I suddenly remembered what Edward had said when he dropped me off - that Jacob would tell me whatever he was shouting in his head. I started gnawing on my lip.

"Look," Jacob said. "I was planning to do this a little bit differently." He laughed, and it sounded like he was laughing at himself. "Smoother," he added. "I was going to work up to it, but" - and he looked at the clouds, dimmer as the afternoon progressed - "I'm out of time to work."

Edward tensed.

He laughed again, nervous. We were still pacing slowly.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

He took a deep breath. "I want to tell you something. And you already know it . . . but I think I should say it out loud anyway. Just so there's never any confusion on the subject."

I planted my feet, and he came to a stop. I took my hand away and folded my arms across my chest. I was suddenly sure that I didn't want to know what he was building up to.

"I'm pretty sure we all know what he's building up to," Emmett said. His voice didn't have its usual teasing tone, but he still laughed a little.

Edward looked like he'd rather not know either, but like he needed to at the same time.

Jacob's eyebrows pulled down, throwing his deep-set eyes into shadow. They were pitch black as they bored into mine.

"I'm in love with you, Bella,"

Edward let out a growl.

"She really shouldn't be going there all the time when she knows that's how he feels," Esme sighed. "It's not really good for him..."

Jacob said in a strong, sure voice. "Bella, I love you. And I want you to pick me instead of him. I know you don't feel that way, but I need the truth out there so that you know your options. I wouldn't want a miscommunication to stand in our way."

"There hasn't been any miscommunication," Edward hissed. "She knows how you feel and she doesn't feel that way about you."

"That was the end of the chapter," Alice said and Edward snatched the book from her, needing to know what happened next. Alice looked at him warily, not sure if he could actually handle reading this chapter, but there was no stopping him now.

Chapter Fifteen

Wager

"Wager," Edward said, shooting a brief glare at his bothers – knowing without a doubt that they had bet on something he wouldn't like – before he continued reading.

I stared at him for a long minute, speechless. I could not think of one thing to say to him.

As he watched my dumbfounded expression, the seriousness left his face.

"Okay," he said, grinning. "That's all."

"Jake -" It felt like there was something big sticking in my throat. I tried to clear the obstruction. "I can't - I mean I don't . . . I have to go."

I turned, but he grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.

"No, wait. I know that, Bella. But, look, answer me this, all right? Do you want me to go away and never see you again? Be honest."

"Yes," Edward muttered.

"I don't think that's her answer," Emmett smirked.

"It should be," Rosalie said. "It's cruel to string the guy along like that."

Even Edward was only able to look at her weirdly.

"I'm not saying this in defense of the mutt," Rosalie growled at everyone. "I just doesn't sound like her..."

"No, it doesn't," Edward agreed and before anyone could say anything else he started reading again.

It was hard to concentrate on his question, so it took a minute to answer. "No, I don't want that," I finally admitted.

Jacob grinned again. "See."

"But I don't want you around for the same reason that you want me around," I objected.

"Tell me exactly why you want me around, then."

I thought carefully. "I miss you when you're not there. When you're happy," I qualified carefully, "it makes me happy. But I could say the same thing about Charlie, Jacob. You're family. I love you, but I'm not in love with you."

Edward seemed to be struggling to read through this, especially the part where she said that she's happy when he is.

He nodded, unruffled. "But you do want me around."

"Yes." I sighed. He was impossible to discourage.

"You're not doing a very good job of it," Alice muttered.

"Then I'll stick around."

"You're a glutton for punishment," I grumbled.

"Yep." He stroked the tips of his fingers across my right cheek. I slapped his hand away.

"Do you think you could behave yourself a little better, at least?" I asked, irritated.

"No, I don't. You decide, Bella. You can have me the way I am - bad behavior included - or not at all."