Leah and Quil followed the others in her car, arriving just as Paul was flipping on the lights and jukebox. Leah talked Bella into one drink and had Paul make all three women the same one she had stuck to for the night. He did not make them as strong as Rachel, but they did taste better. Leah drained her cup in less than five minutes and asked for another while she fed the jukebox.

The bar grew busy as other patrons filtered in. Leah glanced around the space warily and said, "And here I thought Drunk Thanksgiving was our own little family tradition."

Bella said, "You mean Fuck Thanksgiving?"

Jacob laughed and said, "Drunk Thanksgiving is also accurate."

Quil nudged Leah and asked, "Remember the day we stole Billy's liquor?"

Leah burst out laughing as Jacob asked, "What?"

Quil said, "Remember the day you left us in the garage, and we drank Billy's bottle of Wild Turkey?"

Jacob laughed and nodded as he said, "I was super exhausted that day."

Quil said, "Yup. You were a regular party pooper."

Jacob looked lost in thought for a moment before his eyes grew wide. He pointed at them and asked, "Is that the night you two started fucking around in my garage?"

Leah silently cursed as her face flushed. She actually giggled, furthering her embarrassment, and shook her head no.

Quil nudged her with his elbow and mumbled, "Someone's memory is still jacked."

"Oh, I remember, Quil Ateara. There was no fucking that night," Leah said, and their whole table roared with laughter.

Paul carried over a tray full of drinks and served them quietly.

Bella stared down at her nearly empty first drink and grumbled, "Paul, I have literally never been drunk in my life."

Paul said, "There's a first time for everything, Bella. Don't worry, I'll drive all of you fuckfaces home myself if I need to." He gently and flirtatiously nudged her chin with his fist. Bella's face flushed bright red as Jacob shot Paul a warning glance. Paul barked out a loud laugh and leaned forward over the table toward Jacob.

The smile instantly dropped from Paul's face as he whispered, "Two O'clock. No scent." Paul pretended to laugh again and stood abruptly. He said, "You know I'm just playin', bro." He gathered empty cups and bottles onto his tray and cheerily resumed his place behind the bar. Jacob glanced to his right and forced himself to smile.

Jacob whispered, "Embry, eleven O'clock."

Embry glanced to his left suspiciously and whispered, "Never seen him."

Jacob told Leah, Quil, and Angela, "Don't turn around, guys."

Skeptically, Quil whispered, "Why would a non-local be here on a fucking holiday by himself? Does he have a drink?"

Bella whispered, "Hasn't touched it." The others looked at her in surprise, and she asked, "What? I can see him straight on from here."

Jacob frowned and said, "Alright, guys. Let's just go on about our business, at least pretend to have a good time, and-"

"No," Leah interrupted and then took a long drink from her cup, emptying it. She said, "If it is him and not just some strange scentless human, then he is here for me." Leah wasn't sure if the alcohol was to blame for her heightened bravado, but the wolf seemed absolutely indifferent to the possible dangerous stranger in the corner. Despite that, there was a lingering sense of dread that she had not been able to shake all day. Leah knew without a doubt as she glanced at her sister and best friend that she would always try to put Bella's safety first.

Quil hissed at Leah angrily as she stood, "Leah! What the hell are you doing?"

Leah held her hand out to Quil and said, "I'm going to stay right here and be a distraction while my brothers get their imprints out of here. I believe you promised me a dance."

Quil gaped at her in surprise and stood. "I hope you know what you are doing," he muttered and took her hand. Leah was surprisingly calm as she slowly pulled him toward the dance floor.

Teasing them, Paul yelled, "Aww, shit!" He roared with laughter when Leah gave him the middle finger as she walked past. When she turned to face Quil, the overhead lights flipped out, darkening the space dramatically. Leah glared at Paul, shaking her head as quiet laughter came from his patrons. Strangers and acquaintances alike watched the show as Paul made a spectacle of them.

After hearing some of Angela's waitressing stories, Leah knew the regulars were used to Paul's sense of humor. If she was honest, it was the reason Leah didn't hang out at his bar. Paul was the star of the show at his bar, and the cost of that was frequently paid by embarrassing someone else.

Quil threaded his fingers through hers and whispered, "This might be a good thing. Let this fucker think we are together."

What is he talking about? I'm pretty sure Paul already thinks we are together.

Quil pulled her arms up around his neck and leaned in close. He whispered in her ear, "This tick wants you to forget about Hodie, right?" Leah glanced over his shoulder at the lone stranger, who was silently watching them as well.

Quil said, "Let him think you have." He brushed his lips against her cheek and grinned as she shivered. Leah jumped as the jukebox abruptly changed songs. Quil pointed at Paul in a warning, and Leah blushed with embarrassment as numerous customers laughed.

Where the hell did my fucking confidence go? A month ago, Leah had danced on stage in a strip club. She had danced naked in front of Quil.

"Hey," Quil said as he began to lead them carefully across the floor. "Don't worry about them, Leelee. It's just us here. The background doesn't matter. We are just dancing in the living room."

Leah turned to look back up into his soft green eyes, expecting to find mischief behind them. Instead, he stared back at her with such besotted devotion that it made her chest physically hurt. Leah whispered, "You want me to pretend?"

Quil whispered, "Sweetheart, you don't have to pretend anything. Just feel what you feel."

Leah stared up into his face silently as they danced. She didn't have the words to express the multitude of emotions that swarmed her. The song lyrics were not lost on her, as she had known them by heart since childhood. Quil's hand ghosted along her side the way it had when they danced before. Leah unconsciously leaned in closer, relaxing as she focused on him and let the rest fade away. He smirked as her fingers slipped upward into his hair. Quil suddenly kissed the tip of her nose and dipped her. She burst out laughing as he grabbed her thigh and tickled the back of her knee. Quil grinned and remained quiet, resuming their dance. The song changed at some point, and Leah glared over at Paul as another sappy love song poured into the space.

Leah finally found her voice and said, "Someone has been practicing."

Quil chuckled and shrugged as he glanced down at his feet. He said, "I think you being in shoes helps. I'm less worried about stepping on your toes." As the song neared its end, Quil spun her around and then dipped her. Leah cackled as he pretended to drop her, catching her before she touched the ground. Quil pulled her upright, and she glanced over at their friends waiting by the door. When Leah peeked at the far corner, the suspicious stranger was nowhere in sight. Quil kept a hold of her hand as she walked over to them, shaking her head.

Leah said, "You guys were supposed to sneak the hell out of here."

Bella wore a dreamy smile as she said, "I wasn't missing any of that."

Angela shook her head in agreement and said, "Nuh-uh. No way."

Leah said, "Seriously, you two are making me feel like I'm at a prom. All I am missing is a corsage and a romp in the back seat somewhere."

Bella blurted out, "Not in that little ass Nissan."

When the others finally stopped laughing, Jacob suggested, "Let's all get the hell out of here now. Safer if we stick together." He held the leather jacket up for Leah to put back on. Quil reached into the lower right pocket and snatched her keys.

Paul hurried over and asked, "You guys leaving? Is anyone good to drive?"

"I'm driving," Angela said and nudged Bella with her shoulder. "I'm sober, but you got this one drunk."

"Not. Bitch," Bella said and scoffed.

Paul laughed as he pulled out a bottle of bourbon from behind his back and handed it to Quil. "Don't let her overdo it," Paul said and pointed at Leah.

Quil laughed and teased, "She has already well over what she was supposed to have tonight."

"If you tell anyone I said this, I'll fucking deny it," Paul said seriously, "But Leah deserves to have a good time for a change. Keep her safe and let her have fun. She has been a fucking prisoner in a vamp lair for a month."

Jacob mocked, "Okay, Dad."

Embry added, "Sure thing, Dad."

"Oooooh," Quil followed, and the trio burst out laughing.

Paul stared at them all in confusion, oblivious to the movie reference. He yanked the bottle from Quil's hands and said, "Y'all motherfuckers ain't mature enough for bourbon."

Leah reached over to snag it back, laughing. "Well, I am," she said and quickly shoved it inside her jacket. They said goodbye to Paul and headed out into the snow.

Embry and Angela said goodbye in Jacob's driveway as they climbed into their own vehicle to go home. Seth was awake and waiting to let them in as they walked up to the house.

Jacob asked Seth, "Did Sarah stay asleep?"

Seth said, "She hasn't woken up once, but I've checked on her plenty. It was super quiet here." Bella hung up her coat and tiptoed toward the nursery to check on her daughter. Seth told the others goodnight and went back to finish the movie he was watching on the new TV in Billy's bedroom.

Leah pulled the bottle of bourbon from her jacket and set it on the kitchen table to open it. Quil smirked and pulled out a chair, sitting across from her.

Jacob asked, "You two staying up for a bit?"

As she sat to pull off her heels, Leah said, "Hell yes." She sighed as she stretched and wiggled her toes on the floor.

Jacob said, "Well, my happy ass is going to bed. That shit at the bar sobered me up in an instant and now I'm just tired." He double-checked the back door to make sure it was locked and said goodnight as he left the room.

"We need chasers," Leah said, and Quil went to the fridge to grab a couple of sodas. He was back in his seat quickly, handing Leah her favorite kind.

I really gotta stop being surprised by this shit, she thought. It was simply another thing Quil knew about her that she had not realized. Leah didn't want to think about heavy shit. Leah definitely didn't want to think about how much she ached for him to put his arms back around her. What she wanted was to take a few more shots.

Pushing those thoughts away for what seemed like the hundredth time that week, Leah took a swig from the bottle. She closed her eyes, moaning as the heat of the alcohol crept down her throat. Quil snagged the bottle from her hand and took a drink. He set the bottle back between them on the table and said, "That is good." Leah moaned again, nodding. He glanced away from her quickly and moved his chair, readjusting himself. Quil pulled out his phone and scrolled through his playlist, selecting a random song. He turned the volume down low and laid it on the table.

Leah said, "Thanks for the dance earlier. Much less awkward than dancing with Charlie."

Quil laughed and nodded. He said, "Never thought I'd see anyone with less rhythm than me."

Leah thought about his fingers gliding across the guitar strings and argued, "You have rhythm." She rocked slightly in her seat at the thought of his hands. Quil grinned at her flirtatiously, sensing precisely where her thoughts had gone.

Leah admitted, "I am curious about who has been teaching you to dance, though."

Quil laughed and lied, "You."

Leah said, "Seriously, it's sweet." She leaned back in her chair and put her foot on his knee under the table. Quil glanced down at her toes and smirked as Leah asked, "So what inspired you to learn, anyway?"

Quil chuckled and said, "You, dumbass. I wanted to have a dance with you at the wedding and not look like an idiot. Like I told you."

Leah asked, "Where did you even find the time?"

Quil shrugged and said, "You sleep a lot."

He practiced while I slept? Leah realized then that his instructor had to have been Rose or Esme as the only logical possibilities. For a split second, Leah wondered if it could have been Chelsea. The very idea made her stomach flip. Putting away the thought, Leah said, "We almost didn't have one tonight. What if you had done all of that practicing for nothing?"

Quil placed his warm hand on the top of her foot and gently stroked her ankle with his thumb. He said, "Leah, I got to dance with you for a good hour the other night. That was worth it all by itself. I've wanted to dance with you like that since the first night I saw you from down in the damn creek bed. Even if it was just something simple. I love the way you move, Leelee." His hand slid further up her leg, and Leah bit back a moan.

She wanted him. Leah wanted his hands everywhere they could possibly be. The last month might as well have been torture between her grief, loneliness, relentless longing, and unavoidable guilt. And the dreams. God, the fucking dreams. Dreams of his hands gliding along her body left her aching and frustrated when she woke, longing for proof that it was as good as she remembered. I still love him, damn it. Perhaps more than ever before.

Quil slid his hand back toward her ankle and whispered, "It wouldn't be a bad thing, you know?"

Leah cautiously pulled her leg away and asked, "What wouldn't be a bad thing?"

Quil said, "Like I said earlier tonight. Let yourself just feel what you feel."

Leah scoffed and stood. She walked around the table to stand in front of him, but Quil yanked her into his lap. He cradled her against his chest, gliding his warm hands up her exposed back.

Quil said, "Talk to me, Leelee. We can't avoid this discussion forever."

Leah admitted, "I don't know what the right thing to do is anymore. I love you both, Quil." He chuckled bitterly, and she sat up to look into his face. "You know I do," she insisted. "You said it yourself."

Quil shook his head sadly. His trembling hands slid to her waist, and he sighed heavily. "Look, I can't say what's going to happen later. All I can do is love you now. I know you love me, Leelee. If right now is all there is, I'll fucking take it."

Leah said, "You deserve so much fucking better than that!" She stood and turned to face him, straddling his lap. She damn near regretted the decision as her warm center came to rest over his erection. Quil's hands slid up to cup her face, and she wrapped her hands around his.

His voice was lower, huskier as Quil said, "I want to give you whatever you will let me. It is enough for me, Leah. Your happiness and safety are enough for me. Even if you won't be with me." Quil slowly pressed his lips to hers, a feeling that Leah now believed she would always know by heart. He moaned against her mouth as she tentatively returned his kiss. She parted her lips for him and closed her eyes. He gently kneaded her lower back with his hands, and Leah melted against him. His touch was what she had been craving for weeks, her need for him soaring quickly and leaving her out of breath. Quil broke their kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. They were both trembling as Leah fought against the hesitation she had been clutching onto for weeks.

Quil whispered, "Give me tonight, Leah."

"Okay," she said as she pulled away from him.

Quil sounded dazed and asked in disbelief, "Okay?"

Climbing off of his lap, she said, "Tonight."

Leah held her hand out to him nervously. Taking hold of it, Quil stood. Leading the way before she changed her mind, Leah pulled him toward the spare bedroom and shut the door behind them.

Leah leaned against the back of the door, turning the lock as Quil kicked his shoes off in the corner. He tossed his cell unceremoniously onto the nightstand, the music volume amplified by the small but almost empty space. As he turned back toward her, Leah rushed to him, pulling his lips back to hers greedily. Quil responded in kind, sliding his hands below her waist to her ass. Leah shuddered with want and broke away from him to unbutton his shirt. Quil pulled down the zipper on the back of her dress, and Leah stepped away as she let it fall to the floor. Quil looked down at her chest and groaned. Her nipples instantly puckered as his hands slid under her full breasts, cupping them. She moaned as he traced her areolas with his thumbs, and another surge of lust shot through her. Quil lowered his mouth to her throat and kissed downward as his hands roamed over her bare flesh.

Leah whimpered from the heat of his breath, the soft caress of his lips, and she tilted her head to allow him better access. Leah pushed his shirt back over his shoulders, and he dropped his hands to let her remove it. Leah slid her nails down his back as she pulled the material away, remembering far too well what effect it had.

She heard him suck air through his teeth from the sensation and a soft, hungry growl emanated from his chest. "God, I fucking want you," he said and crushed his lips back to hers.

Leah reached between them to unbutton his pants. She needed him to be naked. She needed to feel all of him against her body, touching her. "Quil," Leah said and pulled her mouth from his again. She was desperate to be underneath him, already panting when they had barely begun.

Hesitantly, Quil asked, "Yeah?"

Leah feasted her eyes on him for a moment, practically drooling over the tight, prominent muscles in his neck and chest. "You can call me Leah," she teased, and Quil grinned as the tension fell away from his face. He relaxed against her as he chuckled and playfully slapped her ass. The sound was louder than he anticipated, and they both had to muffle their laughter. Leah slowly pulled down the zipper of his pants and carefully sank to her knees in front of him, taking the material with her. Even though she was more than aware of his size, the girth never failed to impress her. Leah took his shaft in hand and stroked it a few times before wrapping her mouth around the head. Quil moaned as she slid him into her mouth as far as she could, her jaw immediately aching as she attempted to accommodate him. Leah swirled her tongue around the head as she lifted her other hand to gently cup his testicles. Quil threw his head back and nearly bucked from the sensation, painfully pushing himself further in her mouth. Leah slowly drew away, allowing his heavy shaft to drop from her mouth before she stood.

Quil teased her, "Bless your heart for always trying." He stepped out of his pants and kicked them aside before lifting her by her ass. Leah wrapped her legs around him and whimpered again as his erection pressed against her sex. He spun and carefully crawled onto the bed, gently laying her down as he kneeled between her legs. Leah lifted her hips for him to pull her panties off, removing the last piece of material separating them. Quil rubbed his hands up the insides of her thighs toward her sex before lowering himself over her.

Leah dug her nails into his back as she said, "I want your fucking hands everywhere." He moaned and lowered his mouth to her nipple. He teased it with his tongue before gently tugging it with his teeth. Leah arched upward and slid her nails to his ass, rubbing her hot wet clit along his shaft.

Quil said, "If you keep doing that shit, it will have to wait for round two."

Kissing the hollow of his throat, she asked, "Already planning round two, huh?" Quil let out a low, hungry growl that seemed to vibrate through them both and pooled straight to her core.

He said, "As long as I have waited for this? I'm going to fuck you," he paused to grind against her, "until you pass the fuck out."

Leah bucked underneath him, digging her nails into his flesh as she challenged, "Prove it."

Quil glared down at her hungrily as he slid his right hand to her sex. Past her hot, wet folds, his finger slipped inside of her, and Leah moaned. Quil stroked her a few times before carefully adding another finger. "Your fucking puss is still so tight." Quil panted between kisses along her throat while he tried to prepare her for him. "You feel so damn good every time." He lowered his mouth back to her breasts, alternating between them.

Leah squirmed under him, the heat flowing through her limbs so intense she wanted to scream for him to hurry up and put it in already. "I need you in me," Leah said, panting. "Quil, I need you now." He ignored her, deliberately slowing his movements to drag out the sensations he was building in her.

He grinned at her mischievously and said, "You still have no patience, I see." Quil pressed his thumb down on her clit and rubbed in a light, rapid circle. Leah bit down on her bottom lip to keep from yelling as an orgasm ripped through her.

Finally, Quil pressed the head of his cock against her opening. "Fucking look at me, Leelee," Quil growled out. As she opened her eyes to look up into his, he pushed the head inside of her. Leah sucked in a deep breath as he stretched her painfully. Even her best dreams hadn't done him justice.

Quil pushed his way further inside of her, trying to hold back his own noises as he did so. He worked his way deeper with firm, slow thrusts. Quil's hand moved up into her hair, and he twisted it around his fist. He pulled it hard as he fully slammed home. She whimpered in pain, and he paused to kiss her tenderly.

He asked, "Are you alright?" Leah nodded and pulled him down for another long, sensual kiss before he moved again. Quil began thrusting into her at a slow, deliberate pace. Leah's walls clenched around him from the invasion, sucking him in deeper still. His hands roamed everywhere he could possibly reach, no place too intimate or out of bounds for him. Quil raised her left leg and shoved her knee up to her chest as her hands shot toward the headboard. He grabbed onto the headboard as well, using his broad chest to hold her leg pinned upward, and growled from the intense change in sensation. Her breasts bounced with his thrusts as he picked up speed. The high-pitched sounds coming from Leah were a mixture of panting and humming. Her consciousness was void of anything aside from the intense sensations creeping through her.

Passionately, Quil said, "I told you that I would be waiting."

Dazed and nearing an orgasm, Leah panted, "What? What are you saying?"

Quil dropped one hand between them and began to gently stroke her clit. Her short whimpering cries became louder with each thrust as he changed his rhythm. Quil said, "I told you that he would fuck up." Her eyes flew open to stare up into his as he said, "And you would come and find me." He squeezed her clit, and Leah fell apart around him. Her walls clenched firmly around his shaft with her orgasm, holding him in place. Quil bit down on his own bicep to keep from yelling as he spasmed, spilling inside of her.

Leah felt like jello underneath him, her limbs absolutely limp as she tried to catch her breath. Quil let go of the headboard and moved so Leah could lower her leg. He wrapped his arms around her and placed delicate kisses randomly along her cheek and jaw.

When she was finally able to absorb his words, Leah said, "I didn't come to you, Quil. You came to find me."

He promised, "I will always find you, Leelee." Quil turned to his side, pulling her with him. Leah melted against him, burying her face in his chest as she blinked back tears.

Leah was exhausted in the best way, unwilling to pry her arms from around him any time soon. Each drifted off to sleep and remained clutching onto the other as if their very lives depended on it, unwilling to let go.