Chapter 7: Give a Little Listen

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight


"Sit down; you're making me nervous."

With irritation in his voice, he spurted, "Too bad. Just spit it out already, then leave."

I trained my eyes on the corner of the towel that was slowly coming undone, and reached for it, to tuck it back in. Jacob instantly caught my hand. "What the hell? Is that all I am to you—a friend with benefits? Is this just another booty call?"

"And what if it is?"

"Then my answer is a big fat no. I'm not some boy toy, lying around here to satisfy your notorious libido, just so you can trot off back to your precious leech."

"For your information, I was trying to save you the embarrassment of having your towel hanging around your ankles."

"Pfft …You wish …"

"Yeah, I wish you'd stop talking and listen for a change."

I watched amused when the towel, as predicted, began to slide down his waist. He quickly fixed it, and re-crossed his arms.

"You know, for a wolf, you're not very perceptive." I held up my hand so he'd notice the missing ring.

"Big deal. I saw that come off once before; then watched it go right back on again.

"Now tell me what you came to say, so I can get you out of my hair."

I tilted my head up, and staring at him defiantly, said, "There's not going to be a wedding, stupid. I'm in love with you."

His face suddenly blanched, and he sat down beside me with a plop. "Oh."


Jeez, I thought maybe she was just here to apologize, or get me to jump back into the friendship box—a box I no longer fit nor felt comfortable in. I was not expecting this revelation, and I was struck dumb. The tension in my body vanished, and the pain in my heart subsided. My muscles were so relaxed, that I practically fell onto my bed.

My tongue unknotted after a few minutes of silence, and I sheepishly said, "So you're not marrying Cullen?"

"No, that's what I just told you. They've all moved away, every last one of them. Haven't you heard? I would've thought your pack mates would give you the news."

"I haven't been on patrol lately. Sam suspended me 'cuz I couldn't keep my mind on the job."

I reached for his hand, but he pulled away before I could grasp it. Placing my hands back in my lap, I nodded, saying, "Because of me … I'm sorry, Jacob. I'm sorry for not seeing what was in front of my nose all this time. Can you forgive me?"

"After this discussion? How can I say no?"


Okay, so she was forgiven, but I still kept seeing that vision in my head—Bella on her knees wailing for that miserable vamp. Would I ever be able to forget it and move our relationship forward? That was the million dollar question.

We sat side by side in uncomfortable silence, our easy banter no longer easy. It was gonna take a while for us to get back in the groove. How long, I had no idea.

Bella dropped the blanket from around her shoulders, and stood. "Well, I guess I better go. You look like you were about to get in bed."

"Yeah." I leaned down and picked up my discarded sweatshirt from the mattress, offering it to her once again. "Here, you'll need this."

She slipped it on, rolled the sleeves up, and walked toward me with her arms out, probably wanting a hug. I just couldn't let her near me, and took a few steps backward. Her face fell and her lips started to quiver, but she held it together.

I could hear her heart hammering away as she crawled across the bed and lowered herself down to the yard from my window. As she turned to wave, I pulled off the towel, and blatantly stood still as a statue so she could get a full view. I heard her take in a sharp gulp of air. Her mouth dropped open, and after a few dumb-struck moments, she stammered out, "See you, Jake."

No doubt about it … she did. I walked to my dresser, giving Bella a different angle for her viewing pleasure, and taking out a tee, yanked it down over my head, then grabbed some briefs and a pair of sweats. "See you."

Maybe that was mean-spirited, but it was worth it just to see that look on her face.


My gosh, that trick with the towel was totally unfair. How would I be able to sleep tonight? Ugh!

I ambled to my truck, that gorgeous sight playing over and over in my head. The engine was just beginning to roar to life when Leah came running out her front door. Jacob was right, she was fast! The next thing I knew, she was in the front seat, glaring at me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Home."

"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened. Wait … isn't that Jake's sweatshirt you have on?"

I let go of the steering wheel and slumped back into the seat cushion. "Yes, but—"

"Did you put it on yourself, or did he?"

"I did. He wouldn't touch me, or let me touch him."

"That's understandable. You know it's gonna take time. You kicked him in the cajones, Tink. That's really hard for a guy to swallow. That pain can't be washed away with a few choice words. He'll come around though, I guarantee you. It's not like Sam and me. I still feel a twinge every time I see him with Emily. I realize I can't ever have him back, and it hurts to this day."

The haunted look in her eyes suddenly vanished. "Hey, by the way, I was over at Paul's place last week, helping his mom sew some kitchen curtains. Jake came by with some kind of fudge. He called it penuche. Do you think you could make some more? My taste buds haven't been the same since."

"I'll make a double batch. One for you, one for Jake."

Leah smiled. "This counseling business certainly has its perks."

I frowned, thinking about Jacob ripping off his towel—on purpose. If he wanted to get to me, he certainly knew how. Geesh!

Placing her hand on my arm, Leah asked, "What's the matter, Tink? Somethin' you're not tellin' me? Hey, you know you don't actually have to cook for me, unless you want to."

"No, that's not it." I exhaled for her benefit. "The thing is, Jacob was really playing dirty tonight. When I got there, he was dressed in a towel—nothing else, only a towel, Leah! Before I left, he let it drop. This Greek god was standing there in the altogether. And he knew exactly what effect it would have on me.

"See what you're missing, girl? I can just hear him saying it out loud. The rat!"

"You poor thing. Was your tongue hangin' out? You know, I've seen him in his birthday suit on numerous occasions. The boy is built all right—a sight to behold. Makes you want to fall on your knees in worship.

"So what did you do, besides pull your tongue back inside your mouth?"

"I came straight here, what else?"

Leah laughed at my unfunny predicament. "Gawd, Tink, I would've turned the tables on him, climbed back into his room, and called his bluff."


For the first time in two and a half weeks, I got a good night's sleep. How did my dad get so smart? He told me I'd feel better if I discussed the problem with Bella, and even though there wasn't that much said, I did feel better. I even felt like I could rejoin the pack, if they'd let me.

I called Sam, and he arranged a pack meeting for that afternoon.

"You gotta be kiddin' me," Paul snorted. "And you believed her? What a sap! She's a leech lover, Jake. She's gonna crush you like a grape for the umpteenth time, and go traipsing back to her bloodsucking boyfriend."

"Not this time. They're gone. Problem solved."

Paul jumped up from his chair. "Oh yeah? What's to prevent them from coming back? If memory serves me right, he came back once before didn't he?"

"I beg to differ. Bella flew to Italy and brought him back."

"And what's that tell ya?"

"Leah spoke up. "Cullen can't return to Forks. It's a matter of saving face. He lost his bride to a pack member. He's humiliated."

"Pfft—serves him right. I never could stand that self-righteous prick."

Seth looked like someone had smacked him in the mouth. "Don't say that. I liked the Cullens."

"You would, ya little wart."

"Watch it, jerk! That's my brother you're yelling at."

Sam's eyes flashed. "Okay, Paul, that's enough. Now sit down. Everybody settle down. We're getting off the subject here.

"By raise of the right hand, who wants to reinstate Jacob as a pack member?"

Everyone except Paul raised their hands. Leaning forward in his seat, he looked around, and reluctantly shot his hand up at last. "You're all pathetic, you know that?"

Embry quipped, "Yeah, yeah, we're all pathetic. So what?"

Paul's head jerked up. "You wanna take this outside, Call?"

Sam put a hand up in warning. "This meeting is over. You're all dismissed. Jacob … welcome back. And, Paul, I'm ordering you to stand down. There's to be no fighting among us, you hear?"

"Yeah, I've got ears," he grumbled.

"Damn," Quil groused, as he stood to leave. "I coulda made me some money, betting on Embry."

"No way," Jared taunted, joining him. "He would've never even laid a paw on Lahote."

"Yeah, but Paul gets so mad, he can't see straight. Em's more methodical … level headed. There's more to fighting than rage and brute strength."

My two brothers ignored me as they sauntered out the door comparing each opponent's virtues. Embry clapped me on the shoulder. "Glad to see you made it back, Jake. We were all worried about you."


Bella called at eight. "Hi, Jake. You all right?'

"Yeah. I'm in good standing with the pack again."

"That's great."

There was a long stretch of uncomfortable silence. Words seemed to escape us.

Then I heard, "So, I just thought I'd call and say goodnight."

"Goodnight, Bella."

"Goodnight, Jake."

Jeez, that was a lousy conversation. I couldn't think of a thing to say. It was like I was brain dead or something. I hope all this distance between us goes away soon, but I can't seem to really trust her yet. What if what Paul's said comes true? What if the leech has a change of heart and moves back here. I'd die, that's what …


The phone rang the next afternoon; Bella checking in again. "Can I come over to see you?"

At one time, she would come unannounced, and I'd rush out the door, all excited, and hug her so tight she couldn't breathe. Now everything had changed. Bella was being cautious, asking permission to set foot in my house. It was a situation I hated, but nonetheless, the tension in the air remained.

I answered my usual, "Sure, sure."

"Just so you know, I'm bringing some penuche with me."

"You didn't need to do that, you know."

"Yes I did. Leah begged for it."

Leah? How the hell did she know about it?

More silence …

"Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes. See you then."

She showed up at my door with a plate full of the tan squares of fudge. Not wanting to appear too eager, I placed it on the table first. Ugh—what torture.

"Aren't you going to take a piece?"

"Not now, maybe later." I wasn't gonna give her the satisfaction, even though the drool was threatening to pour outta my mouth.

She sighed, her hands at her sides, looking around nervously. "What do you want to do today?"

I shrugged.

"Can I help you with your homework?"

"Don't have any."

"Me neither." She smiled weakly. Jeez, it was a pretty sad attempt.

"You want to go talk in your room?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Did she think I had amnesia? I remembered what happened the night we landed in bed all too well.

"How about the garage?"

"Sure, sure, I've got some carvings I'm working on."


I sat on a stool with my back to her, busy sculpting a seagull. Bella was quiet for a while, but I could tell this was not what she had in mind when she came over here. I could hear her heart thumping around in her chest anxiously.

She finally got up off her designated seat—the old orange crate, and walked up beside me. I flinched as her hand touched my shoulder. She let out a gasp and raced outta the Taj.

My wolf hearing picked up the sound of her crying as she sat in her truck, and my heart softened a bit. Putting down the half finished seagull, I followed after her, and jerked open the door to the Chevy.

I motioned to her. "C'mon outta there, Bells. I can't stand all this weirdness any more. Let's go in the house."


I nearly lost it when he drew away from me. It was a role reversal. Is that how he felt all those times I put out my own no trespassing sign? It hurt. I told myself this was a temporary setback that couldn't last much longer. I wasn't going to cry over it, but my tear ducts got a signal from deep inside of me. I couldn't see to start the stupid engine, and while I sat there blubbering like an idiot, the door opened, and Jacob was telling me to come inside the house. I climbed down from the cab, walking behind him, and entered his little red home.