Emmett wound up again and threw another fastball, but this time Demetri’s bat thundered into it, the ball flying deep into the woods. I’d run nearly three miles before I found it and raced back to the clearing where Demetri was sitting with Jasper and Carlisle laughing at how long it had taken me to get back.

We played while the storm lasted- about three hours. All of us were soaked to the bone and coated in mud. We’d won by one measly homerun. Embarrassing. But seeing Demetri actually laughing and talking was promising. Maybe Bella wouldn’t be spending so much time coddling him anymore.

“Still glad you weren’t on my team, fur-ball?”

Jacob scowled at me, mud dripping off of him. “Bite me!”

“And get your foul blood in my mouth, I think not!” I scoffed. He grabbed Meghan’s hand and led her towards me. “Are you coming over?” I asked politely now that she was in earshot.

“Sure. Sure. Seth and Quil are too.”

(Demetri POV)

Who knew that hitting a minute ball with a stick in the rain could be so invigorating? For a few short hours I had forgotten everything except the acrid smell of wolves, a ball, and a bat. I did not mourn the loss of Heidi or notice that almost one whole day had passed without a visit from Bella.

Perhaps Bella was right after all. Maybe, just maybe, I could get past this. Maybe Heidi wasn’t my version of Edward’s Bella. If I was already being distracted from Heidi, already looking forward to spending time with another woman-albeit in a non-sexual manner, could I have ever been in love with her? As soon as I thought that, I knew it was rubbish.

Even so, Bella’s image floated through my thoughts. Her dark hair sliding down her back like silk, my fingers running through those soft strands, brushing them out of her perfectly lovely face. The image was promptly erased by Heidi’s voluptuous body and her ruby lips.

I saw Bella’s crimson eyes looking into mine from underneath me-as I made love to her then just as suddenly it was Heidi’s marvelous form. What the hell was wrong with me? How could I think about Bella in such a manner? She was my friend and confidant. But the real image of her terrified and half naked with Marcus flashed through my mind. She’d been astounding as a human; she was even more exquisite as a vampire. I groaned trying to rid myself of the images and wretched thoughts.

I knew I wasn’t in love with her, but I was so lonely. Everything about her was intoxicating from her scent to her lyrical voice. Most importantly, was that when I was with her I felt whole and the pain receded for a few moments and I could breath again and escape the horrors of my life. I could imagine continuing this existence and being almost happy as long as she was around.

I knew that deep within my soul that if Bella wasn’t already immersed in Edward’s life that I could be very distracted by her. I firmly pushed those thoughts aside as I continued on the path to the house when I remembered Edward’s damn power. I glanced back at him hoping that he had been too involved in his conversation with the wolf and its mate to be concerned with the twisted workings of my mind. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Edward had stopped walking and was glowering at me, rage pouring off of him in waves. The wolf and its woman had continued ahead quite a ways before sensing something amiss and noticed that Edward was no longer following them.

I stiffened, ready for the assault that was certain to happen as the rest of the vampires instantly became aware of the hostility drifting on the light breeze.

A low snarl emanated from Edward, who was holding himself rigidly, trying to keep his predatory instincts at bay. “Leave us!” He growled, never taking those topaz eyes from mine. I didn’t dare look away to note anyone’s reaction, but I heard them moving off toward s the house and Jasper’s low whisper to Carlisle. “Should I stay to diffuse the situation?”