Winnie's POV

There's only a few more days till I get my car back. With it my independence, but I'm going to lose the main reason I had to talk to Embry. I'm already preparing myself for the pause in our friendship, then how it'll die off.

We're probably never going to have that second date. It was stupid of me to give in to the idea that we were even sorta dating.

Me and Embry Call? No, that was never going to happen.

Instead of looking at Paul's dad's reappearance in the Res as an obstacle, I'm choosing to look at it good timing. It was a reminder that I was starting to relay on Embry too much, when really he was just being nice to me. Now it's time for me to focus on working again and saving up to pay back Jacob. Getting my car back is a good excuse for Embry to stop worrying about me, and soon he won't have a reason to anymore.

I'm not fifteen anymore, it's time to get over this crush on Embry Call for once and for all.

The best way to distract myself is to do what always makes me feel better. Making myself more independent, and I'm going to do that by finally learning how to cook. Not reheating diner left overs or defrosting frozen food, or only eating cold foods like cereal and salad. Actual cooking.

That's what I'm doing. Or was moments ago. Now I'm mounted on a chair under the smoke detector fanning smoke away with a magazine.

It may not have been the wiser to spend money right now, with the cost of repairs, but I bought a hotplate and a skillet online. I thought if I maybe if I learn quickly, I'll buy an instant pot after I pay off my repairs. Now I'm debating if I should have started with a toaster oven instead.

At least I know the detector works... Trying to get the blaring alarm to stop before it bothers Enola, I give up on the magazine and just pry the device right of the ceiling to get the batteries out. Hopping down from the chair, I open all the windows to get the smoke out and let fresh air in. The cabin is cloudy with thick gray smoke, with the burnt smell of food stinging my nose and ears.

I thought the wood burning stove was hard... looks like I am eating cold left fries for dinner after all. Just as I'm emptying the skillet in the garbage my phone rings.

"Hey," I answer without looking.

"Hi." My heart immediately leaps at the sound of Embry's voice. It instantly makes me happy to hear. Then the realization hits that I shouldn't have answered.

"Oh, Embry. Hi." I almost drop the pan into the garbage.

"This a good time?" He asks.

"To talk?" I ask, looking around at the near fire I managed to avoid.

"No," He starts, "For something fun."

"What do you mean by fun?" His words sends a rush through me. I can't tell if it's a rush of excitement or a rush of panic.

"Okay, so I know this would be short notice. I just got off work, I'm starving and it's dinner time. If you haven't eaten yet, I could pick up some take out and hang out for a little bit?"

"You got out early." I can't help but observe. Embry usually gets overnight shifts, and the occasional early morning shift.

"Yeah, I traded with one of the guys earlier in the week. Now the rest of my shift is being covered." He explains before pausing. "So is that a yes?"

I wanted to say yes five minutes ago. But I ignored the immediate urge to agree because I should start getting use to Embry not being around.

"Are you sure? You must be tired." I try for an excuse.

"I usually would be, but not tonight."

"And Paul?"

"He's been at the Clearwaters' all day. Sue Clearwater is making him a special dinner as thanks for him cleaning her rain gutters." He pauses. "Is this not a good time? I know it's short notice. Really last minute. But I haven't seen you all week for more than twenty minutes. So when I got out of work, you were the first thing I thought about."

My resolve instantly gives.

I nearly admit how I've been thinking about him all week. How if he comes over, I'm just going to miss him even more when he's gone. But there's nothing more I want than him to see him, just glimpse him.

"It's a good time." I hesitate, backing myself into a wall as if it could steady me. "Is it a good time for you? I'm just making sure."

"To see you? It's always a good time."


"Did something burn in here?" Even with all the windows cracked open, a good amount of Ferbreze, a candle and even a quick shower, Embry could still smell my mess up. He asked immediately when he got through the door with his nose scrunched up and in the air as if he's blood hound. His arms were full of food, with pizza boxes balancing in one hand, and a stack of white to go boxes in the other

"Does it smell that bad?" I ask with a sigh, taking the pizza boxes from his arms. I try not to notice how he good he looks. I couldn't have forgotten from just a week of not seeing him, but seeing him fully dressed instead of his usual cut offs and no shirt is almost more attractive. I'm not sure how less is more, but with Embry it is. The white t-shirt is so tight on his muscles it's hard to not just stop and gawk at him.

"Nah," He waves off, kicking the door shut behind him.

"How much food did you buy, Embry?" There's not enough counter space to spread it all out. Instead I settle for just using the floor like a picnic, and sitting on a cushion from the couch. It's not Embry's fault I don't have a table.

"Most of this is for me. I wasn't kidding when I said I was starving." Embry clears up, handing me the rest of the food. He brought three pizza pies, one plain, one veggie lovers, and one meat lovers. In addition to french fires, mac n cheese, and chicken nuggets.

"I won't doubt you again." I grin, getting up to grab plates and utensils. Embry beats me to it, grabbing the plates off the shelf since he's taller. I can feel the heat off his body inching towards me, with the feel of him brushing against my back as he reaches over me to lower them. I try to busy myself with getting napkins and other things, instead of leaning into his touch.

"Well, I didn't know what food is your favorite, so I got a little of everything." He explains. Stunned, I forget to grab the forks to grin at him.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Embry smiles down at me. I'm so glad I said yes to him coming over.

"I feel like we have a lot to catch up on." Embry leads the way back to the food with the stack of plates. "Phone calls and ten minute car pooling aren't the same."

"They're not. It felt longer than a week." I watch as Embry carefully kicks the two couch pillows together, grinning at how he wants us to sit close.

"I thought I was the only one who felt like that." He smirks at me, before it softens into a sweet look on his face. When we sit down, he's so close that's it's impossible to move without our legs grazing each other with each little movement. "Catch me up. What's going on with you?"

"I got a hot plate." I announce, which makes Embry choke mid bite on a slice of pizza.

"Is that why it smells like burnt toast in here?" He chuckles.

"Yeah, I burnt some eggs right before you got here." I admit, which makes him laugh even harder.

"Winnie, how about start with something easy like boiling eggs before frying them?" Embry suggests, downing another slice.

"I'm probably going to have to," I sigh, biting into a chicken nugget. "I can't burn a boiled egg, right?"

"Technically no," Embry smirks. He absolutely thinks I can burn it.

"Okay, enough about me and my hot plate, what's going on with you?" I change the subject fast with an eye roll, which makes him chuckle.

"Just work, responsibilities. Same old same old." Embry shrugs.

"So how's Paul?" I ask slowly, not sure if it's okay to check in.

"Paul is Paul." Embry sums up. "He's forcing himself through it. We thought he would be pissed off, but he's really down. We're not sure what's better. A furious Paul or a depressed one."

"He sounds like he's been through this one too many times to be angry over it anymore," I point out, resting my chin on my knees. As if my words dazed him, Embry looks bewildered by my answer.

"Fuck. That's deep." He sits up.

"I don't know Paul, but from what I remember he was never the type to never not face his problems head on."

"That's Paul." Embry sighs.

"You know what might make him feel better?" I try, "Taking him out of the res for the weekend. Maybe take him to Olympia or something." Embry stops mid chew to give me a wide eye look at my suggestion.

"Before our Port Angeles trip? No way." He inches closer to me, his hands curling up at his sides as if he's stopping them from moving on their own to reach for me. Our knees lightly brush each other, so close I have tilt my head back to get a good look at his face. I have to sit on my own hands to resist that pulling urge in them to reach out and touch him. With him so close I just want to cup his face, run my hand over his chest, grasps him, feel him.

"It can wait." It hurts saying the words, when I really mean something else between my lines. I doubt we'll have that Port Angeles trip. In a week Embry is going forget asking me on that second date and we'll just wave at each other at the Lodge before we know it.

"I never wanted it to wait. If I could have it my way we would have been on our fifth date by now." Embry points out, looking of a mix of wounded puppy and increasingly frustrated. I can feel my eyes searching his face for a good excuse, but his expression burns right through me, seeping through my chest down to my heart.

"Either now or later, I really don't mind either way, Embry." I don't add in the part how I just want it happen.

"I know you're trying to help by not putting pressure, but I really just want to hear you say this sucks." Embry sighs, sitting further back as if the added space between us will ease him.

"Embry?"

"Yeah?"

"This fucking sucks." A grin bursts across both our faces.

"It really fucking sucks." Embry sighs again. With a lean forward, one of his big arms wraps around my shoulders. Tugging me forward he pulls me into a hug, holding me to his chest. He meant it to be a quick hug, but when I hug him back he holds on tighter. "I missed you seeing you this week." He mutters into my hair.

"I missed you too." I add, burying my head in his chest so he doesn't see the look on my face. He smells like the outdoors, so strong and fresh it makes me feel like I'm standing barefoot outside when I take a breath. His big hands take up my whole back, the heat of his body so strong it seeps through my clothes like humidity, but feels so much better. He feels so sturdy against me, solid and firm under a wall of taunt muscle.

"How much?" Embry teases with a smirk. I try to squirm my way out of the question with an excuse to try to put the food away before it gets cold. The puppy dog look he gives me keeps me in place, easing back into a lazy smirk fast. "You're so cute when you're shy."

Instead of saying how I don't act shy, something else comes out of my mouth. "I've always been shy around you."

Embry's smirk drops, a pained look flashing briefly in his eyes before he pulls me back in for another hug. Not for him, but for me. I didn't know I needed one, but he gave me one before I even realized I need some comfort.

"That makes me special, because no one else got to see that cute face you make." He lets me bury my face into his arm, running small circles in my back while he lets me avoid his eyes. He doesn't outwardly say it, how I was shy around him for all of grade school because I had a crush on him. Then I was too shy to be around him after the whole school saw me naked. I told myself I was too angry to be around him, but I was too shy to face him and the jeering.

"Could this technically count as our second date?" I finally look up at him, knowing my face is red.

"As much I want that, I can't. You deserve something planned. Something more than just take out, something where I pick you up and take you somewhere. Plus two dates in a row in your cabin? Then I'll be a lame date." Embry lists off. I already see him ready to roll his eyes, expecting me to comment on how nice he is. Instead I surprise both of us by planting a kiss on his cheek.

A huge smile breaks across his face, his hand landing on the spot where my lips pecked him.

"That second date? Yeah it's happening soon. Very soon."