Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [39]
I jolted upright, shocked out of the dream.
The room was black. It was also steamy hot. Sweat matted my hair at the temples and rolled down my throat.
I groped the warm sheets and found them empty.
Edward?
Just then, my fingers encountered something smooth and flat and stiff. One sheet of paper, folded in half. I took the note with me and felt my way across the room to the light switch.
The outside of the note was addressed to Mrs. Cullen.
Im hoping you wont wake and notice my absence, but, if you should, Ill be back very soon. Ive just gone to the mainland to hunt. Go back to sleep and Ill be here when you wake again. I love you.
I sighed. Wed been here about two weeks now, so I should have been expecting that he would have to leave, but I hadnt been thinking about time. We seemed to exist outside of time here, just drifting along in a perfect state.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I felt absolutely wide awake, though the clock on the dresser said it was after one. I knew I would never be able to sleep as hot and sticky as I felt. Not to mention the fact that if I shut off the light and closed my eyes, I was sure to see those prowling black figures in my head.
I got up and wandered aimlessly through the dark house, flipping on lights. It felt so big and empty without Edward there. Different.
I ended up in the kitchen and decided that maybe comfort food was what I needed.
I poked around in the fridge until I found all the ingredients for fried chicken. The popping and sizzling of the chicken in the pan was a nice, homey sound; I felt less nervous while it filled the silence.
It smelled so good that I started eating it right out of the pan, burning my tongue in the process. By the fifth or sixth bite, though, it had cooled enough for me to taste it. My chewing slowed. Was there something off about the flavor? I checked the meat, and it was white all the way through, but I wondered if it was completely done. I took another experimental bite; I chewed twice. Ugh-definitely bad. I jumped up to spit it into the sink. Suddenly, the chicken-and-oil smell was revolting. I took the whole plate and shook it into the garbage, then opened the windows to chase away the scent. A coolish breeze had picked up outside. It felt good on my skin.
I was abruptly exhausted, but I didnt want to go back to the hot room. So I opened more windows in the TV room and lay on the couch right beneath them. I turned on the same movie wed watched the other day and quickly fell asleep to the bright opening song.
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was halfway up the sky, but it was not the light that woke me. Cool arms were around me, pulling me against him. At the same time, a sudden pain twisted in my stomach, almost like the aftershock of catching a punch in the gut.
Im sorry, Edward was murmuring as he wiped a wintry hand across my clammy forehead. So much for thoroughness. I didnt think about how hot you would be with me gone. Ill have an air conditioner installed before I leave again.
I couldnt concentrate on what he was saying. Excuse me! I gasped, struggling to get free of his arms.
He dropped his hold automatically. Bella?
I streaked for the bathroom with my hand clamped over my mouth. I felt so horrible that I didnt even care-at first-that he was with me while I crouched over the toilet and was violently sick.
Bella? Whats wrong?
I couldnt answer yet. He held me anxiously, keeping my hair out of my face, waiting till I could breathe again.
Damn rancid chicken, I moaned.
Are you all right? His voice was strained.
Fine, I panted. Its just food poisoning. You dont need to see this. Go away.
Not likely, Bella.
Go away, I moaned again, struggling to get up so I could rinse my mouth out. He helped me gently, ignoring the weak shoves I aimed at him.
After my mouth was clean, he carried me to the bed and sat me down carefully, supporting me with his arms.
Food poisoning?
Yeah, I croaked. I made some chicken last night. It tasted off, so I