Chapter 21
I nearly fell over as I let Harry out of the house when I got home from work. I was working night shifts this month, and I hadn't gotten used to the time change yet. I frowned at the red light blinking on my answering machine.
"Hey Rachel! This is – way too enthusiastic… beep – Hey Rache, I never call you Rache – beep – Hi Rachel, this is Paul, I was just calling to – BEEP. End of messages."
I laughed hard hitting the replay button again. Apparently he'd been trying to hit the redo button.
I jumped when the phone beside me rang.
"Hello," I said fighting the giggles.
"Rachel?" Paul asked.
"Hey Paul," I grinned.
"Hey... You okay?"
"Yeah, I just got this voicemail. This person thought he was deleting his attempts at leaving a message, but he didn't..."
It took him a long moment for him to respond. "Oh shit."
"Yeah it made my day though," I smiled.
"Oh..." he grinned. "Well I was just calling to ask you out for tomorrow."
"Oh I have to work tomorrow tonight," I frowned.
"The date's in the morning right when you get off work."
"Yes, alright then."
"Great, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," I bit my lip keeping myself from squealing like a giddy thirteen year old girl. It felt like I was going on my very first date again.
...
I hurried around the house getting ready for my date with Paul and struggled deciding whether I should eat or not.
The doorbell rang, and I finished tugging on my shirt and stepped on Harry again. He'd been following me around the house since I'd gotten home like we were playing a game.
"Hi," I opened the door. He was wearing a dark sweater and jeans, and I could tell he combed his hair.
"Hi, this is for you," he held out a flower with a nervous smile.
"Thank you," I blushed. "Come in – I'll put this in water."
"You look nice," he cleared his throat.
"You too," I called from the kitchen, leaving the flower on the window sill. "So what are we doing today?"
"It's a surprise. Wear your boots though. Harry can come too if you want," he looked down at Harry, whom was staring up at him with a pitiful look.
"Come on lovebirds, let's go," I smiled at them, opening the door.
...
"Come on boy," Paul whistled, letting Harry out of the truck.
"Hurry close the door – it's cold!" I laughed, shivering. He'd packed us a picnic and drove us to First Beach. It was a lovely idea except that it was late November and it was freezing outside.
"Sorry! Here," he moved the air vents in my direction.
"So what'd you bring?" I glanced in the back seat.
"French toast, bacon, orange juice, some cheese eggs, and hot chocolate..."
"Ooooo French toast and hot chocolate… fancy." My stomach growled as he handed me a plastic container of food and a fork. "I bet this works on all the girls."
"I wouldn't know. I don't cook for just anybody," he grinned turning up the radio a tidbit.
"So you love 80's music?" I gestured to the radio with a mouthful of food.
"No not really, I just like this song. If it's good, I'll like it," he shrugged. "Oh look…"
I turned to see Harry running at the waves before turning around to run away from them, barking.
"Oh Harry…. He doesn't like me very much. He probably got it from Jo – she just doesn't like me either," I pouted.
"She's just a little jealous of you that's all and not all dogs are affectionate especially ones like Harry who's had it pretty bad."
"Yeah, but they both love you…"
"Yeah well, I… like you so…" he looked at me, unsure.
"That's good because I like you too," I blushed.
"I would so kiss you right know, but I have bacon breath…" he spoke softly.
"I love bacon…"
"Yeah?" he bent his face down toward me.
"Uh huh," I nodded before his lips met mine. Hot – intense – gentle. I was reluctant when he pulled away, and I shivered from the drop of temperature, wishing his hands were back on my neck.
"Sorry sorry!" Paul called out as he jumped out of the truck, helping Harry into the backseat. It had started to pour, and Harry splattered us as he shook out his wet fur.
"I guess we should head back," I yawned as Paul pulled off his sweater. I tried not to stare too blatantly at him.
"Yeah let's get you to bed," he grinned.
…
I woke up to someone banging on my door.
"What?" I yelled, stumbling to the door. "What do you want?"
"Oh sorry, did I wake you?" Jacob had the decency to look sheepish.
"S'okay, you know how I am," I waved it off letting him in. "Is there something you need?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask you about something. We're leaving later tonight, but I wanted to talk to you in private…"
"Are you going to yell at me for abandoning you now?" I mumbled, blinking my eyes and trying to wake myself up.
"What? No… thanks to you, Dad wasn't strict with me. I would have left too if I were you. You guys just rubbed each other the wrong way," he shook his head.
"Dad wasn't strict with you because you were a freakin werewolf," I snorted.
"That too…"
"What was it that you wanted to ask me?"
"It's about Mom's ring…"
"Oh," my stomach rolled. I'd always loved that ring. When I was little I'd just hold my mom's hand and play with it on her finger. I would pretend it was a star because it was so shiny and perfect and make silly wishes.
"I'm planning on asking Nessie soon," he bit his lip. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I gave it to her. You're the oldest so-"
"Oh no – no don't mind me," I blinked. "You should have it. That kind of thing passes down to the son anyways."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's fine…"
"Alright, I have to go, but I'll see you later," he smiled jumping up to leave.
I didn't move to walk him out. I didn't even try because I was fighting back the urge to sob. I was being irrationally overemotional, and I wasn't sure if it was even about the ring. I wasn't ever going to get married. Doug was a major failure – he promised me one day…
Now Paul was being sweet. Our date had been really fun. And! And I completely forgot to ask him about his imprint…
AN: so it's only been a week since I last updated, it's felt like two months. Looking back it's funny as hell, but the worst things keep happening to me. My life's kinda been like a Three Stooges episode.
thanks for reading