Chapter 4 - Paul Comes Over

The ride home was silent between Brady and Antonia. At least for a few miles. Brady glanced at his sister sideways, she was chewing on her bottom lip and staring out the side window, she was definitely in deep thought, "So…Are you hungry or anything?" Toni giggled as her tore her eyes from the roadside and turned her attention to her brother, "You're a bottomless pit Brady." Brady patted his stomach, "I'm a growing boy, and I need my nutrition."

Antonia laughed harder, "No you're a garbage disposal and you'll eat anything if it's placed in front of you." Brady couldn't argue with his sister on that one. He watched as Antonia leaned her and laid her head on his arm and sighed, "I'm really starting to like it here B…What'ca think about it?" Brady chuckled, "It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that big bastard who just couldn't keep his eyes or hands off you for the last two hours by any chance would it?" Antonia shot up into a sitting position as she shoved Brady's shoulder, "Brady please, don't be mean. He's a very nice guy. Whether he stays nice after I tell him my little secret is a whole different ball game."

Brady grumbled, "Yea and then I'll have to beat his ass." Toni giggled, "I think the chances of that happening B are slim to none." Brady quirked an eyebrow, "You don't think he's going to be an ass about it?" Toni shook her head as she smirked, "No I don't think you can beat his ass." Brady grumbled some more as he pulled into the driveway of the house, Toni laughed some more as they got out and walked inside.

Naturally Brady headed to the kitchen, "It is definitely time for a sandwich…A BIG ONE." Antonia laughed as she went in the basement to the laundry room and started some dark clothes. Then went to the recreational room which was a separate room in the basement, it was well insulated and had heat going to it. It was basically a mini theater their dad had set up; it had a long L shaped couch that was over stuffed and insanely comfortable. Then there was a 55 inch TV mounted on the wall. Antonia plopped down into the couch as she turned the TV on, re-runs of Golden Girls was playing softly but she wasn't really paying attention to it. She could only think of one thing. And he wasn't so much a thing as a living, breathing person.

Paul.

She felt her knees go weak like jell-o as she sank deeper into the couch. It was only 7; she normally didn't even go to bed until mid-night or so. She didn't feel tired at all. Dad wasn't getting off work until 3 AM. Brady usually passed out at 10 or 11 on the weekends, unless he was hanging with his new friend from school Collin. School nights he was dead asleep by 9.

Antonia was brought out of her thoughts when her cell started vibrating against her leg, she pulled it out of the front pocket of her jeans where Paul had placed it back after showing her she already had his number. She smiled softly when she noticed the outside display read, 'Paul'. She flipped the phone open, "Hi Paul." Paul chuckled on the other end, "Hi Toni. What are you doing right now?" Toni looked around, "Sitting in the rec room. Golden Girls is keeping my occupied."

"Hmm sounds like you're having too much fun over there." Antonia scoffed, "Not really. It's kind of…Well it's kind of boring. B is stuffing his face like always and dad is working until 3 AM. The life of a deputy is never ending." Paul listened to her talk. She had the voice of an angel, "You said you wanted to explain something to me." Toni chewed her bottom lip a little more, "That's not really something I want to talk to you about over the phone. It's more of a face to face conversation."

Paul's eyes perked up, "I could always come over and keep you company and well protected from the undesirables that happen to pass through La Push." Toni giggled, "Why yes of course you could. Of course I wasn't aware that La Push was heavily populated with undesirables." Paul chuckled, "Practically taking over the reservation." Toni couldn't help giggling at his overdramatic antics. Toni told him her address and they hung up but not before he promised he'd be there in ten minutes.

As promised ten minutes later, Paul knocked on the door. Toni tightened her bandana that covered her hair as she had all her hair pulled over her shoulder as she pulled the front door open. Paul stood there in his black cut off shorts and a white t-shirt. He smiled softly as soon as their eyes locked onto each other again. Toni smiled, "That was fast." Paul pointed a thumb over his shoulder at an older looking blue dodge Ram sitting on the street in front of the house, "Yea, it's looks beat the hell up, but once Jake and I gave it a tune up, it pretty much hauls ass now."

Antonia stepped aside as Paul walked in, "Oh. So not only do you make beautiful furniture but you can fix cars too?" Paul nodded, "I have a couple of different talents." Of course the first thing she thought was, 'I bet that's not all.'

Notice it's the first thing she thought not the first thing she said.

Toni smiled, "Must be nice. I'm stuck with nothing in the talent department." Paul leaned over and brushed his lips across her cheek and chuckled when she blushed a nice crimson color. She covered her cheeks with her hands trying to hide her embarrassment. Paul chuckled harder as he grabbed both of her hands and pulled them down away from her cheeks, "Don't hide. I like it when you blush. It just makes you more beautiful."

Toni loved the warm his hands brought to her, "So we can go down to the rec room, there's more privacy down there." Paul nodded as he walked behind her, watching her hips sway. Once they got in the rec room they both sat on the couch. Paul looked over at Toni and he noticed she looked nervous as hell. He reached over and took her hand, "Whatever it is…You can tell me." Toni spared a look at him, "I don't even know you Paul and I trust you…You're a complete stranger and I shouldn't let you in the house or near me, but everything inside of me is tell me to trust you."

Paul took her hand and placed it in the middle of his chest, "I swear to you Antonia, I could never hurt you. I promise whatever you tell me, will not make me feel any differently about you."

Antonia frowned, "I hope it won't."