Chapter 4

Disclaimer: All characters from the Twilight novel series belong to Stephanie Meyer. I just enjoy introducing OC's into the world she has created.

I woke up early the next morning, I hadn't set an alarm but I chalk it up to my body still being on East Coast time. Both Sam and Em are in the kitchen when I enter it, puttering around, giggling and teasing each other. My heart twinges a bit with adoration and…jealousy? Seeing them like this, making breakfast together it's such a simple act, a part of a daily routine no doubt, but it made me wish I had what they had.

Pushing my pity party away, I put a smile on my face and entered the room. "Good morning love birds" I chime and was met with a bright grin from Em as she turned to see me.

"Hi!" She squeals, "hungry?" Holding up the plate of bacon she had in her hand, my stomach rumbling in response. The front door clanged open and footsteps came from the living room, no doubt one of the many men who appear to just come and go freely around here.

"I smell bacon!" Embry shouted as he made his way to the kitchen. Taking the plate from Em, I move it to the table, not before Embry steps in front of me, giving me a sheepish grin and stealing two pieces from the top of it. "Thanks," he winks at me and my heart does a little flutter. Did all of these men have to be so damn handsome and charismatic?

Rolling my eyes I make my way around him to the table and return to Em's side to get more food. When all of the food was dispersed and the drinks poured we sat down to eat.

Not even one bite in Embry turns to me, "Elle, so you're single huh? Why is that?"

I nearly choke at his question and Em drops her fork, "Embry, what the fuck? You can't just ask someone that! If she wants to be single, she can be single!"

I smile at Em's defense, and turn to Embry, "and may I ask who you are dating Casanova?"

His face dulls a bit, "well…no one, I mean, RIGHT NOW."

"And why is that?" I bring my hand to my chin and tilt my head to the side, my brows furrowing together. He stammers a bit and struggles to produce an answer-amateur. "Don't dish it if you can't take it honey." I return to my plate and Sam barks a laugh. Embry lets out a little huff. I'm not one to back down from any form of confrontation, but that was too easy.

"Elle, so I'm thinking we survey what supplies I have so far and go over the checklist I made for décor, and figure out if there's anything else I didn't think of?" I nod immediately, knowing full well she's anxious to get to wedding planning, it's clearly been weighing on her mind-rightfully so. "Oh and tomorrow we have a meeting with the florist, who's a loyal customer of the garages' so hopefully she'll give us a good deal, but you definitely need to come with me with your bargaining skills."

"Em, you're not gonna bargain an old woman over flowers!" Sam's voice is showered with astonishment.

"Oh you bet your ass I am Sam Uley! Remember when you fixed her beat up old Camaro a couple months ago and she talked you down to almost half the original price you wanted from her. She better give us a good deal or I'm going to pop all her tires and charge her full price!" Em was feeling fiery today and I was here for it. Sam rolled his eyes but didn't respond-smart man.

"I'm sorry," I raised my hand in front of me, "you let an old woman bargain over the price of her bill? Shouldn't that be set, you know, you have labor multiplied by time add in parts, taxes and base service fee and call it a day?"

Sam's head bobs side to side, "that's basically how it goes."

"Then why are you letting people bargain your prices?"

"Because Sam's a big softy," Embry chimes in.

I shake my head, "well at least you're charging them. With that mess of a desk you have at the shop I'm surprised any paperwork gets fully processed. I mean, how long does it take to do your taxes?"

Sam's face gets hard, "we manage, thanks for your concern Elle." Em wraps her hand around his forearm. Shit, third day here and I'm already ticking people off.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be disrespectful. I guess I'm just fresh out of studying this stuff, but I haven't actually done anything with it, so really who am I to talk?" I hold my hands up and glance at Em who seems to be thinking something over because when we make eye contact, she's looking right through me.

"Elle should totally help you at the shop! She has a business degree, and she is right, you could use the organization. She could help you with the books! Quill can only half ass them for so long, he's still working on cars and he watches Claire 24/7, it'd be perfect!" She's beaming at Sam by the end of her spiel and he places a hand on hers, calming her excitement.

"Actually, Elle, that would be perfect, would you at least look over what we have? See if you can do anything to get us organized and we could go from there?"

The offer shocks me, especially since he was so defensive of me giving him shit about the disorganization, but I accept almost immediately.

"Sweet, we can start next week. I doubt Em will be okay with me taking you away from her your first week here." He smiles at Em who squeezes his arm again, and nods in agreement.

The rest of the morning is pretty much spent solely focused on wedding preparations. Em and I map the wedding reception, discussing everything from centerpieces to place cards. By the time afternoon rolls around we're both going stir crazy from being in the office we have since dubbed "the wedding room" all day.

"Okay." Em says with a huff, "I need to get out of this room, let's go to the florist?" I nod enthusiastically, we'd been sitting for so long my muscles ached to be stretched and utilized.

The drive from La Push, where Em lived to Port Angeles, where the flower shop was, wasn't a long one but it sure was gorgeous. Everywhere you looked bright green trees lined the road, almost as if we were in the Emerald city. The flower shop was larger than I expected, though it was probably the only one in at least a 20 mile radius. Plants of varying shapes, sizes and colors were displayed on stands big and small outside of it. As soon as we entered we were met with the smell that it so unequivocally indicative of a florist, like someone rubbed flowers between their hands, and shoved them in front of your nose. Two long fridges lined either wall inside the building, covering them from floor to ceiling, they both danced with colors from the arrangements each held. There only appeared to be one person working, which may have ruined Em's hopes for a discount because it was not a little old woman she spoke about, but rather a tall handsome man.

Hearing us approach, he lifted his head revealing a gorgeous smile. "Hi! How can I help you today?"

"Uh, hi, I was hoping Betty was working today, is she here?" Em's fire to get a good deal earlier seemed to have been extinguished, guess I'll be taking the reins on this one.

The handsome man looked around a bit, amusement in his eyes. "Nope, but she's taught me everything I know, I'm sure I can help you out."

Disappointment is evident on Em's face, I want to kick her, if she wants a good deal, she can't pout about who's helping us. "We need, flowers, lots of them, I'm getting married." Her spirit picks up at the mention of marriage, I send the man a bright smile-maybe he's straight and will give a couple of pretty ladies a deal.

"Well you've come to the right place, what were you thinking?" He's incredibly enthusiastic and helpful and the three of us pour over the floral plans Em created. He makes suggestions about which flowers will last the longest for the centerpieces and bouquets, which ones to have on the end of the benches lining the wedding aisle, his customer service is amazing; by the time we finish making our choices I feel like I need to write him a glowing Yelp review.

When he gives us our total, Em winces and glances at me. Showtime. I slap on the most persuasive smile-the one I use when I'm trying to get into some hoity toity party in SoHo that I most definitely did not have an invitation to. "Here's the thing, Betty is an amazing and loyal customer of my friend here's fiancé who always gives her a REALLY good deal on her car repairs and we were hoping there could be some kind of 'we scratch your back, you scratch mine' deal to be worked out? We promise we'll recommend this place to all of our friends and family, AND we'll both give you good Yelp reviews."

His eyes narrowed skeptically but he rested his elbow on the counter and placed his head in his hand, thinking over the proposition. I pressed my body into the front of the counter so my cleavage was just a tad bit closer to his view. Sure sure, using your body in such an outright way is not something I would ever teach Kara to do and my inner feminist cringed at the movement but I know for a fact the price he gave us is out of Em and Sam's budget so sacrifices must be made. Just as I had hoped, he did notice me moving closer and he straightened, looking down at me from his tall frame, his light brown eyes glinting ever so slightly with flirtation.

"I tell you what, I can give you the friends and family discount, 25%, IF you go out on a date with me." His gorgeous smile returned, his cheeks and eyes scrunching under the weight of it. He really was handsome, so handsome that I almost forgot my bargaining skills and gave in.

"40% and I'll give you my phone number." I shot back, returning his smile in fervor.

His eyes sparkled, but narrowed at my counter, "30%."

"35"

"32, that's the best I can do." He shot his hand out between us and I took it. "You drive a hard bargain there…" he trailed off, asking my name.

"Elle, and right back at you…"

"Adam." He turns to Em, extending his hand to her as well, "your wedding will be gorgeous no doubt. Sam's a lucky man." Winking he made his way to the computer to complete the ordering process.

Hold up, he knows Sam? "So Sam's worked on your car before?"

"Oh Sam and I go way back, I would've given you guys the friends and family discount regardless."

My temper began to flare within me, "you little shit!" I couldn't help my outburst, Em swatted me with her hand, I give her a look warning her not to test me.

Adam holds his hands up, "Hey hey hey, I would've asked you out regardless, at least this way you got an extra 7% off your tab because of it!" His hands were still up and his eyes were slightly wide but everything else about his countenance screamed amusement. I narrow my eyes at him, his amusement subsides and his brown eyes grow weary. "Look I'm sorry, that was a shady thing of me to do, you…you don't have to give me your number." I purse my lips together and look away. He turns to Em and finishes up the order and delivery details.

I'm still highkey pissed as we're ready to leave but I grab one of the business cards from next to the cash register and scribble my number on the back of it. "Use this next week, when I'm not as annoyed," I pass the card to him and that gorgeous smile returns again, his eyes illuminating his smooth dark skin. I can't help but return the smile but roll my eyes as I do. "Come on Em" I turn, looping my arm in hers and steering us out of the shop.

"Whoa" is all she says as we make our way to the car.

"I don't want to talk about it," I warn, she chuckles and we head back to the house.