Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [90]
Hey, Jakes coming around! Seth crowed.
He was sitting on Bellas other side, his arm slung carelessly over her shoulders, an overflowing plate of food on his lap.
What the hell?
He came to find you, Edward said while I got to my feet. And Esme convinced him to stay for breakfast.
Seth took in my expression, and he hurried to explain. Yeah, Jake-I was just checking to see if you were okay cause you didnt ever phase back. Leah got worried. I told her you probably just crashed human, but you know how she is. Anyway, they had all this food and, dang,-he turned to Edward-man, you can cook.
Thank you, Edward murmured.
I inhaled slowly, trying to unclench my teeth. I couldnt take my eyes off Seths arm.
Bella got cold, Edward said quietly.
Right. None of my business, anyway. She didnt belong to me.
Seth heard Edwards comment, looked at my face, and suddenly he needed both hands to eat with. He took his arm off Bella and dug in. I walked over to stand a few feet from the couch, still trying to get my bearings.
Leah running patrol? I asked Seth. My voice was still thick with sleep.
Yeah, he said as he chewed. Seth had new clothes on, too. They fit him better than mine fit me. Shes on it. No worries. Shell howl if theres anything. We traded off around midnight. I ran twelve hours. He was proud of that, and it showed in his tone.
Midnight? Wait a minute-what time is it now?
Bout dawn. He glanced toward the window, checking.
Well, damn. Id slept through the rest of the day and the whole night-dropped the ball. Crap. Sorry about that, Seth. Really. You shoulda kicked me awake.
Naw, man, you needed some serious sleep. You havent taken a break since when? Night before your last patrol for Sam? Like forty hours? Fifty? Youre not a machine, Jake. Sides, you didnt miss anything at all.
Nothing at all? I glanced quickly at Bella. Her color was back to the way I remembered it. Pale, but with the rose undertone. Her lips were pink again. Even her hair looked better- shinier. She saw me appraising and gave me a grin.
Hows the rib? I asked.
Taped up nice and tight. I dont even feel it.
I rolled my eyes. I heard Edward grind his teeth together, and I figured her blow-it-off attitude bugged him as much at it bugged me.
Whats for breakfast? I asked, a little sarcastic. O negative or AB positive?
She stuck her tongue out at me. Totally herself again. Omelets, she said, but her eyes darted down, and I saw that her cup of blood was wedged between her leg and Edwards.
Go get some breakfast, Jake, Seth said. Theres a bunch in the kitchen. Youve got to be empty.
I examined the food in his lap. Looked like half a cheese omelet and the last fourth of a Frisbee-sized cinnamon roll. My stomach growled, but I ignored it.
Whats Leah having for breakfast? I asked Seth critically.
Hey, I took food to her before I ate anything, he defended himself. She said shed rather eat roadkill, but I bet she caves. These cinnamon rolls He seemed at a loss for words.
Ill go hunt with her, then.
Seth sighed as I turned to leave.
A moment, Jacob?
It was Carlisle asking, so when I turned around again, my face was probably less disrespectful than it would have been if anyone else had stopped me.
Yeah?
Carlisle approached me while Esme drifted off toward the other room. He stopped a few feet away, just a little bit farther away than the normal space between two humans having a conversation. I appreciated him giving me my space.
Speaking of hunting, he began in a somber tone. Thats going to be an issue for my family. I understand that our previous truce is inoperative at the moment, so I wanted your advice. Will Sam be hunting for us outside of the perimeter youve created? We dont want to take a chance with hurting any of your family-or losing any of ours. If you were in our shoes, how would you proceed?
I leaned away, a little surprised, when he threw it back at me like that. What would I know about being in a bloodsuckers expensive shoes? But, then again, I did know Sam.
Its a risk, I said, trying to ignore