Chapter four
I wake up too early and the day passes too slowly, by the time we start heading to first beech I'm beyond excited I even dressed up for the occasion. I pulled on my best jeans or what Mom tells me are my good butt Jeans and a t-shirt that actually belongs to me for once usually me and the rest of the pack end up sharing clothes out of ease most of the time but the navy blue t-shirt I was currently wearing was mine the tag was still in it probably put in my closet by Aunt Alice although Willow was just as bad so it could have easily been her. It was kind of tight and my arms stretched the sleeves within an inch of their lives and it made me feel a little self conscious but Mom and Willow said I looked handsome so I guess I must look ok, I never really had much call for shoes and I'd be barefoot on the beech so I just pulled on my old converse for driving in.
Mom and Dad had already gone down to the beach to meet Leah and Embry. They'd been married for six years even though they weren't imprinted on each other they had fallen completely in love, I often wondered if they ever feared they would imprint on other people, just because they were husband and wife didn't mean the danger wasn't there. But they love each other and I guess you just couldn't help who you loved sometimes, after all all the imprint was is a push in the right direction, if you already fell in love with your imprint what was the point of imprinting on them. I hoped that was the case for Leah and Embry they both deserved to be happy.
I found Brady and my baby sister making out on the kitchen island and had to avert my eyes, it didn't bother me that they were in love I just didn't want to see his tongue down her throat. He made her happy that's all I cared about and if he ever hurt her thanks to wolf telepathy Dad and I would know all about it, unfortunately we both also got to see all of their make out sessions and steamy almost taking of Willow's virginity sessions too. Poor Brady it had to be tough dating the Alpha's baby girl. "My god could you not we prepare food on there" I tell them, Brady huffs and Willow giggles.
"Sorry Duck" she says and I resist the urge to growl at the name.
"You two about ready?" I asked
"Yep Collin called and asked if we can pick him up on the way?" Brady says and I nod.
"Sure sure" I say.
When we got to the beach Auntie Lee was the first one to find me she jogged over to the four of us as we made our way to the beach and hugged me. "Tell me everything" she says and I laugh.
"What are you talking about Lee?" I ask as Collin, Brady and Willow head down to the rest of the pack.
"This girl of yours Seth and Embry said she owns a restaurant on the pier?" she prompts and I grin at the mention of my imprint. It worries me that I'm falling completely in love with her so soon but I guess that's the imprint, intensifying everything I'm already starting to feel. I nod and tell Leah about my walk on the beach with Adrian yesterday then the meal I ate with her at the surf shack.
By the time I'm done Dad and Embry are talking about how good the food is at Adrian's bar while Seth tries to fire up the grill, my Mom ends up going over and doing it for him, he'd been all fingers and thumbs since he imprinted yesterday according to Leah. After a couple of hours I see Shila jump up across the bonfire and run over to someone, I look over, it's Adrian he gives her a bear hug that lifts her off of her feet and she looks a little uncomfortable so I head over to help her out. I tap him on the shoulder and pull him back a step.
"Excuse him he likes to hug" I joke and she laughs out of nowhere Shila grabs me in a head lock.
"No need for jealousy I've got plenty of love to go around" he says and Adrian laughs harder I scramble away from Shila then shove him back towards where the pack is sitting.
"Hi" I say feeling a little nervous, she smiles at me and I choke on thin air at how beautiful she is. She's wearing a long sleeveless denim shirt that covers her bottom like a dress and black leggings she looked amazing. Her hair was curly and wild like the night I imprinted on her I loved her hair like this. "How was work?" I ask
"Good busy, which is good" she smiles
"Come on I want to introduce you to my little sister" I tell her I hold out my hand to her with out really thinking it through first but she doesn't even hesitate she just smiles at me and reaches out and takes it. It surprises me but I try not to show how deliriously happy I am at her touch.
I lead her across the fire fully aware of the fact that my parents are watching us and smiling to each other, I take her over to where Brady and Willow are sat. "This is my sister Willow and her... boyfriend Brady" I say. Willow leaps up and hugs Adrian I can tell by my sister's face she wants to read off of Adrian but I give her stern look that tells not to even think about it, she pouts at me but I know she hasn't used her abilities.
"It's so good to meet you I feel like we're friends already" Willow gushes releasing her.
"You do?"Adrian frowns.
"Yeah Duck couldn't shut up about you when he got home yesterday" Willow says and I roll my eyes
"That's great Willow thanks for that" I grumble but Adrian just laughs it off.
"What it's true" Willow says with a shrug, I feel my cheeks heat up a little then Adrian catches my eye she's smiling at me I can't help but grin back. Willow and Adrian get talking about girl stuff like Willow's unusual hair colour and Adrian's tattoos; she has a compass tattooed on her wrist, a bird on her hip, some text on her ribs and a paw print on her foot. That's my favourite one the paw on her foot I noticed it yesterday when she was barefoot in the sand. Brady comes and stands next to me while our imprints laugh and talk.
"Adrian seems really great" Brady says and I nod.
"Yeah she is" I agree
"And Willow definitely likes her. Duck I wanted to ask your opinion on something you can keep you thoughts to yourself right?" he asks and I turn to look at him.
"As much as anyone else why?" I ask
"What do you think Jake would say if I... well if I asked him for Willow's hand?" he cringes waiting for my answer
"Brady she's seventeen I think my Dad would bust a vein if you asked him that right now" I tell him
"I wasn't thinking now I was thinking of asking her when she graduates do you think Jake and Ness would be ok with that?" he asks
"Maybe I reckon either way he'll tear you a new one so what have you got to loose" I shrug
"Thanks Duck that's real comforting"
"Just telling it like it is" I say.
Later that night Adrian finds me laid against the sand banks she walks over boots in hand and lies down next to me. "I really like Willow she's great, and Leah what a fireball, poor Embry must have his work cut out for him in the bedroom" she laughs and I cringe.
"Oh god that's my aunt you're talking about" I say
"As if your not used to these kind of comments, Leah's legs go on for days, Willow's painfully beautiful and your Mom, holy crap she's a babe what is she like a former swimwear model or something? I mean what do they put something in the water around here?" she jokes and I laugh.
"I'm glad you like everyone, Willow adores you already I can tell" I say and she smiles "She doesn't have many friends especially female ones" I say
"I can't imagine why she's great" she shrugs
"It's ok you can say it I know how weird my sister is, people tend to shy away from her because she's different she only really has me and the other guys" I say
"Well that's why I like her because she's different; she's fun and cute as a button. You're a good brother aren't you?" she says
"Am I?"
"Yes, very protective. That's a good thing" she smiles
"Adrian?" I ask
"Yeah?"
"Are you single?" I ask and she giggles a little bit
"I am"
"Oh ok" I say then fall silent just looking up at the stars I feel her glance at me and I try not to smirk. "Adrian?" I ask again.
"Yes?"
"Do you like Italian food?" I ask
"I do but it's not my favourite" she shrugs grinning
"Oh? What's your favourite?" I ask grinning like an idiot.
"Chinese" she states, perfect I love Chinese food too.
"I know a really good Chinese place in Port Angeles"
"Oh really?" she asks and I nod, she smirks "I'll have to check it out one day"
"Yeah you should" I agree "Adrian?" I ask for the third time. She sighs and props herself up on her elbows to look at me.
"Riddoc?" she huffs obviously getting impatient "It's getting late why don't you just ask me out on a date already walk me to my car and kiss me goodnight?" she says, I stare her blankly the only word I just heard was 'kiss'
"Does it have to be in that order?" I ask and she laughs
"Not necessarily" she tells me then I pull her down against me and kiss her.