CHAPTER 21

The door flies open and an ear-piercing squeal follows. "BELLA! I'm so glad you could make it! There are so many things to do!" Alice pulls me into a choking hug.

"Ali...can't...breathe."

She huffs. "So dramatic." Seriously?

"Bella, you made it! I was afraid that you might get lost in the suga'." Jasper greets me with a warm hug, and I kiss his cheek. As for my ability to get lost in the sugar, that's an ongoing joke between the two of us about an incident that I have no intention of recalling. Yes, it was that bad.

"Okay, yay! Lovey-dovey! Now, come!" Ali drags me away from her boyfriend and into the kitchen, where I drop off my purse, while telling me all the things that I need to bring downstairs from the attic. She tells me the directions to get there, and I repeat the list and directions in my mind on the way there.