CHAPTER 18

Embry POV:

Leah was all healed and we were doing light patrol duty again, thank God! It took us all awhile to catch up on our sleep after the newborns swept through. Summer was almost over and in a couple of weeks, I would be going back to school for my senior year, as much as I hated to. I would still be helping Jake out at the garage after school, so I would have to try and fit in homework between work, patrolling and spending time with Leah. But, I did have something to look forward to. My birthday was tomorrow and I would be 18! Man, I had been waiting for that day for what seemed like forever!

Leah was taking me out tonight. She said we should go out for my birthday, even though it wasn't "officially" my birthday until tomorrow. She declared it my "Birthday Weekend" and decided we were celebrating both days! I was wearing my nice khaki shorts and a new brown v-neck t-shirt my mom had bought me. I hoped it was nice enough. I wanted to look good for her. I even put on cologne again! She seemed to really like that the last time we went out.

Just then I heard her knock on the door. Shit! I wanted to be ready to meet her outside. I really didn't want her to see my house. It was pretty dumpy compared to hers! I went to the door and opened it and said, "Hey! I'm ready so let's go!" I tried to push my way past her, but she got by me and walked in.

"I want to see where you live, Embry. We've been hanging out for months, and I've never been here! Is your Mom home?" she asked.

"Nope. She's working some overtime today."

She walked over to the wall where Mom had a couple of school pictures of me hanging there. "Awwww, you're so cute! You have to get out some photo albums for me sometime. I want to see more of Little Embry," she said with a big smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Yea, sure, whatever. Let's go, OK?" I pulled her arm toward the door, but she wasn't moving.

"Embry? What's the problem? Why are you in such a hurry?" she asked me as she jerked her arm out of my grasp.

I took a deep breath and said, "Why do you think I don't invite you over? You can see now that it's nothing like where you live. I mean . . ."

"What the hell, Embry? Do you really think I'm that much of a snob? I like your little house. It's just right for the two of you, and it's what your mom can provide for you. She's a working single mom, and that's not easy! I think she's doing a great job! You should be grateful that you have a place like this to live!" Man, she was pissed!

I took a hold of her arms and said calmly, "Yes, Leah, I know my mom works hard to provide for me. You don't have to lecture me, OK? I'm sorry. I was just a little embarrassed."

"Well, you don't have to be with me, OK? Now, show me your room. I want to see where you sleep," she ordered.

"Fine, come on," I said as I took her hand and we went down the tiny hallway to my room. I stopped at the door and said, "I didn't know you were coming, so it's kind of a mess."

"That's OK. You're a guy. I expect it to be a mess," she said with a smile.

I opened the door and she walked in. I went in behind her and we filled up the whole room! I had a twin size bed on one side of the room under the window, and a small dresser with a mirror over it on the other side. I didn't have a closet, so I had some shelves with junk on it beside the dresser. I had a Seattle Mariners pennant hanging on the wall that Quil gave me when we were in the 5th grade, and a couple of band posters from when I was in middle school. I just never took them down. I was never in here really, except to sleep. The bed was unmade and there were dirty clothes on the floor. "It's not much, but its home," I said quietly.

She turned to me and said, "Yea, it is. Thanks, Embry. Now when I think about you sleeping at night, I'll have a better picture in my head." She smiled at me.

"You think about me sleeping at night?" I asked her.

"When I get into bed at night and close my eyes to go to sleep, I think about you doing the same. Silly, huh?"

I took her in my arms and said, "No, it's not. I think about you at night, too, but it usually doesn't have anything to do with sleeping." I bent forward and kissed her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back. We kissed for a little while and I said against her lips, "We could play out one of those fantasies right now, if you want."

She pulled back and smiled, "Tempting, very tempting. But we have a birthday to celebrate! Come on!" She took me by the hand and pulled me out the door to her mom's car. She started it up and drove us toward Forks. "This is really weird – you driving!" I said.

"What? Why? I'm a good driver!" she said.

"Yea, I don't mean you're not a good driver! It's just that I drive us everywhere in the truck," I explained.

She laughed. "Geez, Embry. This is making you a little uncomfortable, isn't it? ME picking you up, ME taking you out. You like to be the 'guy' and do all that, don't you?"

"Yea, I do, and there is nothing wrong with that! The guy is supposed to do that shit. This just isn't natural, that's all."

She laughed at me again. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I just wanted to do something nice for you for your birthday. I'll tell you what. If you are a good boy and let me pay for the movie and popcorn, I'll let you make a move on me during the movie, how's that?"

"Well, I was going to do that anyway, but OK," I said with a laugh.

There was one little movie theater in town, and they were playing some super hero movie. Leah bought the tickets, some popcorn and pop and we went inside to find a seat. We sat down just as the previews were starting.

I hadn't been to a movie in a long time. I wasn't really into watching movies. I mean, I usually only brought girls here to make out. Leah had told me that she and Sam used to go to the movies every Friday night, and she had stayed away because of the memories. I looked over at her to see how she was doing. She seemed fine. She really was over Sam. FINALLY!

We finished the popcorn, and I put my arm around her and pulled her close. I leaned over and smelled her hair then kissed her on top of the head. Man, she always smells so good! I leaned in and made my move that I promised, and she smiled at me and we made out some. I kept my arm around her and we settled in to watch the movie.

After it ended, we walked out hand-in-hand. "Did you like the movie?" I asked her.

"Yea, I actually did! How about you?" she said.

"It was better than I thought it would be. Seth was telling me that some of his friends had seen it and they thought it was 'freakin' awesome!' so I expected it to be lame. But it was pretty good!"

"Yea, Seth and his friends have a little bit different taste in movies than I do!" she agreed. "Usually a lot of karate crap and cars and buildings blowing up every few minutes." I laughed as we had to wait at the corner to cross the street to the car.

"So, now what?" I asked while we were waiting.

"Well, since it is such a nice evening, I think we should drive back to LaPush and take a walk on the beach. How does that sound?" She had stopped and put her arms around my waist and was looking up at me.

I put my arms around her and said, "I think that is a fine idea." I bent down and put a quick kiss on her lips.

"OK, let's go!" She ran across the street and got into the car. I laughed and followed her.

She drove us back to LaPush and we talked about the movie. We even made plans to go again. She liked one of the previews that we had seen and I told her this time I would take her and pay for everything. She just rolled her eyes at me.

We pulled up to her house and she said, "I need to take my purse and mom's keys into the house. Be right back!" She got out of the car and ran inside. I got out to wait for her. I looked up and noticed all the stars. It was a beautiful night. A perfect night for a walk on the beach. And a little something else if I was lucky!

She bounced back down the walk to me. "OK, ready to go?"

"Yea, sure. Come on." I took her hand and started toward the woods. We found the trail through the woods behind her house that leads to the beach. We broke through the trees and walked out onto the beach and I noticed a bonfire down the beach. I pointed it out to Leah.

"Hmmm, yea. Guess we won't have the beach all to ourselves tonight," she said, sounding disappointed.

"We can go somewhere else, if you want," I offered.

"Nope. This is fine."

We walked down the beach and as we got close to the bonfire, little Claire came running at us. "Happy Birfday, Embwey!" she shouted as she hurled herself at me! I caught her and held her up in the air as she giggled.

"How did you know it was my birthday?" I asked her as I held her close and gave her tummy a tickle.

"Cause of the party, duh!" Claire said.

"Party? What party? For me?" I asked. I looked over at Leah.

She nodded. "Yes! Surprise!"

I looked at Claire and she said, "SU-PIZE!" Then she gave me a wet, sticky kiss on the cheek. I laughed and carried her toward the bonfire.

We walked up and everyone yelled out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" I looked over at Leah and smiled and said, "You were in on this, weren't you?"

"Maybe," she answered with a sly smile.

I gave Claire's tummy another tickle and kissed her on the cheek then put her down and she ran back to Quil. I looked around to see who all was here. All of the pack was here, plus Emily, Bella, Kim, Clair, Billy Black and Jake's sister, Rachel, who just got back from college, Sue and Charlie, Bella's dad. And then I saw her. What? Mom? She was standing off to the side with Sue. I looked over at Leah with a little bit of shock then I walked toward my mom.

"Hey Mom! I'm glad you're here!" I said as I hugged her. She wrapped her arms around my waist and held me tight. I pulled back and smiled at her.

"Embry, I know. About you. And, I'm proud of you," she said with a shaky voice.

"What? Mom, what are you talking about?" I asked.

Leah walked up beside me and Sue said, "Sam talked to the elders about letting her know. He knew it would be easier on the two of you if she knew. We told her about the pack and you being a part of it. How you inherited it from your father. Billy and I talked to her this afternoon. I think she's still trying to get used to the idea."

Wow. "Are you OK with this?" I asked her.

She laughed and said, "Well, I guess! It's still quite a shock, but now that I know that you're not in some gang out dealing drugs or something, I feel a lot better!"

I laughed and hugged her again. "God, I'm so glad you know. It's been hell keeping it from you."

Sam came over and said, "Geez, bro! Quit bawling all over your mom and let's party! We're hungry and they wouldn't let us eat until you got here!"

I laughed and yelled out, "LET'S PARTY!" and everyone cheered and made a beeline for the food. I turned to Leah and took her in my arms and said, "Thank you. This is fucking awesome!"

"You're welcome!" Her eyes were sparkling. She looked so happy! "I didn't do it all myself. Jake and Emily helped, too."

Man, I can't believe they did this for me! And now Mom knows about me. What a relief! I turned to my mom and realized that she had never met Leah! I said, "Hey, Mom, this is Leah. I guess since we went to a movie tonight, we are now 'officially' dating."

She rolled her eyes at me and said to my mom, "It's really nice to meet you . . ."

"Angela Call. But, please, call me Angie," she added then she gave me a look. What an idiot! I didn't even say her name!

"OK, nice to meet you, Angie!" she said with a smile.

"Hey, I want to thank Jake. I'll be back!" I went behind him and picked him up and shook him. "Thanks, bro. For the party," I said as I set him down. "This is amazing, really." He turned and laughed and then punched me. We were so good at showing affection!

"You deserve it, Embry. We've been working really hard this summer. It's time for a party!" he said.

We walked over to try and get some food. There was plenty. Sue and Emily out did themselves! They made all of my favorite foods, especially Sue's potato salad. I couldn't believe they would go to all of this trouble just for me. It kind of freaked me out a little, but made me really happy.