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“Because my hair is longer；” he said； amused — my question hadn’t offended him； at least。 He shook his
head so that his unkempt hair — grown out to his chin now — tickled my cheek。
“Oh。” I was surprised； but it made sense。 So that was why they’d all cropped their hair in the beginning；
when they joined the pack。 “Then why don’t you cut it？ Do you like to be shaggy？”
He didn’t answer right away this time； and Edward laughed under his breath。
“Sorry；” I said； pausing to yawn。 “I didn’t mean to pry。 You don’t have to tell me。”
Jacob made an annoyed sound。 “Oh； he’ll tell you anyway； so I might as well。 。 。 。 I was growing my hair
out because 。 。 。 it seemed like you liked it better long。”
“Oh。” I felt awkward。 “I； er； like it both ways； Jake。 You don’t need to be 。 。 。 inconvenienced。”
He shrugged。 “Turns out it was very convenient tonight； so don’t worry about it。”
I didn’t have anything else to say。 As the silence lengthened； my eyelids drooped and shut； and my
breathing grew slower； more even。
“That’s right； honey； go to sleep；” Jacob whispered。
I sighed； content； already halfunconscious。
“Seth is here；” Edward muttered to Jacob； and I suddenly understood the point of the howling。
“Perfect。 Now you can keep an eye on everything else； while I take care of your girlfriend for you。”
Edward didn’t answer； but I groaned groggily。 “Stop it；” I muttered。
It was quiet then； inside at least。 Outside； the wind shrieked insanely through the trees。 The shimmying of
the tent made it hard to sleep。 The poles would suddenly jerk and quiver； pulling me back from the edge of
unconsciousness each time I was close to slipping under。 I felt so bad for the wolf； the boy that was stuck
outside in the snow。
My mind wandered as I waited for sleep to find me。 This warm little space made me think of the early
days with Jacob； and I remembered how it used to be when he was my replacement sun； the warmth that
made my empty life livable。 It had been a while since I’d thought of Jake that way； but here he was； warming
me again。
“Please！” Edward hissed。 “Do you mind！”
“What？” Jacob whispered back； his tone surprised。
“Do you think you could attempt to control your thoughts？” Edward’s low whisper was furious。
“No one said you had to listen；” Jacob muttered； defiant； yet still embarrassed。 “Get out of my head。”
“I wish I could。 You have no idea how loud your little fantasies are。 It’s like you’re shouting them at me。”
“I’ll try to keep it down；” Jacob whispered sarcastically。
There was a brief moment of silence。
“Yes；” Edward answered an unspoken thought in a murmur so low I barely made it out。 “I’m jealous of
that； too。”
“I figured it was like that；” Jacob whispered smugly。 “Sort of evens the playing field up a little； doesn’t it？”
Edward chuckled。 “In your dreams。”
“You know； she could still change her mind；” Jacob taunted him。 “Considering all the things I could do
with her that you can’t。 At least； not without killing her； that is。”
“Go to sleep； Jacob；” Edward murmured。 “You’re starting to get on my nerves。”
“I think I will。 I’m really very fortable。”
Edward didn’t answer。
I was too far gone to ask them to stop talking about me like I wasn’t there。 The conversation had taken on
a dreamlike quality to me； and I wasn’t sure I was really awake。
“Maybe I would；” Edward said after a moment； answering a question I hadn’t heard。
“But would you be honest？”
“You can always ask and see。” Edward’s tone made me wonder if I was missing out on a joke。
“Well； you see inside my head — let me see inside yours tonight； it’s only fair；” Jacob said。
“Your head is full of questions。 Which one do you want me to answer？”
“The jealousy 。 。 。 it has to be eating at you。 You can’t be as sure of yourself as you seem。 Unless you
have no emotions at all。”
“Of course it is；” Edward agreed； no longer amused。 “Right now it’s so bad that I can barely control my
voice。 Of course； it’s even worse when she’s away from me； with you； and I can’t see her。”
“Do you think about it all the time？” Jacob whispered。 “Does it make it hard to concentrate when she’s
not with you？”
“Yes and no；” Edward said； he seemed determined to answer honestly。 “My mind doesn’t work quite the
same as yours。 I can think of many more things at one time。 Of course； that means that I’m always able to
think of you； always able to wonder if that’s where her mind is； when she’s quiet and thoughtful。”
They were both still for a minute。
“Yes； I would guess that she thinks about you often；” Edward murmured in response to Jacob’s thoughts。
“More often than I like。 She worries that you’re unhappy。 Not that you don’t know that。 Not that you don’t
use that。”
“I have to use whatever I can；” Jacob muttered。 “I’m not working with your advantages — advantages
like her knowing she’s in love with you。”
“That helps；” Edward agreed in a mild tone。
Jacob was defiant。 “She’s in love with me； too； you know。”
Edward didn’t answer。
Jacob sighed。 “But she doesn’t know it。”
“I can’t tell you if you’re right。”
“Does that bother you？ Do you wish you could see what she’s thinking； too？”
“Yes 。 。 。 and no； again。 She likes it better this way； and； though it sometimes drives me insane； I’d rather
she was happy。”
The wind ripped around the tent； shaking it like an earthquake。 Jacob’s arms tightened around me
protectively。
“Thank you；” Edward whispered。 “Odd as this might sound； I suppose I’m glad you’re here； Jacob。”
“You mean； ‘as much as I’d love to kill you； I’m glad she’s warm；’ right？”
“It’s an unfortable truce； isn’t it？”
Jacob’s whisper was suddenly smug。 “I knew you were just as crazy jealous as I am。”
“I’m not such a fool as to wear it on my sleeve like you do。 It doesn’t help your case； you know。”
“You have more patience than I do。”
“I should。 I’ve had a hundred years to gain it。 A hundred years of waiting for her。”
“So 。 。 。 at what point did you decide to play the very patient good guy？”