A/N: Oh my!
My life has been crazy at work, so I haven't been about to reply to any reviews. But I wanted to say thank you for the lovely response. The story is currently at 17 chapters and I've just started writing the climax. So yes, there will be more chapters. I've made myself a promise not to post more than once a week so I can get this story actually finished before I'm up to the last unwritten chapter.
So, bear with me and enjoy...
MarniaNamaste is my fabulous beta and friend.
"Bella? Is that you?" She always got a little annoyed when he asked that. There wasn't anyone else who had a key to their house. Of course, she figured, he'd lived alone for so long, maybe he was still getting used to having someone living with him. And the last few months she'd been like a zombie. She needed to change that.
"Yeah, dad!" she called as she hurried up the stairs. She was wearing one of Paul's sweatshirts, but she didn't want her dad to see that she was still wearing her sleep shorts. "I'm gonna run and take a quick shower and then I'll explain about the truck, kay?" She knew she smelled like sex because Paul had told her. All men know and love that smell. Human or wolf, he said, waggling his eyebrows at her. Then he put his scent in her again. For a third time.
"Okay," Charlie called from the kitchen. She barely heard him through the closed bathroom door she'd run up there so fast. She'd called him about midnight to explain about the flat tire and she was stuck in La Push and she'd be home after she got it taken care of. Charlie'd been in the middle of a little crisis at the station, so he didn't ask too many questions for which Bella was very grateful.
Paul had been pleased that she wasn't gone for very long to make her phone call. He'd not let her get any sleep until the sun peeked through the curtains. When she woke a few hours later Paul reported that the tire was fixed and her truck was parked in his driveway. She was home by noon and Charlie was awake.
Bella wiped a circle in the fog of the mirror and inspected herself. She was deliciously sore as she stretched and twisted to feel the ache. She didn't think she looked any different. She had one hickey right under her left breast and a little more color in her cheeks. And she felt so much…lighter.
Better.
But she knew it wasn't the sex. It was finally talking about Edward and realizing that the whole time they were together she'd felt so inferior—well it made her realize that it was better that he left. He was dangerous for her, if not physically definitely emotionally.
Maybe Jasper's slip was the best thing for her.
And Paul had been great with her. He was an asshole, she could tell in his terse mannerisms and his speech. But he was honest and straight forward. Bella supposed that's what got him the label. He didn't sugar coat anything. And she was tired of the sticky-sweet shit people continuously threw at her. All he wanted from her was to make her feel good. And, boy, did he. Several times.
Twisting her wet hair into a messy bun on the top of her head, she headed down stairs after sliding on a pair of jeans, a fresh t-shirt, and Paul's sweatshirt. She liked the smell. It was calming.
"Did you get any sleep?" she asked her dad as she entered the kitchen. "I'm going to make you something to eat."
"A couple of hours," he said, peering up at her over his coffee mug. "Thanks, that'd be nice. " He folded his newspaper and focused on her, evaluating her clothes. "So what's up with the truck?"
"Do you want the long version or the Reader's Digest version?" she asked.
"How about little bit of both," he smiled. Bella was grateful for the permission to leave out details. Charlie was grateful she was talking.
"I went down to confront Jake last night and he wasn't there. So I got even more upset and went driving. I ended up in that little bar where you used to pick Billy up from all the time, remember?"
"George's?" Bella was moving around the kitchen pulling sandwich fixings from the refrigerator. She hadn't been this open and talkative in months. Charlie really liked it.
"Yeah! That's it! I realized I forgot my phone and I wanted to call you, so I stopped there to use the phone when I ran into one of Jake's friends who pointed out my flat tire."
He nodded. George had called and told him all this already.
"Which friend?" Charlie asked. This was the dicey part. Paul had alluded to a sketchy past, but Bella didn't want to lie. She liked being around Paul—he pissed her off, but he was so… easy. And she wanted to be honest with Charlie if Paul ever came over to hang out.
"Paul Lahote. He took care of everything for me." She busied herself with making him a sandwich, praying Charlie didn't notice how nervous she was. "How much do you think I should pay him for the tire?" she asked, trying to get Charlie's attention on the positive side of Paul.
"Well, I don't know. I'll have to look at the tire. You know I've been offering to get you new tires for a few months. You've been a little…" He trailed off because he didn't want her to return to that place.
"Checked out?" Bella looked up and met his gaze. She wasn't going to hide any more. "Don't beat around the bush, Dad. I've been a mess. I am a mess. I know it. I'm sorry." Charlie considered her. She was different. She was awake. Truly awake.
"Well, yeah. Lahote? How's he doing? I haven't seen Paul in a couple of years. He was a bit of a problem a while back."
"Well, he's still kind of an asshole, but he got a jagged nice side," Bella replied with a small smile. She saw Charlie's eyes widen at her use of profanity. "Sorry. Those are his words and I kinda agree with him." Charlie was pleased with that assessment. It meant Paul hadn't tried to pull one over on his daughter. He considered that a good thing.
"That's where you stayed last night?" he asked. Bella groaned internally. She really didn't want to get too deep into this.
"Yeah. Have you seen his house? He built it himself. He's nineteen and built it himself." Charlie was pleased that she had that information. His girl was smart.
"Did he ever finish those eagle carvings around the front porch?"
Bella looked at her father. She knew what he was doing. They were too much alike.
"They're wolves, dad. And yes. They're amazing. He's really a great artist." Charlie smiled under his mustache. He didn't quite know what to think of his daughter hanging out with the Lahote boy. His parents were both dead, and his father hadn't been a good man when he was alive.
Bella finished making Charlie's sandwich. She realized that the fridge was a little bare. She'd have to fix that today. She'd really let a lot of things slide the past few months. She needed to get back to living her life again. She set the plate down in front of him and looked up at her.
"How'd he treat you? Did he try anything on you?"
Fuck. But Bella had already decided how to answer this question, though. And it was the truth. "Yes. But I told him I wasn't ready for another man in my life." She went back over to the counter to fix herself a sandwich. "Edward really messed me up." She smeared some mustard on a slice of bread. "But dad, Paul let me talk. He just let me spew all the word vomit I've been holding back for months all up on him. And," she set the knife down and began piling meat on the bread, "he didn't judge me. He didn't try anything I didn't want him to. There was no pressure." Everything she said was the truth.
Paul had let her talk about all her insecurities after Edward left. After he'd helped her open the flood gates of those feelings she'd buried so deep, she just couldn't stop. He'd distracted her a few times to illustrate to her that her image of herself—homely, frumpy, undesirable—were just completely untrue. She finished preparing her sandwich and sat down at the table across from him.
"Wow. Lahote did that?" This Bella in front of him was completely transformed. It frightened him a little bit. It just seemed so fast. "Bella, I hope that…well…he hasn't had that great of a life. I hope you're being realistic. Are you sure…" He didn't know how to finish the sentence, so he just trailed off.
"Dad, I'm still so messed up. I'm angry and hurt and I don't think very good things about myself. But Paul lets me talk without trying to fix me. And because he's not trying to fix me, it actually helps." She held his gaze. Charlie couldn't remember the last time she'd looked him in the eye. He knew Bella's willful streak and forbidding her from doing something she felt was good would do no good. And she did seem better. He was worried about her hanging out with Paul, but he'd just keep an eye out. Then he had an idea.
"Well then, maybe you need to invite him over for dinner sometime." He took a bite of his sandwich.
"Really?" her voice cracked with surprise. She smiled the smile he hadn't seen for months. It made him return the gesture. "I just might. I thought you'd give me a hard time about this." Bella was so relieved. She really thought how much easier it was to be honest with people.
"I'm not gonna lie, Bells, I'm worried. He's older. He's a player. I don't want you getting hurt again." She watched as Charlie's brow furrowed. "Jake's…ah… illness has really been hard on you. I'm glad you have someone else to talk to." Bella snorted when Charlie said illness.
"Jake's not sick. But he actually has a valid reason." Bella smiled internally as Charlie's head tilted to the side at that information. "I'm still pissed at him, though. He could have at least called me." They sat quietly for a few minutes chewing their food.
"We've been invited to a bonfire tonight in La Push. Apparently Jake is feeling better and Billy wants us to come down. You up for it?"
Bella didn't even hesitate. "Yes," she stated firmly. She hadn't felt like doing anything for so long, another night out sounded good. And maybe she could get Paul to show up. She evaluated that thought. Was she hoping for something more from him? No. She just wanted to talk to him again.
"Good. I'll call Billy and tell him we'll be there." They'd finished their lunch and Charlie picked up her plate and his and took it over to the sink. "Thanks for lunch, Bells."
"Dad?"
Charlie put the dish into the drying rack and looked over at his daughter. She was still too thin, but the color was back in her cheeks. She looked tired, but more rested. More peaceful. Charlie thought that just maybe Lahote was good for her. Maybe she'd be good for Lahote.
"Yeah, Bells?"
"Thank you." She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth like she always did when she was nervous. "For taking me in when mom didn't want me anymore. For putting up with my lying when I dated Edward. I know you have to know that I did." She bit her lip again considering how to proceed. "I didn't fall down the stairs in Arizona. I still can't tell you what happened, but I've finally realized that Edward was just really bad news. And thanks for putting up with me the past few months." She choked back a sob. "I know I've worried you, but I'm gonna get better."
Charlie cleared his throat. He'd never been good with these kind of situations. "Isabella, you're my daughter." The statement was short, but it conveyed so much. Bella understood.
"I know. Something that I'm very grateful for." Bella was never very good with these situations either. "I just wanted you to know that." She smiled as she fidgeted with the strings of Paul's hoodie and went up to her room, feeling better than she'd felt in weeks.
Even if she was sore.
She spent the rest of the day catching up the laundry, shopping for good food, and scrubbing the bathroom like it should have been months ago. She'd plugged her dead phone into charge and when she went to check it around six she had two texts: one from Jake and one from an unknown number.
She was actually interested in what Jake had to say. She typed in her passcode and swiped until his message appeared.
Bells I m so sorry. Dad says ur comin to the bonfire. Can we talk? Pls?
It was sent about three hours before. She figured she'd throw him a bone.
Yes.
That was all she was going to give him. That's all he deserved. She opened up the second text message from an unknown number and knew who it was immediately from the message. She was pleased he'd found her number.
How you feelin little girl?
Bella smiled to herself. He told her not to expect much after their one hot night, but he was very tender and kind to her during their time together. She didn't mind that he didn't want anything more. She'd hadn't lied to Charlie about that. But she was pleased he still wanted to talk to her. She tried to think of something clever to text back. She didn't want to be a cliché.
Like I was mauled by a dog.
She smiled at her pithy reply. She went to fold the last load of laundry and put it away. When she came back to check her phone she had two more messages waiting for her.
Thanks bells! I'll make it up to you. I promise.
Bella rolled her eyes. She'd spent most of the day thinking about what to say to Jake and how to handle that situation. Paul told her that Jake had been alpha ordered by Sam to not tell Bella about the secret, but not to stay away from her. What kept him away was what he thought Bella would think of him. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She didn't reply to him. She smiled at Paul's response.
You didn't mind when that dog was licking your wounds.
A shot of desire ran through her as she thought about all the places Paul had licked. She liked his dirty sense of humor. He was flirting with her. She liked that, too. She still hadn't figured out why she liked Paul's flirting and not Mike's. But she didn't care too much, either. She fired one back to off to him.
I'd say I'd return the favor, but I have an event in La Push tonight. Too bad, though.
She wondered if he'd pick up on the hint. She wondered if he'd show up, even though he'd told her that he hated pack events. Her phone chimed as she wondered.
Oh, little girl!
"Bells! You almost ready?" Charlie called up the stairs. Bella zipped up her hoodie and pocketed her phone before she skipped down the stairs.
"It's like they have to follow his every order," the girl named Kim said a little tersely. The "pack" were busy setting up the fire and lighting it. Kim was apparently connected to the wolf called Jared.
"They do," the one called Emily said. Bella had been introduced to these two by Billy who assumed that Bella would rather hang out with girls her age than the old men. Billy was wrong. So far, all she'd heard was catty banter between the small group of girls. Bella had to admit, that Kim was the least annoying. "And shut up about that," Emily hissed to Kim. "Do you want everyone to know?" Bella heard because she was the closest to the two girls. Bella suspected Emily and Kim knew about the pack, but not the other two.
"I want to know why Paul finally showed up," the dark caramel colored girl called Oli said. "I wonder who he's here to screw."
"Hmmm," Emily said, and peering over at Bella, "I wonder." All the girls' eyes followed Emily's and Bella suddenly felt very self-conscious.
"You don't mean her, do you?" the other girl named Ebony spat. "Paul would never fall for some like…you know." Bella was certain they were talking about her pale complexion.
"I don't know, he's been peeking over here quite a bit," Kim added, smirking to Emily.
"To look at Oli," Ebony asserted, hotly.
"Wow," Emily smiled, "you feeling threatened for your little friend?" Bella didn't know to whom Emily was speaking. "Bella, weren't you with Paul last night?" Shit. Bella didn't need this.
"He helped me out," Bella replied, catching Paul's glance. She realized that he could hear the conversation. All the wolves could.
"What does that mean?" Oli asked, frowning. Her sculpted eyebrows pulled together
"Exactly what I said. I had a problem and he helped me out."
"Is that what we're calling it these days?" Ebony asked. Emily smirked over the Kim.
"Yeah, I heard what kind of help it was," Emily added.
"From whom?" Bella challenged. Bella hated gossip. She was sick of being the object of gossip.
"Sam," Emily stated flatly, like that settled the matter.
"And just what did Sam say?" Bella asked matching Emily's tone.
"Well, um, that…" Emily looked a bit nervous and Bella followed her eyes. Sam was glaring at her.
"What? That I had a flat tire? And that Paul replaced it?" Bella provided. "Is that the kind of help you heard about?" Bella looked blankly at Emily while Oli and Ebony giggled.
"Umm, yeah." Emily was visibly uncomfortable and Bella caught Paul's grin out of the corner of her eye.
"So he could be here to see Oli," Ebony nodded. Oli giggled and looked pleased.
"So you won't mind if I hit that?" Oli asked, nodding to Paul. Bella swore she saw him roll his eyes.
"You can try," Bella said. "He's a bit of an asshole."
"Who cares?" Oli and Ebony said together. They giggled and whispered about the things they thought did matter, all of them being sexual.
"Where did you get your name?" Bella asked trying to change to subject.
"Who, me?" Oli asked, pointing at herself. Bella nodded.
"I'm named after my mother's favorite flower, the Oleander. She read some book right around the time I was born and she liked it." Oli looked happy someone had asked her. Bella didn't have the heart to tell her that it was a poisonous flower and the book was about a woman who killed men by distilling the poison from the flower.
"That's very interesting," Bella nodded and wishing she was back sitting next to Charlie and Billy.
"Bells, can we talk?" Jake had appeared almost out of nowhere.
"Oh, you're that Bella?" Ebony asked, disdain dripping from her voice.
"How many Bellas do you know?" Kim asked.
"None. And I don't think I want to know her." Her snotty expression told Bella that she was the object of gossip down here, too.
"You've never had better timing," Bella said, wiping the sand off her hands after she stood. "Lead the way." Bella followed Jake down the beach to their log which was masked in darkness to the human eyes and just out of earshot for the wolves who weren't paying attention.
Paul shook his head as his eyes followed them. He and Jake had yet to be phased at the same time, so Jake couldn't be positive what had happened the night before between Paul and Bella. And Paul knew Jake was anxious to find out. Paul also knew that Jake lacked the finesse to pull off what he wanted successfully. Paul chuckled.
"Paul." He was caught of guard and that rarely ever happened. He didn't like it.
"Chief Swan," Paul returned.
"I haven't seen you around for a couple of years," Charlie said, rubbing his hand along his chin.
"I hope you think that's a good thing," Paul replied.
"I do. I certainly do. And it appears I owe you some gratitude for helping Bella last night and this morning."
"Well," Paul looked in the direction Bella and Jake had walked. He could hear the rumblings of Jake's voice and smell the lavender of Bella's soap. "She was in quite a state last night. Pretty upset. Her flat tire about near sent her over the edge. I couldn't just leave her there in George's bar."
"George said as much," Charlie said, eyeing him.
"Figures. What else did he say?" Paul barked mirthlessly.
"Doesn't matter. I want to hear this from you. Did you try something on her?" Charlie's tone demanded Paul's eyes and Paul complied.
"Yes. But she flat out told me that she didn't need another man to fuck up her life."
"Those are Bella's words?" Charlie asked reproachfully.
"Honestly, yes. She was pretty fed up last night and needed to vent. I let her. I didn't do anything she didn't want." Paul watched as Charlie shook his head. "What?"
"Did you two rehearse that? She said those exact same words."
"Nope. No rehearsal. Just the truth." Paul held Charlie's gaze which showed absolutely nothing. Paul was impressed that Chief Swan was able to conceal all emotion. It also explained where Bella learned it.
"How much do I owe you for the tires? You replaced all four, not just the one."
"Howard gave me a deal. Don't worry about it," Paul answered.
"I have to give you somethin'," Charlie said.
"I noticed some rot on your front porch. I wouldn't mind a job. Can I fix it for you?"
"How is that paying you back?" Charlie asked.
"I need something to keep my mind occupied."
Charlie looked at him skeptically. "You blow through all that money already?"
"No. I don't need money. I need something to keep me occupied. Idle hands and all that bullshit."
"Is this an excuse to be around Bella?"
"I'm not gonna lie and say that I'm not interested in your daughter, sir. But it's not how you think. She's interesting to me. She both amuses me and doesn't put up with my shit."
"She said you're an asshole. Bella doesn't use those words," Charlie raised his eyebrow.
"I told her what I was like. She told me what she thought about that. But this isn't about that. You read me the riot act a few years ago. Helped me understand that the path I was headed down wasn't necessarily the best for me. You helped me see that and I owe you for that."
Charlie contemplated that. There was an earnestness in Paul's voice and Charlie wanted to believe him.
"She's so much better. In one night. How'd you do that? In one night?"
"I just listened. I gave her what she needed and didn't expect anything in return." Charlie's hand ran over his mustache and then rubbed over his chin as he contemplated Paul. This kid had had one shitty life. Maybe being around his house would do him some good. Charlie could keep an eye on him that way and Bella would get to see her new friend. Charlie had seen bad eggs in his life, but he never believed Paul was one of them. He was just acting out. Maybe Paul was telling the truth. And he had done Bella a big favor with those tires.
"Can you start Monday?" Charlie asked.
The Swans both had a way of surprising him. But then, Paul's attention was pulled towards where Bella was talking to Jake. Embry was approaching Jake angrily and Bella was sitting in the sand. Embry had been showing signs of phasing the past couple weeks but his paternity was still a mystery. Since phasing was genetic, no one knew if Embry would phase or not.
"I sure can," Paul replied. "I'll come make an assessment around seven and run to Port Angeles for supplies." Embry was pissed about something Jake had done to Bella and was defending her. Paul wanted to get over there.
"Save your receipts. I won't let you pay for supplies."
"Sure, sure," Paul replied, still distracted by the escalating argument going on in the shadows.
"Okay, then." Charlie cleared his throat. "I'll see you Monday morning." Paul just nodded and as soon as Charlie turned his back Paul headed into the darkness. He'd made it about ten feet when he heard the unmistakable sound of clothes shredding and the growl of a newly phased wolf.
So?