at my blush while Edward removed my borrowed garter—which I'd shimmied down nearly to my
ankle— verycarefully with his teeth。 With a quick wink at me； he shot it straight into Mike Newton's
face。
And when the music started； Edward pulled me into his arms for the customary first dance； I went
willingly； despite my fear of dancing—especially dancing in front of an audience—just happy to have him
holding me。 He did all the work； and I twirled effortlessly under the glow of a canopy of lights and the
bright flashes from the cameras。
〃Enjoying the party； Mrs。 Cullen？〃 he whispered in my ear。
I laughed。 〃That will take a while to get used to。〃
〃We have a while；〃 he reminded me； his voice exultant； and he leaned down to kiss me while we danced。
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Cameras clicked feverishly。
The music changed； and Charlie tapped on Edward's shoulder。
It wasn't nearly as easy to dance with Charlie。 He was no better at it than I was； so we moved safely
from side to side in a tiny square formation。 Edward and Esme spun around us like Fred Astaire and
Ginger Rogers。
〃I'm going to miss you at home； Bella。 I'm already lonely。〃
I spoke through a tight throat； trying to make a joke of it。 〃I feel just horrible； leaving you to cook for
yourself—it's practically criminal negligence。 You could arrest me。〃
He grinned。 〃I suppose I'll survive the food。 Just call me whenever you can。〃
〃I promise。〃
It seemed like I danced with everyone。 It was good to see all my old friends； but I really wanted to be
with Edward
more than anything else。 I was happy when he finally cut in； just half a minute after a new dance started。
〃Still not that fond of Mike； eh？〃 I mented as Edward whirled me away from him。
〃Not when I have to listen to his thoughts。 He's lucky I didn't kick him out。 Or worse。〃
〃Yeah； right。〃
〃Have you had a chance to look at yourself？〃
〃Urn。 No； I guess not。 Why？〃
〃Then I suppose you don't realize how utterly； heartbreakingly beautiful you are tonight。 I'm not
surprised Mike's having difficulty with improper thoughts about a married woman。 I am disappointed that
Alice didn't make sure you were forced to look in a mirror。〃
〃You are very biased； you know。〃
He sighed and then paused and turned me around to face the house。 The wall of glass reflected the party
back like a long mirror。 Edward pointed to the couple in the mirror directly across from us。
〃Biased； am I？〃
I caught just a glimpse of Edward's reflection—a perfect duplicate of his perfect face—with a
darkhaired beauty at his side。 Her skin was cream and roses； her eyes were huge with excitement and
framed with thick lashes。 The narrow sheath of the shimmering white dress flared out subtly at the train
almost like an inverted calla lily； cut so skillfully that her body looked elegant and graceful—while it was
motionless； at least。
Before I could blink and make the beauty turn back into me； Edward suddenly stiffened and turned
automatically in the other direction； as if someone had called his name。
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〃Oh！〃 he said。 His brow furrowed for an instant and then smoothed out just as quickly。
Suddenly； he was smiling a brilliant smile。
〃What is it？〃 I asked。
〃A surprise wedding gift。〃
〃Huh？〃
He didn't answer； he just started dancing again； spinning me the opposite way we'd been headed before；
away from the lights and then into the deep swath of night that ringed the luminous dance floor。
He didn't pause until we reached the dark side of one of the huge cedars。 Then Edward looked straight
into the blackest shadow。
〃Thank you；〃 Edward said to the darkness。 〃This is very。。。 kind of you。〃
〃Kind is my middle name；〃 a husky familiar voice answered from the black night。 〃Can i cut in？〃
My hand flew up to my throat； and if Edward hadn't been holding me I would have collapsed。
〃Jacob！〃 I choked as soon as I could breathe。 〃Jacob！〃
〃Hey there； Bells。〃
I stumbled toward the sound of his voice。 Edward kept his grip under my elbow until another set of
strong hands caught me in the darkness。 The heat from Jacob's skin burned right through the thin satin
dress as he pulled me
close。 He made no effort to dance； he just hugged me while I buried my face in his chest。 He leaned
down to press his cheek to the top of my head。
〃Rosalie won't forgive me if she doesn't get her official turn on the dance floor；〃 Edward murmured； and
I knew he was leaving us； giving me a gift of his own—this moment with Jacob。
〃Oh； Jacob。〃 I was crying now； I couldn't get the words out clearly。 〃Thank you。〃
〃Stop blubbering；Bella。 You'll ruin your dress。 It's just me。〃
〃Just？ Oh； Jake！ Everything is perfect now。〃
Hesnorted。 〃Yeah—the party can start。 The best man finally made it。〃
〃Now everyone I love is here。〃
I felthis lips brush my hair。 〃SorryI'm late； honey。〃
〃I'm just so happy you came！〃
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〃That was the idea。〃
I glanced toward the guests； but I couldn't see through the dancers to the spot where I'd last seen
Jacob's father。 I didn't know if he'd stayed。 〃DoesBilly know you're here？〃 As soon as I asked； I knew
that he must have—it was the only way to explain his uplifted expression before。
〃I'm sure Sam's told him。 I'll go see him when。。。 when the party's over。〃
〃He'll beso glad you're home。〃
Jacob pulled back a little bit and straightened up。He left one hand on the small of my back and grabbed
my right hand with the other。 He cradled our hands to his chest； I could feel his heart beat under my
palm； and I guessed that he hadn't placed my hand there accidentally。
〃I don't know if I get more than just this one dance；〃 he said； and he began pulling me around in a slow
circle that didn't match the tempo of the music ing from behind us。 〃I'd better make the best of it。〃
We moved to the rhythm of his heart under my hand。
〃I'm glad Icame；〃 Jacob said quietly after a moment。 〃I didn't think I would be。 But it's good to see you。。。
one more time。 Not as sad as I'd thought it would be。〃
〃I don't want you to feel sad。〃
〃I know that。 And I didn't e tonight to make you feel guilty。〃
〃No—it makes me very happy that you came。 It's the best gift you could have given me。〃
He laughed。 〃That's good； because I didn't have time to stop for a real present。〃
My eyes were adjusting； and I could see his face now； higher up than I expected。 Was it possible that he
was still growing？ He had to be closer to seven feet than to six。 It was a relief to see his familiar features
again after all this time—his deepset eyes shadowed under his shaggy black brows； his high
cheekbones； his full lips stretched over his bright teeth in the sarcastic smile that matched his tone。 His
eyes were tight around the edges—careful； I could see that he was being very careful tonight。 He was
doing all he could to make me happy； to not slip and show how much this cost him。
I'd never done anything good enough to deserve a friend like Jacob。
〃When did you decide to e back？〃
〃Consciously or subconsciously？〃 He took a deep breath before he answered his own question。 〃I don't
really know。 I guess I've been wandering back this direction for a while； and maybe it's because I was
headed here。 But it wasn't until this morning that I really started running。 I didn't know if I could make
it。〃 He laughed。 〃You wouldn't believe how weird this feels—walking around on two legs again。 And
clothes！ And then it's more bizarre because it feels weird。 I didn't expect that。 I'm out of practice with the
whole human thing。〃
We revolved steadily。
〃It would have been a shame to miss seeing you like this； though。 That's worth the trip right there。 You
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look unbelievable； Bella。 So beautiful。〃
〃Alice invested a lot of time in me today。 The dark helps； too。〃
〃It's not so dark for me； you know。〃
〃Right。〃 Werewolf senses。 It was easy to forget all the things he could do； he seemed so human。
Especially right now。
〃You cut your hair；〃 I noted。
〃Yeah。 Easier； you know。 Thought I'd better take advantage of the hands。〃
〃It looks good；〃 I lied。
He snorted。 〃Right。 I did it myself； with rusty kitchen shears。〃 He grinned widely for a moment； and then
his smile faded。 His expression turned serious。 〃Are you happy； Bella？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Okay。〃 I felt his shoulders shrug。 〃That's the main thing； I guess。〃
〃How are you； Jacob？ Really？〃
〃I'm fine； Bella； really。 You don't need to worry about me anymore。 You can stop bugging Seth。〃
〃I'm not just bugging him because of you。 I like Seth。〃
〃He's a good kid。 Better pany than some。 I tell you； if I could get rid of the voices in my head； being
a wolf would be about perfect。〃
I laughed at the way it sounded。 〃Yeah； I can't get mine to shut up； either