CHAPTER 61

Leah POV:

Sam and Emily took Lily home a couple of days later and Embry and I visited them at home. Embry finally held her and I was overcome with emotion yet again. Watching him hold Lily and talk to her in cute little baby talk was almost more than I could stand.

So, over the next few weeks, I tried hard to put all this baby business behind me and concentrate on my classes. I had taken a full class load this semester and I loved it, but it was a lot of work. I had homework along with research to do and papers to write, and on the weekends, I worked at the restaurant. It didn't leave a lot of time for being with Embry. He came over in the evenings after work and we usually hung out while I did homework. We would sneak in a little make-out time, but it was really never enough.

Jake and Embry had their meeting with Mr. Collins and he told them he had come up with a plan. His wife really wanted to move to a warmer climate before winter came. So, while she went down to Palm Springs to shop for a new house, he would stay here and work with Embry and Jake at the shop, then come October when the Mr. and Mrs. Collins move south, the shop would be all theirs. They were so excited! I was really happy for them. This would give them a chance to really learn everything they would need to know about running their own business.

It was Friday night and I decided that Embry and I deserved an evening alone. Mom was working and so I begged Seth to go over to Sam's and spend the evening with Abby. He smiled and said, "What's it worth to you?" I rolled my eyes and grabbed my purse. "Here's $30 and the keys to the Jeep. Take Abby out somewhere then go back to Sam's. Give me until at least eleven, OK?"

He grinned and said, "You got it, sis!" He was out the door in record time. I hurried upstairs and changed into the jeans that Embry liked so much, and a dark purple blouse that I had just bought. I even left a couple of extra buttons undone and sprayed on a little perfume. I brushed my hair until it shone and quickly put on a little black mascara and some lip gloss. I looked at my refection and thought, not bad.

I ran back downstairs just as Embry was pulling up. My heart beat a little faster as I watched him walk up to the door. I smiled as I held the door open and he walked in carrying a very large pizza box. He leaned over and kissed me. "Hey, baby. I brought dinner."

"Awesome! Why don't we have a picnic in my room?"

He smiled and said, "Let's go."

I went to the kitchen and grabbed some napkins and a couple of bottles of Mt. Dew and followed Embry upstairs. He set the pizza on the floor as I closed the door and put on some music. Then I sat down on the floor and leaned back against the bed as Embry opened the pizza box. We each took out a slice and bit into it.

"Mmmm, thanks for bringing pizza. This is great," I said with my mouth full.

"I didn't want you to have to spend time cooking and then cleaning up the kitchen," he replied.

"Oh really? What did you want me to spend time doing?"

He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at me as he took another bite. He didn't have to answer. I was thinking the same thing. "So is Seth with Abby?" he asked.

"Yes. Cost me thirty bucks and the keys to the Jeep! I told him not to come home before eleven."

He laughed at that. "Good man. I would have held out for at least fifty."

I rolled my eyes at him and finished my slice of pizza. He moved the pizza box off to the side and looked at me. "Dance with me," he said with a soft smile.

"I would love to," I answered. He stood up and held out his hand, and I took it as he helped me up. I had the radio playing and an older song by Faith Hill came on called, "Breathe." Embry took me in his arms and held me close as we moved to the music.

"When we get married, I think we should dance together every night," he said softly. Then he put his lips on my neck and his kisses sent shivers down my spine. He ran one hand over my ass and said, "You know I love these jeans on you."

"Why do you think I'm wearing them?"

He laughed at that then asked, "And this shirt? Is this new?"

"Yes," I answered. "And I believe it's your favorite color?"

He looked at me as he ran his finger down my throat and into the vee of my cleavage. "I noticed that you left a few of these buttons undone."

"So, you noticed, huh?" I asked him as I wound my hands into his hair.

"Oh yea, I noticed," he admitted with a smile.

"Good." I put my lips on his and showed him how much I wanted him. It had been way too long. I teased his lips with my tongue and he opened his mouth to tease me with his. It didn't take long until we were way past dancing. I stepped back and pulled his shirt over his head then made him sit on the bed. I smiled as I slowly unbuttoned my new blouse. As he watched, I knew he was trying hard to hold back and not pull me to him to do it himself. After the last button, I opened my shirt to show off the new black lacy bra I was wearing underneath. I thought his eyes would bug out of his head! "I did a little shopping at Victoria's Secret." His smile was worth spending my tip money on fancy underwear.

I slipped the shirt off of my shoulders and smiled. "Wow," he said softly. Then I slowly unzipped my jeans and moved them over my hips to reveal the very tiny matching panties. "Oh, baby, you . . . look so . . . hot." I could see his desire showing in his eyes. . . and his jeans. I stepped up to him and he put his hands on my hips and kissed my stomach. He reached around and unhooked the bra and I slipped the straps down until it fell to the floor. I smiled and then put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. I fell on top of him and ravaged his mouth with my kiss. And then . . . his phone in his pocket vibrated. I stopped and looked at him.

"Ignore it! I don't care who it is. Nothing is more important than this," he said as he rolled me over and put his lips on mine. I could feel how hard he was as he pressed into me. His phone stopped and we carried on. Then it started again. Embry growled then reached into his pocket for the phone. "Hello!" he shouted angrily into it. Then he got quiet and sat up.

"Dad? Wait, what? I can't hear you very well . . . where are you? . . . yea OK, just stay put, I'm calling Sam. We'll be right there." He closed the phone and looked at me. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but, I have to go."

"What happened to your dad?" I asked anxiously.

"He's been gone since Tuesday. This was his week, to um, you know, phase. He said he's phased back and he's pretty beat up. His leg is busted and he can't move. I have to go and find him and bring him home."

"Go! It's OK, Embry. Your dad needs you," I told him.

He nodded and slipped off of the bed. He opened the phone and called Sam. "Sam, it's Embry. Look, I need your help right now. It's Dad. He's hurt and we have to go and get him and bring him home. I think it will be faster to go wolf. I'm at Leah's right now. I'll phase and meet you in your back yard in just a few minutes, OK? Thanks." He closed the phone and said, "Shit. I don't have any shorts. It's too hard to carry jeans."

"I'll get you a pair of Seth's." I had picked up my bra and put it back on as he talked on the phone. I slipped off of the bed and went into Seth's room to find a pair of shorts. I hurried back to my room and handed him a pair of black gym shorts.

"Thanks, babe," he said. He pulled off his jeans and boxers then stuffed his cell phone into the pocket of the shorts and rolled them up and tied them to his ankle. Then he stood to look at me. "God, it is killing me to leave you, you know that don't you?"

I put my arms around his waist and said, "Yes, I know. But I'll save up another thirty bucks so we can pay Seth off for another night alone real soon. I promise."

He smiled and kissed me. "I love you, Leah. And I really love that you bought sexy underwear for me. Man, I thought I would have a heart attack when you unzipped those jeans and took them off. I want to replay that again, very soon."

"Anytime," I said then I kissed him. And then our kissing got a little out of hand again.

He broke away and said, "How am I going to run and phase like this?" He pressed himself against me and I smiled. "Sorry," I said sheepishly. He laughed and said, "I gotta go. I'll call you later." He gave me one more kiss then he was out the door and down the stairs. I sat down on the bed and hoped his dad was alright. Then I slid down onto the floor and reached for the pizza box. I grabbed a slice and bit into it. This was not exactly how I pictured my night ending.

Embry POV:

"So, where is he?" Sam wanted to know. He was phased and waiting for me when I got there.

"Dad told me he was close enough to the road that he could see the highway sign to Port Angeles. He thought if we followed it north, we should come across him. He's on the west side of the road." We ran at top speed for the highway then turned north. As we got closer I tried to pick up Dad's scent. Sam howled to see if he could hear us. Finally, we heard a very weak, "Over here!" As we ran toward the voice, I phased back into my human body. I ran up to Dad and said, "Hey, Dad."

He was laying in the grass at the edge of the woods. He was still naked, and really scratched and bruised. I could tell by the way his leg looked, it was busted. Sam had phased, too, and he was looking Dad over. "Have you tried to move?" he asked Dad.

Dad nodded. "I can't move the leg at all. It's pretty busted up. My ribs are, too. It was all I could do to get my shorts untied from my ankle to get my phone out. That took quite awhile."

He was so weak. I knew we had to get him home as soon as we could. "Dad, where's the truck?" I asked him.

He handed me a small piece of paper. He had written Tuesday at the top, and where he parked his truck on it. Sam was reading over my shoulder then he reached out and took it from me and said, "I'll go get the truck. Stay here with Dad." He touched Dad on the shoulder and said softly, "Hang in there, old man. I'll be back as fast as I can." Dad smiled and nodded. Sam looked at me for a moment then stood up and ran off. He phased a few seconds later and disappeared into the night.

I looked down at Dad and asked, "Is there any way I can make you more comfortable?"

He smiled and said, "Do you think you can help me put my shorts on? It's a little awkward laying here naked."

I laughed and said, "Uh yea. I get that. Maybe I should slip my own on first." I untied the shorts at my ankle and slipped them on. Then I took Dad's and put them carefully over each foot then slipped them slowly up his legs. Getting them over his hips was difficult, but we finally managed. I sat down next to him, slightly out of breath.

"Thank you, Embry."

"Yea, sure."

"Did you call your mom and tell her?" he asked.

"No. I was with Leah and after I hung up with you, I called Sam and then raced to his house. Should I call her?"

"I don't want her upset."

"Well, Dad, when we carry you into the house looking like this, I think she'll be a little upset."

"I know. God, you don't know how much I hate this," he said with his eyes closed. I reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it hard.

"I know, Dad. But at least you'll heal fast."

He tried to smile at that, but then he said, "But I don't know about this leg. I think it will need re-setting."

I thought about that, too. That meant calling Sue or Carlisle. We were going to have to learn how to do these things ourselves until we got our own doctor. I hated having to call the leech doctor every time something like this happened. Carlisle was a good guy, but it shouldn't be his responsibility to take care of us. We should be able to do that ourselves.

I pulled out my phone and called Leah. "Embry? Is he OK?" she answered.

"Yea, I'm here with him right now. We're waiting for Sam to get back here with Dad's truck. His leg is really bad. It will probably need re-setting. What time will your mom be home?"

"Probably around 11:30. It's only ten til eight now," she answered. Shit. I don't think he could wait that long. I looked over at him and decided I would have to call Carlisle. "I guess I'll have to call Carlisle. I don't think we can wait."

"I'll call him. Where are you taking your dad? I'll have him meet you."

"Home. We can't let Abby see him."

"OK. Call me when you're on your way, and I'll find him and have him meet you there."

"Thanks, Leah. I really appreciate that. I love you."

"I love you, too. Call me."

"I will. Bye." I hung up and looked down at Dad. He smiled and said, "You are a lucky man, son. You have one helluva girlfriend."

I smiled and said, "Fiancé, thank you very much, and I know I'm lucky. If you only knew what I left tonight to come and find you . . ."

"Sorry about that," he said.

I smiled. "It's OK. We'll find another time to be together. I hope to marry her soon. Like maybe, May."

"Really? That soon?"

"Yea. We're moving to the shop in April to work with Mr. Collins and in October, the shop is ours. I know I'll have money coming in, and I already talked to the landlord of our house, and asked him when you and Mom move out, if I can stay there and take over the rent. He agreed and said he would keep the rent the same with no deposit. Dad, I don't want to keep waiting. I love Leah, and I want to marry her and sleep with her every night, and take care of her."

"Sounds like you have a plan. You've been thinking about this."

"She's all I think about. Well, her and cars." He laughed at that then started coughing. "Hey, take it easy there, Dad."

"I'm OK," he said as he finally stopped and settled down again. "Thank you for coming, Embry. And for staying with me. I'm embarrassed to admit, I was pretty scared when I woke up and couldn't move. I don't know how long I would have laid here if I didn't have you and your brother. This has never happened to me before."

"What did happen?"

"I have no idea. I can never remember anything when I wake up. It's all just a fog." He closed his eyes again and I could tell it was getting harder and harder for him to stay awake. But I wasn't sure if I should let him sleep or not.

"Hey, Dad, stay with me here, OK?"

"Yea, I'm here. I'm just pretty sleepy. I'm usually like this after I phase back. I always thought it was because maybe I don't sleep when I'm like that," he said slowly.

"I think I'll call Mom and give her a warning that we're coming." His eyes were closed, but he nodded.

I dialed home and she answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, Mom. Listen, I'm with Dad right now and we'll be home soon. I need you to know that he's hurt."

"What? Is it bad?" she asked anxiously.

I tried to fill her in quickly on what I knew. "Mom, Leah is bringing Dr. Cullen to our house to help fix Dad up. He's a good guy, and he knows what he's doing."

"Let me talk to him, Embry. Now," she demanded. I looked down at Dad and said, "She wants to talk to you." I held the phone to his ear and he said, "Hi, honey." I could hear Mom's voice, but not what she was saying.

Dad talked very softly and slowly. "I don't know what happened . . . yea, I called him . . . Sam's coming with the truck . . . honey, don't cry, I'll be OK. . . I love you, too," then he opened his eyes and looked at me and I knew he was done talking. He closed his eyes again.

"Mom, Dad's really tired and he needs to rest. Sam should be here soon and we'll get him home."

"Take care of him, Embry." I could tell she was crying.

"I will, Mom. Take care of yourself and little sissy, OK? Don't worry."

"I will. Thank you for being there for your dad."

"Yea, sure. Bye, Mom." I put the phone back into my pocked just as I saw headlights heading for us. It was Sam, thank God. He jumped out of the truck and hurried over. "How are we going to do this, bro?"

"Dad. Dad!" I said louder to wake him. His eyes opened and he saw Sam. "Hey, Sammy," he said. I smiled and looked at Sam. I saw something in Sam's eyes as Dad said that. A little bit of sadness.

"Um, Dad, we have to move you now," I said. I looked at Sam and said, "Maybe I should ride in the back of the truck with him? I don't know if he can sit up." Sam nodded and told me to go and get into the back of the truck. I watched as he leaned down and said softly, "I'm pretty sure this will hurt, but just hang on, OK?" Dad nodded and Sam put his arms under Dad and lifted him into his arms. I ran ahead and jumped into the back of the truck as Sam carried Dad over. I put the tail gate down and Sam very carefully laid Dad on the gate and I took his shoulders and pulled him into the truck. I sat down and put Dad's head onto my lap. Sam slammed the gate up and said, "Where are we going?"

"My house," I said. "I don't think Abby should see Dad like this." He nodded and got into the cab and we took off. I pulled my phone out and called Leah. "Hey, babe. We are on the road. OK, thanks." I put the phone away and held onto Dad as we drove. "Hang in there, Dad," I said to him. "I love you," I added. He gave me a small smile and held gave me a "thumbs up."