暮色-第60部分

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reason　to　the　titles。　

He　wasn't　paying　attention。　

〃Ummm；　by　year；　and　then　by　personal　preference　within　that　frame；〃　he　
said　absently。　

I　turned；　and　he　was　looking　at　me　with　a　peculiar　expression　in　his　eyes。　

〃What？〃　

〃I　was　prepared　to　feel…　relieved。　Having　you　know　about　everything；　not　
needing　to　keep　secrets　from　you。　But　I　didn't　expect　to　feel　more　than　
that。　I　like　it。　It　makes　me…　happy。〃　He　shrugged；　smiling　slightly。　

〃I'm　glad；〃　I　said；　smiling　back。　I'd　worried　that　he　might　regret　
telling　me　these　things。　It　was　good　to　know　that　wasn't　the　case。　

But　then；　as　his　eyes　dissected　my　expression；　his　smile　faded　and　his　
forehead　creased。　

〃You're　still　waiting　for　the　running　and　the　screaming；　aren't　you？〃　I　
guessed。　

A　faint　smile　touched　his　lips；　and　he　nodded。　

〃I　hate　to　burst　your　bubble；　but　you're　really　not　as　scary　as　you　think　
you　are。　I　don't　find　you　scary　at　all；　actually；〃　I　lied　casually。　

He　stopped；　raising　his　eyebrows　in　blatant　disbelief。　Then　he　flashed　a　
wide；　wicked　smile。　

〃You　really　shouldn't　have　said　that；〃　he　chuckled。　

He　growled；　a　low　sound　in　the　back　of　his　throat；　his　lips　curled　back　
over　his　perfect　teeth。　His　body　shifted　suddenly；　halfcrouched；　tensed　
like　a　lion　about　to　pounce。　

I　backed　away　from　him；　glaring。　

〃You　wouldn't。〃　

I　didn't　see　him　leap　at　me　—　it　was　much　too　fast。　I　only　found　myself　
suddenly　airborne；　and　then　we　crashed　onto　the　sofa；　knocking　it　into　
the　wall。　All　the　while；　his　arms　formed　an　iron　cage　of　protection　
around　me　—　I　was　barely　jostled。　But　I　still　was　gasping　as　I　tried　to　
right　myself。　

He　wasn't　having　that。　He　curled　me　into　a　ball　against　his　chest；　
holding　me　more　securely　than　iron　chains。　I　glared　at　him　in　alarm；　but　
he　seemed　well　in　control；　his　jaw　relaxed　as　he　grinned；　his　eyes　bright　
only　with　humor。　

〃You　were　saying？〃　he　growled　playfully。　

〃That　you　are　a　very；　very　terrifying　monster；〃　I　said；　my　sarcasm　marred　
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。　

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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　tim