Leah yawned and stretched luxuriously. Man, it felt good to sleep in! It was a rare opportunity, but she was on late patrol this week and…
Her musings were interrupted by a timid knock on the door. Who the hell knocked on the door? Wolf boys were in and out of her house so often Leah never locked the doors. She swung her long legs out of the bed and surveyed her sleepwear. Good enough. Clad in one of Jacob's enormous tee shirts that had somehow landed in her laundry basket, she stumbled to the door.
"Rachel! Is everything okay?" She opened the door wide and stepped back. "Here, sit. I'll warm it up a bit in here." Rachel took a seat next to the gas-powered fireplace as Leah flipped the switch. Flames leapt instantly to life.
"I'm fine," she said, wrapping her wool coat tighter around her. "Just a bit chilled." Leah kept the temperature around 60 because the shape shifters maintained such high body temperatures. "Actually, I was just missing my best friend. Am I keeping you from something? I know how busy you are." She looked around, surprised that they seemed to be alone.
"Nope. I'm a lady of leisure today, and you're a happy surprise. I do need a cup of coffee, though. Want some?"
Rachel nodded, studying her clasped hands.
"Sit tight. I have it on a timer, so I'll be right back. All I have to do is pour it."
"Smells wonderful, now that you mention it," Rachel said.
Leah returned with two mugs and handed one to Rachel, who had unbuttoned her coat. "Are you losing weight, Rach?" She slid the matching chair back from the fire and sat facing her friend. "It always shows in your face."
Rachel shrugged, setting her cup on an end table. "Maybe. I don't know. Probably." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her next words came in a whisper. "I've had a bit of a rough time." With that, an errant tear ran down her cheek but she seemed not to notice.
Leah scooted her chair closer and took Rachel's cold hands in her warm ones. "You don't have to say it, Rach. I kinda figured it out. You had an abortion, right?"
Rachel nodded and squeezed Leah's hands.
"I'm sorry, Rach. I should have been there for you, but I understood why you didn't want to confide in me. And I wasn't sure who knew. Did you tell your dad? Or Jake?"
Shaking her head violently, Rachel sobbed. "God, no! They would never understand."
Leah moved closer and wrapped her arms around Rachel while she cried. "It's okay, Rach, but I do understand. And I know what an awful decision it must have been for you. You had to do what was best for you and Paul - you know that, don't you?" Her friend nodded miserably and pulled a wrinkled handkerchief from her pocket, dabbing at her eyes.
"It's just...Paul's only 16, Leah. Things just happened so fast, with the imprint and the patrols, and…" Her voice broke off with a fresh sob.
"Listen to me, Rachel. You don't owe me - or anyone - any explanations. It was your decision, and I know you would never take it lightly. But it's done, and you have to put it behind you and move on. You have a lot of life ahead of you, and you and Paul seem to have a solid foundation. There will be plenty of time for babies when it suits your plans." She stopped, frowned, and shook her head as if to clear it.
"What is it, Leah?" Now Rachel's dark eyes were full of concern.
"Oh. Nothing, really. It just occurred to me that I've been pushing Jacob away, insisting he's too young for me." She smiled. "Same age difference as you and Paul."
"Jacob? You mean he finally made a move on you? That boy has been in love with you for years, my friend! And as for the age thing - those guys had to grow up fast. The carefree teenagers are history, in case you hadn't noticed."
Leah was happy to change the subject. "It is a bit weird. I mean, he seems much older because he's so big. And kind of gorgeous, I guess. He's a great guy, Rach, with a good head on his shoulders. And he doesn't seem threatened by my alpha status. I was a little worried about that. You know how some of them are."
"I trust you'll take it slow, Lee. In some ways you two make strange bedfellows."
"Bedfellows? Yikes! Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Now they were both laughing.
"What's a bedfellow?" Rachel jumped as Embry threw himself on the couch, a chicken leg in his hand.
Ignoring his question, Leah pointed to the kitchen. "You know better than that, Em. Get a napkin and at least a paper plate." She sighed. "Why do I feel like a den mother half the time? I didn't even hear him come in."
Rachel looked at Embry when he came back with a bowl and a napkin and sat on the couch. "Bedfellows are two people with something in common - not necessarily a bed. It's just an expression."
Embry nodded, not really interested, and reached for the TV remote. Leah shot him a withering glance and he dropped it on the couch with a sigh. "It's too hot in here anyway," he mumbled as he returned to the kitchen with his snack.
Rachel stood. "I have to go anyway, Lee. I can't tell you how much better I feel. Thanks for the talk." She hugged her friend and buttoned up her coat before going out into the chilly morning. She was back in five minutes, just as Leah was heading to the bathroom for a shower.
"My car won't start, Leah. And now I'm going to be late for work. Dammit!" She tossed the keys on the coffee table.
"Take mine," Leah offered. "I'm not going anywhere today except for patrol, and I don't need a car for that. Want me to call Jake to come over and take a look?"
Sighing deeply, Rachel took the keys Leah offered. "That would be great, Leah. Thanks! I'll get your car back to you later. You saved my bacon." She glanced at Embry.
"I get it. Another expression." He already had his phone in hand and was moving his thumbs rapidly over the keys. They heard the tone as the call connected. "Jake? Your sister's car is dead and she's leaving it at Leah's. Can you bring the wrecker and pick it up?" He listened for a moment, then answered. "Who knows? Probably out of gas." He grinned at Rachel, who flipped him off on her way out the door.
Leah was just walking out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair, when Jacob walked through the front door looking for Rachel's keys. He sniffed appreciatively and grinned at Leah. "Something smells delicious!"
Leah wrapped the towel around her shoulders and fluffed her hair with her hands. "I'd guess it's either Embry's world famous chili or my sunflower shampoo."
"Well, it's not the chili. No offense, Embry." Embry rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen.
Jacob sat on the couch and reached for the keys. He looked up in surprise as Leah walked over to the couch and sat down on his lap. He looked utterly gobsmacked when she glanced up in his face and fluttered her eyelashes.
"Jake," she said sweetly, "do you have a gun in your pocket or are you just really glad to see me?" There was a muffled snort from the kitchen.
"Leah!" he hissed, and she would swear he blushed. Fumbling for his pocket, he pulled out a long metal rod and mumbled "Actually, it's a socket wrench." Over her laughter, he asked "Are you flirting with me, Leah Clearwater?"
"Why yes, I suppose I am." She grinned and kissed the end of his nose, then stood and went to dry her hair. He was chuckling as he went out to look at the car.