Сумерки

           "Thatyouareavery,veryterrifyingmonster,"Isaid,mysarcasmmarredabitbymybreathlessvoice.

           "Muchbetter,"heapproved.

           "Um."Istruggled."CanIgetupnow?"

           Hejustlaughed.

           "Canwecomein?"asoftvoicesoundedfromthehall.

           Istruggledtofreemyself,butEdwardmerelyreadjustedmesothatIwassomewhatmoreconventionallyseatedonhislap.IcouldseeitwasAlice,then,andJasperbehindherinthedoorway.Mycheeksburned,butEdwardseemedatease.

           "Goahead."Edwardwasstillchucklingquietly.

           Aliceseemedtofindnothingunusualinourembrace;shewalked-almostdanced,hermovementsweresograceful-tothecenteroftheroom,whereshefoldedherselfsinuouslyontothefloor.Jasper,however,pausedatthedoor,hisexpressionatrifleshocked.HestaredatEdward’sface,andIwonderedifhewastastingtheatmospherewithhisunusualsensitivity.

           "ItsoundedlikeyouwerehavingBellaforlunch,andwecametoseeifyouwouldshare,"Aliceannounced.

           Istiffenedforaninstant,untilIrealizedEdwardwasgrinning-whetherathercommentormyresponse,Icouldn’ttell.

           "Sorry,Idon’tbelieveIhaveenoughtospare,"hereplied,hisarmsholdingmerecklesslyclose.

           "Actually,"Jaspersaid,smilingdespitehimselfashewalkedintotheroom,"Alicesaysthere’sgoingtobearealstormtonight,andEmmettwantstoplayball.Areyougame?"

           Thewordswereallcommonenough,butthecontextconfusedme.IgatheredthatAlicewasabitmorereliablethantheweatherman,though.

           Edward’seyeslitup,buthehesitated