A/N: Sorry for the delay posting this chapter! There are a couple chapters I know I need to write from Jacob's POV and that does not come as easily to me. Hope you like!
Jacob's POV
I walked back to the office, furiously wiping the grease from my hands, ready to finally close out my last customer of the day so I could get out of this place. Kim was sitting there, expecting me while multitasking with a dozen tabs open on her computer.
"About time boss." She smirked at me as I handed over the billing paperwork. I simply rolled my eyes and huffed a loud breath.
"That one was a killer. Never thought I would find the source of that leak." I continued to scrub under my fingernails even though I knew it was a lost cause.
"It wouldn't be that you're the biggest perfectionist this garage has ever seen." She scrutinized me as she talked, looking for ulterior meaning behind my words.
She caught me. While I am a perfectionist with my work, I have also been quite the workaholic today of all days. The pack knows, so I assume Kim does too, that today the demon's spawn comes to stay with Charlie for the summer. I fought a shudder as I thought it over. A part of me wanted to take off again, like I usually do on their yearly visits. But with the garage picking up business, I couldn't disappear for the entire summer. So if I can't run off, putting in extra hours here is the second best solution. I couldn't even let myself think of what would happen if I ran into her out and about in Forks. Treaty would be damned, that's for sure, and Sam would kill me.
The more hours I worked, the more I was able to push the thoughts from my head. Why was I wasting time thinking about any of their nonsense anyway? Even this afternoon, I was out on a call right outside of Forks and on my way there I swore I saw a silver Volvo. I even did a double take, a pit forming in my stomach. It wasn't the same car, I saw that once I looked closer. But damn it was close. Maybe a couple of years newer? I couldn't be sure. After that, my head has been on a swivel all day.
"I'm fine Kim, really. It's just been a long day." I shrugged past her, back to get my things and leave for the night.
As I headed out, I realized I was still on edge. I started to feel the itch to really run and stretch my legs. I hopped onto my bike, drove quickly towards home, parked on the corner and immediately got ready to phase. After a couple steps, I was in the woods pounding my paws through the familiar trees.
Right away, I was greeted by voices of surprise. First Brady, then Collin, and last was Quill all checking in to say hello. Brady and Collin were taking their turns on patrol, each circling a different side of the reservation. Quill, like me, was just feeling up for a quick run before calling it a night.
How was your day, Jake? Quill's thoughts directed at me.
Crazy day at the garage. Constant stream from open to close. That's why I came for a run, just felt a little amped up from the busy day. What about you all? Anything exciting?
Quill replayed for me his memories from work as well as his evening with Claire, being bossed around by the sassy ten year old as they made crafts together.
Brady and Collin chimed in next, telling us about how they'd passed the time throughout a very boring patrol. It had been years since a vampire had crossed into our lands. We still patrolled every night, just in case.
Oh Collin, tell them about that girl you saw! The hot one!
Yeah guys, oh my gosh. I swear I saw the most beautiful girl at the store today. He then ran through the memory, showing us that as he walked out of the Newton's store—I automatically rolled my eyes thinking of that dweeb—he ran right into a tall, red headed girl. He was right, I guess you had to admit she did seem to be beautiful. He didn't get a full look at her, but from what he could see of her skin, hair, all of it seemed to be perfect.
The crazy thing was I almost forgot I saw her! Right after I passed her in the door, I swore for a single second I smelled a vampire. Right then, I went around to the back so I could phase and ran a route in all directions but nothing. It was the strangest thing. Collin finished his story.
Maybe your nose isn't what you think it is, Collin. I jabbed. Hopefully you'll get another shot at this hot girl. At least give her the chance to laugh in your face.
Some wolfy laughs joined in with me as I continued to run a wide arc around my dad's house.
Hey Jake, run around and meet me! I was just headed to Embry's to watch the game.
I mentally shrugged, Sure!
Shifting directions, I met up with him in minutes and we raced the last couple miles to Embry's back door. In the next step, we phased back and dressed, letting ourselves in.
Embry was waiting for us in the living room, the game already on, snacks on the table. We all settled around the tv, as we had so many nights before, relaxing into a comfortable silence only disrupted when we yelled at the players on the screen.
On nights like these, I was the most grateful for my best friends. Most of the imprinted members of the pack spent every extra second with their person. Embry was, like me, still unattached while Quill, his situation was more unique. Sam, Paul, Jared...they were all love drunk fools at this point, no time for us bachelors. Which reminded me, someone was missing from our usual crew.
"Where's Seth tonight? He wasn't working late or on patrol." I asked the room.
A beat of awkward silence followed but I couldn't imagine why. Finally Embry spoke up.
"Oh you know, Jake, he had dinner at Charlie's tonight." Quill winced as my teeth snapped together.
Oh right, of course, Seth was baby leech's number one fan. Those first couple of years, he begged me over and over to give them all another chance. Yeah, right. Looks like we'll be down a man from our hangouts for a while.
This was going to be a long summer.
