第23部分(第1/7 頁)

he　leaned　over　the

handlebars；　head　low；　face　forward；　his　shiny　hair　whipping　against　the　russet

skin　of　his　back。　My　eyes

narrowed　enviously。　I　was　sure　I　hadn't　looked　like　that　on　my　motorcycle。

I　was　surprised　at　how　far　I'd　gone。　I　could　barely　see　Jacob　in　the　distance

when　he　finally　got　to　the

truck。　He　threw　the　bike　into　the　bed　and　sprinted　to　the　driver's　side。

I　really　didn't　feel　bad　at　all　as　he　coaxed　my　truck　to　a　deafening　roar　in

his　hurry　to　get　back　to　me。　My

head　stung　a　little；　and　my　stomach　was　uneasy；　but　the　cut　wasn't　serious。

Head　wounds　just　bled　more

than　most。　His　urgency　wasn't　necessary。

Jacob　left　the　truck　running　as　he　raced　back　to　me；　wrapping　his　arm　around

my　waist　again。

〃Okay；　let's　get　you　in　the　truck。〃

〃I'm　honestly　fine；〃　I　assured　him　as　he　helped　me　in。　〃Don't　get　worked　up。

It's　just　a　little　blood。〃

〃Just　a　lot　of　blood；〃　I　heard　him　mutter　as　he　went　back　for　my　bike。

〃Now；　let's　think　about　this　for　a　second；〃　I　began　when　he　got　back　in。　〃If

you　take　me　to　the　ER　like

this；　Charlie　is　sure　to　hear　about　it。〃　I　glanced　down　at　the　sand　and　dirt

caked　into　my　jeans。

〃Bella；　I　think　you　need　stitches。　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　bleed　to　death。〃

〃I　won't；〃　I　promised。　〃Let's　just　take　the　bikes　back　first；　and　then　we'll

make　a　stop　at　my　house　so　I

can　dispose　of　the　evidence　before　we　go　to　the　hospital。〃

〃What　about　Charlie？〃

〃He　said　he　had　to　work　today。〃

〃Are　you　really　sure？〃

〃Trust　me。　I'm　an　easy　bleeder。　It's　not　nearly　as　dire　as　it　looks。〃

Jacob　wasn't　happy—his　full　mouth　turned　down　in　an　uncharact