mine　one　more　time　and

then　pulled　away；　folding　my　arms　across　my　stomach。

My　pulse　was　thudding　in　my　ears。　I　put　one　hand　over　my　heart。　It　drummed

hyperactively　under　my

palm。

〃Do　you　think　I'll　ever　get　better　at　this？〃　I　wondered；　mostly　to　myself。

〃That　my　heart　might　someday

stop　trying　to　jump　out　of　my　chest　whenever　you　touch　me？〃

〃I　really　hope　not；〃　he　said；　a　bit　smug。

I　rolled　my　eyes。　〃Let's　go　watch　the　Capulets　and　Montagues　hack　each　other

up；　all　right？〃

〃Your　wish；　my　mand。〃

Edward　sprawled　across　the　couch　while　I　started　the　movie；　fast…forwarding

through　the　opening

credits。

When　I　perched　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa　in　front　of　him；　he　wrapped　his　arms

around　my　waist　and　pulled

me　against　his　chest。　It　wasn't　exactly　as　fortable　as　a　sofa　cushion　would

be；　what　with　his　chest

being　hard　and　cold—and　perfect—as　an　ice　sculpture；　but　it　was　definitely

preferable。　He　pulled　the　old

afghan　off　the　back　of　the　couch　and　draped　it　over　me　so　I　wouldn't　freeze

beside　his　body。

〃You　know；　I've　never　had　much　patience　with　Romeo；〃　he　mented　as　the　movie

started。

〃What's　wrong　with　Romeo？〃　I　asked；　a　little　offended。　Romeo　was　one　of　my

favorite　fictional

characters。　Until　I'd　met　Edward；　I'd　sort　of　had　a　thing　for　him。

〃Well；　first　of　all；　he's　in　love　with　this　Rosaline—don't　you　think　it　makes

him　seem　a　little　fickle？　And

then；　a　few　minutes　after　their　wedding；　he　kills　Juliet's　cousin。　That's　not

very　brilliant。　Mistake　after

mistake。　Could　he　have　destroyed　his　own　happiness　any　more　thoroughly？〃

I　sighed。　〃Do　you　want