8

When we finally catch up with Rose and Emmett, I'm caked with multiple layers of mud, and my face hurts from smiling so much.

It's going to take a bottle of shampoo and a lot of scrubbing to get my hair clean.

Glitter is the herpes of crafting, and mud is the southern version of glitter … so.

You're right there with me, covered in the wet stuff.

The sky has darkened, and the stars are out, but the only parts of you I can make out clearly are the whites of your eyeballs and your teeth. You're grinning like a madman.

While you and Emmett talk about my rig, Rose pulls me aside.

"You hung out with Edward Masen all night," she whispers.

It's a fact, not a question.

I nod. It's not that big a deal, but it's the biggest.

"And?" She pokes me in the side.

I slap her hand away with a laugh. "We had fun. He let me drive his quad, and I sunk it in Pit Four."

And you called me lovely. And I think you were going to kiss me more than once but didn't. I don't tell her this because I enjoy my eardrums being the way they are. Not ruptured.

Emmett punches you in the shoulder playfully and turns to us.

"Hey, Bells, Edward's going to come over to the house tomorrow and check out your quad. You guys wanna have a cookout or something?"

You agree wholeheartedly and look me straight in the eye.

"If that's okay with Bella."

"Of course," I blurt out.

Rose whispers for me to cool it, but your smile just widens. Maybe you want free food, but maybe, just maybe, you want to spend more time with me.

I guess I'll have to wait and see.