Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns Twilight. I do not. I do however, own my gang.

Flying solo folks.

Chapter 36

After a night of fitful sleep, Bella threw off her covers and dragged her weary body out of bed. Less than fours hours of rest had turned her into a pregnant zombie. Joints stiff and back aching, she shuffled toward her bedroom window and peered out with bleary eyes. With the sun still in hiding, darkness shrouded the backyard, concealing the damage from the party. She grimaced, imagining Ryan's impending meltdown. Once he assessed the full extent of the lawn damage, he was likely to throw himself on a funeral pyre like a hysterical widow. Stifling a yawn she went to her closet, peeled off her pajamas and shimmied into her bikini. Sleep would've been pointless this close to sunrise, so she decided to head out for her morning swim. She shrugged into her cotton bathrobe before leaving the room.

The house was deathly silent as she padded down the hall. Sadness panged in her chest, her footsteps faltering as she passed the door that stood between her and her best friends. Not long ago she'd sneak inside without knocking, hoping like hell no one was naked and crawl into their bed. But now she wouldn't be welcomed, so she continued on her way.

She crested the stairwell and heard sounds of life coming from the kitchen. Cautious hand grasping the railing, she hastened her descent, hoping to catch Liz in the act of nighttime foraging. After everything they'd survived together, Bella was determined to solve their issues. The thought of Liz and Ryan leaving stirred her anxiety. If they sat down and talked like rational adults, they'd resolve things. However, she had no idea what she'd say if Liz made her choose again. She rounded the corner and her shoulders slumped.

Instead of Liz, she happened upon Trent standing before the cappuccino maker.

"Oh, it's you," Bella said, unable to hide her disappointment.

Trent quirked an eyebrow. "What's with the warm welcome?"

"Sorry." Bella sighed, clutching her belly as she hauled herself onto the stool. She wince at the dull throb in her right hip. The sooner she had her morning swim the better.

"Brew you a cup?"

"Thanks." She observed Trent's quick movements as he moved around her kitchen with ease and familiarity. He wore slacks and a gray wife-beater that drew attention to his elaborate tattoo sleeves.

Before long the comforting scent of roasted beans wafted through the kitchen. In less than three minutes Trent set a porcelain cup in front of her. Heat and steam fanned her face as she brought the cup to her mouth and took a tentative sip. She closed her eyes briefly, savoring the sweet, creamy taste on her tongue. God, how she needed this. That first sip of coffee was often the best part of her day, but contentment faded when Liz intruded on her thoughts.

Mug in hand, Trent claimed the stool beside her and scrutinized her face with sharp blue eyes. "You look awful."

"You're a real panty dropper," she muttered, acutely aware of the shadows beneath her eyes. Another time she would've found Trent's blunt, shoot-from-the-hip frankness refreshing, but she'd had far too little sleep.

The corner of his mouth curved in a smile. "Sorry. I meant why the long face? You okay?"

"About as well as I can be." She returned her cup to its saucer. "Have you heard from Angela?"

"Not since I moved out." Trent topped off his coffee with a dollop of whipped cream, and she had a sudden craving for chocolate cappuccino pudding. "I'm not worried though. She probably spent the night at Quil's."

After his confrontation with Quil, Trent thought it best if he moved out of the apartment he and Angela shared. Since Bella's previous offer of her spare bedroom still stood, he accepted.

"Yesterday was my fault." He shoved a hand through sandy blond strands. "I should have known she wasn't over me."

"You can't blame yourself."

"I moved out here, thinking she'd moved on with Quil. I hope I haven't fucked up our friendship because I can't imagine my life without her." Trent's gaze shifted to the steam rising from his mug. "She's my best friend."

"Obviously the wedding stirred up old feelings for Angela but she understands you. Once the awkwardness fades you two will be back to normal." Bella settled a hand on his inked bicep, remembering the night she stumbled upon Trent's secret.

The gang had been vacationing in Florida on spring break without Zach, who chose to spend his break shacked up in a motel with Leah. She and Liz had gone to Angela's apartment for a girl's night, while Phil took the guys to his favorite sports dive. Somewhere between venting about her pregnancy and Angela sharing her frustration over her lacking sex life, Liz suggested couples night at a restaurant. The entire evening Trent was charming and attentive to his date. He was the life of the party and Angela couldn't stop beaming with pride. Bella recalled her confusion about why he and Angela hadn't slept together yet. Especially when he was clearly nuts about her. It was strange. Was he religious? Impotent? She dismissed those baseless conjectures until Taylor excused himself from the table and she caught Trent checking him out. A flurry of emotions hit her all at once. Annoyance morphed into jealousy then quickly became confusion. Their eyes met and Trent turned white with fear. Then she understood. The love of Angela's life, the man she was dreaming about marriage and babies with, was gay. Telling Angela the truth resulted in Bella being tossed out of her apartment and several months of frosty silence.

"I'm sorry Quil lost his temper. Hope you weren't too shook up by that jerk." Bella's nostrils flared, recalling his caveman behavior. The next time she saw Quil, they would have words.

"Eh, he thought I was moving in on his girl. I get it. Angie deserves a guy who will fight for her." Trent shrugged. "Besides, he already apologized."

Bella regarded Trent in amazement. His zen personality sometimes reminded her of Taylor. "Wow… I mean, it nice you're so cool about it." Another person would've pressed charges.

"Can I ask you something?" Trent asked, interrupting her musings. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything you've done for me. The great job, giving me a place to crash until the apartment above the cafe is complete… Did you do all this because you feel guilty?"

"I hired you because you were a perfect fit for Bellee's. But I can't deny there's lingering guilt over the way things played out." She couldn't have known that telling Angela the truth would end in them having a screaming match and Trent downing a bottle of pills. "Angela deserved to hear the truth, but I'm sorry I didn't consider your side in the whole mess."

"Hey, that's not on you, Bella. No one made me swallow those pills." Trent clasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. Sadness shadowed his features. "I screwed everything up, trying to be something I'm not. My biggest regret is how much I hurt Angie."

Liz's hurt and betrayed face flashed in Bella's mind.

Trent regarded her. "Looks like you have something on your mind. What's going on?"

Bella set her cup on the saucer and confessed, "Liz and I fought yesterday and now she won't talk to me."

"I didn't think you and Liz even argue. You two are so close." Trent reached for a box of wholegrain crackers and shook it in silent offer. "What happened?"

"I kissed Jacob… or he kissed me. We kissed and Liz caught us." Bella claimed a cracker and nibbled on the salty square.

"Liz doesn't strike me as the type to flip out over one innocent little kiss."

"He had his hand on my ass. There was nothing innocent about it, believe me." Her face warmed still feeling the imprint of his strong grasp on her butt.

"Rounding second base, huh?" Trent's grin revealed a pair of dimples.

Liz refused to leave her room for the rest of the reception, and Ryan had nothing to offer apart from drunken ranting when they scraped him off the lawn.

"We fought and Liz gave me an ultimatum. Jacob or her."

Trent's amusement shifted to understanding. "You chose Jacob." She scrubbed a hand over her weary features and Trent said, "Ouch."

A scowl darkened her expression as her mind replayed the argument. Something inside her snapped when Liz demanded she send Jacob away. Nausea churned in her stomach at the mere thought of booting him from her life. Her feelings for him couldn't be so easily dismissed. She came to this realization, watching another woman flirt with Jacob. Never had she wanted to rip someone's hair out by the root so badly. Imprint or no, she didn't possess the will to turn from him now. She'd sooner carve out her own heart.

"It was probably the shock of seeing you kiss someone else," Trent reasoned. "Liz will come around once she decides she loves you more than she hates Jacob."

"She threatened to move out. I wish I had your optimism." She looked away, trying to conceal the tears glistening in her eyes. Their friendship survived illness and death. How could it end over a kiss? If Liz was serious about moving, then Ryan would follow her lead. Where Liz went, he followed. That's the way it's always been. "To Liz my moving on is a betrayal to Taylor's memory. I'll admit the guilt's messing with my head. Taylor hasn't been dead a year. People will think it's trashy." Liz's words had affected her more than she would admit.

"Okay, let's do an experiment." Trent angled his body toward hers, granting her his full attention. "In one word, describe what you felt while kissing Jacob."

Her response was immediate.

"Alive." It felt right, more right than anything else had in such a long time. "Ever since Taylor died, it's like I've been holding my breath. Then yesterday happened, and suddenly it was as if I could breathe again."

"Then you have your answer," Trent said. "If Jacob feels the same, everything else will fall into place."

"That's the problem. I'm not sure how he feels." Bella grabbed a cracker and broke it into little pieces.

"What don't I know?"

"Jacob and I have history. Some of it bad. So I get why Liz isn't being supportive." She popped a tiny square into her mouth and chewed. "When it began to look like we finally had a shot, I found out I was pregnant and Jacob backed off. Now I'm not sure where things stand with us." Was the imprint behind his sudden change of heart? Was it jealousy over Embry? He wasn't interested in being there for her baby before. Could she trust him not to walk away again? Hers wasn't the only heart at risk of being broken.

"I've seen the way that guy looks at you. There's this simmering intensity whenever you're in the same room together. Everyone can see you're nuts about each other."

"But is love enough? Because I've lived long enough to know that happily ever after doesn't exist in my world." She'd gotten shit on so many times, it made it hard to trust.

"My grandma always used to say, if it's worth fighting to have, it's worth fighting to keep. You have to decide if you want it enough."

A smile graced her mouth. "Smart woman, your grandma."

"Well she was also kinda racist too so… take the good, leave the bad." With that said he returned to enjoying his cappuccino in contented silence.

Bella sipped her creamy caffeine, mulling over Trent's advice in her mind.

"Gotta say you've got great taste in men." Trent flashed an impish grin. "First Taylor and now that Jacob."

"I will scratch your eyes out," Bella mock threatened, earning herself a chuckle. After cramming one last cracker into her mouth and downing the last of her coffee, she slid off her stool. "I'm heading out for my morning swim. See you in an hour."

Trent joined her at the door and peered outside. His eyebrows drew together in concern. "You sure? It's still dark out there. Kinda seems like prime body found in the woods time.

"It'll be sunrise in a few minutes. I'm perfectly safe. I swim at the falls everyday." Most of her confidence came from knowing that a wolf was patrolling the area.

A teasing glint entered Trent's eyes. "No wonder you're still so toned."

"That and prenatal yoga." Which were her only Carlisle approved exercises since jogging was off limits.

"Sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Stop being a worrywart. I'll be fine." After rummaging around in a draw, she found a flashlight.

He leaned against the door jamb with a smirk. "Maybe you're right. No sense in both of us being murdered."

She smacked him playfully on the arm. "That's enough of out of you, city boy."

Bella left the warmth of her home and melted into the dark forest.

After swimming until there was a pleasant ache in her limbs, Bella floated on her back. Overhead, the sun began its ascent, turning the sky into a palette of colors. Initially the cold water had shocked the breath from her lungs, but a half hour later her body acclimated. The dull roar of the waterfall faded, leaving her alone in a sleeping world. She floated on a watery cloud in a rare moment of peace. Past attempts at meditating with Taylor had always resulted in dismal failure. Somehow her body found it unbearable to sit lotus style for minutes at a time. But floating here… This was her daily meditation.

However she was having more difficulty shutting off the outside world. The blowout with Liz still lingered, fresh in her mind. Before long she became trapped in the mental cycle, stressing about the choices she made.

After the argument, Bella-despite Jacob's disapproval-dried her tears, plastered a smile on her face, and returned downstairs to the reception before anyone missed her. In her absence, Embry had already left. Despite her painted on smile, Charlie immediately saw through her act and expressed his concern. Though she longed for her father's advice, she wouldn't let her problems deter him from enjoying his honeymoon. Instead she searched the party for Ryan, desperate to have him talk some sense into his mate. However her hopes were dashed when she stumbled upon him passed out in some bushes, clutching a garden hose. But there was one bright spot in her misery. Jacob stayed by her side the entire night. His calming presence comforted her more than words could explain.

Embry. Guilt gnawed at her insides. How badly had she screwed up their friendship? She'd agreed to be his date with friendship in mind. His motives for petitioning the Council remained unknown. They'd been no opportunity to discuss it at the wedding. Truth be told, at that time she lacked the courage to ask. Hurting him was the last thing she wanted to do. Did he know about the kiss with Jacob? Was that why he left? She damn near made herself insane stressing and ruining her sleep.

Her thoughts turned to Edward and the others and the sacrifice they'd made on her behalf. Granted a century of a vampire's immortality didn't seem like much, the uncertainty made her stomach a series of complicated knots. The Volturi knew she was still human. Would they let her live out her days in peace? A nagging sense of unease gave her doubt. The Volturi weren't the kind to accept no for an answer. She teared up with gratitude. Knowing she had people in her corner willing to take extreme measures to protect her, made all the difference in the world. She didn't know what she'd done to deserve friends like the Cullens.

She nudged her fears aside, concentrating on the cool bed of water, and the delicious bacon awaiting her arrival back at the house.

A contented smile curved her mouth when she recalled how much her life had changed. She'd gone from a girl obsessed with becoming a gorgeous statue to a woman who cherished life's simple, ordinary things. As her due date approached, her excitement grew, anticipating the day her stomach would be empty and arms full. Then her throat tightened painfully at the reminder of yet another thing Taylor would never experience. He wouldn't be there for first steps, first toothless smiles, or any of the gross, embarrassing moments. He would miss everything. She gazed up at the morning sky with a dull ache in her chest. What would he think of her and Jacob? In his final message, he wanted her to move on, but would he approve of her doing so would Jacob?

Those were the thoughts drifting through her mind when something glided along her spine.

Panic slammed into her chest and sent her limbs flailing. In her rising terror she forgot how to float and sank beneath the surface. When she resurfaced sputtering and coughing up swallowed water, the sky overhead had blackened with storm clouds. Taylor stood on the grassy shore, motioning her to get out. His shouts of warning were buried beneath the howling wind. Something slippery brushed against her leg, startling a scream out of her. The shadow of a creature glided through the water, circling her. She had to get out of the water, it was her only chance. Her legs kicked out as she swam toward Taylor. She was almost there when sharp talons pierced her calf and dragged her into the watery deep.

Bella jerked awake with a scream trapped in her throat. Panting lightly, she struggled upright from her towel where she'd dozed off after a swim. Around her the forest was alive with the sounds of birds. Above her hung a blue sky with tufts of white clouds.

She'd had another one of her vivid, recurring dreams. In previous ones, the dream ended with the thing touched her. However her recent dream was different. Taylor. He'd stood on this very shore, trying to warn her. She'd never been one to believe that dreams held hidden meaning, but she was shaken. Even now she felt a phantom pain in her calf where the creature had clawed her.

Unease tugging at her insides, she tightened the sash on her robe and gathered her belongings. The urge to distance herself from the waterfall was overwhelming. She walked away but cast a final look at the waterfall. A shiver shook her frame. Whether it was from the dream or the chill of water drying on her skin, she couldn't tell. After a moment, she laughed, feeling silly for panicking over a bad dream. Taylor was dead and there were no sea monsters lurking in the waterfall.

A twig snapped behind her. Heart in her throat, Bella spun around to discover Jacob staring at her.

"Jeez, don't scare me like that." Bella placed a hand over her racing heart.

"Sorry about that." His mouth held the ghost of a smile. He fell silent, regarding her with a searing gaze that made it difficult to draw breath. The last time they were alone together, they pawed at each other as if it was their last day on earth. She tingled with awareness, recalling the memory of his warm mouth, his powerful hands roaming her body, branding her with his claim. A wave of heat rushed through her and his nostril flared, scenting the air between them. Unable to resist, she devoured his chiseled form with her eyes. A dangerous air surrounded him.

"Why are you here?" She asked, hating the obvious tremor in her voice.

"We need to talk about yesterday." Jacob said, dark eyes absorbing every emotion flickering across her face.

"Figured you'd want to talk about that." Bella folded her arms over her chest, and the movement drew his gaze to her breasts. Despite the robe shielding her body from his view, she felt naked.

"Did you kiss me because Taylor kept secrets from you?"

"Of course not! How could you even ask?" Though she was offended he'd even voice a question like that, she understood the uncertainty behind it. In fact she had a question of her own she needed answered. "Are you here now because Embry asked me out?" Did Embry's interest spark his sudden possessiveness? Was she the neglected bone he didn't want until another dog showed interest?

Jacob's jaw hardened. "No."

Relief eased the tension hovering between them.

"Go out with me."

Bella sucked in a breath. "You mean like a date?"

"Yeah. A date." Jacob pushed off the trunk and ambled toward her, his dark eyes fixed on her face.

Bella's heart leapt, fragile hope flare to life. She hesitated, desperately ashamed of how much she longed to say yes. How badly she wanted this. How crushed she'd be if it didn't work out. "Maybe it's not the best time. Pregnant women aren't supposed to date."

"They're not?" She glimpsed the teasing hint of a smile.

Jacob stood mere inches away from her, and she fought the urge to climb him like a jungle gym. Silence stretched out between them until Jacob spoke, "Say yes."

"We should wait until the baby's born. See how we feel then…" She faltered when he leaned in close.

Waves of heat radiated off his body as he brushed his lips against her earlobe and whispered, "Say yes."

"It's not… good idea…" Feverish breath fanned her throat, making it difficult to form coherent thought.

"Say it." She quivered when he nipped the gentle slope of her neck.

"I can't…" she panted, but her self control was crumbling, her will to resist fading fast.

"Say yes." A sharp tug and her robe fell open, exposing her bikini-clad body to his hungry gaze. Her hardened nipples strained against the turquoise bikini top.

She noticed the sky above them and the grass prickling her legs. How the hell did he get her on her back? "This isn't…"

Jacob dropped his head and drew a hardened peak into his searing mouth.

"Yes!" Bella squeaked, shoving at his immovable shoulders. "I'll go on a date with you."

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He flashed a cocky grin.

"You don't play fair," she grumbled, shutting her robe. She almost lost her damn mind over heavy breathing and nibbling.

"Never said I'd play fair, Bells." He grasped her by the hands and helped her stand.

"You should be ashamed, taking advantage of a hormonal pregnant woman." She took one step and her knees buckled. Jacob caught her before she fell, scooping her up in his arms.

"It's okay. I've got you."

Boy do you ever, she thought, failing to utter a peep of protest when he carried her home.

Far too soon they arrived in her backyard and Jacob set her on her feet. Ryan sat on the stairs, crouched over, hands dangling between his knees.

In her eagerness, she fired off questions at him. "Ryan, did you talk to Liz? Did she tell you about—"

Ryan released a pitiful groan as he raised his head. Bleary, blood-shot eyes peered out from his haggard face. He winced at the sunlight, a hand rising to shield his eyes. A twig stuck out of his sleep-tousled hair. Something white crusted the corner of his mouth. Bella suspected it was vomit. He looked like he'd been scraped off the bottom of an old shoe.

She took a tentative step toward him. "Are you okay—"

"Argh! Nobody talk to me." To escape them, Ryan crawled through the back-door on his hands and knees. He used his bare foot to kick the door shut behind him, then groaned at the resulting noise.

"He's seen better days." An easy smile appeared on Jacob's lips.

"Yeah," she murmured, gnawing on a fingernail. There went her one shot at getting Ryan on her side.

"You still mad at me?" He asked after a moment of consideration.

Bella tried for a frown, but failed miserably. Staying mad at him was too difficult. "No but I feel like I should be. You completely steamrolled me back there."

Why did she get the impression that by kissing him, she'd signed a secret contract?

Jacob cupped her face with his warm hands, his thumb stroked her lower lip. His intent stare sent prickles along her skin. She became conscious of the alluring image she made with her red nose and damp, bedraggled seaweed hair. But the with the way he gazed at her, she could've been a pinup model.

"I've been waiting all this time, Bells. I'm done waiting." Soft brown eyes searched her face.

Ever since her near miscarriage, things between them had existed in limbo, both afraid to ruin the fragile peace they'd somehow attained. Though they loved each other, she feared they'd be forever trapped in a destructive cycle. But the last few months with him had been wonderful and stress free. No pressure. Just Jake and Bells. The way it was always meant to be. This was it. Their chance to get it right.

Bella's eyes grew shiny with happy tears. She nodded, unable to voice her agreement through a painfully tightened throat.

His grin was pure wolf. "I'll pick you up Saturday at eight."

"Okay," she whispered.

He tilted her chin and claimed her mouth with a kiss that curled her toes.

"Can't wait," he said, and she watched him go with a heady smile on her face.

The baby squirmed inside her belly and she heaved a sigh. "Yeah, I like him too."

Gravel crunched beneath Bella's tires as she drove up to Embry's cozy house. She took a few moments to gather her courage before climbing out. Padding across the dusty porch, a floorboard creaked under her foot. Her hand hung in the air mid-knock, uncertainty making her doubt herself. Her phone calls to Embry had gone unanswered and that meant one thing. He was avoiding her. She refused to let him get away with that.

Lips flattening in a hard line, she knocked hard and waited a few moments. Knocking gave way to pounding. "Open up, Embry! I know you're in there."

Before she could knock a third time, the door swung open to reveal Embry wearing cut-off jeans and little else.

Hands propped on her hips, she fixed him with a glare. "You're hiding from me."

"I didn't hear you from out back." Which was total bullshit. They both knew he heard and smelled her the second she stepped out of the car. When Bella's expression betrayed her obvious skepticism, Embry gave his head an awkward scratch. "I wasn't expecting company. Let me put on a shirt."

He moved away from the door and Bella settled on his rustic porch swing. With an anxious stomach, she observed the threatening clouds gathering overhead. Trees surrounding his home rustled with every gust of damp wind. Embry emerged from inside, wearing a gray sweatshirt, and shut the door behind him.

His solid weight jostled the swing as he joined her. Together they sat in uncomfortable silence, both reluctant to address the wolf in the tutu.

Bella decided to ovary up and go first. "Sorry I ditched you yesterday."

Embry gave a wan smile. "No I'm the one who owes you an apology. You had a right to know about my petition."

"Why did you ask the Council to claim me?" She studied his carefully schooled features.

"So Jacob would finally step up. I was only looking out for you that's all." His words held a hint of defensiveness.

Bella dragged her gaze away from his shuttered face, looking down at her fidgeting fingers. The wind picked up, and she shivered, drawing her jacket closer. When she could no longer ignore the weight of his stare, she asked, "That the only reason you asked me to the wedding? To force Jacob's hand?"

An unfathomable emotion flickered across his face before he shrugged. "Of course, Bella. I'm your friend. Your happiness is important to me."

Bella quit dancing around the issue. "Do you have feelings for me, Embry?"

"No way. Come on be serious. We're friends." He gave a playful nudge with his elbow, but his hollow smile failed to reach his dark eyes.

A heavy sigh left her shoulders slumped. "Jacob will probably believe that. He'll believe whatever he needs to so you can get back to being best friends. So the wolf won't think you betrayed him." She grasped his hand. "But we both know it's a lie, Embry."

Embry rose from his seat and braced his hands against the wooden railing. The clouds burst and a heavy downpour drenched the parched earth.

Bella gazed at his muscular back, listening to raindrops tapping against the metal roof. The past year had brought them closer. He'd shared his rage and grief over his mother's passing. The strong suspicion that Billy was his father. His anxiety over whether or not he'd be sent to hell for killing vampires. In return, Embry listened to her many rants at the way cancer had screwed up her life. Her fears of raising a child in a world that would judge her for being a single mother. Her unresolved rage at being abandoned to cope with everything on her own. She confided things she never told Taylor for fear of hurting him. They'd become each other's support group. In all that time, he never once crossed the line. Never hinted he wanted more than friendship from her. Had she blinded herself to the truth?

The silence stretched out until Embry finally confessed with his back to her. "What if I said I was in love with you? That you're constantly on my mind? That if you'd have me, I'd raise the baby like it was my own."

Bella's heart sank. Until then she didn't realize how much she wanted him to deny it. Now she was stuck on a mental merry-go-round, combing through past interactions, wondering if she'd done anything to lead him on. She immediately dismissed those thoughts. She was not the gatekeeper of his emotions. How she handled things now would decide the future of their friendship. Now more than ever, it was important to say what she meant. She owed him that much.

"Then it would be my job, as your friend, to be honest." Bella exhaled, steeling herself for what came next. "I love you as a friend and I value your friendship so much. If Jacob wasn't in the picture—" Bella stopped. She wouldn't give him hope based on the worst thing that could ever happen. "Jacob will always come first for me."

Embry nodded to himself as if confirming something. "A part of me needed to hear that."

He turned to face her, and she braced herself, expecting to see hurt staring back at her. Instead she saw acceptance.

"If our friendship is too much for you to handle right now, you can have all the space you need." Though Bella imagined she'd outgrown her past, the selfish, needy girl still lived inside her. She refused to place her desire for friendship above Embry's well-being. Though it would hurt to lose him, she'd cut him loose rather than string him along.

A faint smile graced his lips as he leaned against the railing. "I'd rather be your friend than nothing at all, Bella. I want you to be happy, and Jacob's an important part of that. That's all I want."

After a moment, she returned his smile, the tension in her shoulders easing. They would be okay.

Embry's flashed a mischievous grin. "So what'd you think of my awesome dance moves?"

Bella sat at Taylor's grave, finishing up the last bite of her tasty crab salad sandwich. She licked a glob of creamy mayonnaise from her fingers and washed it down with a delicious berry smoothie. She tucked the sandwich wrapper inside her satchel. The smoothie bottle followed the same fate after she'd drained it of its contents.

With feet folded beneath her, she regarded Taylor's headstone. Walter had wanted a more elaborate marker than the simple granite they eventually settled on. Despite Taylor's wealth, he'd been a simple man by nature. A flashy headstone would've been wasted on him.

She barely recalled the details of the funeral and only snippets of his eulogy. However she'd recalled the raw pain in her chest that throbbed like a touched nerve with startling clarity. The damp, moldy soil between her fingers. The void in her heart held nothing besides grief and devastation. Happiness was a distant memory. Back then she thought she'd never know peace without him. Life as she knew it had ended forever. To live without her true-mate was unthinkable and yet here she sat. Alive.

"Sorry I missed last week's visit. Business has picked up at the cafe, making it harder to get away." After her bed-rest ended, she developed a habit of visiting her late husband's grave. Their weekly conversations were therapeutic. Though she cringed at what any shrink would think of her conversing with a ghost. "Not that I'm complaining though. I love working at Bellee's. The customers are interesting and when I get home, I'm usually asleep before my head hits the pillow. I wish you could see the cafe now..." Bella's voice cracked, forcing her to clear her throat.

She shook off her melancholy, tucking several wayward strands behind her ear. "My last doctor's visit went well though she's been concerned since I've had trouble gaining weight. But since the baby's development is on track, she's stopped worrying. The baby's growing like a regular human, so we'll have to wait a few years to know if it's draken."

Bella cradled her pregnant belly, marveling at the movement inside. Though she'd love her child regardless, she hoped her baby was human. She spent years watching Taylor struggle against self-hatred and wanted to spare her child that burden. Having endured Fang's presence in her body, she understood Taylor's reluctance at continuing his cursed bloodline. He didn't want any biological children they had to suffer his fate.

"I'm still pissed at you. First you keep the truth about Jacob imprinting from me. Now I find out that you found Marianna and the others but kept it to yourself. How do I get past this? We always promised to be truthful with each other. You always said trust was the definition of love, but you didn't trust me with that information. It hurts." She brushed the angry tears from her cheeks. "I understand you keeping the imprint to yourself. You couldn't risk losing me. But what about Liz? You let her think she'd never find another draken again. You—"

She paused to gain a handle on her tumultuous emotions. There was no sense arguing with a deceased man. She'd never get the answers she sought. Besides, she couldn't afford to be seen cursing out a grave. The groundskeepers already thought she was weird enough without that display.

"Liz caught me kissing Jacob and flipped her shit. She's threatening to move out and every thing's a mess." Bella traced the grass stain on her maternity jeans with her finger. "Calling her bluff was a stupid idea. I should've forced her to sit and talk things out, but I've never responded well to ultimatums. So far Ryan's refusing to take sides, but he's never liked getting stuck between two warring women. To make things even worse, I agreed to go on a date with Jacob. I can only imagine how that will go once Liz finds out. How do I fix this?"

Her eyes scanned the empty cemetery, the faint racket of a lawn mower droning in the distance. Greenery and graves as far as her eyes could see. Some graves sported the leavings of dead flower arrangements. She never quite understood the custom of placing flowers on a grave. Especially when bouquets weren't known for their longevity. Soon the flowers shriveled, creating an eyesore and additional work for the groundskeepers.

"You can imagine how surprised I was when Jacob asked me out. Just when I'm losing hope, he starts saying everything I've been waiting months to hear. I tried to refuse, but he made it impossible to say no." Bella closed her eyes reliving the kiss. "For the first time in how long, I'm excited about the future. Which brings me to the reason for this visit."

Steeling herself, she inhaled the sharp odor of freshly cut grass. Tears stung her eyes as she slipped the gold band off her finger.

"I can't come see you every week anymore. It makes it harder to get on with my life. For our child's sake I need to be in the present. I miss you, I miss the sound of your voice, but I can't hang out in cemeteries anymore. I hope you understand." Realistically she knew Taylor had moved on the moment his heart stopped. Nevertheless it still felt like she was abandoning him. The thought of him being lonely was too much to bear. Sue assured her that worry would fade with the passage of time.

"You'll always be in here." She placed a hand above her heart.

"Lunch time's over. I should be getting back." Bella slung her satchel over her shoulder and stood. She eyed the neighboring grave with a smirk. "Keep him company for me, Mrs. Garcia." She imagined the eighty year old had been the sort who enjoyed pinching the butts of unsuspecting young men. "Watch out for that one, Taylor."

The sun came out in its splendid glory. Bella turned her face toward the sky, basking in the warmth of golden rays.

Suddenly her skin crawled with the sensation of being watched. In the corner of her eye she caught glittering and blurred movement. Heart hammering in her chest, she scanned the cemetery and found nothing. But that didn't stop her from sprinting back to her car and speeding through the cemetery gates. By the time Bella strolled through the cafe's door, she was convinced she'd imagined the whole thing. Still try as she might, an ominous sense of dread lingered.

Back to the story

Liz and Bella are still on the outs.

Trent gives Bella some words of wisdom.

Bella has another lucid nightmare. Did Taylor try to warn her?

Jacob uses seduction to convinced Bella to go out with him.

Ryan can't handle his liquor.

Embry finally gains the courage to admit his love for Bella. Will friendship be enough?

Bella removes her ring and says goodbye to Taylor.

She has a scary experience at the cemetery. Was it her imagination or an unnamed danger?

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