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place on my third finger。 He held my hand out； and we both examined the oval sparkling against my skin。 It
wasn’t quite as awful as I’d feared； having it there。
“A perfect fit；” he said indifferently。 “That’s nice — saves me a trip to the jeweler’s。”
I could hear some strong emotion burning under the casual tone of his voice； and I stared up at his face。 It
was there in his eyes； too； visible despite the careful nonchalance of his expression。
“You like that； don’t you？” I asked suspiciously； fluttering my fingers and thinking that it was really too bad
that I had not broken my left hand。
He shrugged his shoulders。 “Sure；” he said； still casual。 “It looks very nice on you。”
I stared into his eyes； trying to decipher the emotion that smoldered just under the surface。 He gazed back；
and the casual pretense suddenly slipped away。 He was glowing — his angel’s face brilliant with joy and
victory。 He was so glorious that it knocked me breathless。
Before I could catch that breath； he was kissing me； his lips exultant。 I was lightheaded when he moved his
mouth to whisper in my ear — but his breathing was just as ragged as mine。
“Yes； I like it。 You have no idea。”
I laughed； gasping a little。 “I believe you。”
“Do you mind if I do something？” he murmured； his arms tightening around me。
“Anything you want。”
But he let me go and slid away。
“Anything but that；” I complained。
He ignored me； taking my hand and pulling me off the bed； too。 He stood in front of me； hands on my
shoulders； face serious。
“Now； I want to do this right。 Please； please； keep in mind that you’ve already agreed to this； and don’t
ruin it for me。”
“Oh； no；” I gasped as he slid down onto one knee。
“Be nice；” he muttered。
I took a deep breath。
“Isabella Swan？” He looked up at me through his impossibly long lashes； his golden eyes soft but；
somehow； still scorching。 “I promise to love you forever — every single day of forever。 Will you marry me？”
There were many things I wanted to say； some of them not nice at all； and others more disgustingly gooey
and romantic than he probably dreamed I was capable of。 Rather than embarrass myself with either； I
whispered； “Yes。”
“Thank you；” he said simply。 He took my left hand and kissed each of my fingertips before he kissed the
ring that was now mine。
21。 TRAILS
I HATED TO WASTE ANY PART OF THE NIGHT IN SLEEP； but that was inevitable。 The sun was bright outside the
window…wall when I woke； with small clouds scuttling too quickly across the sky。 The wind rocked the
treetops till the whole forest looked as if it was going to shake apart。
He left me alone to get dressed； and I appreciated the chance to think。 Somehow； my plan for last night
had gone horribly awry； and I needed come to grips with the consequences。 Though I’d given back the hand…
me…down ring as soon as I could do it without hurting his feelings； my left hand felt heavier； like it was still in
place； just invisible。
This shouldn’t bother me； I reasoned。 It was no big thing — a road trip to Vegas。 I would go one better
than old jeans — I would wear old sweats。 The ceremony certainly couldn’t take very long； no more than
fifteen minutes at the most； right？ So I could handle that。
And then； when it was over； he’d have to fulfill his side of the bargain。 I would concentrate on that； and
forget the rest。
He said I didn’t have to tell anyone； and I was planning to hold him to that。 Of course； it was very stupid
of me not to think of Alice。
The Cullens got home around noon。 There was a new； businesslike feel to the atmosphere around them；
and it pulled me back into the enormity of what was coming。
Alice seemed to be in an unusually bad mood。 I chalked it up to her frustration with feeling normal；
because her first words to Edward were a complaint about working with the wolves。
“I think” — she made a face as she used the uncertain word — “that you’re going to want to pack for
cold weather； Edward。 I can’t see where you are exactly； because you’re taking off with that dog this
afternoon。 But the storm that’s coming seems particularly bad in that general area。”
Edward nodded。
“It’s going to snow on the mountains；” she warned him。
“Ew； snow；” I muttered to myself。 It was June； for crying out loud。
“Wear a jacket；” Alice told me。 Her voice was unfriendly； and that surprised me。 I tried to read her face；
but she turned away。
I looked at Edward； and he was smiling； whatever was bugging Alice amused him。
Edward had more than enough camping gear to choose from — props in the human charade； the Cullens
were good customers at the Newton’s store。 He grabbed a down sleeping bag； a small tent； and several
packets of dehydrated food — grinning when I made a face at them — and stuffed them all in a backpack。
Alice wandered into the garage while we were there； watching Edward’s preparations without a word。 He
ignored her。
When he was done packing； Edward handed me his phone。 “Why don’t you call Jacob and tell him we’ll
be ready for him in an hour or so。 He knows where to meet us。”
Jacob wasn’t home； but Billy promised to call around until he could find an available werewolf to pass the
news to。
“Don’t you worry about Charlie； Bella；” Billy said。 “I’ve got my part of this under control。”
“Yeah； I know Charlie’ll be fine。” I didn’t feel so confident about his son’s safety； but I didn’t add that。
“I wish I could be with the rest of them tomorrow。” Billy chuckled regretfully。 “Being an old man is a
hardship； Bella。”
The urge to fight must be a defining characteristic of the Y chromosome。 They were all the same。
“Have fun with Charlie。”
“Good luck； Bella；” he answered。 “And 。 。 。 pass that along to the； er； Cullens for me。”
“I will；” I promised； surprised by the gesture。
As I gave the phone back to Edward； I saw that he and Alice were having some kind of silent discussion。
She was staring at him； pleading in her eyes。 He was frowning back； unhappy with whatever she wanted。
“Billy said to tell you ‘good luck。’”
“That was generous of him；” Edward said； breaking away from her。
“Bella； could I please speak to you alone？” Alice asked swiftly。
“You’re about to make my life harder than it needs to be； Alice；” Edward warned her through his teeth。
“I’d really rather you didn’t。”
“This isn’t about you； Edward；” she shot back。
He laughed。 Something about her response was funny to him。
“It’s not；” Alice insisted。 “This is a female thing。”
He frowned。
“Let her talk to me；” I told him。 I was curious。
“You asked for it；” he muttered。 He laughed again — half angry； half amused — and strode out of the
garage。
I turned to Alice； worried now； but she didn’t look at me。 Her bad mood hadn’t passed yet。
She went to sit on