He smiled, unrepentant. "It was good car, very fast."
"How was your napple?" I asked.
"Interesting." His eyes narrowed.
"Really?"
"Probably the most interesting nap I've ever had."
I waited for him to continue, but he didn't. I repeated myself. "Really?"
He looked down while he answered. "I'm surprised. I thought Florida... and your mother... well, I thought that's what you would want."
I stared at him uncomprehendingly. "But you'd be stuck inside all day in Florida. You'd only be able to come out at night, just like a real vampire."
"Are you saying I'm not a real vampire?" He puffed his chest up.
"No, I—"
He held up his hand for me to stop, almost smiling...but not quite. And then his face was grave. "I would stay in Forks, Bella. Or somewhere like it," he explained. "Somewhere where I couldn't hurt you anymore."
It didn't sink in at first. I continued to stare at him blankly as the words did a one by one click'n'connect in my head like a ghastly puzzle. I was barely conscious of the sound of my heart accelerating; though, as my breathing transitioned to hyperventilation, I became aware of a sharp ache in my ribs.
He didn't say anything; he watched my face warily as pain that had nothing to do with broken bones, pain that was infinitely worse, threatened to crush me.
And then another nurse walked purposefully into the room. Fredward sat still as stone as she took in my expression with a practiced eye before turning to the monitors.
"Time for some more pain meds, sweatheart?" she asked kindly, tapping the IV feed.
"No, no," I mumbled, trying to keep the agony out of

471

Chapter 24

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