g out loud
with joy and life and true
love。 I put my muffin down and folded my arms across my empty chest。 I stared
at the flowers； trying to
ignore the utter peace of their moment； and the wretched throbbing of my
wounds。
I was grateful for the distraction when Jacob and Paul came through the door；
and then shocked when I
saw that they were laughing。 While I watched； Paul punched Jacob on the
shoulder and Jacob went for a
kidney jab in return。 They laughed again。 They both appeared to be in one
piece。
Jacob scanned the room； his eyes stopping when he found me leaning； awkward
and out of place； against
the counter in the far corner of the kitchen。
〃Hey； Bells；〃 he greeted me cheerfully。 He grabbed two muffins as he passed
the table and came to stand
beside me。 〃Sorry about before；〃 he muttered under his breath。 〃How are you
holding up。'〃
〃Don't worry； I'm okay。 Good muffins。〃 I picked mine back up and started
nibbhrg again。 My chest felt
better as soon as Jacob was beside me。
〃Oh； man！〃 Jared wailed； interrupting us。
I looked up； and he and Embry were examining a fading pink line on Paul's
forearm。 Embry was grinning；
exultant。
〃Fifteen dollars；〃 he crowed。
〃Did you do that？〃 I whispered to Jacob； remembering the bet。
〃I barely touched him。 He'll be perfect by sundown。〃
〃By sundown？〃 I looked at the line on Paul's arm。 Odd； but it looked weeks
old。
〃Wolf thing；〃 Jacob whispered。
I nodded； trying to not look weirded out。
〃You okay？〃 I asked him under my breath。
〃Not a scratch on me。〃 His expression was smug。
〃Hey； guys；〃 Sam said