Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer

THREE

Leah came home to a quiet, and emptier than usual house. Sam had moved out the rest of his things earlier that day. Although they hadn't signed yet, it felt so final. But she was relieved not to have to look at anything that would remind her of him. It was good that his presence in their home was gone, because he was never coming back. But with the finality of things, and as much as Leah loved their house, she knew that she had to sell. She needed a clean break from this marriage, from the last eight years that had ended up a sham of a relationship.

For two - and a half - of the eight years they'd been married, she'd been cheated on. Her husband had been involved with Leah's own cousin. Leah still couldn't stomach even saying Emily's name or thinking about the fact that they'd grown up close like sisters. One day, Emily came down for Leah's birthday party which Sam was throwing in her honor, and they met again and hit it off. From then they developed a relationship and Leah was none the wiser. Emily claimed she'd gotten a job in town and was staying. But Leah rarely saw her. She'd just assumed her cousin was busy with work, but then she found out that she was busy sleeping with Sam.

If Leah hadn't seen the raunchy text Emily had sent to Sam's phone one night while he was taking a shower, she might have never found out. Leah couldn't figure out why Sam would want to carry on an affair for so long. Leah had this niggling feeling that for the sake of appearances, Sam had needed her.

"Stop!" Leah scolded herself. She didn't want to think about the betrayal. It was too depressing, it was too upsetting. Leah didn't feel like getting angry or crying or throwing things. She didn't want to think about all the reasons why she alone hadn't been good enough for him.

After a hot shower she went to the kitchen and pulled out ingredients to make pasta. She turned on the radio and the tv and poured herself a hefty glass of wine. She needed noise as a distraction, she needed to feel less alone. After dinner Leah curled up on the sofa with another glass of wine and watched the news. She needed to get a dog or cat or something. This simply couldn't go on. The emptiness she felt in the house was too overwhelming, especially on a day like today.

Leah thought back to the handsome, kind mechanic, Jacob Black. He'd been on her mind quite a few times since they met four days ago. She often wondered if he thought about her too. She knew that he wouldn't mind if she called, but Leah wasn't sure what she would say. She was interested in him but actually pursuing him was a different story altogether. She had nothing to offer to anyone at this point, not whilst in the middle of a divorce.

The phone rang. It was Leah's accountant and literally her only female friend not connected to Sam and his partners, who still acknowledged that they were friends. "Hey Donna."

"Hey hun, how are you?"

Leah sighed. "Honestly?"

"That bad huh? I was wondering if you'd like to come out with me tonight, I think it would be just the distraction you need from everything going on with He Who Shall Not Be Named."

Leah chuckled while shaking her head. "Donna I'm tired, I don't think I would be very good company."

"Okay, let me rephrase: I'm picking you up in about forty minutes to go to the club with me and a few girls. It's Lisa's birthday from the office and we're just having a few drinks and doing a little dancing. We won't be out long okay? These are married women with children. We're the only two single gals, I need you as my wingman."

Leah looked at herself in the mirror on the wall of the living room. She looked miserable and tired. No, defeated. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. "Alright. I'll be ready."

With determination sparked by fury over the shell she'd become, Leah marched into her closet to the row of dresses specifically for dates and parties and formal events. She chose her favorite red bodycon dress that stopped mid-thigh, red strappy heels and a black and red purse that had a long strap she could drape over her shoulder.

She took a quick shower and blow dried her hair so that it would have bounce and volume. She slapped on mascara and red lipstick and chose a simple pair of gold hoops and a few gold bangles. With a spray of perfume she was done. She was just in time for the beeping of Donna's horn. She grabbed her coat, phone, keys, her license and some cash and slid them into her bag on the way out.

"Fuck you look hott! Are you trying to make my co-workers jealous? God I wish I still had a waistline like that."

"Oh stop it Donna, you're just as sexy."

Donna Lane was biracial, 27, with curly brown hair and tanned skin. She was a little on the thicker side but she was not fat in any shape or form. She loved going to the gym as much as Leah did. They often met up to train together or to attend a yoga class. They were great friends in fact, and Leah had never really valued that until that very moment. She'd never invited Donna into her personal life with Sam before. "Hey Donna, thanks for doing this. I really appreciate you being a friend right now."

"Don't thank me Leah. You've been good to me over the years and now you deserve to have someone in your corner. I'm happy to help."

They found parking a block away and walked over to the club. Leah was surprised to see a line to get in on a Thursday night. "They have two-for-one specials all night. The drinks are a little expensive but the special is on basically everything instead of the usual boring choices." Donna explained, seeing her friend's wonderment at the crowd.

"That explains it."

"Most people start partying from Thursday into Sunday now. There're certain places that are popular each night. This place is always packed on Thursdays. You've been out of the game too long but don't worry, I'll teach you to ride this old horse again," Donna joked.

"No no no. I don't intend to be clubbing every weekend Donna, okay? This is just because you asked nicely."

Donna laughed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever Leah. Just have fun tonight, deal?"

"Deal."

Leah stood in line with her friend, pulling her black trench coat around her body and looked around at the people. There were a few guys checking them out but Leah didn't let her eyes linger. She saw a few familiar faces from around town but there was one person in particular that caught her interest. She could only see him from the back, and he was further up in the line. But she was almost certain that it was the mechanic…Jacob Black. His long hair was knotted at the back of his head. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and black jeans. His broad back rippled as he laughed at something another guy was saying. He seemed to be with friends and not on a date. For some reason Leah found herself exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

When they finally got inside and checked their coats, Leah tried her best not to look around. She purposely didn't want to run into Jacob, she just wanted to let loose and not worry about men. Donna introduced her to her small group of work-friends – Lisa, Kate and Emma. They'd already claimed a table and were well on their way to being drunk. A waitress came by and Leah ordered a red wine while Donna chose a martini. Since it was two-for-one they would have enough to get the night started. By the second glass of wine Leah was relaxed and having a good time. The music was great and Donna's friends were actually great company. They didn't just talk about work or kids (even asking Leah's advice on getting their kids to take care of their teeth), they were genuinely funny and had opinions on everything.

"Come on girls, I need to dance!" Lisa announced. The table of women all screamed in agreement and made their way over to the dancefloor.

Donna and Leah held hands and danced together, grinding to the music in between laughing their heads off. Leah couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun. It felt so good to just feel the music take all her cares away with each bump of the baseline. They must have danced for almost an hour before Donna declared she needed water. They both made their way to the bar and managed to squeeze their way up front. While catching her breath and smoothing down her hair Leah caught the amused stare of Jacob across the other side of the bar. He lifted his chin with a smile and she immediately smiled back before looking away shyly.

"You know him?" Donna asked. "God he's cute."

"He stopped and helped me fix my car on Monday. My tire blew out in traffic. He was very helpful."

"You're shitting me? That sounds like a porn movie, did you do it in the back of your car too?"

Leah slapped Donna's shoulder in outrage. "I will not even answer that, you drunk person!"

"He's giving you 'fuck me' eyes Leah!"

"He is not!"

Leah was too scared to even look back now and confirm it herself. She was sure that Jacob knew they were talking about him. She felt so embarrassed.

They got their waters eventually and made it back to the table where the other ladies were. Feeling awkward now after seeing Jacob by the bar, Leah decided she needed a bathroom break to compose herself. While she waited to use a stall she reapplied her lipstick and tried to tame her hair a little. After she came back out she wove her way through the crowd and jumped when she heard Jacob Black's deep voice calling her over.

He was quite nearby standing against the wall, alone it seemed. "Hello again," he said with the sexiest smile, his head cocked to one side as he watched her approach.

"Hi Jake." Leah answered shyly.

"How are you?"

"Good…"

"I was surprised to see you just now, but I wasn't sure you would talk to me. You kind of ignored me."

Leah knew she was blushing bad by now. "Sorry, my friend was just teasing and I didn't want her to get the wrong idea."

"Ah, I see. I get it. My boys aren't any better. So you girls celebrating or just hanging out?"

"It's a birthday celebration. Only Donna's my friend really, she asked me to come along as her plus-one."

"Cool. It's my boy Brady's birthday too. He's finally legal, you know how that goes."

"He's drunk off his ass then I take it?" Leah laughed but it made her wonder about his age. Was he that young? He didn't look it.

"Within the first twenty minutes of being here, yeah." Jacob chuckled, looking down at her with twinkling dark eyes. He was so handsome he literally took Leah's breath away. He smelled amazing too, musky and masculine, like she remembered from that first day. Leah tried not to notice the way his shirt hugged the muscles of his chest and biceps. He was All Man.

They said nothing for a beat and then Jacob leaned over and whispered, "You look amazing in that dress." Leah's body shivered at the touch of his breath against the shell of her ear. She looked up at him and said "Thank you." He had awakened something in her body that had been neglected for so long that it made her want to flee.

"I should be getting back to my friend now. She'll get worried."

Jacob nodded with understanding but Leah didn't miss the obvious disappointment in his eyes. "Hopefully I'll see you again sometime…" he replied.

"Maybe…" was all Leah would give him. She knew he was fishing for a date but she wasn't sure she was ready. Jacob was too much for her to handle right now. His presence alone was too overwhelming.

"Have a nice night then Doctor Uley, and get home safely."

"Thanks Mr. Black," Leah smiled, grateful he didn't pursue anything more, before she turned and merged once again with the crowd.