“I know I don’t have to worry about Jake。 And neither do you。”
He ground his teeth together。 His hands were balled up in fists at his sides。 He was still standing against the
wall； and I hated the space between us。
I took a deep breath； and crossed the room。 He didn’t move when I wrapped my arms around him。 Next
to the warmth of the last of the afternoon sun streaming through the window； his skin felt especially icy。 He
seemed like ice； too； frozen the way he was。
“I’m sorry I made you anxious；” I muttered。
He sighed； and relaxed a little。 His arms wound around my waist。
“Anxious is a bit of an understatement；” he murmured。 “It was a very long day。”
“You weren’t supposed to know about it；” I reminded him。 “I thought you’d be hunting longer。”
I looked up at his face； at his defensive eyes； I hadn’t noticed in the stress of the moment； but they were
too dark。 The rings under them were deep purple。 I frowned in disapproval。
“When Alice saw you disappear； I came back；” he explained。
“You shouldn’t have done that。 Now you’ll have to go away again。” My frown intensified。
“I can wait。”
“That’s ridiculous。 I mean； I know she couldn’t see me with Jacob； but you should have known —”
“But I didn’t；” he broke in。 “And you can’t expect me to let you —”
“Oh； yes； I can；” I interrupted him。 “That’s exactly what I expect —”
“This won’t happen again。”
“That’s right！ Because you’re not going to overreact next time。”
“Because there isn’t going to be a next time。”
“I understand when you have to leave； even if I don’t like it —”
“That’s not the same。 I’m not risking my life。”
“Neither am I。”
“Werewolves constitute a risk。”
“I disagree。”
“I’m not negotiating this； Bella。”
“Neither am I。”
His hands were in fists again。 I could feel them against my back。
The words popped out thoughtlessly。 “Is this really just about my safety？”
“What do you mean？” he demanded。
“You aren’t 。 。 。” Angela’s theory seemed sillier now than before。 It was hard to finish the thought。 “I
mean； you know better than to be jealous； right？”
He raised one eyebrow。 “Do I？”
“Be serious。”
“Easily — there’s nothing remotely humorous about this。”
I frowned suspiciously。 “Or 。 。 。 is this something else altogether？ Some vampiresandwerewolvesare
alwaysenemies nonsense？ Is this just a testosteronefueled —”
His eyes blazed。 “This is only about you。 All I care is that you’re safe。”
The black fire in his eyes was impossible to doubt。
“Okay；” I sighed。 “I believe that。 But I want you to know something — when it es to all this enemies
nonsense； I’m out。 I am a neutral country。 I am Switzerland。 I refuse to be affected by territorial disputes
between mythical creatures。 Jacob is family。 You are 。 。 。 well； not exactly the love of my life； because I expect
to love you for much longer than that。 The love of my existence。 I don’t care who’s a werewolf and who’s a
vampire。 If Angela turns out to be a witch； she can join the party； too。”
He stared at me silently through narrowed eyes。
“Switzerland；” I repeated again for emphasis。
He frowned at me； and then sighed。 “Bella 。 。 。 ；” he began； but he paused； and his nose wrinkled in
disgust。
“What now？”
“Well 。 。 。 don’t be offended； but you smell like a dog；” he told me。
And then he smiled crookedly； so I knew the fight was over。 For now。
Edward had to make up for the missed hunting trip； and so he was leaving Friday night with Jasper； Emmett；
and Carlisle to hit some reserve in Northern California with a mountain lion problem。
We’d e to no agreement on the werewolf issue； but I didn’t feel guilty calling Jake — during my brief
window of opportunity when Edward took the Volvo home before climbing back in through my window — to
let him know I’d be ing over on Saturday again。 It wasn’t sneaking around。 Edward knew how I felt。 And
if he broke my truck again； then I’d have Jacob pick me up。 Forks was neutral； just like Switzerland — just
like me。
So when I got off work Thursday and it was Alice rather than Edward waiting for me in the Volvo； I was
not suspicious at first。 The passenger door was open； and music I didn’t recognize was shaking the frame
when the bass played。
“Hey； Alice；” I shouted over the wailing as I climbed in。 “Where’s your brother？”
She was singing along to the song； her voice an octave higher than the melody； weaving through it with a
plicated harmony。 She nodded at me； ignoring my question as she concentrated on the music。
I shut my door and put my hands over my ears。 She grinned； and turned the volume down until it was just
background。 Then she hit the locks and the gas in the same second。
“What’s going on？” I asked； starting to feel uneasy。 “Where is Edward？”
She shrugged。 “They left early。”
“Oh。” I tried to control the absurd disappointment。 If he left early； that meant he’d be back sooner； I
reminded myself。
“All the boys went； and we’re having a slumber party！” she announced in a trilling； singsong voice。
“A slumber party？” I repeated； the suspicion finally settling in。
“Aren’t you excited？” she crowed。
I met her animated gaze for a long second。
“You’re kidnapping me； aren’t you？”
She laughed and nodded。 “Till Saturday。 Esme cleared it with Charlie； you’re staying with me two nights；
and I will drive you to and from school tomorrow。”
I turned my face to the window； my teeth grinding together。
“Sorry；” Alice said； not sounding in the least bit penitent。 “He paid me off。”
“How？” I hissed through my teeth。
“The Porsche。 It’s exactly like the one I stole in Italy。” She sighed happily。 “I’m not supposed to drive it
around Forks； but if you want； we could see how long it takes to get from here to L。A。 — I bet I could have
you back by midnight。”
I took a deep breath。 “I think I’ll pass；” I sighed； repressing a shudder。
We wound； always too fast； down the long drive。 Alice pulled around to the garage； and I quickly looked
over the cars。 Emmett’s big jeep was there； with a shiny canary yellow Porsche between it and Rosalie’s red
convertible。
Alice hopped out gracefully and went to stroke her hand along the length of her bribe。 “Pretty； isn’t it？”
“Pretty overthetop；” I grumbled； incredulous。 “He gave you that just for two days of holding me
hostage？”
Alice made a face。
A second later； prehension came and I gasped in horror。 “It’s for every time he’s gone； isn’t it？”
She nodded。
I slammed my door and stomped toward the house。 She danced along next to me； still unrepentant。
“Alice； don’t you think this is just a little bit controlling？ Just a tiny bit psychotic； maybe？”
“Not really。” She sniffed。 “You don’t seem to grasp how dangerous a young werewolf can be。 Especially
when I can’t see them。 Edward has no way to know if you’re safe。 You shouldn’t be so reckless。”
My voice turned acidic。 “Yes； because a vampire slumber party is the pinnacle of safety conscious
behavior。”
Alice laughed。 “I’ll give you a pedicure and everything；” she promised。