aybe　it　would　be　easy—like　holding　his　hand　or　having　his　arms　around　me。

Maybe　it　would　feel　nice。

Maybe　it　wouldn't　feel　like　a　betrayal。　Besides；　who　was　I　betraying；　anyway？

Just　myself。

Keeping　his　eyes　on　mine；　Jacob　began　to　bend　his　face　toward　me。　And　I　was

still　absolutely

undecided。

The　shrill　ring　of　the　phone　made　us　both　jump；　but　it　did　not　break　his

focus。　He　took　his　hand　from

under　my　chin　and　reached　over　me　to　grab　the　receiver；　but　still　held　my　face

securely　with　the　hand

against　my　cheek。　His　dark　eyes　did　not　free　mine。　I　was　too　muddled　to　react；

even　to　take　advantage

of　the　distraction。

〃Swan　residence；〃　Jacob　said；　his　husky　voice　low　and　intense。

Someone　answered；　and　Jacob　altered　in　an　instant。　He　straightened　up；　and　his

hand　dropped　from　my

face。　His　eyes　went　flat；　his　face　blank；　and　I　would　have　bet　the　measly

remainder　of　my　college　f　and

that　it　was　Alice。

I　recovered　myself　and　held　out　my　hand　for　the　phone。　Jacob　ignored　me。

〃He's　not　here；〃　Jacob　said；　and　the　words　were　menacing。

There　was　some　very　short　reply；　a　request　for　more　information　it　seemed；

because　he　added

unwillingly；　〃He's　at　the　funeral。〃

Then　Jacob　hung　up　the　phone。　〃Filthy　bloodsucker；〃　he　muttered　under　his

breath。　The　face　he　turned

back　to　me　was　the　bitter　mask　again。

〃Who　did　you　just　hang　up　on？〃　I　gasped；　infuriated。　〃In　my　house；　and　on　my

phone？〃

〃Easy！　He　hung　up　on　me！〃

〃He？　Who　was　it？！〃

He　sneered　the　title。　〃Dr。　Carlisle　Cullen。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　let　me　talk　to　him？！〃

〃He　didn't　ask　for　you；〃　Jacob　said　coldly。