make me more disgusted with myself.'
'How the hell did Mike Newton end up in this conversation?' I demanded.
'Mike Newton ended up in this conversation because Mike Newton would be a hell of a lot healthier for you to be with,' he growled.
'I'd rather die than be with Mike Newton,' I protested. 'I'd rather die than be with anyone but you.'
'Don't be melodramatic, please.'
'Well then, don't you be ridiculous.'
He didn't answer. He glared through the windshield, his expression black.
I racked my brain for some way to salvage the evening. When we pulled up in front of my house, I still hadn't come up with anything.
He killed the engine, but his hands stayed clenched around the steering wheel.
'Will you stay tonight?' I asked.
'I should go home.'
The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse.
'For my birthday,' I pressed.
'You can't have it both ways—either you want people to ignore your birthday or you don't. One or the other.'
His voice was stern, but not .is serious as before. I breathed a silent sigh of relief.
'Okay. I've decided that I don't want you to ignore my birthday. I'll see you upstairs.'
I hopped out, reaching back in for my packages. He frowned.
'You don't have to take those.'
'I want them,' I responded automatically, and then wondered if he was using reverse psychology.
'No, you don't. Carlisle and Esme spent money on you.'
'I'll live.' I tucked the presents awkwardly under my good arm and slammed the door behind me. He was out of the truck and by my side in less than a second.
'Let me carry them, at least.' he said as he took them away. 'I'll be in your room.'
I smiled. 'Thanks.'
'Happy birthday,' he sighed, and leaned down to touch his lips to mine.
I reached up on my toes to make the kiss last longer when he pulled away. He smiled my favorite crooked smile, and then he disappeared into the darkness.
The game was still on; as soon as I walked through the front door I could hear the announcer rambling over the babble of the crowd.
'Bell?' Charlie called.
'Hey, Dad,' I said as I came around the corner. I held my arm close to my side. The slight pressure burned, and I wrinkled my nose. The anesthetic was apparently losing its effectiveness.
'How was it?' Charlie lounged across the sofa with his bare feet propped up on the arm. What was left of his curly brown hair was crushed flat on one side.
'Alice went overboard. Flowers, cake, candles, presents—the whole bit.'
'What did they get you?'
'A stereo for my truck.' And various unknowns.
'Wow.'
'Yeah,' I agreed. 'Well, I'm calling it a night.'
'I'll see you in the morning.'
I waved. 'See ya.'
'What happened to your arm?'
I flushed and cursed silently. 'I tripped. It's nothing.'
'Bella,' he sighed, shaking his head.
'Goodnight, Dad.'
I hurried up to the bathroom, where I kept my pajamas for just such nights as these. I shrugged into the matching tank top and cotton pants that I'd gotten to replace the holey sweats I used to wear to bed, wincing as the movement pulled at the stitches. I washed my face one-handed, brushed my teeth, and then skipped to my room.
He was sitting in the center of my bed, toying idly with one of the silver boxes.
'Hi,' he said. His voice was sad. He was wallowing.
I went to the bed, pushed the presents out of his hands, and climbed into his lap.
'Hi.' I snuggled into his stone chest. 'Can I open my presents now?'
'Where did the enthusiasm come from?' he wondered.
'You made me curious.'
I picked up the long flat rectangle that must have been from Carlisle and Esme.
'Allow me,' he suggested. He took the gift from my hand and tore the silver paper off with one fluid movement. He handed the rectangular white box back to me.
'Are you sure I can handle lifting the lid?' I muttered, but he ignored me.
Inside the box was a long thick piece of paper with an overwhelming amount of fine print. It took me a minute to
'We're going to Jacksonville?' And I was excited, in spite of myself. It was a voucher for plane tickets, for both me and Edward.
'That's the idea.'
'I can't believe it. Renee is going to flip! You don't mind, though, do you? It's sunny, you'll have to stay inside all day.'
'I think I can handle it,' he said, and then frowned. 'If I'd had any idea that you could respond to a gift this appropriately, I would have made you open it in front of Carlisle and Esme. I thought you'd complain.'
'Well, of course it's too much. But I get to take you with me!'
He chuckled. 'Now I wish I'd spent money on your present. I didn't realize that you were capable of being reasonable.'
I set the tickets aside and reached for his present, my curiosity rekindled. He took it from me and unwrapped it like the first one.
He handed back a clear CD jewel case, with a blank silver CD inside.
'What is it?' I asked, perplexed.
He didn't say anything; he took the CD and reached around me to put it in the CD player on the bedside table. He hit play, and we waited in silence. Then the music began.
I listened, speechless and wide-eyed. I knew he was waiting for my reaction, but I couldn't talk. Tears welled up, and I reached up to wipe them away before they could spill over.
'Does your arm hurt?' he asked anxiously.
'No, it's not my arm. It's beautiful, Edward. You couldn't have given me anything I would love more. I can't believe it.' I shut up, so I could listen.
It was his music, his compositions. The first piece on the CD was my lullaby.
'I didn't think you would let me get a piano so I could play for you here,' he explained.
'You're right.'
'How does your arm feel?'
'Just fine.' Actually, it was starting to blaze under the bandage. I wanted ice. I would have settled for his hand, but that would have given me away.
'I'll get you some Tylenol.'
'I don't need anything,' I protested, but he slid me off his lap and headed for the door.
'Charlie,' I hissed. Charlie wasn't exactly aware that Edward frequently stayed over. In fact, he would have a stroke if that fact were brought to his attention. But I didn't feel too guilty for deceiving him It wasn't as if we were up to anything he wouldn't want me to be up to. Edward and his rules…
'He won't catch me,' Edward promised as he disappeared silently out the door . . and returned, catching the door before it had swung back to touch the frame. He had the glass from the bathroom and the bottle of pills in one hand.
