Chapter 1
The rain was beating on the window as I stared out onto the green lawn below me. It was a perfect day for reading. I sat on the plump white couch with my favorite classic between my knees, but I couldn't seem to concentrate on the page in front of me. I held my cell phone tight in my hand in a futile attempt to stop playing with it, but it didn't work. I still flipped it open every few minutes, looked at the picture on the background of my boyfriend and I, scrolled through my most recent texts, hoping there was a way I might have missed a new one, and closed it again, attempting to turn my attention back to the page of the book in front of me. This routine repeated itself for about half an hour until I gave up on getting any reading done and closed my book and set it on the end table beside me. Sighing, I rose from the warm embrace of the couch and started to walk towards the doorway of my room until I heard the familiar growl emitting from one of the most obnoxious cars I've ever heard. A huge smile spread across my face and I dashed down the stairs into the living room where Char- I mean Dad, was sitting with his eyes glued to the television screen. He glanced up when I came stumbling down the stairs, but upon recognizing the growling engine that had just cut off outside, he nodded with a growing smile for me to go on.
"Jake!!" I screamed as soon as I set foot out the door, still trying to pull my jacket on my other arm and throw the hood over my already soaked hair.
He picked me up and spun me around in one big hug until he set me back on my feet and leaned in till our foreheads only were touching.
"Bella…" He breathed, his eyes dancing with excitement. I don't think I've ever seen such a big smile on anyone's face in my life, and I'm sure I looked about the same.
He finally leaned in to give me a quick peck on the lips before opening his eyes in sudden realization.
"Bella we're getting drenched!" He exclaimed.
"I don't care, I'm just so glad you're finally back," I sighed while I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him in for another kiss.
Our lips melted together perfectly, and I almost started to forget about the rain until a sudden shiver shook my body back into reality.
He laughed and grinned that perfect grin that brought the color into my cheeks every time and grabbed my hand, starting to pull me back towards my house saying, "We've got to get you back inside, my first day back and I'm going to freeze you to death."
When we got back inside, Charlie was sitting in the exact same place he had been when I left a few minutes ago.
"Good afternoon, sir," Jacob said, extending his hand to my father.
As soon as he heard Jake's voice Charlie sprang to life, smiling and rising from the couch to come over and give Jake's hand a good shake and greet him.
"Jacob! Good to have you back!" He exclaimed, "I hope your trip went well."
"Yes, sir, we had a great time," Jacob replied.
He had always been Mr. Polite to my dad, which I appreciated, but my dad already loved him. He could have stuck his tongue down my throat right there in the living room and my dad wouldn't have minded. Well, maybe that's a little exaggeration, but my dad wouldn't have minded if he wasn't quite so hands-off.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Jacob and I headed off to my room, leaving Charlie to his baseball game.
When we reached my room, Jacob collapsed his enormous 6'4 frame onto my bed, exhaling heavily.
"Golly Bells, I'm so glad to be home."
"And I'm glad to have you home," I said, crawling into the crook of his arm and laying my head on his chest.
He kissed the top of my head and we proceeded to talk about his trip to Wyoming with his dad and other things we had to catch up on in the long month that we were apart.
"I'm getting so tired lying here," he finally admitted.
I had noticed the gradual sleepiness that was creeping up on him, but I hadn't said anything because I didn't want our time together to end quite yet.
"I know…" I admitted, "But I don't want you to leave yet!"
He chuckled and leaned over to kiss me again, saying, "Well you know I can't stay away from you for too long, gorgeous. I'll be back tomorrow."
I giggled and rolled my eyes at him and then rolled off the bed to my feet. He slowly followed, still lethargic from lying down for so long, and threw his heavy arm over my shoulder.
"Help me, Bells, I don't think I can make it," He whined.
I started trudging along with his arm thrown over my shoulder like an injured athlete, until we got to the living room to say goodbye to Charlie.
Jacob quickly removed his arm and said goodbye while I walked him to the door. He opened the door and pulled me close for one more kiss before he went, whispering "I love you" in my ear as he turned to leave.
I smiled and replied, "I've missed that. I love you too."
He turned and walked out the door, flashing one more beautiful smile at me before jogging through the rain to his car. I leaned against the door frame watching him go, but the smile turned into a look of surprise when I saw the large moving van sitting in front of the house next door.