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