Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter One ~ Parole

The kitchen smoke alarm blared, a shrill protest to whatever sin against pasta was happening inside. Bella and I came running, nearly colliding in the doorway.

Charlie stood frozen in a cloud of steam, waving a towel at the ceiling and glaring at a pot on the stove like it had personally betrayed him. The scent of burnt noodles filled the air.

"Did you microwave the sauce with the lid still on?" Bella asked, spotting the red-stained microwave.

Charlie grunted. "There is no law that says I can't cook in my own house."

"There should be," I muttered, grabbing a mixing bowl. "Bella, save the noodles. I'll make a salad."

Bella peeked into the pot, wincing. "You know stirring helps, right, Dad?"

"You girls act like I committed a crime."

"You practically set off the fire alarm trying to boil spaghetti," I said, rummaging for lettuce. "We've seen less smoke at a bonfire."

He muttered something about ungrateful daughters and stepped back to let us take over.

As we worked, Charlie flipped through the newspaper at the table, shaking his head. "Five more unsolved homicides in Seattle. That makes what—seven in two weeks?"

"Seattle's making a run for murder capital of the country," he said, tapping the page.

"Phoenix still has you beat," Bella reminded him.

I glanced up from chopping tomatoes. "Great. We went from sunburns to serial killers." And don't forget, we're already on multiple vampire hit lists. I thought

Charlie lowered the paper and gave us a look. "You couldn't pay me enough to live there."

Dinner was... technically edible. Bella and I each took the smallest possible serving of spaghetti and heaped salad onto our plates.

"There's a reason I made dinner," Charlie said between bites. "I think it's time you went to see Jacob. He's having a hard time. I remember when that used to be you, Bells."

Bella went still. I did too.

"I'll drive," I offered, my tone careful.

Charlie looked at Bella. "I'm willing to offer a little parole — conditionally. You're ungrounded, but you've got to use some of that freedom to see your other friends."

Bella sighed. "It's not that simple. There's... conflict. Friendship doesn't seem to be enough for Jake."

"That's true," I said quietly. "He hears what he wants. I've seen it firsthand."

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Edward up for a little healthy competition?"

Bella and I both stared at him.

"That's not the point," I said. "You're asking her to lead Jacob on — and to get herself into situations that might hurt her."

Charlie leaned back in his chair. "It's called balance. You can't ignore one part of your life for another."

Before Bella could argue, he pulled two envelopes from his jacket and handed them over. "Speaking of life — these came today. University of Alaska."

We stared at the letters. Bella raised an eyebrow. "You opened our mail?"

"It's a federal crime," I added.

Charlie shrugged. "Oh, just read them."

We opened them. Acceptance. Both of us. Bella grinned at me.