in。 His footsteps sounded so noisy after my day with Edward。
〃Can you get me some of that？ I'm bushed。〃 He stepped on the heels of his
boots to take them off； holding the back of Edward's chair for support。
I took my food with me； scarfing it down as I got his dinner。 It burned
my tongue。 I filled two glasses with milk while his lasagna was heating；
and gulped mine to put out the fire。 As I set the glass down； I noticed
the milk trembling and realized my hand was shaking。 Charlie sat in the
chair； and the contrast between him and its former occupant was ical。
〃Thanks；〃 he said as I placed his food on the table。
〃How was your day？〃 I asked。 The words were rushed； I was dying to escape
to my room。
〃Good。 The fish were biting… how about you？ Did you get everything done
that you wanted to？〃
〃Not really — it was too nice out to stay indoors。〃 I took another big
bite。
〃It was a nice day；〃 he agreed。 What an understatement； I thought to
myself。
Finished with the last bite of lasagna； I lifted my glass and chugged the
remains of my milk。
Charlie surprised me by being observant。 〃In a hurry？〃
〃Yeah； I'm tired。 I'm going to bed early。〃
〃You look kinda keyed up；〃 he noted。 Why； oh why； did this have to be his
night to pay attention？
〃Do I？〃 was all I could manage in response。 I quickly scrubbed my dishes
clean in the sink； and placed them upside down on a dish towel to dry。
〃It's Saturday；〃 he mused。
I didn't respond。
〃No plans tonight？〃 he asked suddenly。
〃No； Dad； I just want to get some sleep。〃
〃None of the boys in town your type； eh？〃 He was suspicious； but trying
to play it cool。
〃No； none of the boys have caught my eye yet。〃 I was careful not to
overemphasize the word boys in my quest to be truthful with Charlie。
〃I thought maybe that Mike Newton… you said he was friendly。〃
〃He's Just a friend； Dad。〃
〃Well； you're too good for them all； anyway。 Wait till you get to college
to start looking。〃 Every father's dream； that his daughter will be out of
the house before the hormones kick in。
〃Sounds like a good idea to me；〃 I agreed as I headed up the stairs。
〃'Night； honey；〃 he called after me。 No doubt he would be listening
carefully all evening； waiting for me to try to sneak out。
〃See you in the morning； Dad。〃 See you creeping into my room tonight at
midnight to check on me。
I worked to make my tread sound slow and tired as I walked up the stairs
to my room。 I shut the door loud enough for him to hear； and then
sprinted on my tiptoes to the window。 I threw it open and leaned out into
the night。 My eyes scanned the darkness； the imperable shadows of the
trees。
〃Edward？〃 I whispered； feeling pletely idiotic。
The quiet； laughing response came from behind me。 〃Yes？〃
I whirled； one hand flying to my throat in surprise。
He lay； smiling hugely； across my bed； his hands behind his head； his
feet dangling off the end； the picture of ease。
〃Oh！〃 I breathed； sinking unsteadily to the floor。
〃I'm sorry。〃 He pressed his lips together； trying to hide his amusement。
〃Just give me a minute to restart my heart。〃
He sat up slowly； so as not to startle me again。 Then he leaned forward
and reached out with his long arms to pick me up； gripping the tops of my
arms like I was a toddler。 He sat me on the bed beside him。
〃Why don't you sit with me；〃 he suggested； putting a cold hand on mine。
〃How's the heart？〃
〃You tell me — I'm sure you hear it better than I do。〃
I felt his quiet laughter shake the bed。
We sat there for a moment in silence； both listening to my heartbeat
slow。 I thought about having Edward in my room； with my father in the
house。
〃Can I have a minute to be human？〃 I asked。
〃Certainly。〃 He gestured with one hand that I should proceed。
〃Stay；〃 I said； trying to look severe。
〃Yes； ma'am。〃 And he made a show of being a statue on the edge of my
bed。
I hopped up； grabbing my pajamas from off the floor； my bag of toiletries
off the desk。 I left the light off and slipped out； closing the door。
I could hear the sound from the TV rising up the stairs。 I banged the
bathroom door loudly； so Charlie wouldn't e up to bother me。
I meant to hurry。 I brushed my teeth fiercely； trying to be thorough and
speedy； removing all traces of lasagna。 But the hot water of the shower
couldn't be rushed。 It unknotted the muscles in my back； calmed my pulse。
The familiar smell of my shampoo made me feel like I might be the same
person I had been this morning。 I tried not to think of Edward； sitting
in my room； waiting； because then I had to start all over with the
calming process。 Finally； I couldn't delay anymore。 I shut off the water；
toweling hastily； rushing again。 I pulled on my holey tshirt and gray
sweatpants。 Too late to regret not packing the Victoria's Secret silk
pajamas my mother got me two birthdays ago； which still had the tags on
them in a drawer somewhere back home。
I rubbed the towel through my hair again； and then yanked the brush
through it quickly。 I threw the towel in the hamper； flung my brush and
toothpaste into my bag。 Then I dashed down the stairs so Charlie could
see that I was in my pajamas； with wet hair。
〃'Night； Dad。〃
〃'Night； Bella。〃 He did look startled by my appearance。 Maybe that would
keep him from checking on me tonight。
I took the stairs two at a time； trying to be quiet； and flew into my
room； closing the door tightly behind me。
Edward hadn't moved a fraction of an inch； a carving of Adonis perched on
my faded quilt。 I smiled； and his lips twitched； the statue ing to
life。
His eyes appraised me； taking in the damp hair； the tattered shirt。 He
raised one eyebrow。 〃Nice。〃
I grimaced。
〃No； it looks good on you。〃
〃Thanks；〃 I whispered。 I went back to his side； sitting crosslegged
beside him。 I looked at the lines in the wooden floor。
〃What was all that for？〃
〃Charlie thinks I'm sneaking out。〃
〃Oh。〃 He contemplated that。 〃Why？〃 As if he couldn't know Charlie's mind
much more clearly than I could guess。
〃Apparently； I look a little overexcited。〃
He lifted my chin； examining my face。
〃You look very warm； actually。〃
He bent his face slowly to mine； laying his cool cheek against my skin。 I
held perfectly still。
〃Mmmmmm…〃 he breathed。
It was very difficult； while he was touching me； to frame a coherent
question。 It took me a minute of scattered concentration to begin。
〃It seems to be… much easier for you； now； to be close to me。〃
〃Does it seem that way to you？〃 he murmured； his nose gliding to the
corner of my jaw。 I felt his hand； lighter than a moth's wing； brushing
my damp hair back； so that his lips could touch the hollow beneath my ear。
〃Much； much easier；〃 I said； trying to exhale。
〃Hmm。〃
〃So I was wondering…〃 I began again； but his fingers were slowly tracing
my collarbone； and I lost my train of thought。
〃Yes？〃 he breathed。
〃Why is that；〃 my voice shook； embarrassing me； 〃do you think？〃
I felt the tremor of his breath on my neck as he laughed。 〃