Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [160]
I flinched, remembering the scent of pure human blood.
I didnt know that, Jacob whispered.
Then perhaps you should have asked first, Edward growled back through his teeth.
You would have stopped me.
You should have been stopped-
This isnt about me, I interrupted. I stood very still, keeping my hold on Renesmee and sanity. This is about Charlie, Jacob. How could you put him in danger this way? Do you realize its death or vampire life for him now, too? My voice trembled with the tears my eyes could no longer shed.
Jacob was still troubled by Edwards accusations, but mine didnt seem to bother him. Relax, Bella. I didnt tell him anything you werent planning to tell him.
But hes coming here!
Yeah, thats the idea. Wasnt the whole let him make the wrong assumptions thing your plan? I think I provided a very nice red herring, if I do say so myself.
My fingers flexed away from Renesmee. I curled them back in securely. Say it straight, Jacob. I dont have the patience for this.
I didnt tell him anything about you, Bella. Not really. I told him about me. Well, show is probably a better verb.
He phased in front of Charlie, Edward hissed.
I whispered, You what?
Hes brave. Brave as you are. Didnt pass out or throw up or anything. I gotta say, I was impressed. You shouldve seen his face when I started taking my clothes off, though. Priceless, Jacob chortled.
You absolute moron! You could have given him a heart attack!
Charlies fine. Hes tough. If youd give this just a minute, youll see that I did you a favor here.
You have half of that, Jacob. My voice was flat and steely. You have thirty seconds to tell me every single word before I give Renesmee to Rosalie and rip your miserable head off. Seth wont be able to stop me this time.
Jeez, Bells. You didnt used to be so melodramatic. Is that a vampire thing?
Twenty-six seconds.
Jacob rolled his eyes and flopped into the nearest chair. His little pack moved to stand on his flanks, not at all relaxed the way he seemed to be; Leahs eyes were on me, her teeth slightly bared.
So I knocked on Charlies door this morning and asked him to come for a walk with me. He was confused, but when I told him it was about you and that you were back in town, he followed me out to the woods. I told him you werent sick anymore, and that things were a little weird, but good. He was about to take off to see you, but I told him I had to show him something first. And then I phased. Jacob shrugged.
My teeth felt like a vise was pushing them together. I want every word, you monster.
Well, you said I only had thirty seconds- okay, okay. My expression must have convinced him that I wasnt in the mood for teasing. Lemme see I phased back and got dressed, and then after he started breathing again, I said something like, Charlie, you dont live in the world you thought you lived in. The good news is, nothing has changed-except that now you know. Lifell go on the same way it always has. You can go right back to pretending that you dont believe any of this.
It took him a minute to get his head together, and then he wanted to know what was really going on with you, with the whole rare-disease thing. I told him that you had been sick, but you were fine now-it was just that youd had to change a little bit in the process of getting better. He wanted to know what I meant by change, and I told him that you looked a lot more like Esme now than you looked like Renée.
Edward hissed while I stared in horror; this was headed in a dangerous direction.
After a few minutes, he asked, real quietly, if you turned into an animal, too. And I said, She wishes she was that cool! Jacob chuckled.
Rosalie made a noise of disgust.
I started to tell him more about werewolves, but I didnt even get the whole word out-Charlie cut me off and said hed rather not know the specifics. Then he asked if youd known what you were getting yourself into when you married Edward, and I said, Sure, shes known all about this for years, since she first came to Forks. He didnt like that very much. I let