Chapter 19

Edward had sounded a bit thrown off when I'd first announced that I'd go with them on the camping trip and that I'd be bringing Jacob Black, and he hadn't been the only one. Rosalie and Emmett had been standing by the car a couple of meters away and even though they shouldn't have been able to overhear our conversation I caught them exchanging meaningful looks, as if reacting to our conversation. Yet again, they were standing a good distance apart from us and shouldn't technically have been able to hear word uttered between us.

"Oh, Jacob Black? Billy's kid?", he asked at last, sounding as if he didn't know who Jake was, even though I was almost certain that he did.

"The one and only. We got talking about the subject last time he came over and he got really excited about it so I asked if he wanted to come along. I hope that's okay?"

If he was going to play dumb, I was going to play dumb. Observing his reaction to my inviting Jake to come along even further confirmed my suspicions that he hadn't quite let go of the idea of me as a potential love interest. Seeing him now I was pretty sure that adding another member to the party hadn't quite been a part of his calculation.

"Of course he can come along, that's probably a good thing too", Edward said at last, trying to act relaxed about the situation, even though he didn't have me fooled. "That tent is pretty heavy to carry, another set of muscles might be just what we need", he continued and shot me one of his famous killer smiles. Still, he wasn't fooling me.

"That's great", I said and flashed him one of my not-so-killer-smiles in return, "I'm sure Jake will be very happy to hear it. He mostly hangs out with the kids at the reservation and I think it would be fun for him to mingle with some people outside of his everyday group. Thanks, Edward, that's really cool of you."

Edward shrugged a bit, trying to look casual, but he actually just looked awkward.

"It's no problem at all, really. We've got room in the car and everything and as far as I'm concerned the more the merrier is key. Am I right?"

"I couldn't agree with you more", I concluded the discussion. Even though I wasn't particularly keen on having Edward thinking sparks were flying between me and Jacob Black I'd rather have that than letting Edward think there was a chance to be had. I was just not in the dating business, and I wouldn't be for a long, LONG time.