Paul and I wake up in the morning and it's back to the usually hustle and bustle of the pack. I head into the kitchen and see Emily making breakfast. I hop right in and start helping. The boys are even helping. Well, Brady and Collin are. Kal is relaxing waiting for scraps. He must have slept on the couch last night. We finish making breakfast. I put aside a plate for Jacob, Embry, and Billy. I will take it as soon as I'm done eating.
"I have work today, babe. You'll be okay at Jake's on your own?" Paul asks.
"Yeah, don't worry. Text me where you are, and I'll drop lunch off for you." I offer.
"Sweet, thanks love." He says.
He kissed me then heads out with Sam and Jared. I walk over to Jake's with the food. I walk in and head Embry his and Billy his.
"Thanks," they both say then eat quickly.
I chuckle at that. I head in to check on Jake. I notice he is stirring a little bit. Meds would have worn of early this morning. He opens his eyes.
"Breakfast!" He exclaims. "You thought of me."
"Of course, I wouldn't forget about my only human patient." I say with a smile. "Any pain?"
"A little," he says.
"Between one and ten?" I ask.
"A three. Is that good?" he asks while he eats.
"Not sure. I'm not used to my patients talking back in English." I say with a laugh. He laughs.
"Yeah, I guess all your patients would speak in a different language." He says.
"Yup. I've learned a little of their language." I say checking his injuries.
"That's so cool," he says. "So, why did you ask if you wouldn't understand?"
"I saw it in a TV show once." I say with a shrug. "Your bones seem to be healing well. In a couple of hours, you can walk around, but be gentle. No phasing or running."
"Thanks. How long till I can phase?" He asks.
"Give it a few days. I'm being cautious. I'd rather be safe then sorry." I say.
"Me too," he agrees.
"I'm really proud of you," I say with a smile.
"I was just protecting my pack." He says.
"Not that. You pushed Bella away. I can't imagine how hard that was for you, but you still did it. that's something to celebrate." I say.
"Yeah, I did. I guess." He says uncertainly.
"I kept Bella away. I think some time away from her would be good for you. It will give you time to get over her and possibly imprint." I say.
"An imprint would make this easier." He says.
"No, think of the imprint as the reward at the end of this tough path. Your imprint deserves your whole heart not a piece. You saw how Edward felt. Your imprint doesn't deserve that," I tell him.
"You're right. She deserves everything I can give her." He says.
"You get some rest. I'm going to make you and your dad some freezer meals." I say.
"Thanks," he says.
"You have a lot on your shoulders. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Oh, I also saw Billy had an appointment in Seattle in two days. Paul can take him. They can meet up with me for lunch then bring him back." I say. Jake starts to tear up.
"Thanks, Lindsey. You have no idea how much that helps." His voice breaking as he talks.
"I have an idea," I say giving him a hug. "Now rest up. I'll wake you when Charlie gets here."
I leave his room only to hear scratching at the front door. Billy looks at me confused. I open the door and see Kal walk in like he owns the place.
"What a strange little guy," Billy says.
"He is, but he's also a sweetie. He must really be comfortable on the reservation to wonder here alone." I say.
I head to the kitchen. I start making lunch for the guys. I give Kal scraps. I finish putting away some of the meals for Billy and Jake when a knock comes from the door. I head over to answer it.
"Hi Charlie," I say.
"Hi Lindsey. How is Jake today?" he asks.
"Much better. He's just resting. I'll go get him up." I say.
He goes and sits on the couch. I go get Jake up and help him to a chair.
"What happened?" Charlie asks.
"He got into an issue while working out. A friend played a prank it went very wrong. Now, his muscles are all strained. It was a lot worse yesterday, but some sleep and taking it easy he will be good as new in a week." I say.
"So, he needs a live in doctor?" Charlie questions.
"No, I'm Paul's girlfriend." I say.
"Ahh," he says. "So, what's this about Bella?"
"Jake, would you like to say your point of view, then I say mime?" I ask.
"Can you start?" He returns.
"Sure, from what I can see and have heard. Bella is using Jake. She's keeping him around for if Edward leaves again. She's doing just enough to keep Jake interested even though she clearly has Edward. When Jake kissed her, it was because she gave all the signs saying she wanted it. I'm not saying he was in the right. But she gives off strong mixed signals. Just yesterday she asked Jake to kiss her." I explain. "So, I believe that it will help Jake heal and move on by not being around her. Jake, you wanna give your point of view?"
"When she moved here, I remembered playing with her when I was young and liking her/ I developed a crush on her pretty quickly. She would flirt with me sometimes encouraging it. I became obsessed. Not seeing how she was acting. My friends tried to protect me by keeping me away. But you told Bella to come over. I couldn't see the good they were doing for me. So, I accepted her back with open arms. Lindsey opened my eyes to what she was doing. It was all I could see. So, I need time away from her to move on and find my happy ending." He explains.
"I completely support his decision, Charlie." Billy adds.
"I had no idea she was doing that. I'm sorry to hear that," Charlie says, "I shouldn't have thrown you two together like that. It was not right."
"You didn't know any better. I didn't say anything. So, it's just as much my fault." Jake says.
"Last night, Edward broke up with Bella. He apparently said he needs to find himself and she needs to figure out what she wants." Charlie says.
"Yeah, Edward and I talked about that," I say. Charlie looks surprised.
"You know Edward?" He asks.
"Yeah, I know Jasper and Rosalie better being good friends with them, but I do know Edward," I say.
"So, did he really break up with her to find himself?" He asks.
"Partly, partly because she kissed Jake in front of him. He had asked her to marry him, then sees that. I can understand why he wants to go find himself." I say. "He has very old-fashioned beliefs. So, I think traveling and learning might help him keep up with the times."
"I did find him a little old-fashioned even by my standards," Charlie says.
"I can't disagree," I agree with him.
"Well, I will not be pushing Bella to come here," he says standing up. "I should head back to work."
"Please, take some lunch. I was just about to go deliver some to Paul and his friends." I say.
I head into the kitchen and grab him a container.
"Thank you," he says when I hand it to him. He quickly leaves.
"That went better then I thought." Jake says.
"That did go surprisingly well, but I will not complain," I say agreeing.
"I'm definitely not complaining," Jake says. I go grab the boys their food.
"Well, I'm going to deliver this to Paul, Sam, Jared, and Embry." I say.
"Can you leave Kal here?" Jake asks, Kal is on his lap hanging out.
"Yeah, he can stay. I shouldn't be too long," I say heading over to Sam's and grab my car.
I drive over to their job site. I see the boys on scaffolding.
"Who's that hottie?" I hear one guy asks.
"My girlfriend, fuck off." Paul says coming down to me.
He takes me in his arms and kisses me claiming me as his in front of the other guys.
"Wanna pee on me too?" I ask jokingly.
"Don't tempt me," he jokes laughing. I hand him the bags of food.
"You are so attractive," he says smelling inside the bag.
"You're just saying that because I brought you boys food," I say.
"In this case, yes. But that doesn't mean you aren't always beautiful. There is just something oddly attractive about you bringing me food." He says.
"That's because you're a bottomless pit," I say as Jared, Sam, and Embry walk over.
"Maybe," Paul says.
"You seriously brought food. I think I'm in love with you," Embry jokes.
"Who are these extra guys?" I ask.
"From another crew. We are starting at the zoo tomorrow. So, that will only be our own people." Sam says.
"They aren't that good?" I ask curiously.
"They are great at building. Not at respect," Jared says.
"They're worse then Paul on his worst day," Embry adds in.
"Hey, I'm not that bad," Paul says pulling me close to him. My back to his front, like a shield.
"Not anymore," Sam says. "Lindsey has calmed you significantly."
"I can't disagree. She's good for me." Paul says with a proud smile.
"I told Leah to stop by later to keep you company," Sam says.
"Thank you, the company will be nice," I say. "I should get back to Jake and Billy's. I made a lot of dishes already there."
"Sounds good." Paul says kissing the side of my head.
"Sam, do you think you could get Seth, Brady, or Collin to help Jake and Billy out?" I ask. "They seem to need more help then only Jake can give."
"Yeah, I can," Sam says.
"Also, Paul," I say turning around to face him in his arms. "Can you take Billy to Seattle in two days? I will be in Seattle that day at the zoo. So, I can meet you for lunch."
"Yeah, I can," Paul agrees.
"Thanks, Jake will need a ride to school, but he will be able to go back on Monday." I say.
"Quil can drive us," Embry says,
"Perfect. Well, I will let you boys get back to work," I say. I kiss Paul then head back to my car. "Bye boys." I drive back to Jakes as Leah walks up.
"Oh, I didn't know you left," She says.
"Yeah, just dropping off lunch for the boys. Now the time for dishes," I say with a laugh.
"No rest for the wicked, I guess." She says.
"No, I guess not," I say agreeing.
I start doing the dishes. Leah dries and puts away. So, we get it done quickly. We sit down in the kitchen away from the guys. Kal was still sitting with Jake when I left the room.
"So, I've realized I can forgive Emily," Leah says.
"Oh, and how did you come to that conclusion?" I ask. Getting up to make myself a cup on tea.
"I realized mine and Sam's relationship wasn't as perfect as I was making it seem. I feel like I just ignored all the bad. And lifted up the good." She says.
"Yeah, that happens sometimes in relationships," I say.
"Sam and I had some really bad arguments. He wanted me to stay home and look after our kids. I needed to work, or I would go crazy." She says.
"Yeah, something big like that can break a relationship," I say.
"You just agree?" she asks.
"Yes, you would know your relationship best. It doesn't mean you didn't have good times with Sam. It just means you two weren't meant to be," I say.
"Yeah, the imprint shoved it in our faces," She says with a scoff.
"No, you both wanted something fundamentally different. You wanted a career. Sam wanted a stay-at-home wife and mother." I say.
"It's just easier to be mad at the imprint," She says with a sigh.
"Who ever said love was easy?" I say. "Because if someone did, they were lying big time. Like everything good in life. Love takes work."