Chapter 18: To New Acquaintances

Bella took a lukewarm shower to try and cool off some. What an arrogant, egotistical, crazy asshole. This was not the Jacob she knew years ago, hanging out in the Taj, sipping warm sodas that would occasionally ask for tools from underneath his car. This wasn't her best friend. He was always so patient and kind with her back then. Half the time, she was treating him like dirt and he still acted like a gentleman. Was this payback, because it was over the top. She was a damn, bratty teenager then, now she was the mother of his son. He owed her a bit more respect.

No, she can't work. No, she shouldn't date. She was livid. Too bad Seth was engaged and Collin was gay or she might try to hit it off with one of them just to rub it in his face. She wasn't sure what Collin looked like, but Seth was freaking fine. She still felt like a perv admitting that. Crashing one relationship in a lifetime was enough, he was safe around her. How would Bella ever find a date if she never left the damn apartment? That was all about to change, she'd almost been there a week. She had an epiphany drying off. He made himself at home browsing her laptop, maybe she sign up for some online dating sites and leave it up next time he was over. Sure, it was childish, but he deserved it.

The fact was, she was by no means ready to date, but being told by him she couldn't was beyond infuriating. Bella fired off a few angry texts to Barry.

The vibrator. Seriously?

He sent a few emoticons, mostly laughing and blushing ones.

Not funny, Jake saw. I was so embarrassed.

He called and tried to smooth it over. He claimed it was all Monica's idea. "So the big man was offended? Fears the competition, I bet his dick can't do special tricks." Oh, how wrong Barry was about that, but she wasn't going to allow her brain to go there.

"Um, I don't know what he was, possibly more amused than anything, but it sparked an argument eventually." Bella explained some of his crazy 1950's ideology.

Barry agreed he was a jerk, but he told her it could only mean one thing. "He's jealous, babe."

"It's not Jr. High. I'm not flattered if a boy acts jealous over who sent me a special Valentine. I expect him to be a little more mature. He lives with his wife practically in front of my face and I never act nutso with him."

She saw the time, so Bella told Barry she had to go because old friends were stopping by. He told her before she called back, he wanted her to get out and have some fun or he wasn't answering.

Bella's mood improved as soon as the guys showed up. Seth had a knack for putting her at ease and even though Collin was pretty quiet, she thought he was nice. He'd grown up into an attractive man as well. Those wolf genes never completely disappeared. She knew it was a risky topic since this guy had double crossed him, but she really took an interest in his facility. Once, she engaged him in conversation about that and some of her studies, Collin really opened up. They both enjoyed spending time with Atticus. Seth said Billy was getting anxious to meet him.

"I guess next weekend can't come soon enough."

"What's next weekend?"

"We're all going to La Push?"

"We?"

"Yeah, us, Jake, you and the baby."

News to her, Jake never said a word. There was a soft knock and then the door slowly opened, Bella mumbled, "Speak of the devil." Seth turned to the door, then laughed. Bella thought she actually didn't verbalize that. She was almost certain it was less than a whisper, but Seth heard. It was happening. She swore his hug already felt several degrees warmer than a few days ago.

Bella didn't say anything. Collin spoke up and asked what was up. Apparently, he and Jake hadn't seen each other in a while. Jacob avoided eye contact with her and she was relieved. She wished he'd just leave, he was killing her good mood.

"Hey, would it be alright if I give Ace his bath?"

She told him how she had to put the baby bath in the regular bathtub because the counter was too small. Bella asked him to get it all ready and then she'd bring the baby to him. He walked out of the room. Both Seth and Collin looked slightly awkward.

"And to think I was worried you two were going to make Kaleigh uncomfortable with your closeness. Ouch, that was frosty."

She decided to be a brat. "That's because he's a big dumb animal." Collin was trying to hold in his laughter because Jacob came back in the room at that exact time to get Atticus. "I said I would bring him."

"I'm ready now. Stay, enjoy your company."

Bella tried to stand up, but Jacob told her she wasn't needed. "I want to check the temperature."

"I already did. You showed me how. It's not that hard."

"Don't let him slip or turn his head into the water." He walked off without another word. She heard him carrying on a conversation with their son. Bella waited about three minutes. "I should go check he's doing it right."

Seth took up for him, "Sounded like he had it under control. You should enjoy the break."

The rest of the night was pretty tame. Jacob asked the guys to talk to him before they left. He and Bella didn't say anything else to each other. Atticus looked pretty happy after his bath. Jacob even got the sleeper snapped correctly. The first time he tried, he failed miserably. He was getting the hang of this daddy thing. Too bad, he was forgetting how to be a decent human being.

The party was underway. Bella kept the lights low, she only had on the TV and a small lamp. She wasn't about to hang out in the closet which was way too tiny and an absurd request of Kaleigh's. Several cars lined the driveway. She took a peek every time she heard a door slam. It was hard to make out the guests in the faint lights that lined the front of the house. However, she recognized the guy Mackenzie from the airport. She'd seen that car at least one other time that week. She didn't know his whole story, but Jacob talked a little bit about him the week he was in LA. It didn't seem like he was his favorite person, but apparently he was Kaleigh's. Bella thought he actually treated her decent considering what he figured out on the plane.

Alice called and kept her distracted. Bella decided to give her something to do. She needed a few new outfits if she was going to be out job hunting and doing interviews. She had worn the coffee shop uniform or jeans and tees for school, it had been forever since she got new clothes, not counting a few maternity things. Alice wanted to make it a day of it. Bella was hesitant to commit. She would have to run it by Jake. It should be fine for Atticus. It wasn't like Alice was going to carry him or anything like that.

"Just tell the dog to watch him and we can be twice as fast. He's his father."

"I know. I guess I could try for Sunday afternoon." Bella had an interview Tuesday and after talking with Collin, she was super excited he might have something for her since he was trying like crazy to hang onto the clinic. He said he'd be in touch later next week.

Atticus took an early nap that day, so he was already down for the count. He was typically sleeping five to six hour stretches at night now. Bella was curled up under a blanket trying to find something she wanted to watch. She was already noticing the temperature differences. Washington was starting to feel like fall. She could've sworn she heard a soft rap at the door.

Damn, what would she say to one of Kaleigh's relatives? She muted the television and planned on pretending she wasn't even there. One more tap. "Bella, hey, you busy?"

It wasn't Jake, he would've already walked in, and that voice was different, but he said her name. She stood on her tiptoes and squinted to see out the peephole. She recognized the perfectly groomed beard, so she unlocked the door.

"Hey, Mackenzie. What are you doing?"

"Hiding. Mind if I hang out for a bit? I brought wine... the good stuff. I raided Black's mini bar."

Bella invited him in. She was already curious why he was hiding. He sat the bottle of wine on her counter. He really was handsome. She swore she hadn't noticed a man's looks in years, but Mackenzie had a few of Kaleigh's attractive features. She could tell they were related. His hair was the lightest shade of brown that is was almost blonde, but she was sure it was brown. He also had really dark blue eyes, the color of denim. She worried she stared too closely, but with most of the lights out, she was just taking him in a little better than she had at the airport.

"So hiding from you family, what's up with that?"

He asked if she had wine glasses. She hadn't seen any, but she pulled out two clear plastic cups. "Sorry, this is all I've got."

"Are you kidding? That's fucking classy. Thanks. You like red?"

"Yes, it's my favorite, but only half a cup. I haven't had any wine in a long time." She remembered the last time that actually was and it made her stupid blush fire up. Hopefully, Mackenzie wouldn't notice in the dark. That reminded her, it was kinda weird to be sitting in the kitchen with someone she barely knew without any lights on. He knew his way around her kitchen. He found the corkscrew, then retrieved a few candles before she even said anything.

He held them up, "For storms. Everyone has these in Washington."

Bella knew where a lighter was, so she ran to the bathroom so she could light the candles.

He poured the wine and started talking. "It's my mother and Selene, of course. They're on mine and my cousin, Devon's cases about our lifestyle, so to speak. We need to be settling down, carrying on the Langston line, and then some." Bella had figured out if Kaleigh and Mackenzie had the same last name, it must be their dads that were brothers. "Yeah, but our mothers are like this." He held up his fingers crossed.

Mackenzie started chatting away. He was giving her the scoop on his family. She knew very little about Kaleigh up until then. He was friendly, except he had a few unflattering things to say about Jacob. She sipped tiny sips of wine. What he said about Jacob might be accurate, but she also had wronged his cousin. Bella wasn't dumb, maybe he showed up out of the blue with ulterior motives.

"Why are you being so nice to me? Shouldn't I be the sworn enemy or something?"

"My cousin is my best friend, so maybe you should be, but you just give out a vibe that you're nice. Am I wrong? Some people say I'm a terrible judge of character."

"I try to be nice. I really don't make it my mission to hurt people or screw with their lives. Jacob and I have a very long, complicated history. It might be cliché, but it truly did just happen. I'm sorry for the turmoil I caused your family or will when they all find out."

Mackenzie told her his aunt was going to be the worst. He described her to Bella. "If she comes to the door, don't answer it."

"She's that bad?"

"I heard Kaleigh had a chit chat with you."

"Um, yeah. It was enlightening."

"Well, her mother is about ten times worse when she feels threatened and she doesn't like Black. It's one of our only commonalities."

"Why?" She wondered why anyone wouldn't like Jake. Of course, she knew why he made her furious, but as a person, apart from all this supernatural stuff, she would've imagined any parent would have seen him as a great catch.

"I think my Uncle Graham is okay with him for now, but Aunt Selene was always a bit concerned, Jacob grew up on a reservation without a mother or a proper upbringing."

Bella got defensive quickly, "Jacob had a wonderful parent that loved him very much. It's no one's fault his mother had a tragic accident."

"Calm down. I'm just telling you some of her concerns. She loves charity work and being a conscientious philanthropist, but I swear to God she asked Kaleigh how brown she thought their children might be before they got married."

"That's offensive."

"That's Aunt Selene. She would have much rather Kay ended up with a country club type."

Bella made a face. Yuck, that immediately made her think snob, pretentious know-it-alls, not her type at all.

"I see you don't like them."

"No, I shouldn't judge. I only know from working at the cafe, but you're right. That's not Jake."

"I'm a country club specimen if you must know. Aunt Selene was always trying to get me to set Kaleigh up with my friends."

"Oh, I didn't. I mean." Bella did a face palm. She wasn't meaning to be insulting.

"Forget it. I like your honesty. It's actually my love for the game, not all the other bullshit. I grew up in a high class family. I like golf. I'm a collector as well."

"Like what, balls?"

He drained his glass and laughed loudly. "Oops, don't wanna wake the kid. Sorry. Nope, I don't collect balls, more like clubs. I have about thirty sets of vintage clubs. I love 'em. I even have a few that belonged to celebrities and famous golfers."

Bella thought that was kinda cool, but if he started name dropping, she'd probably be clueless.

He poured another full glass of wine for himself, but Bella shook her head, she hadn't even consumed half of her half glass. He asked if she didn't like it. "It's a blend, went well with the tenderloin we had. Maybe I should've stolen you some food as well."

Bella had already eaten a sandwich, but she sorta had the munchies. She allowed Mackenzie to pour her a proper glass while she got out crackers and cheese.

"Now it's a real party." Bella had been so secluded for a full week, she didn't realize how much she missed having real conversations. Of course, she's seen Seth and Collin and had phone chats, but it was a treat to be sipping red wine and having someone interact with her without a baby on her lap. He told her he didn't mean to talk so much about himself. He wanted to know more about her plans. She talked a little about her degree.

"Don't laugh. Everyone thinks it's weird, especially Jake."

He said nonsense, he thought it was fascinating. She told him about her interview and a little more about Collin's business. He encouraged her, said he bet she'd have a job by this time next week. He told her since she probably knew very few people in the area, she should take his number down. Bella saved it in her phone.

He also asked her to send out a quick text, so he'd know her number.

She sent a waving hand and said hi.

His phone dinged and he waved at her from across the tiny two seat table. Bella giggled.

"Seriously, though, I want to be neutral. I love Kaleigh, she's my girl. I want her to get a grip, but she's entitled to some bitch fits, don't you think?"

"Um, certainly as long as her fits don't adversely affect my son. Atticus is all that matters to me right now."

"I get it. I respect that. Maybe, I shouldn't say this, but those two were never right for each other. I've said it all along. I practically begged my cousin to cut her losses."

"Well, I can tell Jacob honestly loves her."

"Come on, Bella. You're a smart lady. Love don't mean shit. That's why I don't do love. That's why my mother and my aunt are driving me insane because I'm approaching thirty and nowhere near settling down."

"You're different." He truly was, Mackenzie was a straight talker and Bella was used to that with Barry, but never someone she really didn't know.

"Thanks, sweetheart."

Bella hid her face behind her fancy, plastic wine cup. A pet name. Needless to say, it had been a very long time anyone said something like that to her. Mackenzie was so talkative, Bella enjoyed listening. She had some nosy questions of her own.

"How'd they end up together, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Pretty sure you shouldn't be."

"Oh yeah, you're right. My apologies. It's none of my business."

He laughed again and said he was just messing around. "Kay likes projects and even though she's a momma's girl, she kinda wanted to challenge her mother. Jacob is a fish outta water here. I don't think he's cut out for this world, but Kaleigh proved he could do it. She loves projects."

Bella was quick with a sharp reply, "A spouse is not a project."

"Sheesh, I don't know. Maybe that's not it. I guess you know why I'm single. Could we at least toast to that?"

Bella relaxed a little and clicked her cup with his. "To free will."

"I can drink to that. I can drink to just about anything, but also to new acquaintances." Bella tapped her glass once more. Mack looked over at the paused TV screen.

"I'm sorry, were you in the middle of something? We could go over and watch it. I probably don't have much longer before they send out a search party."

Bella sipped her wine again. She was enjoying their little party in the kitchen, but stepping over to the couch had a whole other vibe to it. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea even though, she assumed he had no other ideas than just being friendly at the present time.

"Or were you about to turn in?"

"Well, to tell you the truth. I probably should soon. I'm sure Atticus will be up early."

Mackenzie said he'd take a rain check, but if she was ever bored and wanted to watch movies or something, he was game. He finished his second glass, but told her to keep the rest of the wine. Bella might have had a full glass by now after his refill, she felt warm all over. Just as her guest was starting to stand and make his departure. The door swung open. No knock, as usual. Jacob filled the entire doorway. She could see a few flashes of lighting in the background. It seemed very theatrical, a storm behind him because Bella didn't need the lights on to know he was furious.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

"I told you to stop letting yourself in. Mackenzie was just saying hi again."

Jacob looked at the darkened room. He stared at the table with the two flickering candles and a bottle of wine resting in between them. Was it possible she'd learned to sense his emotions? That was supposed to be the wolf's specialty, not hers.

"Your boy's asleep, so what are you doing over here bothering Bella? I'm sure Kay wouldn't like to hear about this."

"I was looking for you, dipshit. Selene wants a picture with all the kids."

"None of us have kids except for you and I thought that was still a secret."

"I mean her kids and your parents' kids, idiot."

"Okay, let's go then."

"No, you head out. I have something to discuss with Bella... about Ace."

As soon as they were alone, Bella apologized he missed seeing Atticus all day. "He went to sleep early, but you can have a peek. You were busy all afternoon helping get ready for the party, I guess. Just come over in the morning. He'll be happy to play."

Jacob didn't say anything. He just kept standing there like a wall in the middle of the room. He still hadn't looked at her. He was staring at the little bistro table. A minute went by, he walked over to the table, blew out both candles in one breath before grabbing the wine and ceremoniously pouring it down the sink

"Hey, stop. Mackenzie said I could keep it. It's really good wine."

"Should you even be drinking wine? That's pretty damn irresponsible, isn't it? I've seen what wine does to you."

Bella knew it was perfectly safe to have a glass occasionally. She'd read that in many childcare books, even Atticus's doctor said so. If she was the least bit concerned she had too much, she could pump and dump, but Jacob wasn't even talking about that. He meant something entirely different.

"It was one glass, jerk."

"Well, Mack's not safe to drink even a glass with. He's a player. You need to be smarter than that before you plan on getting buzzed with a perfect stranger while my son sleeps in the next room."

"He was being nice. That was it. I wasn't going to down the bottle and fuck him on the couch. Jesus, give me some credit. But you know what, even if that's where we were about to do, it's none of your damn business."

Jacob dropped the empty wine bottle in the trashed and turned around. He started walking towards her, so she backed up which was dumb. Now she was pinned into the door that led downstairs. "Don't say shit like that to me. It takes very little to rile me up these days."

"Mackenzie's hot. I like him." It just slipped out of her mouth without a thought.

"Bells, I'm fucking warning you."

"What? I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be."

"Why, have you suddenly become abusive? You'd hurt me because I pissed you off?"

"Hell no, of course not. Don't even joke like that. It's just... I'm more animal than man these days. I need you to be aware of that."

"Maybe you should go run. I'm tired and want to go to bed." He put his hands on her shoulders, so she couldn't move. Bella saw something happen in his eyes. They had streaks of illuminated, yellow lines running throughout his normal dark eyes.

He still didn't scare her.

"Mack is using you to get under my skin. He and I are rivals, about everything, but this takes the cake."

"That has nothing to do with me."

"Like hell, it most certainly does. He wants to check off his list and burn me in the process."

"What list?"

"You're a MILF, it means mom I'd... "

She shoved him. "I know what it means. I was pretend dead, I haven't been living under a rock. That's absurd. I've heard enough. Stay out of my business. I'm not that naïve. I lived in a big city a long time without someone watching my every move. You need to go."

Jacob told her to move. He unlocked the door and started to head down to the garage. She was shocked he wasn't going back to his wife's party.

Bella followed him. "What are you doing?" He was uncovering something in the corner on the other side of his car. She'd never noticed the tarp before. "The bike. I can't believe you still have your motorcycle."

"I keep it running. I could never part with it."

"You're going to go for a ride, now... in the middle Kaleigh's mother's party?" Goodness gracious, she wasn't the only woman he probably pissed off on a regular basis.

"Yep, it's either this or go back inside, punch Mack in the face so hard he's totally unconscious before I toss him through a plate glass window." She should say something, but what. Don't leave, don't be jealous, be a better husband to Kaleigh. Be my friend again. Nothing on the tip of her tongue seemed right, so she shook her head, walked back up the stairs and locked the door.

Bella slept sound for several hours. Maybe it was the little bit of wine. Atticus woke up at four, but was soon back sound asleep. She carefully laid him back down in his crib. When she turned around, she ran right into him. After years of uncertainty because of Aro, Bella had the dream quite often, a stranger in her bedroom late at night.

He clamped his hand over her mouth in case she intended to scream. She wasn't going to because she knew it was him all along. She kicked at him when he lifted her to pull her out of the room. He let go of her mouth, but not the rest of her.

"Have you lost your mind, Jake? What are you doing in my room?"

"I needed to see you. We have to talk."

"At 4:30 in the morning, no thanks. Won't your wife notice you're gone?"

"No, she's out cold. She had one of those bottles of wine to herself, plus a couple of beers. I don't sleep with her anyway." She was a little shocked by that information, but she didn't say a word. "Bells, I hate this."

"I told you it wasn't going to work."

"No, not that you're here, that you and I are always arguing."

"Then stop being so crazy."

"I can't."

"Of course you can, you can't blame your wolf for everything. I try and let you spend as much time with Atticus as you want and all you do is bark orders at me or point out my faults."

"No, I don't." She said she was tired and wanted to go back to bed. "It's just Kaleigh is driving me crazy. I expected her to be hurt and mad, but it's worse than that."

"So you come to me and take out all your frustrations because you think you've already done too much to her."

"I... no, well... shit, I don't know. I guess."

"Jake, do you still want to be married to her?" Bella wasn't asking for herself in all honesty. She was asking purely as a friend.

"I shouldn't be in here bothering you. I'm sorry about the fight, all of them actually. Sorry if I scared you. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

Bella wanted to say more, but it was late and she was still extremely tired. However, the fact he didn't answer her question kept her awake almost the rest of the night.

~Thanks for reading.

I appreciate everyone that asks for an update ASAP. It's the only thing keeping me going. Also, views are not working at all. I have no idea how many people are reading unless I see a review. No pressure ;)