第40部分(第3/7 頁)

g　out　loud

with　joy　and　life　and　true

love。　I　put　my　muffin　down　and　folded　my　arms　across　my　empty　chest。　I　stared

at　the　flowers；　trying　to

ignore　the　utter　peace　of　their　moment；　and　the　wretched　throbbing　of　my

wounds。

I　was　grateful　for　the　distraction　when　Jacob　and　Paul　came　through　the　door；

and　then　shocked　when　I

saw　that　they　were　laughing。　While　I　watched；　Paul　punched　Jacob　on　the

shoulder　and　Jacob　went　for　a

kidney　jab　in　return。　They　laughed　again。　They　both　appeared　to　be　in　one

piece。

Jacob　scanned　the　room；　his　eyes　stopping　when　he　found　me　leaning；　awkward

and　out　of　place；　against

the　counter　in　the　far　corner　of　the　kitchen。

〃Hey；　Bells；〃　he　greeted　me　cheerfully。　He　grabbed　two　muffins　as　he　passed

the　table　and　came　to　stand

beside　me。　〃Sorry　about　before；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃How　are　you

holding　up。'〃

〃Don't　worry；　I'm　okay。　Good　muffins。〃　I　picked　mine　back　up　and　started

nibbhrg　again。　My　chest　felt

better　as　soon　as　Jacob　was　beside　me。

〃Oh；　man！〃　Jared　wailed；　interrupting　us。

I　looked　up；　and　he　and　Embry　were　examining　a　fading　pink　line　on　Paul's

forearm。　Embry　was　grinning；

exultant。

〃Fifteen　dollars；〃　he　crowed。

〃Did　you　do　that？〃　I　whispered　to　Jacob；　remembering　the　bet。

〃I　barely　touched　him。　He'll　be　perfect　by　sundown。〃

〃By　sundown？〃　I　looked　at　the　line　on　Paul's　arm。　Odd；　but　it　looked　weeks

old。

〃Wolf　thing；〃　Jacob　whispered。

I　nodded；　trying　to　not　look　weirded　out。

〃You　okay？〃　I　asked　him　under　my　breath。

〃Not　a　scratch　on　me。〃　His　expression　was　smug。

〃Hey；　guys；〃　Sam　said