Chapter 13: His Family

After throwing Jake's laundry in the washing machine, I went into the kitchen to find Billy sitting at the table looking over some papers. It looked like they were medical bills. I made a mental note to call Carlisle and see if there was anything he could do. I knew that the Blacks didn't have a lot of money and didn't have great medical insurance. Unfortunately, they also didn't like when I or my family tried to help out, not that we needed our money. Plus, I was basically family, so what was the problem?

"Afternoon, Billy!" He looked up as I strode into the room and gave him a hug.

He chuckled and hugged me back. "Hey, sweetie. It's so good to see you." He gave me a knowing look.

I narrowed my eyes at him and gave him an annoyed look. It was still playful, though, so he laughed. "Nothing happened. I just slept over like old times."

"Like old times, huh? I seem to remember some "sleeping" over you did for a year before Jake left." He made air quotes with his fingers. "Also, I seem to recall your parents didn't know either."

"And they're never going to know." I playfully shoved his shoulder. "I'm talking old, old times, Billy, before things became… intimate." This conversation was awkward, but at the same time I'd rather have this conversation with Billy than with any of my family. Billy was a lot like Jake in the way he joked around, and even though he was my grandfather's age, he was more like a fun uncle to me.

I decided to change the subject. "Do you want lunch? Bologna and cheese sandwich with mayo?"

"Yes, please. Make sure you eat, too." I rolled my eyes. "And why did you come over so late last night? Rach said you arrived at about 3:30 in the morning." So much for changing the subject.

"Jake-" I was cut off by Paul and Rachel entering the kitchen.

"Well, well, well if it isn't the ole booty call Nessie back again." Paul smirked. Rachel slapped him eliciting an "ow" from Paul who rubbed his arm. "You know for a human, you sure know how to hurt a man, babe."

"Don't call her that, and I won't hurt you. It's nice to have you around again, Ren. Can I give you a hand with lunch?"

I gave Paul a sweet smile and replied to Rachel. "Sure, but only if I can make Paul's sandwich." Paul frowned and his eyebrows creased.

"I'm not hungry, actually."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right. Don't worry, I won't put anything that will kill you in it." Billy burst into laughter.

"Better watch out, son."

Rachel and I turned away from the boys and began prepping lunch. "So, why did you come here so early this morning?"

I shrugged. "He called last night, and I was worried because of how he sounded."

"He sounded broken." It wasn't a question.

I looked up at her. She had a couple inches on me, but what do you expect with a short girl? She had a sympathetic, sad look that told me she had seen Jake when he was like that, and she understood how it felt for me to see him like that. It seemed neither one of us liked to see him like that. I looked back down at the cheese in front of me.

"Yeah. I couldn't just go back to sleep after he called."

I felt her place her hand on my shoulder. "If anyone can help him, it's you." I was so surprised at her sweet words that I let the knife slip and cut my finger. Blood welled almost instantly, and it stung like a bitch.

"Dammit!"

Rachel reacted quickly, grabbing a towel and handing it to me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

"I know. It's okay. Just give it a few minutes, and it should heal itself." I smiled at her.

"Maybe, but not as fast as us wolves," Paul boasted.

I stuck my tongue out at him, making him and Billy laugh again. I turned back to Rachel. "I hope I can help him."

She nodded. "You can. C'mon let's eat."


We had finished eating, and were having a perfectly pleasant conversation when Jake burst through the front door, the rest of the unit right behind him.

"What happened?!" His eyes roamed each of us until he found me. "Are you okay?!"

At this point, I was uber confused. "Fine, wh-"

Paul spoke up. "Took you long enough to get here, bro. I mean seriously."

Jake shot him a look that could kill, and Paul held up his hands in defeat. Then he was right by me. "Hey," he said breathlessly. Grabbing the hand I had cut earlier, he ordered, "Let me see."

"How-" I looked at Billy, Rachel, and Paul and who all shook their heads or shrugged their shoulders, but they knew something that they weren't telling. I narrowed my eyes at them and scrunched up my nose then turned back to Jake who was inspecting my hand as if it was the cure to cancer. "Jake, how did you know that I hurt my hand?"

Jake froze. His widened eyes slowly moved up to meet mine. "I, uh, I-" He looked at his unit who looked about as confused as I felt. "We'll talk about this later." He tried to move away, and I grabbed his forearm.

For the first time since that first night, I used my gift on him. Meaning it's supernatural. But you won't tell me later will you.

Jake did nothing except continue to move away from me. He didn't acknowledge my gift, so I knew that whatever he was hiding from me, he really didn't want me to know. Jake always loved when I used my gift, and knowing that I didn't use it anymore, my using it right now probably made him ecstatic. However, he hide his enthusiasm.

"Ness, make us lunch since we're here? I miss your cooking." He smiled. It was one I loved and that made most women drop their panties.

I stood up, grabbed the loaf of bread, threw it at him, and said, "Make it yourself, bitch."

As I stormed out of the room, I heard Paul whistle low and Billy say, "I think you'll be sleeping outside tonight..."