〃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。 〃I was running out of
new ways to fix fish； and he's bound to bring home more tonight。〃
〃Fishing again？〃 Billy asked with a subtle gleam in his eye。 〃Down at the
usual spot？ Maybe I'll run by and see him。〃
〃No；〃 I quickly lied； my face going hard。 〃He was headed someplace new…
but I have no idea where。〃
He took in my changed expression； and it made him thoughtful。
〃Jake；〃 he said； still appraising me。 〃Why don't you go get that new
picture of Rebecca out of the car？ I'll leave that for Charlie； too。〃
〃Where is it？〃 Jacob asked； his voice morose。 I glanced at him； but he
was staring at the floor； his eyebrows pulling together。
〃I think I saw it in the trunk；〃 Billy said。 〃You may have to dig for it。〃
Jacob slouched back out into the rain。
Billy and I faced each other in silence。 After a few seconds； the quiet
started to feel awkward； so I turned and headed to the kitchen。 I could
hear his wet wheels squeak against the linoleum as he followed。
I shoved the bag onto the crowded top shelf of the fridge； and spun
around to confront him。 His deeply lined face was unreadable。
〃Charlie won't be back for a long time。〃 My voice was almost rude。
He nodded in agreement； but said nothing。
〃Thanks again for the fish fry；〃 I hinted。
He continued nodding。 I sighed and folded my arms across my chest。
He seemed to sense that I had given up on small talk。 〃Bella；〃 he said；
and then he hesitated。
I waited。
〃Bella；〃 he said again； 〃Charlie is one of my best friends。〃
〃Yes。〃
He spoke each word carefully in his rumbling voice。 〃I noticed you've
been spending time with one of the Cullens。〃
〃Yes；〃 I repeated curtly。
His eyes narrowed。 〃Maybe it's none of my business； but I don't think
that is such a good idea。〃
〃You're right；〃 I agreed。 〃It is none of your business。〃
He raised his graying eyebrows at my tone。 〃You probably don't know this；
but the Cullen family has an unpleasant reputation on the reservation。〃
〃Actually； I did know that；〃 I informed him in a hard voice。 This
surprised him。 〃But that reputation couldn't be deserved； could it？
Because the Cullens never set foot on the reservation； do they？〃 I could
see that my less than subtle reminder of the agreement that both bound
and protected his tribe pulled him up short。
〃That's true；〃 he acceded； his eyes guarded。 〃You seem… well informed
about the Cullens。 More informed than I expected。〃
I stared him down。 〃Maybe even better informed than you are。〃
He pursed his thick lips as he considered that。 〃Maybe。〃 he allowed； but
his eyes were shrewd。 〃Is Charlie as well informed？〃
He had found the weak chink in my armor。
〃Charlie likes the Cullens a lot；〃 I hedged。 He clearly understood my
evasion。 His expression was unhappy； but unsurprised。
〃It's not my business；〃 he said。 〃But it may be Charlie's。〃
〃Though it would be my business； again； whether or not I think that it'