"Thank you," Edward replied.
Then Jacob said something that caused a surprised expression to flicker across Edward's face.
"I'd planned to go alone, actually," Edward said, answering the unexpected question. "And leave her with the others."
Jacob's voice rose in pitch, and it sounded to me like he was trying to be persuasive.
"I'll try to consider it objectively," Edward promised. "As objectively as I'm capable of."
The pause was shorter this time.
"That's not a half-bad idea. When? . . . No, that's fine. I'd like a chance to follow the trail personally, anyway. Ten minutes . . . Certainly," Edward said. He held the phone out to me. "Bella?"
I took it slowly, feeling confused.
"What was that all about?" I asked Jacob, my voice peeved. I knew it was juvenile, but I felt excluded.
"A truce, I think. Hey, do me a favor," Jacob suggested. "Try to convince your bloodsucker that the safest place for you to be - especially when he leaves - is on the reservation. We're well able to handle anything."
"Is that what you were trying to sell him?"
"Yes. It makes sense. Charlie's probably better off here, too. As much as possible."
"Get Billy on it," I agreed. I hated that I was putting Charlie within the range of the crosshairs that always seemed to be centered on me. "What else?"
"Just rearranging some boundaries, so we can catch anyone who gets too near Forks. I'm not sure if Sam will go for it, but until he comes around, I'll keep an eye on things."
"What do you mean by 'keep an eye on things'?"
"I mean that if you see a wolf running around your house, don't shoot at it."
"Of course not. You really shouldn't do anything . . . risky, though."
He snorted. "Don't be stupid. I can take care of myself."
I sighed.
"I also tried to convince him to let you visit. He's prejudiced, so don't let him give you any crap about safety. He knows as well as I do that you'd be safe here."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"See you in a few," Jacob said.
"You're coming up?"
"Yeah. I'm going to get the scent of your visitor so we can track him if he comes back."
"Jake, I really don't like the idea of you tracking -"
"Oh please, Bella," he interrupted. Jacob laughed, and then hung up.
Chapter 10. SCENT
IT WAS ALL VERY CHILDISH. WHY ON EARTH SHOULD EDward have to leave for Jacob to come over? Weren't we past this kind of immaturity?
"It's not that I feel any personal antagonism toward him, Bella, it's just easier for both of us," Edward told me at the door. "I won't be far away. You'll be safe."
"I'm not worried about that."
He smiled, and then a sly look came into his eye. He pulled me close, burying his face in my hair. I could feel his cool breath saturate the strands as he exhaled; it raised goose bumps on my neck.
"I'll be right back," he said, and then he laughed aloud as if I'd just told a good joke.
"What's so funny?"
But Edward just grinned and loped off toward the trees without answering.
Grumbling to myself, I went to clean up the kitchen. Before I even had the sink full of water, the doorbell rang. It was hard to get used to how much faster Jacob was without his car. How everyone seemed to be so much faster than me. . . .
"Come in, Jake!" I shouted.
I was concentrating on piling the dishes into the bubbly water, and I'd forgotten that Jacob moved like a ghost these days. So it made me jump when his voice was suddenly there behind me.
"Should you really leave your door unlocked like that? Oh, sorry."
I'd slopped myself with the dishwater when he'd startled me.
"I'm not worried about anyone who would be deterred by a locked door," I said while I wiped the front of my shirt with a dishtowel.
"Good point," he agreed.
I turned to look at him, eyeing him critically. "Is it really so impossible to wear clothes, Jacob?" I asked. Once again, Jacob was bare-chested, wearing nothing but a pair of old cut-off jeans. Secretly, I wondered if he was just so proud of his new muscles that he couldn't stand to cover them up. I had to admit, they were impressive - but I'd never thought of him as vain. "I mean, I know you don't get cold anymore, but still."
He ran a hand through his wet hair; it was falling in his eyes.
"It's just easier," he explained.
"What's easier?"
He smiled condescendingly. "It's enough of a pain to carry the shorts around with me, let alone a complete outfit. What do I look like, a pack mule?"
I frowned. "What are you talking about, Jacob?"
His expression was superior, like I was missing something obvious. "My clothes don't just pop in and out of existence when I change - I have to carry them with me while I run. Pardon me for keeping my burden light."
I changed color. "I guess I didn't think about that," I muttered.
He laughed and pointed to a black leather cord, thin as a strand of yarn, that was wound three times below his left calf like an anklet. I hadn't noticed before that his feet were bare, too. "That's more than just a fashion statement - it sucks to carry jeans in your mouth."
I didn't know what to say to that.
He grinned. "Does my being half-naked bother you?"
"No."
Jacob laughed again, and I turned my back on him to focus on the dishes. I hoped he realized my blush was left over from embarrassment at my own stupidity, and had nothing to do with his question.
"Well, I suppose I should get to work." He sighed. "I wouldn't want to give him an excuse to say I'm slacking on my side."