I　minded　was　losing　my　time　with　him。　

He　shook　his　head。　〃Your　truck　will　be　here；　and　the　key　will　be　in　the　
ignition　—　unless　you're　afraid　someone　might　steal　it。〃　He　laughed　at　
the　thought。　

〃All　right；〃　I　agreed；　pursing　my　lips。　I　was　pretty　sure　my　key　was　in　
the　pocket　of　a　pair　of　jeans　I　wore　Wednesday；　under　a　pile　of　clothes　
in　the　laundry　room。　Even　if　he　broke　into　my　house；　or　whatever　he　was　
planning；　he'd　never　find　it。　He　seemed　to　feel　the　challenge　in　my　
consent。　He　smirked；　overconfident。　

〃So　where　are　you　going？〃　I　asked　as　casually　as　I　could　manage。　

〃Hunting；〃　he　answered　grimly。　〃If　I'm　going　to　be　alone　with　you　
tomorrow；　I'm　going　to　take　whatever　precautions　I　can。〃　His　face　grew　
morose…　and　pleading。　〃You　can　always　cancel；　you　know。〃　

I　looked　down；　afraid　of　the　persuasive　power　of　his　eyes。　I　refused　to　
be　convinced　to　fear　him；　no　matter　how　real　the　danger　might　be。　It　
doesn't　matter；　I　repeated　in　my　head。　

〃No；〃　I　whispered；　glancing　back　at　his　face。　〃I　can't。〃　

〃Perhaps　you're　right；〃　he　murmured　bleakly。　His　eyes　seemed　to　darken　in　
color　as　I　watched。　

I　changed　the　subject。　〃What　time　will　I　see　you　tomorrow？〃　I　asked；　
already　depressed　by　the　thought　of　him　leaving　now。　

〃That　depends…　it's　a　Saturday；　don't　you　want　to　sleep　in？〃　he　offered。　

〃No；〃　I　answered　too　fast。　He　restrained　a　smile。　

〃The　same　time　as　usual；　then；〃　he　decided。　〃Will　Charlie　be　there？〃　

〃No；　he's　fishing　tomorrow。〃　I　beamed　at　the　memory　of　how　conveniently　
things　had　worked　out。　

His　voice　turned　sharp。　〃And　if　you　don't　e　home；　what　will　he　think？〃　

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　I　answered　coolly。　〃He　knows　I've　been　meaning　to　do　

the　laundry。　Maybe　he'll　think　I　fell　in　the　washer。〃　

He　scowled　at　me　and　I　scowled　back。　His　anger　was　much　more　impressive　
than　mine。　

〃What　are　you　hunting　tonight？〃　I　asked　when　I　was　sure　I　had　lost　the　
glowering　contest。　

〃Whatever　we　find　in　the　park。　We　aren't　going　far。〃　He　seemed　bemused　by　
my　casual　reference　to　his　secret　realities。　

〃Why　are　you　going　with　Alice？〃　I　wondered。　

〃Alice　is　the　most…　supportive。〃　He　frowned　as　he　spoke。　

〃And　the　others？〃　I　asked　timidly。　〃What　are　they？〃　

His　brow　puckered　for　a　brief　moment。　〃Incredulous；　for　the　most　part。〃