We were in front of Charles' house. The lights were on, my truck in its place, everything utterly normal. It was like waking from a dream. He stopped the car, but I didn't move.
"Do you promise to be there tomorrow?"
"I promise."212
I considered that for a moment, then nodded. I pulled his jacket off, taking one last whiffff.
"You can keep it—so you have a jacket to smell tonight," he said with a wink.
I handed it back to him. "I don't want to have to explain to Charlie that a vampire saved me from getting raped while he sat at home and drank Vitamin R."
"Oh, right." He grinned.
I hesitated, my hand on the door handle, trying to prolong the moment.
"Bella?" he asked in a different tone—serious, but hesitant.
"Yes?" I turned back to him too eagerly.
"Will you make a proper promise to me too?"
"Yes," I said, and instantly regretted my unconditional agreement. What if he asked me to never marry him? I couldn't keep that promise.
"Don't go into the woods alone."
I stared at him in blank confusion. "Why?"
He frowned, and his eyes were tight as his face muscles, while he stared past me out the window.
"I'm not always the most dangerous thing out there. Let's leave it at that."
212. This is an example of a proper promise.