Chapter Seventeen

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched my dad and his new entourage disappear into the police station. I took a gasping breath, and then another. A brisk gust of wind sent a wave of goose bumps across my skin. I pulled my sleeves over my hands and wrapped my arms around my body, trying to ward off the chill in the air. I didn't know how I'd make it home. All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball on the sidewalk and let my emotions flow freely.

"Bella?" Edward's voice, smooth as silk, brought me out of my thoughts. I turned around slowly, overly cautious of the pounding in my head. Edward stood outside the open door of a silver sedan. For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Why would he be here now, after it was all over? Where had he been while I stared death in the face?

I was too exhausted to reply.

Edward regarded me expectantly. He pursed his lips, frowning slightly. His chest rose and fell with a deep sigh.

"Let me bring you home."

I found myself once again being helped into the passenger side of a car. We drove to Charlie's house in silence. Once we were in the driveway, he killed the engine.

"I think I should stay with you tonight. Make sure you're safe."

Part of me wanted to tell him to leave. I was hurt and angry, and my ego was bruised enough already. He shouldn't feel obligated to stay out of guilt. Selfishly, I wanted a few more moments with him. Not to mention being alone scared me. If he wanted to give me one more night, I would take it, as pathetic as that made me.

As we stepped out of the car, Jake appeared from behind the garage. He had changed into a pair of cutoff denim shorts but was still naked from the waist up. All traces of blood were cleaned away.

"Thank you, Jacob," Edward said.

Jake's face remained stoic. "It's my duty."

"I am grateful, nonetheless."

With a curt nod, Jake turned and made his way to the tree line. As I pondered why Edward thanked him, I realized I never had.

"Jake, wait!"

He stopped and turned around. I ran to him, even though I wasn't certain how I was still standing on such shaky legs. I threw my arms around his waist and pressed my face into his chest, thanking him as I sobbed.

He rested his chin on the top of my head and patted my back while I cried. I wanted to pull myself together, to show both him and Edward how strong I was, but the sobs wouldn't stop coming. After a few minutes, I felt Edward's hands on my hips.

"I'll take it from here, Jacob," he mumbled, and gently extracted me from Jake's arms.

Edward helped me inside. It was all I could do to remove my shoes before collapsing into bed. He sat next to me and ran his fingers through my hair.

"You can sleep now, Bella. It's over."

I didn't want to sleep, afraid of the dreams that might haunt me. Not to mention my time with Edward was fleeting. I didn't want to waste any of it sleeping. Or wake up and find him gone.

"Don't leave," I whispered.

"I'll stay until you tell me to go."

The last thing I remembered was Edward lying down next to me.


When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was Edward at my side. His arms were folded over his chest, and his body was rigid. He stared up at the ceiling. It was clear he didn't want to be here. I rubbed my swollen eyes and squinted from the light in the room. It felt like I'd been sleeping for ages.

"Good morning," he murmured.

"What time is it?" On second thought, I added, "Is it still Monday?"

"Yes. A little after ten."

"Ten?" I was late for school. Guilt washed over me. It felt so wrong to skip. But then the events of the day before slowly filtered into my groggy mind. "I'm not going to school," I said.

"No. I don't imagine anyone expects you to be there."

Oh, no… Charlie. Everyone would know by now. It was the only thing anyone at school would talk about for the foreseeable future.

"I'm never going back," I groaned.

Edward chuckled. It was dry and humorless. "I know the feeling."

I excused myself to use the bathroom. While locked away, I washed my face and brushed my teeth. My hair was greasy, so I tossed it in a bun. As delightful as a hot shower sounded, it would have to wait. I wanted a chance to say goodbye to Edward before he left.

I changed out of the clothes I'd been wearing for the past two days and headed downstairs. Edward stood in my kitchen, looking terribly uncomfortable and out of place.

"You should eat," he said, pointing to a plate on the table. It was piled high with scrambled eggs, sausage, and hash browns. My mouth watered. The last thing I'd eaten were the granola bars at his house yesterday morning.

Was that only yesterday? It felt like years ago.

"Sorry it's cold. I didn't think you'd sleep this long."

The first bite was already in my mouth. I was so hungry; I didn't care that it wasn't hot.

"Thank you." I covered my full mouth as I spoke. "Did you make this?"

Edward shifted his weight between his feet. "No. Jacob brought it."

I paused, fork halfway to my mouth. "Oh. That was very thoughtful of him."

Edward frowned. "I asked him to bring you breakfast," he explained. "I don't know how to cook, and I wasn't about to leave you alone."

"Oh."

I scarfed down the plate of food. In my entire life, I'd never eaten so fast. I didn't even feel embarrassed about it, even though Edward sat at the table and watched. It was weird, seeing him in Charlie's spot. At least I was used to being the only one eating. When I finished, I gave the fork one last lick and set it on the plate.

"Thanks again for thinking of that. I'll have to thank Jake too, next time I talk to him." I shook my head. "I still don't understand how he knew to save me."

Across from me, Edward sat straighter. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth formed a tight line.

"I asked for his help."

My mouth fell open. "What?"

"Bella," he said, not hiding his frustration. "Do you honestly think I left you to die?"

"Well… yeah." My voice broke. Pain bubbled in my chest, but anger quickly replaced it. "What did you expect me to think? We had sex, and then you told me you were leaving. I found out my dad is a vampire, and then two cops abducted me, who I watched get slaughtered by wolves, and then one turned into Jake!" I took a shaky breath as I collected my thoughts. "My dad turned himself in for murder. And you weren't there." My anger was short-lived. I bit my lip to keep it from quivering.

Edward stood from his seat and came to my side of the table. He dropped to his knees in front of me.

"Bella, I am so sorry. Yesterday was the worst day of my entire existence. It kills me to know it was even worse for you, and that I was the catalyst. I didn't know if I could save you. I didn't know where you were or how to find you, and even if I did, I didn't know how to rescue you without endangering your life. At least not alone." Edward took my hands in his and leaned closer. "I asked the pack for help. We met here. They tracked you, and the car that took you. Charlie and I went to the police station and waited. Sam, the one with Jacob, he called us once you were safe." Edward squeezed my hands. Pain flashed behind his eyes. "Charlie told me to wait outside. He said he wanted to deal with Waylon." He shook his head. "I didn't realize what he intended."

"He really killed him?" I asked.

Edward nodded.

"But Charlie didn't kill the other two. He told them he did."

Edward looked down at our joined hands. "We knew we'd have to cover for the wolves. It wasn't fair to ask them for help and then expose them. Charlie wasn't very discreet about killing Waylon, as I'm sure you gathered by the spectacle at the station last night. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that he would then kill the other two. He believed it would be the least problematic cover up. So he went to get you and I stayed out of the way. As long as I wasn't implicated, you wouldn't be left alone."

So that was why Charlie brought me to the station with him—to make the lie more believable. I was getting really sick of being the only one left out of the loop. If everyone would stop keeping things from me, my life would be so much less traumatic.

"Bella, please, please forgive me."

"It wasn't your fault." I shuddered as I envisioned the cabin. The screams and the sound of shredding flesh still rang in my ears. I shook my head, willing the memories away. "I'm alive. It's over. You don't have to beat yourself up about it."

Edward pulled back and looked me in the eye. A frown marred his face. "Beat myself up about it?"

"Yeah. You don't have to take care of me out of guilt. I'm fine, really," I insisted.

"Guilt?" he spat. "Is that what you think this is?"

"Why else would you be here?" I asked.

Edward let out a sharp breath. He stood and pulled me to my feet, gripping my shoulders and holding me at arm's length.

"Do I feel guilty for what happened to you? Of course I do. It wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me. But that's not why I'm here now."

He looked at me expectantly, but I didn't understand. After what he said yesterday, I couldn't imagine why he was here—hopefully not for a last meal. I shook my head. Pain flashed across his face.

"Bella, I thought staying with me would put you in danger." His green eyes blazed as he sucked in a breath. "If I had any idea what would happen to you, I would have never let you leave my side."

"But…" My mind swirled as I tried to recall yesterday's conversation, but everything about the day felt like a fading nightmare. "I thought you didn't want me anymore."

Edward's face softened. His hands slid down my arms, and he took my hands in his once again.

"I've always wanted you. My mistake was believing I could live without you. I thought I could survive in the world just knowing you were out there somewhere—safe." Edward shook his head. "Bella, I can't live in a world where you don't exist by my side."

"But you're leaving."

"Come with me."

I wanted nothing more than to be by Edward's side. Yesterday I had been ready to leave everything behind for him, without even a second thought—school, my dad, even my life as a human—but so much had changed in the past 24 hours.

"But Charlie… I can't leave him right now. I don't know what's going to happen."

"Then I'll stay here with you until you're ready to go."

I let myself imagine a life with Edward. A life where we could be together every day, with no school or parents or rules in the way. No hiding. We could travel the world, see everything there was to see. Even if we had to lie low to start, we would still have each other. For the first time since leaving his house yesterday, it felt like I could breathe again. But that didn't mean I wasn't without reservations.

"What if something bad happens again? Will you leave to protect me?"

"Bella, after yesterday, I realize you're far safer with me. Besides, I'm selfish. Even if you weren't, I don't have the strength to live without you." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I understand if you don't feel the same."

I wanted to believe him, but I was afraid. How many times could one heart be mangled and still be expected to beat?

"Do you want me enough to make me like you?" I took a deep breath, bracing myself for his rejection.

"The choice is yours to make. I'll take whatever you'll give me."

"That's not a very good answer," I challenged.

The corners of his lips hinted at a smile. "You don't know how long I've waited for you," he whispered. "If it were up to me, I would keep you by my side. Forever."

"Forever?" I asked, letting the significance of the word sink in.

Edward nodded. He cradled my face in his hands, gently caressing his thumbs over my cheeks. Leaning in, he placed a soft kiss on my lips, then rested his forehead against mine.

"Please tell me what you're thinking," he said.

I closed my eyes and smiled.

"Forever."