Сумерки

           Iwasafraidhewouldturnonmewithdisgustandaccusemeofmyfraud,buthestillseemedflattered.

           "Nottoomuch,"headmittedwithafrown."ButwhenIgetmycarfinishedIcangoupasmuchasIwant-afterIgetmylicense,"heamended.

           "WhowasthatotherboyLaurenwastalkingto?Heseemedalittleoldtobehangingoutwithus."Ipurposefullylumpedmyselfinwiththeyoungsters,tryingtomakeitclearthatIpreferredJacob.

           "That’sSam-he’snineteen,"heinformedme.

           "Whatwasthathewassayingaboutthedoctor’sfamily?"Iaskedinnocently.

           "TheCullens?Oh,they’renotsupposedtocomeontothereservation."Helookedaway,outtowardJamesIsland,asheconfirmedwhatI’dthoughtI’dheardinSam’svoice.

           "Whynot?"

           Heglancedbackatme,bitinghislip."Oops.I’mnotsupposedtosayanythingaboutthat."

           "Oh,Iwon’ttellanyone,I’mjustcurious."Itriedtomakemysmilealluring,wonderingifIwaslayingitontoothick.

           Hesmiledback,though,lookingallured.Thenheliftedoneeyebrowandhisvoicewasevenhuskierthanbefore.

           "Doyoulikescarystories?"heaskedominously.

           "Ilovethem,"Ienthused,makinganefforttosmolderathim.

           Jacobstrolledtoanearbydriftwoodtreethathaditsrootsstickingoutliketheattenuatedlegsofahuge,palespider.HeperchedlightlyononeofthetwistedrootswhileIsatbeneathhimonthebodyofthetree.Hestareddownattherocks,asmilehoveringaroundtheedgesofhisbroadlips.Icouldseehewasgoingtotrytomakethisgood.