out a little bit。〃
〃Why？〃
He looked down； pausing for so long that I wondered if he hadn't heard my
question。 Finally； he asked
me； 〃Bella； if I told you that I couldn't fix these bikes； what would you
say？〃
I didn't answer right away； either； and he glanced up to check my expression。
〃I would say that's too bad； but I'll bet we could figure out something else
to do。 If we got really
desperate； we could even do homework。〃
Jacob smiled； and his shoulders relaxed。 He sat down next to the bike and
picked up a wrench。 〃So you
think you'll still e over when I'm done； then？〃
〃Is that what you meant？〃 I shook my head。 〃I guess I am taking advantage of
your very underpriced
mechanical skills。 But as long as you let me e over； I'll be here。〃
〃Hoping to see Quil again？〃 he teased。
〃You caught me。〃
He chuckled。 〃You really like spending time with me？〃 he asked； marveling。
〃Very； very much。 And I'll prove it。 I have to work tomorrow； but Wednesday
we'll do something
nonmechanical。〃
〃Like what？〃
〃I have no idea。 We can go to my place so you won't be tempted to be
obsessive。 You could bring your
schoolwork—you have to be getting behind； because I know I am。〃
〃Homework might be a good idea。〃 He made a face； and I wondered how much he
was leaving undone
to be with me。
〃Yes；〃 I agreed。 〃We'll have to start being responsible occasionally； or Billy
and Charlie aren't going to be
so easygoing about this。〃 I made a gesture indicating the two of us as a
single entity。 He liked that—he
beamed。
〃Homework once a week？〃 he proposed。
〃Maybe we'd better