(BPOV)

Looking at the uniquely altered Chopper that Bella leaned against, Shari said, "Damn, House Key. Whose bike is this?"

Bella nodded toward the bar. "My friend Nick. He's the one in there with the bandana and cocky attitude. Are you ever going to drop the nickname?"

Shari grinned as she pulled out her lighter and said, "Nah. It's grown on me, I think." She winked at Bella as she lit her joint and passed it.

Bella snorted out a laugh before taking a hit and handing it back. She silently appraised the other woman for a moment, taking in her curvy figure, sleek black hair, and perfect teeth. Numerous tattoos peeked out from under her tight top and high-waist shorts. Long, muscular legs appeared toned by the painfully tall stilettos Shari wore

Finding herself rather plain in comparison, Bella couldn't understand how in Hell Paul had managed to mess around with Shari for years without eventually falling for her. Jacob had said before that Paul was not overly picky about appearances.

Well, that was putting it politely, she thought. The idea of Paul being more attracted to the person than the outer package somehow made him more endearing. Bella found herself oddly wanting to learn what he liked so much about Shari besides her looks.

Bella chuckled nervously and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. "I really would like for us to get along, Shari. Paul cares about you an awful lot. I can tell when he talks about you."

"Yeah?" Shari smiled and sighed as she turned to stare out across the lot. "I care about him, too. A lot more than he cared about me, though I knew he would meet somebody he actually wanted to be with eventually. After years of taking what little he would give me, it just came as a surprise when it finally happened."

Though it was no fault of her own, Bella couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty. She could certainly understand how it felt to love someone that made it clear there was no happily ever after. Five years ago, however, seeing Edward with someone else would have gutted her. She asked, "Is that why you answered his phone the way you did?"

Shari glanced at Bella and said, "I saw your picture as his screensaver when you called."

Bella admitted, "I don't understand why that was a problem. I mean, people have their friends as screensavers all the time."

Shari scoffed and said, "He has never done that before. Not with any other chick, ever. Not even me. He was sad that night, and I knew something was wrong, but he never said what it was. When I asked him about your picture, he said you were friends, but I could tell by the way he acted that he wasn't being honest with me. All that same sadness on his face the night before came right back. I was upset about the phone call when I finally told him about it, and he did get mad in my defense, but he was clearly more worried about you."

"So I felt like an immediate threat, in a way," Bella concluded.

"Something like that," Shari admitted. "He left to go talk to you right away. Then I found his wallet. When you opened his front door, I just fucking lost it. I guess I kind of hoped to scare you off. Boy, did that backfire on me, huh?"

Bella said, "We were just friends when that shit happened, Shari. I mean, the feelings were there, but we were not. If that makes sense."

"It does," Shari said, absently scuffing the bottom of her shoe into the gravel.

Bella said, "I want you to know that I never intended to call you a whore. When I called, I was already upset, and the way you answered took me by surprise. When I said to tell Paul to pay you for his services, I meant as an answering service because you answered his phone. I was too pissed off to correct it in the heat of the moment, but-"

Shari cackled at the revelation, shaking her head.

Bella continued, "I am sorry that you were hurt. I hate being a bitch to anyone, but I also have a bad temper. I let it get the best of me sometimes."

Shari scoffed and said, "Listen. Same. Don't apologize, though. The whole thing was a blessing in disguise, I think."

Bella asked, "Why is that?"

Shari relit her joint and took another hit. Passing it to Bella a second time, she said, "Paul falling for someone else made me finally face the fact that I needed to get the fuck over him. It made me realize a few other things, too."

Bella assumed whatever was developing between Shari and Paul's friend Chris was one of the other things.

As if on cue, the front door swung open, loudly smacking against the outside wall as half of the patrons filed outside. Chris walked directly to Shari and slid an arm around her waist in a much-more-than-friendly embrace. Bella held the joint back out to them. Grinning, Chris snatched it before Shari could, and she laughed as he playfully nuzzled the side of her neck before taking a hit.

Eyeing Bella carefully as he approached them, Nick called out, "Everyone good out here?" He stopped and ogled Bella on his bike for a moment. "Damn, you look nice on my baby," he teased.

Blushing, Bella turned to Shari while gesturing toward NIck, shaking her head.

"Shari, this is Nick," Chris said before Bella could speak. "He's a fucking pool shark."

"Oh?" Shari winked at Bella and asked Nick, "Do you gamble?"

Nick snickered and said, "I only gamble at the pool table."

Shari asked, "Two out of three for twenty? What do you say?"

Nick hesitated and said, "My last pool tournament almost cost me my bike." He gestured toward the chopper under Bella.

Shari challenged him, "Are you saying you're too good to play for a measly twenty bucks?"

Nick laughed and answered, "Hell no. I'm broke. I almost lost my bike. I could use twenty bucks."

Bella never did get the chance to say goodbye to Joe or exchange numbers with him before he left. He was there one moment and gone the next, leaving without so much as a wave goodbye. Bella was grateful to know he was well and supposed that was the end of their interactions.

Something about him continued to eat at her, however. Joe had reminded her of Paul in more ways than one. Little things about him had caught her attention. His warm greeting and effortless ability to talk to anyone had been the first of those. His protective instincts, hearty laugh, and idly tapping fingers had been so familiar that she almost didn't catch them. Bella couldn't help but consider how Joe had helped her as if he had known her immediate needs precisely. His reaction when he spotted Edward with Alex outside was also suspicious, as though he had known Edward was dangerous on sight. Paul never answered her messages about Edward that day, and Joe had intentionally ignored his phone while driving. Then, Paul miraculously showed up after Joe disappeared. Bella thought about Quil's reaction later and how suspicious he had been of Paul's whereabouts. The more that Bella thought about it, the more curious she became. One way or another, Paul had managed to show up almost everywhere she went. His sudden appearance Monday had subconsciously bothered her ever since.

Of one thing, Bella was sure. There was a missing piece to the Paul puzzle, and now that she had time to process what happened on Monday, she planned to find out what that was.


(JPOV)

By the time Bella got home, she was passed out against Nick's back, having fallen asleep on the ride. He held her against him securely as they pulled into the driveway, his arm tightly wrapped over hers at his waist. Nick smoothly put his kickstand down and allowed the bike to rest as it went silent.

Jacob snorted as she remained as she was, unmoving. He had felt Bella nearby for the last few hours, correctly assuming a local bar. The tired, intoxicated sensation that slammed him a few minutes before their arrival gave him plenty of warning about her physical state. He anticipated having to put her to bed, heading outside before they pulled into the drive.

"Bella? Wake up, sis," Leah called to her.

Nick's laughter rumbled through him, the light movement finally shaking Bella awake. "Hmm?" Bella slowly raised her head and looked around.

Jacob grinned at her happily as he walked toward them in nothing but his basketball shorts. Reagan watched them from the front door, amused as Nick helped Bella off the chopper. She stumbled forward drunkenly and laughed as Jacob darted to catch her. He scooped her up before she could tumble forward and shook his head at her.

"You are drunk as a skunk, Ma'am," he teased as she reached to remove her helmet.

"Yep," was all she bothered to say before hanging her head back and waving goodbye upside down.

Bella smelled like alcohol, pot, and Nick's cologne. Somehow, he could still pick up Paul's scent, despite the unpleasant combination of the other three. Jacob wrinkled his nose in distaste and asked, "Who gave her actual weed? She reeks."

"Her new best pals, Shari and Chris," Leah said.

What? Incredulously, Jacob turned and asked, "Come again?"

Nick and Dean both laughed as Leah nodded. "Bella went up to Shari, invited her outside to talk, and they've been inseparable all night since."

If I didn't know better, I would think Leah was jealous. Jacob looked down at Bella's face and snorted as she pretended to sleep. Her light pink blush, however, gave her away. "I know those aren't gin blossoms, Bells," Jacob whispered, making her giggle.

The motorcycles roared back to life behind them as Jacob carried her into the house. He guided her into a kitchen chair before unzipping her leather jacket. Reagan snickered as Bella rapidly slapped away his hands, frowning.

Bella muttered what sounded like, "Leeb it."

Jacob teased, "Well, okay, then. Are you hungry? I was going to try feeding you. Maybe we can sober you up a bit."

"Shake," she slurred, "I did not spend this mush to be sober, kay?"

Through his laughter, Jacob asked, "Would you rather I just toss you into bed, then?"

"Nope," she said, pushing him back as she stood. He caught her as she stumbled again and sighed.

"Yep," she said decidedly, changing her mind.

Jacob cackled as he picked her back up and deposited her carefully on her bed. He helped her remove the jacket and squat down to take off her shoes. He looked up as a bottle of water appeared over his shoulder.

Reagan leaned over him slightly as she handed it to Bella and winked at her playfully.

"Thank ya, gorgeous," Bella said and sat it on her nightstand.

"Goodnight, Bella," Reagan said through her laughter, leaving the room.

Jacob went to Bella's dresser and pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms. He dropped them on her lap before bending down to kiss her forehead. Unable to resist, he teased, "Can you manage to undress alone?"

"Yep," she said, falling onto her back on the bed.

Bella raised her hips to undo her jeans as Jacob asked, "How did it go tonight?"

"Good," she said and huffed as she shimmied her jeans off.

He chuckled at her and turned to leave the room.

"Saw Eddie," She said and huffed again, pulling up her pajama pants.

Wait. What? He turned to look back at Bella and grumbled, "What happened? Why didn't you or Leah message me? Did he try anything?"

"No, but I flipped him off," Bella giggled.

"You didn't talk to him?"

"They wouldn't let me." Bella shimmed her blanket out from under her to crawl beneath it.

Good. Jacob asked, "So, Edward didn't approach you?"

"Nope."

"Leah didn't lose her shit?"

"Nope," Bella mumbled and yawned.

"Did you have another panic attack?"

"Nuh-uh," she shook her head and closed her eyes.

Thank goodness for that, at the least. Jacob knew he wouldn't get more answers until she had slept off her drunken stupor. He turned off Bella's bedroom light and shut her door behind him.

Jacob found Reagan waiting comfortably in bed. Jacob looked over her long, shapely legs as he slid next to her. Her round ass was partially visible as she lay on her stomach in one of his t-shirts. He grinned as she snuggled up to him and pulled the blanket over her.

"I'm glad you're staying tonight," he said before placing a kiss on her temple.

"Me too," Reagan mumbled. He chuckled as she yawned and then buried her face into his shoulder.

While he was happy to have Reagan next to him, he and the wolf worried about their drunken imprint next door. Luckily, Jacob and the wolf were currently content, and the pull was not as great. He was grateful to have had alone time with Rae to take the edge off before Bella got home. Jacob genuinely loved Reagan and was awash in guilt as he thought about groping Bella while they had been half-asleep. Bella had played off the incident as nothing much, trying to lift his spirits and erase the guilt and embarrassment they had felt. It angered him that Wolf had gotten the better of him once again.

Jacob could not help but wonder if guilt was part of Bella's decision to get so intoxicated that evening. Her cheerful thanks to Reagan had lifted his spirits somewhat, and Jacob hoped it meant she was over the body-shot debacle.

"I hope she's not so hungover tomorrow that she wants to bow out on Friday," Jacob grumbled aloud.

"Hmm?" Reagan lifted her head to look at him. "What's happening Friday?"

Jacob asked, "We're gonna have a few drinks and work on her motorcycle with Embry and Quil, remember?"

Reagan propped herself up on her elbow as she asked, "So, just you three and Bella?"

"Yeah, why?" He rolled to his side to face her and said, "Maybe Leah, too. Bells said something about asking her." When she didn't respond, he reached to cup her cheek and asked, "What's wrong, Rae?"

"Nothing," she sighed. "Am I terrible for being happy that it won't be the two of you alone?"

Her sad eyes looked up into his, and Jacob instantly felt worse. It was time to talk to his father about telling her the truth. The longer he waited, the guiltier he felt. If I want to have a chance at keeping her with me, I have to stop hiding what I am - what we are. Jacob couldn't help but fear he would eventually lose control, that the imprint would weaken him and Bella until they gave in. It had happened more than once, long before they created their current boundaries.

The imprint affected them in complex ways that Jacob would not escape explaining to everyone forever. Physically touching each other was necessary to heal sometimes, preventing her from getting sick and mending their frequent injuries. The need for a physical connection would never be avoidable as long as Jacob was still phasing and the wolf remained with him. He would likely need Bella until the day that one of them died, and Reagan needed to understand and accept that before their relationship went any further.

"I guess so," she huffed when he hesitated too long.

"No, sweetheart," Jacob cooed, immediately trying to soothe her worries as he cradled her against his chest. "You are not terrible at all. If you have insecurities about me right now, that is my fault. I should have told you more about our fucked up history from the very beginning. Our friendship is unique, Rae. That's the only way I can explain it." For the time being, it's the only way I'm allowed to explain it.

Reagan smiled at him for a moment, and Jacob immediately beamed back at her. Her smile was his favorite feature. He hated that he had managed to lose some of her trust, dulling many happy moments over the last week. He already knew that he would do almost anything for Reagan. Jacob could easily see himself growing old with her one day. She was even open to having a large family, something Jacob desperately wanted.

She asked, "So, how did you know, anyway?"

"Know what?" His brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to recall what she was referencing. He didn't have a clue.

Reagan said, "That Bella would be drunk when she got home? You walked straight out there as if you knew."

Jacob said, "Well, I kind of did. She doesn't drink often and isn't the greatest at limiting herself when she does. I know that if Leah's involved, Bella coming home smashed is a decent possibility."

"You have that in common," Reagan teased. Jacob watched as the smile fled her face. Tentatively, she asked, "Does Bella realize how much you physically do for her, Jake?"

Jacob tried to conceal his frustrated frown as he shook his head. "No, Rae. I mean, she's codependent at times. It's not always like this, though. Bells takes care of us, too. She cooks, cleans, helps with bills, and does all our laundry. She has lived with us off and on since I was fifteen. We do things the other doesn't exactly like sometimes, but we're family, Rae." Jacob chuckled as he admitted, "A fucked up family, but a family nonetheless. Besides that, our current situation is temporary. Eventually, Bells will find a place, but this has always been her home just as much as mine. Our handprints are in the concrete under the carport from when we snuck them in the wet cement when we were kids. She is more of a daughter to my dad than my biological sisters are."

"Yeah, but she's not your sister, Jake," Reagan said quietly, looking away from him.

"No, she's not," Jacob agreed. "But she and I have had each other's backs since we were babies. Bella will always be my family."

"I can understand that, Jake," Reagan said carefully. "It's just… I'm getting used to things, okay? You promised you two stopped messing around, and I believe you. Please have patience with me."

Jacob chuckled, relieved by her response. He said, "I've got tons of patience to spare if you need to find a little patience for me, too."

"Good," Reagan said as she snuggled back against him. "How is the Bella and Paul situation anyway?"

"I'm pretty sure they are both head over heels now. They are taking things a day at a time. She is supposed to spend tomorrow with him." Jacob frowned as he thought of their tender goodbye Monday evening. The wolf huffed in aggravation at the memory.

"Hopefully, she isn't too hungover," Reagan said sympathetically.

Jacob turned further into her and slid his hand down her back to cup her ass. Reagan giggled as he nuzzled his face against hers and draped her leg over his waist. Her soft smile fled her face as Jacob ground himself against her. A gasp escaped her as he slid his hand between her legs, and Reagan closed her eyes. Jacob pulled her with him as he rolled to his back. Reagan sat up, straddling his waist as she reached for the hem of her shirt to pull it off. Jacob happily focused on the woman above him, pushing all thoughts of his imprint and relationship worries away.


(BPOV)

For fuck's sake, again? Bella wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but it wasn't long enough. Even though Reagan wasn't yelling to the rafters this time, the slow, familiar thump of the headboard was indication enough of what they were doing.

At least Dad's not home this time, Bella thought as she grabbed the bottled water on her nightstand. She downed almost half of it before heading to the bathroom. A hot shower sobered her a little before she grudgingly walked back to her room.

Bella stood in her towel, staring down at her empty bed. The noises in Jacob's room had stopped but the aggravation she felt lingered. Bella was surprised at the loneliness that filled her while thinking of Paul, wondering if he was sleeping peacefully at home. She missed his warm body peacefully pressed against hers as she slept, soaking into his heat and wrapped in his long, muscular arms.

It's Thursday. You'll be with him most of the day anyway. Bella walked to her closet and began digging through it for the items she wanted. She wondered what time it was as she began dressing, hoping Paul was home.