A/N: Sorry for the long absence. Being preggo is no joke. Everything makes me sick, I forget almost everything, and I feel like I haven't slept in three weeks when in reality that's all I've been doing. I'm just starting to get use to all these crazy symptoms and I feel horrible because for just a second I let this story exit my mind.
But I got a few more reviews today and I felt warm at how much you guys LOVE this story. So here I am. I'm pretty sure this story has developed as much as it could and I only think there will be an epilogue left.
However I think there is just one more ending I'm sure you all want to see. Enjoy.
*Paul's POV*
Whatever I was expecting Black to say, it definitely wasn't the fact that he wasn't or hadn't slept with her. I figured since he imprinted, that shit pretty much came with it. But I guess them old son of a bitches really got it wrong this time. No matter how badly they fucked us over with this wolf shit, they couldn't stop who we loved, who our hearts choose for us and not some mystical bullshit.
We dealt with enough weird stuff on a regular. We really didn't need that shit spilling over into our personal lives.
I knew exactly how I was going to approach this whole situation. Fuck talking, I was going to punch Black right in his goddamn face and whatever happened after that just happened. I wasn't really the talking type and he damn sure didn't feel the need to talk things through when he nearly took a chunk out of my side.
But I was ordered, fucking forced, by Sam to talk things out like a normal human being. The whole time I felt the wolf clawing his way to the surface, only to be stopped right when he reached the top. I thought I was going to go crazy with all the shaking I was doing.
And then Black told me he never slept with Naomi and just like that, my wolf calmed down.
I honestly never really believed that the little shit really loved Swan as much as he said he did. I just thought he was addicted to the sex, which I have to say myself was pretty fucking good. But the little ass wipe really did love her, so much so that it was strong enough to deter the powerful pull of an unbreakable imprint.
It had me thinking. Could someone like me actually be loved, truly, deeply, unconditionally by someone else? Could the asshole, the dick, the piece of shit have a chance to be happy?
After my talk with shit head, I kind of stayed to myself. I kept my eyes on Naomi but every time she looked my way, I avoided eye contact. I didn't know what to say to her just yet and I didn't want to fuck up and say something that I would end up regretting.
My brothers started a game of football on the beach and I joined in for a bit but I wasn't really into it and after a minute I broke off away from the crowd and settled myself into a beach chair that was a little way down the beach. I just sat there and sipped my beer, lost in my thoughts. You would have thought after my wonderful girl talk, all this shit should have come easy.
But the fact was, I had no idea what to say to her.
"Am I allowed to come and sit by you or is this some special kind of Paul moment that the world is not entitled too".
I laughed, knowing who it was without even turning around. I did anyway though. Bella looked pretty in her long pink dress and small jean jacket. Her hair was resting over her shoulder in a braid, some hair falling in her face. I glanced down and noticed her feet was bare, her toes painted pink. I could see why Black had falling for her. She was beautiful, even I could see that.
Bella smirked at me, her eyes shining playfully. "Well"? She prompted.
I smiled back but mentioned silently at the spot next to me with me beer. She stood still for a moment biting her lip before she walked right over and sat in my lap.
I was shocked still before I recovered quickly and took a what I hoped looked like a calm sip of my beer.
"You better watch yourself sweetheart, wouldn't want Jakey boy getting jealous" I said, leaning back in the chair. "If you haven't heard, he's doesn't do jealousy all too well".
Bella shook her head at me and smacked me across my chest. "Last I heard you didn't do jealousy to well either Lahote".
I gave her another smile and took another sip of beer, before it was snatched right out my hand by the brunette sitting in my lap. I growled at her but all she did was raise an eyebrow and take a sip of her own.
"Why are sitting here and not over there with Naomi"? Bella asked, looking at me expectantly.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Yeah? And why aren't you and Jakey boy somewhere wrapped around each other"?
Bella giggled but waved me off. "I can't find him right this minute but this isn't about me, this is about you" She paused for a second, gently running a finger down my face. "What are you waiting for Paul"? She asked me quietly.
I sighed and took her hand in mine, noticing that her fingernails were also painted pink.
"I don't know". I answered honestly. "I know who I am, what I am. I know how much of a dick I can be. How can someone like her love an asshole like me"?
Bella shook her head fervently at me, taking my face between both her hands.
"Paul you are a wonderful person with a huge heart, If anyone deserves to be happy it's you". She spoke quietly but her words were forceful.
"You've become one of my best friends Paul and I don't know what I would do without you".
I laughed and grabbed Bella around the shoulders, bringing her against me and placing a kiss to her hairline
"I don't know what I would do without you either Swan". I said and I heard her laugh. "Who would have thought".
Bella continued to laugh and glanced up at me. "Yeah who would have thought, we couldn't just stop at sleeping together we had to go ahead and be friends too".
I choked on the beer I had started drinking, causing a very loud laugh to erupt from the brunette sitting on me. I tickled her a bit before bringing her close again.
"That's supposed to be our little secret remember"? I whispered quietly. Bella gave me a cute little shy smile.
"Don't worry; our secret is safe with me".
We were quiet for a moment, my arms wrapped loosely around her and her head resting on my shoulder.
"Is he here"? Bella asked me quietly. Didn't need to ask who she was referring too.
I looked around, my eyes focusing on a figure a good little distance down the beach.
"Yeah, he's down that way, by the water". I said gently. Bella sighed and pushed herself away from me.
She stared at me for a long moment before giving me a smile and leaning forward and quickly and softly placing her lips to mine. She was still smiling when she pulled away.
"Be happy". She whispered quietly before she got up and made her way down the beach.
I watched her go for a second before I turned and my eyes finally locked on the one person I had been dying to talk too since I got here.
Naomi was sitting by the bonfire. Emily was helping her get settled on some blankets and a few pillows. Once she was done, Emily stood straight and caught me staring. She gave me an encouraging smile and walked away, leaving Naomi sitting alone at the fire.
It was time I grew a pair of balls.
My hands in my pockets, I made my way towards her and without saying a word I took a seat in the sand next to her. Naomi stared at me but I couldn't meet her eye just yet, so I sat staring into the fire in front of us. I could still feel Naomi staring at me but then I heard her sigh heavily.
"Party is almost over and now you decide to come and say something to me? Guess you couldn't avoid me forever". She said calmly but when I finally dared a look at her, I saw that she was frowning.
I cleared my throat.
"Is that what you think I've been doing? Avoiding you"? I asked.
She shrugged her delicate shoulders, her eyes still focused on the fire.
"You've spoken to everyone else but me Paul, what else am I suppose to think"?
I sighed. Stop being a pussy Lahote and just tell her!
"Would you believe me if I said that I didn't know what to say to you? That I was afraid I would no longer be what you wanted, that I wouldn't be good enough for you"?
Naomi turned her head to look at me sharply and my eyes finally met her own. I missed looking in them. I missed her.
I laughed a little. "Truth is, I'm not the most sensitive person in the world, I tend to speak first without thinking, I can be a fucking jerk and dick all in the same day and I have a temper that could rival the Incredible Hulk's".
Naomi started to interrupt but I silenced her. I needed to get this out.
"I don't come from a very good family and I have almost no real money saved to my name. I'm stuck to this reservation and I protect it by turning into a big, oversized dog. Point is honey, I'm not many people's first choice but you were mine and if you give me even a fraction of a chance I promise you right here right now, that I will do everything in my power to make you happy".
I paused, trying to push back the million and one emotions I was feeling. I looked at the woman I loved and hoped she could see how very serious I was. I took both her hands in mine and kissed them, feeling my eyes start to fill with tears.
"I'm not a perfect person". I said quietly. "But for you I would try to be".
Naomi had tears falling down her brown cheeks and I cleared my throat heavily to put a pause on my own. I reached up and wiped hers away. Before I had a chance to pull back though, Naomi lunged forward and threw herself at me, the momentum causing us to fall over in the sand. Her lips were on mine before I could even think and without hesitation, my arms came to wrap around her.
When we finally broke apart, she peppered my face with tiny kisses. She stopped and pulled back a little to look at me.
"You were wrong about one thing though"? She said gently and I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah? And what's that"?
She gave me a smile, her eyes gazing into mine.
"You were always my first choice".
I smiled and kissed the woman I loved with everything that I had. Maybe somewhere in this crazy, fucked up world, I was supposed to have a happy ending just like everyone else.
A/N: Just thought you all would enjoy getting to see someone else get what they always deserved. Only the epilogue left guys and then that will be it! Hopefully I can get that up before I get too freaking tired again. As always please review to let me know what you're thinking. Until next time….MN