onto　it　obstinately。

〃This　doesn't　really　bother　you；　does　it？〃　he　demanded；　squeezing　my　fingers。

〃No；〃　I　sighed。　Truthfully；　it　felt　nice。　His　hand　was　so　much　warmer　than

mine；　I　always　felt　too　cold

these　days。

〃And　you　don't　care　what　he　thinks。〃　Jacob　jerked　his　thumb　toward　the

bathroom。

〃I　guess　not。〃

〃So　what's　the　problem？〃

〃The　problem；〃　I　said；　〃is；　that　it　means　something　different　to　me　than　it

does　to　you。〃

〃Well。〃　He　tightened　his　hand　around　mine　〃That's　my　problem；　isn't　it？〃

〃Fine；〃　I　grumbled。　〃Don't　forget　it；　though。〃

〃I　won't。　The　pin's　out　of　the　grenade　for　me；　now；　eh？〃　He　poked　me　in　the

ribs。

I　rolled　my　eyes。　I　guess　if　he　felt　like　making　a　joke　out　of　it；　he　was

entitled。

He　chuckled　quietly　for　a　minute　while　his　pinky　finger　absently　traced

designs　against　the　side　of　my

hand。

〃That's　a　funny　scar　you've　got　there；〃　he　suddenly　said；　twisting　my　hand　to

examine　it。　〃How　did　that

happen？〃

The　index　finger　of　his　free　hand　followed　the　line　of　the　long　silvery

crescent　that　was　barely　visible

against　my　pale　skin。

I　scowled。　〃Do　you　honestly　expect　me　to　remember　where　all　my　scars　e

from？〃

I　waited　for　the　memory　to　hit—to　open　the　gaping　hole。　But；　as　it　so　often

did；　Jacob's　presence　kept

me　whole。

〃It's　cold；〃　he　murmured；　pressing　lightly　against　the　place　where　James　had

cut　me　with　his　teeth。

And　then　Mike　stumbled　out　of　the　bathroom；　his　face　ashen　and　covered　in

sweat。　He　looked　horrible。

〃Oh；　Mike；〃　I　gasped。

〃Do　you　mind　leaving　early？〃　he　whispered。

〃No；　of　course　not。