Chapter 7: Warming Up

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight

JPOV:

I keyed the ignition, and told Bella, "You want to know more about me, huh? Pay attention, now. Okay ... I'm six feet, five inches tall, and I weigh 230 pounds last time I looked. I love the color, chocolate brown. I'm a sound sleeper—I could probably sleep in the middle of a hurricane. My favorite movie is Dances with Wolves ... for obvious reasons. And song? Make You Feel My Love, for even more obvious reasons.

"Let's see—I'm up at the crack of dawn, so I can get stuff done early in the day ... I like to keep busy, especially tinkering with my car and motorcycle. After my tour, I'll go to college and earn a business degree so I can set up a school for would-be pilots. I value honesty, loyalty and courage. I hate gossip, and people that are phony. I'm a talker, but you already knew that. I'm pretty patient, and don't have much of a temper. Why get angry all the time? Life's too short. And—I don't ever leave my clothes lying around or my hair in the sink. The military taught me to be neat.

"I'm a one-woman guy as you probably can tell." I stopped for a second to take a breath, and then rambled on. "Right now my top priorities are: getting through the next six months, and marrying the beautiful brunette that's sitting next to me."

I turned my head and winked at Bella. She was covered in a splotch of red. "Damn, girl, you are so cute when you blush like that."

She squeezed her eyes shut and mumbled, "Jacob, please ..."

Jacob—why did she always have to use my name so formally? "Hey, Bells, can you do me a favor?"

Her eyes opened. "Sure, what's that?"

"Can you call me, Jake? No one calls me Jacob except for my dad."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, just call me Jake from now on, okay?

"Now where was I? Oh, right—hobbies ... hobbies ... I do some wood carving and I paint a little."

She actually looked impressed.

"Really!" she intoned.

"Yeah, really.

"Is there anything else you'd like to know, besides the fact that I'm crazy about you?"

My favorite chocolate circles did a somersault in their sockets, as she muttered, "Really ..."

"Yeah, really."

We pulled into the parking lot. "Sh**, I'd be sharing my sweetheart again. The maiden voyage of our love boat ended much too quickly.

One arm snaked around her waist as I helped her out of the car. I could hear Michel crying on reaching the door. He must've just woken up.

I followed Bella into the room, and Michel jumped into her arms. He sniffled a few times, and buried his head into her shoulder. I knew how he felt; I'd be feeling the same way when I have to leave my girl behind in another week and a half ...

BPOV:

I realize that I said I didn't really know him that well, but ... Oh. My. Gosh! My newfound love spouted a veritable encyclopedia of everything you wanted to know about Jacob Black but were afraid to ask. His likes, his dislikes, his hobbies, his hopes, and dreams—which included me—were all laid bare before my eyes.

My face was a red mask as he admitted, "Right now my top priorities are: getting through the next six months, and marrying the beautiful brunette that's sitting beside me."

He certainly didn't hold back, but I felt that things were rapidly spinning out of control, and he had his hand on the switch that controlled it. I was in love with him, that much was true. But I had fallen in love with the boy of two years ago. Was that same boy still inside of him? I needed to discover that for myself, and time was running out.

Jacob thought he had eleven more days to weave his magic on me. I didn't correct him, but I actually had to head back to Tempe in only seven days. I came by land, not air, and the semester at ASU would be starting the day after I arrived home. My time with him would be precious.

One of the things I was beginning to like about Jacob was his great manners—and his respect for women in general. What a gentleman he was. He would consistently open doors for me, pull out a chair from the table, and help me in and out of the car. James would beep the horn at the curb, and yell at me to get my butt in gear, or he'd leave without me. Jacob was definitely racking up points in my book.

I knew our little trip couldn't last forever, but we seemed to arrive at Maria's faster than I expected. I heard Michel crying as soon as Jacob opened the car door for me. He escorted me to the apartment, and my son leaped at me the minute I showed my face. I felt awful about leaving him in these strange surroundings but at the same time, Jacob and I needed to be alone for awhile. Poor Maria, I hoped she didn't have to hear him wailing for too long.

Wincing in embarrassment, I looked at Maria, while I gently patted Michel's back. "I didn't think he'd wake up so soon. Has he been crying all this time?"

"He just woke up a few minutes ago. No harm done. Did you two get to talk?"

"Well, Jacob ..." I'd forgotten already, and looked to Jacob in apology. "... sorry, I mean, Jake did most of the talking."

"That's not surprising. Where'd he take you?"

I sat down, still holding Michel, and Jacob followed. "We went to the beach, but it was so cold, we had to cut it short and get back in the car to get warmed up."

Maria smiled, knowingly, and took a seat across from us. "I'll bet you did." Then winking at Jacob, she remarked, "So ... Jake you did your best to keep her warm, huh?"

Jacob shrugged, innocently. "Hey, she was shivering. I felt it my duty to keep her from freezing to death. Did a damn fine job too."

I had to cover my mouth to stifle a giggle.

Jacob continued talking our ears off. When he wasn't busy amusing us women in the room, he was entertaining Michel, giving him horsie rides on his back, or chasing him around the room.

Maria ordered us a pizza, and for the first time in ages, I laughed as we sat at the table eating, and listening to Jacob's funny anecdotes.

"When am I ever going to meet those two hell raisers?"

"They'll be home same time as me. I'll have to keep an eye on Quil tho'. He's a sly one around the ladies. I don't want him trying to charm you into his arms."

"You should talk," I fired back.

"Yeah, but he charms all the girls, whereas I only want my charms to work on one particular girl."

Afterwards, Jacob helped me get Michel bathed and ready for bed. He konked out quickly and the rest of us turned out the lights, and watched a movie.

At nine o'clock, Maria said, "Well, kiddies, I have to go to work tomorrow, so keep it down, huh ..."

My soldier took that as his opportunity to squeeze me tighter to his side. We were snuggled together so comfortably, that I fell asleep with my head on his shoulder. When I woke up, I was surprised to find myself stretched out on the futon, with the covers pulled up, and Jacob lying beside me. My arm was resting at his neck and my cheek nestled against his chest. I guess he didn't want to leave last night. And like it or not, at least subconsciously, it looked like I was glad he stayed too. But in my wakened condition, I was mortified.

JPOV:

I kept the party goin' by my non-stop stories, mostly about my best buds, Embry and Quil, as we were growing up. Maria had a few to add in too; unfortunately a lot of them included me. It was good to see Bella laugh for a change, and if I could, I would see to it that she'd have a ton of smiles and laughs from now on.

Michel was warming up to me. I gave him rides on my back, played hide and seek, and made towers out of blocks just so he could mow them down. Bath time came around, so I carried him to the tub while Bella got out his clean clothes. The little bugger giggled while he splashed me with water, but I got even. I held his head still while Bella shampooed and rinsed his hair. Man, it was like wrestling an alligator—with curly hair, and big brown eyes.

After his bath, he sat between Bella and me, and suddenly got drowsy, tipping sideways onto my lap. I let him sleep for a few minutes, then Bella carted him over to his blankets.

Maria put on a movie and turned off the lights. I couldn't tell you what was playing; I was too busy sliding up Bella's arm with my hand, or twining a tendril of her mahogany waves around my finger. Maria finally called it a night, and I immediately yanked Bella closer to me. She sighed, dropping her head to my shoulder. I don't think either of us meant to, but we fell asleep.

I heard Michel shifting in his makeshift bed, and I woke up. My head had lolled back against the futon; Bella was sleeping on my shoulder. Leaning back slightly, I let my arm lower her slowly to the cushion. I walked to the other side of the futon and let the back down to make the surface wider. The bedding was on the ottoman beside it, so I grabbed a pillow and gently placed it under her head. The blankets, I lay on top of her. She looked so sweet in the glow from the lighted hallway. It was hard to resist the urge to crush her to me, but I was a good boy. Well, maybe not that good, 'cuz, I couldn't bear to leave her—not tonight. I had just found her again. So, I put another pillow beside her head and slipped under the covers.

She let out a moan and turned toward me, nuzzling her cheek along my chest. I lifted my head, and kissed her hair, then lying down on the pillow once more, closed my eyes and drifted off.

The next morning, I felt something soft and fuzzy brush against me, then another warm something tapping me on the arm. Turning toward whatever it was, I warily opened one eye, and looked straight into the wide brown orbs of a cute little toddler. I smiled and said, "Hi, Mikie."

He climbed over top of me, landing on his mother's hip. Bella was disoriented. She tipped her head up and gasped, pulling away from my chest.

Uh-oh, she was awake. Supporting myself on my elbows, I peered down at her, and sheepishly commented, "Uh ... you're not mad at me, are you?"

She stiffened and pulled the covers up more firmly even tho' she was fully dressed. "What are you doing in this bed?"

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't leave. You looked so cute, all cuddled up on your pillow. My heart couldn't take it. So I had to stay."

Her face was chalk-white, and she looked appalled. I guess she really was upset. Real smooth, Jake. I guess this was not a smart move on my part. I should have gone home.

"Did anything happen last night?"

"Not that I know of."

Sighing, she remarked. I told you I'm in love with you, Jake, but I'm a little gun shy yet. I need some time."

Damn, time was something I didn't really have enough of.

Maria came out of the bedroom, dressed and ready for work. Her eyes narrowed as she exclaimed, "Are you still here?"

"Hey ... It's not what it looks like."

"So you're not in bed with Bella."

"Well, yeah, but ...

"I mean—no, nothing happened. Scout's honor."

"You never were a boy scout, Jake. You better go if you know what's good for you."

I sprang up, put on my shoes, and reached for my coat. Then I hunkered down beside the futon, and took Bella's hand. "Please don't be mad at me. I'm really sorry. I would never had done it if I thought it was going to upset you like this. I only wanted to be with you."

She nodded, and pressed Michel to her chest. Maria grabbed my arm and dragged me outside, on the way to her car. "Are you nuts? You're putting the moves on her too fast. Just because she had a baby, doesn't mean she's an easy target. I hope you didn't mess this up. How can you be so stupid?"

I looked down at my feet, and kicked at some loose gravel scattered on the sidewalk. "Seemed like a good idea at the time. I guess I really screwed up, huh?"

"Ya think? You've got eyes. Didn't you see that look on her face? Well, get on your bike, and go home. Take a shower, and this time shave, for god's sake. Have some breakfast and then call her. I'll do the same and try to get her to understand your feelings.

"Look ... I know you're crazy about her, and want to rush into this relationship, but you need to take it slower. You're lonely, I get that. And Iraq wasn't paradise, but Bella's life hasn't exactly been a bed of roses either. She's just getting to know you again. You've been given another chance at love—so don't ruin it."

Maria got in her car, and I hopped on my bike. Jeez, I hope I didn't blow this!