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eyes flickered up at me from under his lashes； the hint of a smirk on his
face。
〃Next。〃
〃But that's the easiest one；〃 I objected。
〃Next；〃 he repeated。
I looked down； frustrated。 I unrolled my silverware； picked up my fork；
and carefully speared a ravioli。 I put it in my mouth slowly； still
looking down； chewing while I thought。 The mushrooms were good。 I
swallowed and took another sip of Coke before I looked up。
〃Okay； then。〃 I glared at him； and continued slowly。 〃Let's say；
hypothetically of course； that… someone… could know what people are
thinking； read minds； you know — with a few exceptions。〃
〃Just one exception；〃 he corrected； 〃hypothetically。〃
〃All right； with one exception； then。〃 I was thrilled that he was playing
along； but I tried to seem casual。
〃How does that work？ What are the limitations？ How would… that someone…
find someone else at exactly the right time？ How would he know she was in
trouble？〃 I wondered if my convoluted questions even made sense。
〃Hypothetically？〃 he asked。
〃Sure。〃
〃Well； if… that someone…〃
〃Let's call him 'Joe；'〃 I suggested。
He smiled wryly。 〃Joe； then。 If Joe had been paying attention； the timing
wouldn't have needed to be quite so exact。〃 He shook his head； rolling
his eyes。 〃Only you could get into trouble in a town this small。 You
would have devastated their crime rate statistics for a decade； you know。〃
〃We were speaking of a hypothetical case；〃 I reminded him frostily。
He laughed at me； his eyes warm。
〃Yes； we were；〃 he agreed。 〃Shall we call you 'Jane'？〃
〃How did you know？〃 I asked； unable to curb my intensity。 I realized I
was leaning toward him again。
He seemed to be wavering； torn by some internal dilemma。 His eyes locked
with mine； and I guessed he was making the decision right then whether or
not to simply tell me the truth。
〃You can trust me； you know；〃 I murmured。 I reached forward； without
thinking； to touch his folded hands； but he slid them away minutely； and
I pulled my hand back。
〃I don't know if I have a choice anymore。〃 His voice was almost a
whisper。 〃I was wrong — you're much more observant than I gave you credit
for。〃
〃I thought you were always right。〃
〃I used to be。〃 He shook his head again。 〃I was wrong about you on one
other thing； as well。 You're not a mag for accidents — that's not a
broad enough classification。 You are a mag for trouble。 If there is
anything dangerous within a tenmile radius； it will invariably find you。〃
〃And you put yourself into that category？〃 I guessed。
His face turned cold； expressionless。 〃Unequivocally。〃
I stretched my hand across the table again — ignoring him when he pulled
back slightly once more — to touch the back of his hand shyly with my
fingertips。 His skin was cold and hard； like a stone。
〃Thank you。〃 My voice was fervent with gratitude。 〃That's twice now。〃
His face softened。 〃Let's not try for three； agreed？〃
I scowled； but nodded。 He moved his hand out from under mine； placing
both of his under the table。 But he leaned toward me。
〃I followed you to Port Angeles；〃 he admitted； speaking in a rush。 〃I've
never tried to keep a specific person alive before； and it's much more
troublesome than I would have believed。 But that's probably just because
it's you。 Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so many
catastrophes。〃 He paused。 I wondered if it should bother me that he was
following me； instead I felt a strange surge of pleasure。 He stared；
maybe wondering why my lips were curving into an involuntary smile。
〃Did you ever think that maybe my number was up the first time； with the
van； and that you've been interfering with fate？〃 I speculated；
distracting myself。
〃That wasn't the first time；〃 he said； and his voice was hard to hear。 I
stared at him in amazement； but he was looking down。 〃Your number was up
the first time I met you。〃
I felt a spasm of fear at his words； and the abrupt memory of his violent
black glare that first day… but the overwhelming sense of safety I felt
in his presence stifled it。 By the time he looked up to read my eyes；
there was no trace of fear in them。
〃You remember？〃 he asked； his angel's face grave。
〃Yes。〃 I was calm。
〃And yet here you sit。〃 There was a trace of disbelief in his voice； he
raised one eyebrow。
〃Yes； here I sit… because of you。〃 I paused。 〃Because somehow you knew
how to find me today… ？〃 I prompted。
He pressed his lips together； staring at me through narrowed eyes；
deciding again。 His eyes flashed down to my full plate； and then back to
me。
〃You eat； I'll talk；〃 he bargained。
I quickly scooped up another ravioli and popped it in my mouth。
〃It's harder than it should be — keeping track of you。 Usually I can find
someone very easily； once I've heard their mind before。〃 He looked at me
anxiously； and I realized I had frozen。 I made myself swallow； then
stabbed another ravioli and tossed it in。
〃I was keeping tabs on Jessica； not carefully — like I said； only you
could find trouble in Port Angeles — and at first I didn't notice when
you took off on your own。 Then； when I realized that you weren't with her
anymore； I went looking for you at the bookstore I saw in her head。 I
could tell that you hadn't gone in； and that you'd gone south… and I knew
you would have to turn around soon。 So I was just waiting for you；
randomly searching through the thoughts of people on the street — to see
if anyone had noticed you so I would know where you were。 I had no reason
to be worried… but I was strangely anxious…〃 He was lost in thought；
staring past me； seeing things I couldn't imagine。
〃I started to drive in circles； still… listening。 The sun was finally
setting； and I was about to get out and follow you on foot。 And then —〃
He stopped； clenching his teeth together in sudden fury。 He made an
effort to calm himself。
〃Then what？〃 I whispered。 He continued to stare over my head。
〃I heard what they were thinking；〃 he growled； his upper lip curling
slightly back over his teeth。