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.He didn’t pause until we reached the dark side of one of the huge cedars.Then Edward looked straight into the blackest shadow.“Thank you,” Edward said to the darkness.“This is very… kind of you.”“Kind is my middle name,” a husky familiar voice answered from the black night.“Can I cut in?”My hand flew up to my throat, and if Edward hadn’t been holding me I would have collapsed.“Jacob!” I choked as soon as I could breathe.“Jacob!”“Hey there, Bells.”I stumbled toward the sound of his voice.Edward kept his grip under my elbow until another set of strong hands caught me in the darkness.The heat from Jacob’s skin burned right through the thin satin dress as he pulled me close.He made no effort to dance; he just hugged me while I buried my face in his chest.He leaned down to press his cheek to the top of my head.“Rosalie won’t forgive me if she doesn’t get her official turn on the dance floor,” Edward murmured, and I knew he was leaving us, giving me a gift of his own—this moment with Jacob.“Oh, Jacob.” I was crying now; I couldn’t get the words out clearly.“Thank you.”“Stop blubbering, Bella.You’ll ruin your dress.It’s just me.”“Just? Oh, Jake! Everything is perfect now.”He snorted.“Yeah—the party can start.The best man finally made it.”“Now everyone I love is here.”I felt his lips brush my hair.“Sorry I’m late, honey.”“I’m just so happy you came!”“That was the idea.”I glanced toward the guests, but I couldn’t see through the dancers to the spot where I’d last seen Jacob’s father.I didn’t know if he’d stayed.“Does Billy know you’re here?” As soon as I asked, I knew that he must have—it was the only way to explain his uplifted expression before.“I’m sure Sam’s told him.I’ll go see him when… when the party’s over.”“He’ll be so glad you’re home.” Jacob pulled back a little bit and straightened up.He left one hand on the small of my back and grabbed my right hand with the other.He cradled our hands to his chest; I could feel his heart beat under my palm, and I guessed that he hadn’t placed my hand there accidentally.“I don’t know if I get more than just this one dance,” he said, and he began pulling me around in a slow circle that didn’t match the tempo of the music coming from behind us.“I’d better make the best of it.”We moved to the rhythm of his heart under my hand.“I’m glad I came,” Jacob said quietly after a moment.“I didn’t think I would be.But it’s good to see you… one more time.Not as sad as I’d thought it would be.”“I don’t want you to feel sad.”“I know that.And I didn’t come tonight to make you feel guilty.”“No—it makes me very happy that you came.It’s the best gift you could have given me.”He laughed.“That’s good, because I didn’t have time to stop for a real present.”My eyes were adjusting, and I could see his face now, higher up than I expected.Was it possible that he was still growing? He had to be closer to seven feet than to six.It was a relief to see his familiar features again after all this time—his deep-set eyes shadowed under his shaggy black brows, his high cheekbones, his full lips stretched over his bright teeth in the sarcastic smile that matched his tone.His eyes were tight around the edges—careful; I could see that he was being very careful tonight.He was doing all he could to make me happy, to not slip and show how much this cost him.I’d never done anything good enough to deserve a friend like Jacob.“When did you decide to come back?”“Consciously or subconsciously?” He took a deep breath before he answered his own question.“I don’t really know.I guess I’ve been wandering back this direction for a while, and maybe it’s because I was headed here.But it wasn’t until this morning that I really started running.I didn’t know if I could make it.” He laughed.“You wouldn’t believe how weird this feels—walking around on two legs again.And clothes! And then it’s more bizarre because it feels weird.I didn’t expect that.I’m out of practice with the whole human thing.”We revolved steadily.“It would have been a shame to miss seeing you like this, though.That’s worth the trip right there.You look unbelievable, Bella.So beautiful.”“Alice invested a lot of time in me today.The dark helps, too
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