"Twilight - 03 - Eclipse" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meyer Stephanie)

I laid the book aside; the binding was so destroyed that it slumped flat to the table. УYou could have just asked.Ф

He nodded, his eyebrows pulling together. УYeah. IТll remember that next time. I thought taking dinner off your hands would soften you up.Ф

I laughed. УIt worked Ч your cooking skills have me soft as a marshmallow. What do you need, Dad?Ф

УWell, itТs about Jacob.Ф

I felt my face harden. УWhat about him?Ф I asked through stiff lips.

УEasy, Bells. I know youТre still upset that he told on you, but it was the right thing. He was being responsible.Ф

УResponsible,Ф I repeated scathingly, rolling my eyes. УRight. So, what about Jacob?Ф

The careless question repeated inside my head, anything but trivial.What about Jacob? Whatwas I going to do about him? My former best friend who was now . . . what? My enemy? I cringed.

CharlieТs face was suddenly wary. УDonТt get mad at me, okay?Ф

УMad?Ф

УWell, itТs about Edward, too.Ф

My eyes narrowed.

CharlieТs voice got gruffer. УI let him in the house, donТt I?Ф

УYou do,Ф I admitted. УFor brief periods of time. Of course, you might let meout of the house for brief periods now and then, too,Ф I continued Ч only jokingly; I knew I was on lockdown for the duration of the school year. УIТve been pretty good lately.Ф

УWell, thatТs kind of where I was heading with this. . . .Ф And then CharlieТs face stretched into an unexpected eye-crinkling grin; for a second he looked twenty years younger.

I saw a dim glimmer of possibility in that smile, but I proceeded slowly. УIТm confused, Dad. Are we talking about Jacob, or Edward, or me being grounded?Ф

The grin flashed again. УSort of all three.Ф

УAnd how do they relate?Ф I asked, cautious.

УOkay.Ф He sighed, raising his hands as if in surrender. УSo IТm thinking maybe you deserve a parole for good behavior. For a teenager, youТre amazingly non-whiney.Ф

My voice and eyebrows shot up. УSeriously? IТm free?Ф

Where was this coming from? IТd been positive I would be under house arrest until I actually moved out, and Edward hadnТt picked up any wavering in CharlieТs thoughts. . . .

Charlie held up one finger. УConditionally.Ф

The enthusiasm vanished. УFantastic,Ф I groaned.

УBella, this is more of a request than a demand, okay? YouТre free. But IТm hoping youТll use that freedom . . . judiciously.Ф

УWhat does that mean?Ф