#he seems like i could flick him out the window at high speeds and he'd just immediately come flying back in

[steakout-05]

imagine Barry Steakfries but he's like. actually small enough to fit inside a phone screen. like he's literally not even an inch tall. just a tiny little guy that you can drag around with your finger like a shimeji. personally i'd put him in a soda can and spin him around

[malachaiparkerimagines]

do-over

word count: 4.1k

warnings: angst, sad kai :(, sappy sex

summary: seeing your old partner in crime in a diner was enough for both of you to yearn for each other once again.

The diner that Bonnie had chosen for dinner was quaint, a little way outside of town but the journey there had been a familiar one. Bonnie spent the drive over talking about a new grimoire she’d acquired, you'd been listening a majority of the time but as you pulled into the diner, your attention shifted.

Damon’s car was one you would recognise anywhere but for a second you failed to register that his car was parked just outside the diner you were about to enter. It shouldn’t have mattered but curiosity got the better of you and you couldn’t help but wonder.

“What’s Damon doing here?” you mumbled cutting off Bonnie’s rambling. She quickly spotted Damon’s car but didn't share the same concern, simply shrugging her shoulders and getting out of the parked car, immediately heading for the entrance.

The warm smell of waffles and bacon wafted out of the glass door Bonnie had held open for you and the soft murmur of conversations filtered into your ears.  

Any previous worries you had about Damon invading yours and Bonnie’s free time dissipated the moment you felt a low rumble emanate from your stomach. A waitress, a teenage girl with a warm smile, promptly seated you both at a table just by the window and handed you menus with a smile before briskly walking off to serve another table.

“I’m starving” you breathed as you looked over the choices on the tattered menu, your eyes flicking over a few that you knew you would enjoy. “What are you getting?”

Bonnie seemed too preoccupied staring at the stools at the front of the diner to acknowledge you, repeating the question seemed to catch her attention but now you were far too interested to find out what she’d been looking at.

“I-, um,” she stumbled, fumbling with the menu as she tried to gain your attention back but it was long gone, too focused on the two men sitting on the stools in the direction Bonnie had been staring at a few moments before.  

Damon was expected, you’d seen his car parked out front so you weren’t surprised to see him occupying one of the worn stools. However, you hadn’t expected to see Kai sitting adjacent to him.

To say you and Kai had history would be an understatement, you were practically joined at the hip for a time. The warmth and endearment he expressed in your presence was enough for the rest of the group to finally accept him; not as a friend just yet, but not as an enemy.  

That was a while ago though since then he'd drifted from you to the point where any acknowledgement of your existence was unheard of from him. You wanted to be angry with him, you had every right to hate him for the way he made you feel when he brushed you off but it broke your heart far more than it infuriated you.  

The diner was busy enough that he hadn’t spotted you yet but you knew it was just a matter of time, a simple glance behind him or Bonnie speaking a decibel too high would alert him to your presence.  

“Can we go?” you whispered, feeling your heart sinking more than you could physically handle. Bonnie’s eyes met yours and you could practically feel the pity radiating from her stare.

“No,” she stated, holding her head high but the look of sympathy was still painted on her face. “You can’t run from him forever, he’s not worth the trouble.”

She was right, of course, she was right, but that didn’t mean you had to like it. So, with a deep sigh and a shaky breath you picked up your menu and decided what to eat. With a proud smile, Bonnie imitated your actions and started to list off what she wanted to eat.

After a while you almost forgot that Kai was in the same room as you, you'd been so engaged in conversation and your food. What you'd failed to notice as a result was that Kai and Damon had finally realised that you were there.  

A slightly louder than usual laugh from you alerted Kai of your whereabouts, your laugh was so familiar to him and yet he almost forgot what it sounded like. As if it was second nature, his heart yearned to go and talk to you, ask you how you'd been but a hand on his shoulder grounded him into his seat.  

For a moment he thought Damon had returned him to his senses until his eyes shifted to the dainty hand that had slinked down and taken a hold of his bicep before they finally moved to the face of the woman who was smiling at him. Damon moved to focus on the milkshake in front of him, a smirk growing on his face.

“Can I help you?” Kai questioned, taken aback by the proximity of the woman who he didn't recognise. She was pretty, no question about it, she had light eyes and short blonde hair but Kai couldn't care less, his hearing focused on you and the mindless conversation you were having.  

The conversation between you and Bonnie had slowed, words were just mumbled between the mouthfuls of food. Somehow, your gaze returned to Kai and Damon, the sight instantly put a damper on your mood.  

You hadn't expected to see someone brazenly flirting with Kai, her hand was wrapped around his upper bicep and she was ever so slightly leaning into him. It wasn't her actions that had tears brimming your eyes but rather his, the lack of effort to move away was what hurt most.

Bonnie’s gaze had moved to the direction that had caught your eye and almost immediately she was waving over a nearby waitress.  

“Hi, could we maybe get some takeaway boxes and the bill?” she asked a grateful smile on her face when the waitress nodded and headed behind the register. “Are you okay?”

Tearing your gaze from the scene took a moment, you simply nodded and took a deep breath.  

“He can do whatever he wants, I don't care,” you said in an attempt to not only convince Bonnie but also yourself. You were never even dating but the way your heartstrings snapped at the sight made you reconsider just how much the whole affair had affected you.

It took about 5 minutes for both of you to pay, box your food up, and leave. The drive home was significantly quieter than the drive there had been and you cursed both yourself, and Kai, for letting him ruin your time out with a friend.

Honestly, you wanted to curl up in bed and forget that he even existed, the idea of asking one of your friends to compel you to forget the memory crossing your mind at one point.  

You dropped Bonnie off with as much reassurance as you could that you would be fine, desperately convincing her that it was nothing and the whole ordeal just caught you off guard. After a while, she seemed convinced and with a warm hug and a promise that she was there if you needed her, she left you alone.  

The soft music that played on the radio meant that you almost missed the notification that appeared on your phone. You had just parked up when you checked your phone, your heart skipping a beat when you read over the short message.

kai: are you busy?

Almost every fibre of your being wanted to ignore the message, block his number and move on with your life. But despite any intelligent thought telling you it was a bad idea, you typed out a simple no and sent it before putting your phone down.

Barely a few seconds passed before your phone lit up with another notification, you took a deep breath before picking it up again and reading the message.

kai: can you come over?

Any sensical thought you had left evaporated when you read the message, your body buzzing with dread and excitement at him wanting to talk to you. As if you had no control over your body, you said yes and started the car up again to make the almost habitual drive to his apartment.  

The drive there was quicker than you remembered, it might have been due to your racing thoughts that meant you were barely paying attention to the drive, the action almost unconscious.  

It seemed as though you were dreaming the whole time until you stood in front of his door. The reality of what you were doing came crashing down onto you and you almost decided to just turn around and go home, the door swinging open in front of you stopped you from doing that.  

“Hi,” you breathed out, your heart about to spring from your chest at the speed it was beating.  

“Hey, come in,” he said as he moved out of the way of the door, the familiar apartment coming into view.

It was exactly as you remembered, his apartment was dark and moody just as Kai intended it to be and you couldn’t help but let your heart warm at the smell of old books that Kai’s apartment always seemed to smell like.  

You turned to face him awaiting whatever reason he has asked you to come over after months of radio silence. The stoic look you presented did not at all mirror the turmoil you felt inside, you'd missed him immensely but prayed he didn’t know it.

“I saw you today, at that diner. I heard you leave and I can guess why you left but uh-” he stumbled over his words; he was never nervous which is why this side of him was such a shock to you. “I’ve missed you.”

The words made your skin erupt in goosebumps and your stomach fill with every type of butterfly. Meeting his eyes made any semblance of the strong facade you had presented crumble and you couldn't help the ways your eyes softened.

“Why?” you asked, your hands curling and uncurling into fists at your side, a presentation of your nerves.

“Why did I miss you? Why wou-” he started before you cut him off.

“No, why did you start acting like I didn’t exist?” you asked, the tremble in your voice evident but you didn't let yourself slip up.  

“I was scared,” he stated, his eyes falling to the ground as your eyebrows scrunched and your head tilted ever so slightly. “I’ve never felt like that about anyone in my entire life. I got scared and so I decided it’d be best if I left you alone.”

To any sane person, his logic made no sense, if you felt like you were falling for someone or anything remotely close then you would do anything in your power to keep them around. To Kai, it made perfect sense. He was so scared of hurting you or inevitably not meeting your expectations that he failed to realise that leaving you with no explanation would only hurt you more.  

“I thought you hated me,” you mumbled, the words bringing some kind of relief to your mind. Almost instantly, Kai’s head shot up to look at you and began to rapidly shake his head, muttering ‘no’ under his breath whilst taking quick steps towards you.  

His warm hands came up to brush your hair from your face before coming to rest on your cheeks. The eyes that met yours were swimming with both hurt and sympathy, he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad for himself when you stood in front of him looking so broken.  

“I could never hate you,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.”  

Sincerity seeped into his words, the small cracks in his voice as a result of his emotions overwhelming him made it evident he was being truthful. You knew emotions easily overwhelmed him since his merge with Luke, he struggled to deal with them and you had tried to help before he pushed you away.  

The genuine show of feelings that flowed between you made you want to pull him close, tell him it was okay and that you forgave him but fear took over. It was impossible to know whether he was prepared to deal with those emotions again or if he would decide to leave the second it got too much.  

His eyes scoured yours, searching for any reaction he could work off of, anything that would tell him that you forgave him but he came up empty. His hands were just about to move off you, he was so close to apologising for being a bother and letting you go for good. Until you spoke up.  

“I want to try this again, I do,” you started, taking a moment before continuing, “but please don’t leave me again.”

Kai’s heart sunk in a way he’d never felt before, he’d never felt guilt to that extent. He’d done some truly heinous things in his lifetime but nothing made his heart shatter like the despair in your voice.  

“I don’t think I could leave you alone again if I tried,” he uttered, a breathy laugh escaping him and both of you knew he was telling the total truth. A sudden warmth filled you, a feeling of solace taking over and you finally allowed yourself to sink into his hold.  

One hand slid around the back of your head as you rested against his chest, his other hand slinking to your back and pulling you as close to him as humanly possible. The arms that slinked around his waist brought him comfort that he’d never felt within his lifetime.  

Gently, he looked down at you causing you to bring your chin to rest on his chest so you could look up at him. With a soft smile, he leaned down ever so slightly to meet your lips, gracing you with a tender kiss that sent your heart into a frenzy and your mind blank.  

He pulled away for a moment, a small smile gracing his lips before he began to place small kisses on your lips again, pulling away for just a second to see the small pout on your face. After doing this for as long as he thought you could take he pulled apart completely.  

“Come on,” he mumbled, grabbing your hand and pulling you through his apartment until you reached his bedroom. Effortlessly, he pushed the door open and span you around to push you onto the plush mattress.  

Nerves washed over you, the reality that you were actually in Kai’s bedroom, on his bed with him hovering over you suddenly crashed onto you. His hands returned to your waist but he looked over your face for a moment, as if he was reading your thoughts.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern washing over his face at your sudden stillness considering how eager you were to be close to him just moments before.

“Yeah,” you struggled to find the words to describe how you felt so you settled on saying, “it’s just new.”

Kai knew what you meant, sure you’d been close before but him having you in his bed was uncharted territory. He hadn't intended to make you uncomfortable at all, he wanted to show you how much he’d missed you, how sorry he was.  

He began to push off of you, suddenly feeling as though he’d pushed your boundaries far too much for one night. Emotions had gotten the better of him and he already felt guilty for dragging you into his bedroom, his mindset on his own desires.  

Before he could leave you, warm lips met his once again, dainty fingers pulling at the hairs on the nape of his neck as he settled on top of you once again. No words needed to be said, all of your feelings being expressed through the soft smile he could feel against his lips as you allowed yourself to indulge in him.  

Relief washed over him and he finally let the desires free again, any previous hesitations being wiped clean and replaced with the sensations that now overwhelmed him.  

One of his arms rested by your head, propping himself up above you whilst the other skimmed across your waist, the light movements pulling at your shirt and revealing your skin.  

“Can I?” he mumbled against your lips, his fingers gingerly tracing the bottom of your ridden up shirt. A soft nod from you was all he needed to push the shirt up slowly before eventually pulling it over your head and leaving it to the side.  

The eyes that explored the now exposed skin were filled with adoration and lust. “You’re beautiful.”

The words erupted your skin into goosebumps, the lower tone of his voice sent your mind into a haze and the only thoughts you could formulate related to how lucky you were.  

A heavy sigh from you pulled Kai from his less than pure thoughts and back to you. He sat up straight, resting on his knees between your thighs and despite being devoured by his eyes in your half-naked form for the last few minutes, you suddenly felt exposed.  

As if he could sense your unease he removed his shirt as well, tossing it to the side more haphazardly than he had treated yours. The sight of him hovering over you, the only clothing covering him being his sweatpants, was something you wish you could engrain into your memory and relive on any dark or lonely day.  

Your hands unconsciously reached out to grab him, the need to feel him against you taking over. Almost instantly he was hovering about you again, the skin to skin contact making the feeling of lust more intimate.  

Your legs hugged his hips in a plea to have him closer, the soft kisses he placed on your exposed neck adding the dreamy state you’d been pushed to. His hands traced the cup of your bra, his hands gliding to your back and unclasping it with no trouble.  

Every movement he performed was soft and gentle as if you were made of glass. The fingertips that traced your skin and pulled your bra off your arms were featherlike and left a warm trail across your cold skin.  

A light touch to your nipple elicited a sharp intake of breath from you, a sound that made Kai shiver. His hands massaged your breasts carefully, all of his attention on the soft whimpers you made whenever his fingers played or pinched at the sensitive skin around your nipple.  

“P-please, more,” you whimpered, pushing your hips into his. The soft graze of you against his crotch caused him to abandon his attack on your neck and his face dug into the crook of your neck, his breathing deep as he attempted to calm himself.  

He was back to sitting up straight, between you, his hands grasping at the waistband of your leggings and underwear and pulled them off, the position was awkward and had your legs in the air but Kai managed to do it seamlessly.  

With a second, his eyes returned to your face, not leaving even as he tugged his sweatpants down his thighs, leaving them hanging around halfway down as his length slapping up against his stomach before gravity brought it down.  

Once again, he returned to you, his cock resting against your exposed pussy and you couldn't stop the soft whimper that escaped you.  

Kai’s eyes looked down between the two of you, his heart jumping at the thought that you had allowed him to see you exposed. Almost painfully slowly, he grinned into you, not yet allowing himself to indulge completely but the sight alone had his stomach in knots.

Small mewls of his name returned him to reality and he was on your lips once more. Any soft moans were muffled by his lips, the kiss was soft yet sloppy and you could feel the desperation rolling off the both of you in waves.

The teasing was becoming insufferable and you needed him more than you needed oxygen. “I n-need you.”

The words were mumbled against his lips and he would’ve missed them if he wasn’t so enraptured by the noises you were making. Before you could utter another syllable he has slipped into you, stretching you out to where it was almost painful.  

He gave you a few moments to breathe and accommodate him, a consideration that was much appreciated. The air in the room was suffocating and you could only bring yourself to let out shallow breaths in an attempt to keep yourself calm.  

It took him a few more moments to move, only gently thrusting as your breathing slowed to the point that he deemed ‘safe’. His movements were cautious, afraid to break you despite you showing him time and time again that you wouldn't be broken so easily, but you enjoyed the loving pace regardless.

You pulled him down ever so slightly, attaching your lips to his neck as he began to build a rhythm to his movements. His cock stroking against your sweet spot with every single thrust, each time it elicited a soft whimper.  

The pace sped up as he began to let his desires overwhelm him, his hips slapping against yours in a chase to his end. The hand that rested on your waist slid down your stomach and landed on your clit, rubbing small, soft circles that had you writhing.  

He was desperate for you to reach your climax first, knowing that seeing the ecstasy he caused would send him into a high that he could only ever dream of recreating alone. Your face was completely dug into the crook of his neck but he wanted to see you, he had to see you.  

Carefully, he pulled away, your head rolling back onto the bed and gave him a full show of your face. The way your eyelids were hooded and your lips puffy, it almost threw him over, but he remained hellbent on you getting there first.  

The angle of his hips changed slightly, barely noticeable if it hadn't made the tip of his cock hit your sweet spot with accuracy. The feeling made you let out a small cry, and every thrust after that wound your stomach into a tight knot.  

“Kai, K-Kai,” you started before you could finish your sentence the knot unravelled. The feeling overwhelmed you in a way you’d never felt before and you could only feel the way your body buzzed and writhed and the warmth from the man hovering above you.  

Watching you quiver and shake beneath him was enough to send Kai over the edge, his body near collapsing on top of you as a guttural groan erupted from him. His hips stuttered inside of you, pleasure clouding his mind and he allowed himself to pump you full of him, feeling the way your walls clenched him and held him in made pulling out feel impossible.

A few moments passed before he slid out of you, his cum spilling out of you as your pussy couldn't hold everything that he had to give. The sight made his mind hazy and his cock twitched, desperate to feel the warmth of your tight pussy again.  

He switched his gaze to you, your eyes had fluttered shut and the way you were peacefully sprawled out on his bed made you look ethereal. He stood onto shaky legs, his orgasm knocking the energy out of him and seeing you like that was enough to make his body tremble.

Gently, he picked you up, his arms and carried you to the bathroom, the movement woke you from your daze and you giggled slightly at his affection.  

“C’mon, let’s clean you up,” he whispered, scared to break the warm atmosphere. The care he provided you with broke him from his usual character, careful hands traced over you as to not stimulate you any further and he guided you through every action that would require no thought from you anyway.  

Finally, he returned you to his bed, pulling the covers up for you and allowing you to settle before joining you. The moment he crawled into bed next to you, you wrapped around him, your head rested on his chest and you wrapped your leg around his waist.  

The action, despite being as simple as cuddling, made his heart jump in its cage and he found himself completely and utterly enamoured with you.  

Watching you drift off to sleep was never the plan but how could Kai possibly sleep when all he could think about was you?

[izupie]

The Poet and the Puppy

"Wow, Liyue Harbor is even bigger than you described, Kazuha. I'm glad you're here or I'd definitely have gotten lost by now." Gorou's tail flicked back and forth happily as he gazed around at the hustle and bustle with undisguised wonder.

"Mm. It can be a little overwhelming at first," Kazuha agreed with an amused smile, as Gorou's tail increased in speed. "But there's something truly welcoming about this place. Like you could come from anywhere in Teyvat and you'd be able to make a home here." After a slight pause Kazuha continued in a lighter tone, "Imagine having to inform Her Excellency that her most dependable war general had gotten lost in Liyue Harbor somewhere."

Gorou's tail stilled and his ears drooped slightly as his attention returned to Kazuha. "Ex war general now."

Kazuha felt a pang in his chest for his friend.

Back when Kazuha had fled from Inazuma he remembered how he'd almost mourned the loss of the life he had expected he would lead. He'd realised that everything had changed and could never go back to how it was, and that he would have to forge his own path from that moment on, with no plan ahead of him.

He could see that realisation in Gorou's expression now.

"Sorry," Gorou said. "I didn't mean it to sound like that's a bad thing. It's just..." He sighed and looked out over the ocean behind them, back in the direction of their homeland. "If I'm not fighting in a war, what am I supposed to do now?"

Kazuha reached down and slowly took one of Gorou's hands into his own - smiling gently at the way it made his ears perk up high on his head. "What do you want to do now? That's the question you get to ask yourself," he said, in such a soft voice that it was almost a whisper. "You can take as long as you want to look for the answer. Maybe you'll find it in the whisper of the wind through the grass, or the sound of the raindrops hitting a sturdy inn window, or in the way the lights glow in the sweet smelling evening and hum of a night in Liyue Harbor. It's for you to decide who you are and what you want to do."

Gorou's bright teal eyes shined with an excitement that Kazuha was used to seeing in them on the battlefield.

"Thanks, Kazuha." Gorou squeezed their hands together and looked immediately away with a casual clear of his throat. But his tail was wagging furiously. "You know," he continued conversationally, "I hear a lot of soldiers say that they always considered you to be mysterious and quiet - a 'samurai of few words' they would say - but I've always found you to be..." He grinned, his fangs flashing in the fading evening light. "Well, full of words."

Kazuha laughed and linked their fingers together. Without their gloves on it was easy to feel how Gorou's hand was calloused and battle-hardened, just as he knew his own would be. "Only with you," he said eventually.

He was rewarded with the sight of a pink bloom that spread across Gorou's nose, though it could have just been a trick of the soft lamplight lighting up around them.

Gorou seemed lost for words and that only fuelled the fond warmth blazing in Kazuha's chest. He felt so lucky to be with him here. They had truly come out of the other side, and now they were free.

Gorou scratched at one of his fluffy ears and finally turned to face Kazuha, with the boldness and courage of a true general. "Then I would like it very much if you and all your words accompanied me on my self-discovery journey. If you uh- want to, that is."

"Nothing would make me happier."

[written-within-the-stars]

Just a Coffee - Together

Collin

I managed to get out of work a little earlier than normal. I did wish I had time to go home and shower, but that would be pushing it. I really need to be on time today. I had thought to bring a change of clothes though, a decent pair of jeans and a shirt left open over a grey t-shirt.

'We're always on time.' My wolf reminded me. He wasn't wrong.

'Fine, early then.' I was still ready for the fact she could be held up at work. But I had my fingers crossed.

I got there 15 minutes early and found a seat near the window so I could see her arriving. I told the waitress I was waiting on someone when she came to order and pulled out my phone so I could pretend I wasn't just watching out for her.

Harper

“Jess? Is there anything else left for me to do?” I called out from my office as I finished off my day’s updates on my patience.

‘I have everything in hand, where are you going anyway?’ She stood in the doorway of my office, her smile big and bold as always.

“Just for some coffee.” It stung that I hadn’t told her the full truth and I didn’t like the feeling. “With Collin. You know just to.—“ I wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence, because I was unsure of why we’d agreed to meet tonight now. ( okay, maybe I had an idea. But that was silly I told myself. )

‘Collin? Really? Boy doesn’t he work fast.’ #Jessica clapped her hands together, and I shook my head.

“He is being friendly to the new person in town.” I told her looking at the time. I just had enough time to walk down to the diner and breathe before he got there.

‘Harps, you’ve been here like six months.’ She mused.

I left the practice, shrugging my coat on and pulling the zip up as high as it went. I knew #Jess would message me if I was needed for any Emergencies.

By the time I was crossing the street towards the diner I remembered, I should have texted Collin to let him know I was going to be on time.

Taking my phone out I came to a stop. Seeing him sat in the window of the diner looking at his phone.

He was already here?

Collin

{Did she cancel yet?} The text came in from Brady.

So far, he, Sam and Emily were the only ones I told I was meeting her. I didn’t want to be overwhelmed with unsolicited advice.

{She won’t. It’s not even 5.30 yet? Don’t you have your own life?} I text back.

He'd not read it as snippy as it sounded. I flicked on Do Not Disturb and set my phone face down. I glanced out the window and there she was, I smiled.

She had stopped, I gave her a wave and wondered if I was supposed to get up or wait. Waiting seemed like the logical move.

Harper

He looked up towards me and I smiled, it took a moment to realise I’d not moved, and I willed myself to do so. Waving back to him. My eyes darted over to the door, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear I walked in to go and join him.

“Hi, have you been here long? I’m sorry am I late?” I wasn’t sure if the walk over had taken me longer than I had planned.

Taking my coat off, I placed it on the back of the chair. Unsure if I should shake his hand or— I was so bad at this.

I smiled over at him and pulled the chair out and sat down.

Collin

I smiled as she approached the table. I didn't know how it was possible that she was even more beautiful every time I saw her. ”Not long.” Trying a little hard to sound casual. When it really hadn't been long.

“You’re not late. I got off a little earlier than normal.” I chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard all about how contractor’s never do a full day’s work.” I tilted my head and grinned. “All true.”

I was joking, of course. “How was work? Fall in love with anyone else?” I teased then realized what I had said. “I mean with any other pets?” I corrected quickly.

Harper

My eyes wondered around the diner for all of a minute, before he spoke and that was it. I found myself pulled over to him. It was that same sensation I’d felt when he’d brought Nova to see me.

“Oh, now I hear it is all about the coffee breaks, lunch breaks, more coffee breaks.” I teased him. I was aware how hard good contractors truly worked. “Oh, wait.” I motioned to the diner and then between the two of us. “Is this another coffee break you are taking?”

Rubbing my hands together I tried to still the thudding in my chest. ‘Just Coffee’.

My eyes widen at his question and correction; however, I knew what he meant. “It’s becoming hard to fall as easily as I once used to. Nova has set the bar and standards high don’t you know?” With that, the mention of work and animals, I felt my shoulders ease down a little. “Work was busy, however that is how I like it. Thank you for asking. And you? How was your day? How is Nova doing?”

Collin

I couldn't help but laugh. "Well, half of my work is kind of artistic. And there is no inspiration without coffee." I grinned. "But no... I'm fully off the clock now."

I heard her heart beating harder and I tried not to focus on it. Nervous was good... Right?

I beamed a smile when she mentioned Nova and nodded. "Yeah, she does that. she's a special girl. She's with my friend Emily right now. I swear her belly is bigger already."

I looked up hearing the waitress approach and ask, 'Are you ready to order?' I turned my gaze to Harper.

"What's your poison?"

Harper

I had to laugh softly; he was seeing things I was sure of that. Sure, there would be small changes in Nova’s behaviour but showing that much. “Just don’t keep weighing her, girls don’t like it when guy’s do that.” I joked again.

Pushing the rim of my glasses up my nose I turned my attention to the waitress and then back to him. “Is it cheating if I said a hot chocolate?” I asked. “Coffee has its place in the day; however, hot chocolate is the drink of friendships.”

I lowered my eyes to the table and then back up towards him. “It’s what my friends back home and I tend to order.” It hadn’t occurred to me that I’d not had one since I’d moved here to La Push. It felt a little wrong to order it without the guys.

Collin

Her soft laugh made my heart speed up. I knew it was just that I was more aware of the swollen belly. "I'm shocked she sat still for you to get her weight." I chuckled. "She'd not let me at home."

I had to stop the smile spreading as wide as it wanted to. She was adorable. "Not at all... It actually sounds pretty good." I looked up at the waitress. "Make that two, and throw in some cookies too, please."

After the waitress left, I turned to Harper and teased. "So... can't handle caffeine after 5, can you?"

Harper

“It’s all about the skill and the love you show the Baby-girl. A couple of well-placed ear rubs and she was putty in my hands.” I rubbed the side of my face, before moving to sit back. I’d not even realised I had been leaning in on the table.

Smiling up at the Waitress as she took our order and stepped away. I turned my attention back. “Oh, if only that was true.” My hands were now placed on my lap as I spoke to him. “caffeine can be consumed at anytime of the day or night. It doesn’t really impact me as it does others. I don’t stay awake or get the shakes or anything. I just—Well, I just like Chocolate more on a cold day.”

I had to tell myself to stop smiling so much. What was wrong with me here? I was acting more like #Kenz than myself.

Collin

"That used to work for me, but now she knows she'll get them no matter what. Spend more time with her and she'll have you wrapped around her paw too."

I gave her a teasing sideways look like I was suspicious. "Sure, that's what they all say... and later they are spilling secrets like they just had three gin cocktails." I laughed.

She wasn't though, it reminded me of hanging out with #Seth when we were younger. #SueClearwater made the best hot chocolate. "You make a very good point Dr Jenkins. It's is a little cool tonight, but don't worry, you will see the sun again soon."

Harper

“Are you certain she doesn’t have me wrapped tightly around her little paws already? Could you blame me? Those beautiful brown eyes could melt a stone heart.”

I laughed softly looking down to my hands and then back up to him again. His eyes were so welcoming, it was easy to become pulled in by them. Shaking my mind free. “Gin? Now this I did not see coming. Is that how one would find you spilling all your secrets Collin?” I was teasing once again.

Circling my wrist in the air beside my head. “I’ve been told a few times in the past that I do make good points. There is a secret to the skills, but alas I couldn’t tell you. You know top secret and all.” Tapping the side of my nose.

Collin

"They were ice blue until she was about 16 weeks. But her heart was too warm, and the ice melted." I chuckled. I got mocked for that joke a lot, but I had a feeling she would appreciate it more than most.

I laughed and shook my head. "I don't really drink, a few beers here and there, depending on the occasion. But when I do, I have a pretty constitution. But I have witnessed the effects in the past."

When the guys broke out the Moonshine I was normally chasing #Brady making sure he didn't streak down main street naked. "Top secret? Next time we'll meet at the bar and maybe I can unlock a few of your secrets."

Harper

Tilting my head to the side, I looked down again and let my hair fall forward. Taking a moment or two to think about what he’d just said. “I’ve never heard anyone say that before.” And I whispered it again. “Her heart was too warm, and the ice melted. I like that.” It was such a unique way to view the change in the puppy’s eyes.

“You would be surprised how often I’ve seen people change their minds about having a husky when they find out their eyes could change from blue.” The smile was gone, and I found myself frowning a little. “It happens to humans too you know. Babies are born with different eye colours and as they grow their eyes change. However, I don’t see anyone returning their babies.” Biting my lips when I realised, I’d gone too deep.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go so deep.” Clearing my throat, I pushed the rim of my glasses. Trying to bring myself back from where I allowed my mind to go. Rubbing the apple of my cheek I felt it heating up. And I laughed now as his next words sunk in.

“Next time? Do you believe I would trust you in a bar now? You just told me your strategy Collin. That is a bad plan of action when you want in on the secrets.”

Collin

I smiled. I thought she'd laugh, but she seemed the really think about what I said and... it was even better than a laugh. No matter how amazing her laugh was.

"You aren't the only one with wisdom and good points." I watched the thoughts swirl around her eyes.

"Unfortunately, I think that contributed to her mom selling her after we..." I trailed off. Don't talk about your ex!

"You're right though, just because their lives are shorter it doesn't mean they aren't just as important as ours."

I couldn't help but smile at her next comment and a little swell of confidence had me leaning my elbows on the table.

"Mhm." I nodded. "Everyone trusts me. I'm a trustworthy guy. Ask anyone."

The waitress arrived with a tray, after overhearing. 'It's true.' She smiled at Harper and place her mug down. And she instantly earned herself a bigger tip.

Harper

Racking my fingers through my hair I pushed it back over my shoulders listening to him. His Ex-girlfriend. Nova’s mom. I didn’t comment on her or their situation, I didn’t say how I felt about people who could give their puppies away or worse sell them. I had no right to pass judgement on his relationship.

Once again, I found myself taken off guard by the waitress stood beside me before I even knew she had come. I jumped a little at the sound of her voice. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.’ I laughed and shook my head. “Not your fault. I’m normally not so jumpy.” Taking the cup and moving it to the side a little.

“You are trying to tell me that you believe I’d be safe going to the bar with Mr Littlesea here?” She was smiling looking over to Collin and she gave a curt nod of her head. Leaning down she whispered. ‘Also, Doc, we’ve all heard the story of what you are capable of doing when a man gives you unrequited attention.’ She winked and gave my shoulder a small nudge. Standing again she places the plate of cookies in the middle of the table and then walked way leaving me with my cheeks burning.

My eyes moved back across the table to Collin. “So, I’m told you can be trusted. I’ll need to think about it. How do I know you didn’t pay her to vouch for you?” Picking up the cup, the hot chocolate smelled so good. I just held it letting the steam from it rise up to greet me.

Collin

I listened to the exchange between #Gemma and Harper and smirked. I laughed at her narrowing my eyes.

"Hey... does that sound like something a trustworthy guy would do?"

I pondered on what the waitress had said. "Now I'm not so sure you can be trusted. Plus, if I paid her, I'd get my monies worth and have her drop a few compliments too." I was clearly joking. I inhaled the scent of the hot chocolate deeply. Why didn't I order this more often? "Hmm... Oh, yeah. Great choice." I smiled across the table and sat back a little.

"So... What exactly are you capable of when you get unwanted attention?" I quirked a brow and curled up one corner of my mouth. Curiosity nipping at me, it would be easy to find out, but I wasn't about to ask around about her.

I wanted to know her, not people’s opinions of her.

Harper

Blowing a little at the drink I took a sip too fast and felt the burn of it on my lips. Scrunching my face up, and of course I didn’t learn my lesson, because I was about to take another sip, however stopped. My eyes on him over the rim of the cup.

“You have made a good point there. I mean a few compliments would get you all in whole good customer service, unless of course she will be back to drop those for you in a while.” Tapping the side of my temple, letting him know that the scenario had played out in my mind.

I laughed once again softly; I couldn’t believe how easy it was to speak with him. I didn’t feel the need to hide and I couldn’t understand why it was the case. Maybe the waitress was indeed correct. He did have a trustworthy face. And Again I couldn’t help but think how he was so much like #Seth.

Taking another sip from the cup, I had to cough. “You heard that?” I asked him. Taking the cup and placing it on the table before me. The tips of my fingers playing on the top of the rim. I didn’t dare to look up at him, and I could hear #Damian’s voice in my mind. ‘Any guy who is afraid of a girl who can look after herself, is a guy you need to stay away from.’ Sitting back in the chair again. I wasn’t sure when and how I kept moving forward.

“When I first moved into town, I had the misfortune of meeting someone a little drunk in the bar. What he didn’t know was that one of my best friends #Jenna is married to an Ex-Army Special Forces Captain. And Damian took it on himself to make sure that Kenz. Jenna and I could protect ourselves.”

As I said the words, my heart started to beat a little faster. Time had moved on; it had been years. And still thinking about #Damian and the way he trained me and the girls brought #Jimmy’s face back to the forefront. But now I was able to push him back into the background of a past I never had to live again.

Collin

I chuckled at her comment and picked up my phone, pretending to text someone. "Abort compliments. We've been rumbled." I whispered loud enough for her to hear. I set the phone back down. "I have no idea what you mean." I smiled mischievously.

Crap! I was really bad at acting human around her. I leaned in closer and lower the table Shifting my eyes side-to-side. "I hear everything." Trying to draw her attention away from it with a joke.

"Wow!" I was impressed, but I had to force the wolf back down and calm him, the protective instincts flared up instantly. But she was safe here, we couldn't change her past. I cleared my throat. "In that case, I think I'm safe. I might not know when to stop talking but I know when to keep my hands to myself."

I felt like I should apologise for her experience... but would that just sound condescending? Especially to a girl that could clearly defend herself.

Her heartbeat anxiously now. "Unfortunately, even La Push isn't free of those types. But we have more good people than bad. I promise."

Harper

Picking up the cup, I held it watching him picking up his phone and raised my eyebrow at what he was saying.

“Funny.”

I said, trying and failing not to laugh. One moment is all it took him, and I was out from where my mind had been for a fleeting moment.

Taking a sip from the cup again, I let the sweet thick liquid do its magic. It truly was happiness in a cup. My eyes moved back to meet his once again. “We have good and bad no matter where we go. It’s up to us how we manage and deal with people and experiences. That one bad experience helped me to meet and make a friend like Char. So, not all bad in the end.” Raising my eyebrow. “Uhm. I’m not sure if you are safe really. I can imagine you stepping into some trouble?” Putting the cup down.

“There has been a lot of Harper talk here, what about you? What is life like for Collin Littlesea? I mean, I’m sure the guys cannot keep their hands off you too.” I tried to joke about it so that he knew I didn’t see myself as a victim. It was just unfortunate.

Collin

I took a sip from the cup, keeping my eyes on hers. It really was a great choice. She thought I was funny... even if she was trying to play it off as sarcasm. She thought I was funny. I grinned, that was rare.

"Well, I mean... I'm still male... we have an uncanny knack for trouble." I chuckled and picked up a cookie. I laughed and blushed a little. "The guys do love me... but women seem oddly immune to my charm," I teased her back, I turned my attention back to her real question.

She was asking the big questions now. But I knew I had to give her the humananswers. "Well, I already told you I work for a contractor, as a carpenter. I do a bit of everything... but stairs are kind of my ... speciality I guess." I paused briefly; people always found this strange.

"I've lived here all my life and you already know that I'm bit of an amateur photographer, though normally I have better equipment than my phone" I laughed, I sounded ridiculous spouting all of that like at one of those speed dating things you see on cheesy sitcoms.

Harper

I had to smile at his comment about being ‘Male’ and trouble finding him. If only he knew #Jenna. Sure, falling in love with #Damian, marriage and having #Carl had calmed her down. But I was sure the girl could still find trouble just by walking down the street.

Taking another sip of my drink I nod my head slowly listening, my eyebrows raised over the frames of my glasses. “Stairs? That’s a hard job, and a lot of design work, right?” I didn’t know overly about the task it took, however conversations with my dad popped into my mind.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I moved back again and this time I crossed my legs to keep me from moving forward. “From what Jess had said the other day, I’d have guessed it is a little more than amateur photographer. She was adamant you are hiding some talent behind the camera? And Yes, she showed me her Tinder profile to prove it.” My head fell forward again recalling the evening after Collin had taken Nova home.

Collin

I nodded and laughed a little. "It's got a bit of everything I like... Lots of math and precision mostly, and then sometimes we get to do some design work too... It's wasn't my plan when I started my apprenticeship. But my friend #Brady and I were just naturals, according to our boss." I laughed a little.

I was a little flustered when she started to talk about my photography. I laughed when she mentioned #Jess's pictures. "The key with that girl is to take five pictures when she thinks you're taking one and then choose the one she didn't pose for. Candid pictures are always so much better."

I wondered what else #Jessica had told her about me. I knew she liked me even though we weren't close, so I wasn't concerned. "So, you asked her about me? I really must have piqued your interest?" I teased, knowing full well the Jess needed no prompting when it came to talking.

Harper

Picking up a cookie from the plate I broke it into half and took a bite. Chewing as I listened. “Not many people have come out as somebody who ‘like’ Maths. I do believe you maybe the first to say those words out loud.”

Covering my mouth as I spoke and swallowing. “My father.. He used to make wooden furniture. Small custom pieces mostly. So, I know it’s a talent more than a job if you may.” I didn’t know why I was telling him that. But I could see dad wanting to know so much more about these stairs Collin made with his friend, and learning that it was an apprenticeship where it all started. ‘Kids these days do not understand the meaning of learning a trade. Learning to work with their hands and not just their minds.’ He would say time and time again.

I found myself laughing softly again taking another bite of the cookie. My eyes catching a change in his body language, when I mentioned his photography skills. It was sweet.

“Jess doesn’t seem like a girl who is into allowing anybody to take any candid pictures of her. But she is beautiful, so I am guessing no matter how you take them, they all work.” It wasn’t a lie. Jess was one of those girls who was naturally pretty, and it was only made so much more because of her personality and her kindness. A kindness I was starting to believe belonged to all the people in the Clearwater family.

I coughed, my hand fisting on my mouth and my eyes jerking back to him. He thought I’d been asking after him? “No!” It came out a little louder than I intended it to. Holding my finger up I took a sip from the cup. The apples of my cheeks burning, and I hope it was not visible.

“I didn’t ask about you, I wouldn’t do such a thing. And I wouldn’t put Jess in a place to have to answer questions about her friend. She was showing some photos to Cha when I went back in the other night. That’s all.” Brushing the back of my hand over my cheeks. “Also, I believe you should learn about somebody from them. Not through another’s eyes or experiences.”

Collin

"I had a lot of time for studying when I was younger." I laughed a little. "I spent a lot of time in bed or hospital. A lot of things like history and English... the answers weren't always cut and dry. With maths, there's only one right answer... When you can't think straight it’s good to have a formula or process to follow."

I hadn't meant to tell her all of that. But it just felt natural, and I wanted her to know me too, and I suppose it was better for her to hear what I did with my time other than hearing it from the other side.

Stories of the sick kid that was rushed away in the back of an ambulance a couple of times a year... either after doing something stupid or getting sick again. And that part of my life was over now. I'd never be sick again, or at least, not for a long time.

“I made a lot of furniture when I was training." Her Dad worked with his hands too... "Toys too. but that wasn't for work." I nodded in agreement when she said #Jess was a pretty girl, it was the truth. Even with the bar that was raised impossibly high when I set eyes on Harper.

I laughed at her loud 'No!' and took another mouthful from my cup. She had said out loud what I had been thinking a minute earlier. "I'm teasing." I assured her. "I know #Jessica loves to talk... but she's not a gossip... Mostly." I added with a wink.

Harper

“Uhm. History and English can be interpreted in different manners, which is what I like about it. You can sit and talk to somebody after reading the same book, and you both are left with different feelings about the characters and story.” My eyes moved over his face; each time I saw him I’d notice something new. But it was his words more so which kept my attention.

“I’m sorry to hear you are unwell. You said before about being on crutches, is that when Math took your fancy?” I smiled across at him now.

It was too late for me; my cheeks were on fire. What must he think of me? Did he think I would start investigating his background the moment he was gone? I mean, not that I was thinking about it. Was he that sure of himself? No. there was a small voice in my head saying he wasn’t that type of a man. And then he affirmed it too.

“That’s a dangerous move Mr Littlesea, making a girl think you are full of yourself just to prove it’s not the case.” I took another sip of the hot chocolate allowing myself to calm again. He was teasing me!

Without thinking about it the tip of my tongue licked the corner of my mouth. “Dad made toys too, for me and my friends. I think my doll house is still in storage at home. And my other best friend Jenna. Her baby boy is using my crib which dad made too.” Setting the cup down once again.

Collin

"They definitely have their appeal... but when I had a lot of what if's in my life Maths was just clear... you know? No maybe's or what-ifs." I smiled across at her, her words were sincere but there was no pity in them.

"That's all behind me now. Who knew when your parents told you to eat your greens, they were right?" I widened my eyes and shrugged like I was shocked. Taking a bite of the cookie and realising the irony. "It was before that. I took to maths from very early, I didn't start breaking bones until I was about seven or eight."

'Because Mom kept us in a cocoon.' My wolf teased, even though his voice wasn't with me at the time I knew he had to have been there from the start.

She was blushing and licking her lips. My heart thudded and I lifted the mug of hot chocolate again to cover the fact my eyes were glued to her lips.

"That's really cool... Like a family heirloom. Your Dad is still back home then?" I felt a little twinge in my chest at the thought of her calling somewhere else home. But I knew that was foolish.

Harper

“We all have our draws towards something. Maths, English, History, Geography, Music. The list goes on.” I moved one of my hands to rest in my lap as I looked down.

Listening to him speaking, about breaking bones. It was one of those things we all did I guessed, playing, and hurting ourselves and learning from it all. Hearing him saying it was all behind him made me smile too. “So, not a walking talking accident prone man. Got it.” once again my eyes pulled to look up at him. And I didn’t understand why that pull kept tugging at me.

“One hand on my cup, my fingers tighten around it and I felt the heat bite at my skin. I stiffened a little at his questions. And swallowed back the pitch to my heart. “Uhm. Yes, you could call it a family heirloom.”

My eyes moved to my cup now. This was where it was all going to change. No-one other than #Cha, #Teddy and #Jessica really knew about my past. I wasn’t hiding it. Or maybe I was. I wasn’t sure. But him, for some reason I wanted to tell him.

Clearing my throat, my eyes on my cup now. “Dad passed away—” Clearing my throat of the lump that had started to grow. “—About eight months ago of a heart attack.” I let the words sit there for a few moments. Slowly moving my gaze back up.

Collin

"No" I chuckled at her comment about being accident-prone. "Luckily, I outgrew all of that." I grinned.

But quickly my heart was plummeting, and I saw hers do the same. There was a hollowness in my chest, an ache that made me pray to Spirits she wasn't feeling too. And again, a feeling I had no right to; I like had lost someone... someone I never met.

It was new... I'd only ever lost my Aunt Sarah and I didn't remember her, I was too young. What was I supposed to say to that? I'm sorry? I always thought that was the stupidest thing to say to someone who was grieving. And eight months... after a lifetime, it might as well be yesterday.

I waited until her eyes were back on mine and fixed our gazes. I slide my hand across the table slowly and lightly rested my finger across her wrist and gave her a soft smile. "Tell me something about him." I slipped my hand away as slowly as I had placed it there, my heart was thundering for a new reason now.

Harper

I found myself waiting for it, the words I had heard over and over again when my mom passed and then again when dad left me. ‘We are so sorry for your loss.’ Or ‘Are you okay?’ or that best line to date. ‘This too will pass.’ How were those words even coming across a person’s mind? ‘This too will pass’? as if it was a bad hair cut which would grow out and you will forget it even happened?

But he said none of these empty words. He didn’t say he was sorry for someone he did not know; he didn’t tell me I’d be okay. The light touch of his fingers warmed the chill which had fallen over me, my eyes still stinging and the lump still growing in my throat. But they seem to become manageable with the understanding in his eyes and that one question.

“Where do I even start?” looking back down at the thick brown liquid in the cup before me. “His name is William, but he likes to be called Will.” I smiled at how sometimes I would call him William when he was in trouble. “He makes the best hot chocolate you will ever taste. Because he has two secrets to it.

1. He makes this sweet Italian cream for the top.

2. At the bottom of the mug he always places a big Hershey kiss to melt into your drink. Saying it’s a kiss for your heart.”

Rubbing my lips together I smiled looking back up. “And now I am sorry to say I must kill you. Because he won’t be happy that I just gave away the Jenkin family trade secret.”

There was so much more to my father to tell. So much more that is apart of him, that makes him who he is.

Collin

I only dropped my gaze for a second, to the hot liquid in my cup. So, it wasn't just the thoughts of her friends back home that she'd ordered it, and now I was glad I was sitting with her and sharing in something a little more special than Just a Coffee.

I lifted the cup and took a mouthful, giving a little laugh when she mentioned the Hersey's kiss at the bottom of her cup. That wasn't normal Dad stuff that was exceptional Dad stuff.

"He sounds like a special kinda guy." I said with a smile, my eyes back on hers now. It hadn't passed my notice that she still spoke about him in the present tense. So I did the same. "But in my experience, The name William is normally attached to pretty spectacular people."

Harper

Smiling, I move my arm to rest my elbow on top of the table and then resting my chin in my hand. My fingers playing on my cheek.

“He is more than kinda special.” I was looking at my cup, thinking of my father.

“He has been my mom and my dad since I was ten years old. Which isn’t an easy thing for a man to do. Dealing with a pre-teen, and—“ my eyes moved back up to look at him. “— a child who lost her mother. And yet he did it. Never once Begrudging me for how I felt. Or my teenage days, with the partying.”

I stopped myself and laughed softly. “I guess part of him is glad I’m the brains in the group and not the party animal.”

Rubbing my lips together, it wasn’t until now that it occurred to me. “I’m sorry this got really heavy, really fast. I’m sure you don’t want to hear all this.” Sitting up again I took another sip from the cup. What was it about him and those eyes of his. I wanted to tell him everything.

“What did you mean about people by the name of William? Do you have one in your life too?” Trying to turn the conversation back into him.

He was being too sweet by letting my off load like this.

“Or are we talking about William Shakespeare, or William the Conqueror, or of course there is Prince William from the house Windsor in the UK too.

Collin

My heart sank even further, she lost her mom too? She had lost so much... the ache deepened. But her smile seemed real, like talking about her father brought back the good memories.

"Well, he clearly did a great job at both. Even if you take away the academic achievement and the fact you're running a successful vet clinic... He raised a compassionate, caring animal lover. That right there is a success on own."

I shook my head, lowering my cup again. "Heavy isn't a bad thing." I smiled at her. "And I want to hear about these things. I want to know anything you're willing to tell me. I want to get to know you." My ear started to burn, it was the truth... but was it too much, too soon?

"I have an Uncle Billy, he's a great guy. One of the best I know. Always ready to listen." I grinned. "Never treated me like... well you know the way people talk to kids that were always sick. And we can't like one bad egg like William the Conqueror spoil it for the rest of them." I added with a wink.

Harper

Not sure why, but the apples of my cheeks started to burn. Making me look in my lap again.

Nothing her stated was a lie, “Dad did a great job with me. When everyone in my life saw a girl who wanted to run. He saw a girl who wanted to climb. And he pushed me to do what was right for me back then.”

Again, I smiled at a memory of speaking with my father. The lump in my throat I noticed now was dissipating.

“He never stopped me in the past, even when I thought I was keeping a secret from him when I was young. He just knew it all. Becoming a vet was something he says comes from my mom. She was the animal lover in our family, but they saw it in me from a really young age.”

Thinking for a moment. “I believe I was four or five, the first time I rescued an animal.”

My eyes moved up once again, pushing the rim of my glasses as they slipped down my nose. There it was again. There was something in his past. The way #Jessica and #Charlie looked worried the other day in the practice. His comment about being on crutches, about being the child in hospital.

And now this. About his uncle not treating him like a ‘kid that was always sick’.

“Your uncle Billy sounds like a kind man. Someone who sees the soul inside and not the age of the body carrying it.” I smiled again. These were words from #Seth resonating with me.

“If I’m not over stepping, may I ask. And you don’t have to answer. I really have no right to ask.” What was with me? Why did this man make me ramble when it wasn’t how I would normally act?

“I just. You’ve said a few things in passing. Well. Were you poorly as a child?”

Collin

The flush in her cheeks wasn't lost on me. My heart skipped and in held a breath for a little too long. She was so beautiful. It took all my self-control not to blurt that out.

"So, you always knew you wanted to work with animals, then?" I smiled. "That's how we ended up with Mr Custard. I found him on the road from Forks with my Dad once. We made posters and things, but no one came looking so he stayed."

I took another sip of the hot chocolate. "Yeah, when I was a baby, I was told I spent more time in the hospital than at home. I was a preemie baby. But my mom prefers miracle baby." I grinned at her. "There was a good chance I'd not survive." Another reason I believed my wolf was always with me.

"I had a lot of lung problems and asthma. Things like that, if I caught a cold I ended up with pneumonia. You may have noticed Quileute men tend to be exceptionally tall. I'm a short arse by La Push standards and I'm nearly six foot. But eventually, everything caught up to where it should be, and I've not been sick really since I was a teenager." I realised I was rambling.

"See you're not the only one that can get a little heavy."

Harper

Picking up the cup I took a sip from it and allowed the hot liquid to slip down my throat. A small “Hmm” sound on my lips. “I believe so, mom would tell me about the stories of my need to ‘Save’ any stray. And Dad has this photo of me with my first. A little chick he and mom helped me to nurse to health. The chick was the runt so the mommy bird threw it out of the nest. It landed beside my playhouse and I found it. Dad wanted to help the baby die, but I wouldn’t allow it. They said even at that age I was strong headed when it came to saving it’s life.”

I hadn’t thought of that story in so long now, but it had me thinking about that photo. I knew it had to be in one of the unopened boxes at the house.

“Oh. Kevin hadn’t told me that Mr Custard was a rescue.” Then again it wasn’t something that had come up at the time Mr Littlesea had brought the small jack russell in to see me. And for all the reasons I could have had to see Mr Custard? It was for eating Mrs Littlesea’s wedding ring.

Setting the cup down I took another bite of the cookie I’d broken into listening to him now. “miracle baby” I liked the sound of that a lot. It had a warming feeling to it. “And yet you showed them all that you are a fighter and here you are?” Pushing a stand of hair behind my ear. “So, the other night. At the Practice, you were really okay? I just noticed the worry in Jess and Char’s eyes, and I wasn’t sure—” I trailed off.

I hadn’t questioned them about it. I wouldn’t overstep like that. But now. it was all falling into place. They were worried for him, for his health.

My eyebrows rising at the knowledge that this man sat before me who was tall. Was calling himself ‘short arse’? The men of this town were tall, which had been something I noted right away. Being so tall myself I had become used to being somebody who heard all the ‘Tall girl’ jokes. It was one of the first things Leah had said when she came to visit #Seth in Thompson. ‘Thank the Spirits, this town isn’t full of shorties.’ The two of us had just laughed about it. Because she’d heard the same comments and jokes, I’d heard, and she was still taller than me. “You aren’t short, trust me. And even if you were, what does height have to do with anything?”

Moving to sit forward my elbow resting on the table again. "Heavy isn't a bad thing." I repeated the words he’d said to me.

Collin

"Well, it was almost ten years ago. He's kind of a fixture now, but he isn't like Nova him eating non-food items was an anomaly." I chuckled.

"He was supposed to be my responsibility. But when I started talking about moving out my Mom worried, I'd take him. she pretended not to but, I felt bad because she was home with a lot when Dad and I worked so I knew I had to leave him with her and Dad. She'd miss him too much." I smiled remembering Mom making a big deal of my official move out day. Keeping custard in her arms the whole time, hoping I'd not load him into the car next to me.

Swallowing another bite of a cookie and met her eyes, laughing softly. "I was fine, honestly. There may have extenuating circumstances... but not at all health related. " I raised a brow. Not really sure she'd make the connection.

The entire time I was trying to ask her out she rationalised it as me being neighbourly and offering her a tour.

Harper

“Aww.” Nodding my head now and I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s one of those things, people sometimes may like to act as if a animal has not made a place for themselves in our hearts. When the truth is far from that. I could see how your mom wouldn’t want to give Mr Custard up. I mean with you leaving, and if he was gone too. She would really feel that empty nest.”

And I had to laugh a little too.

“I was starting to wonder if it was a family trait with the pets. However, I will believe if you say it was a one off for him at least. Speaking of. Did you manage to find Nova some puppy classes to join”

My eyebrows pulled together a little. Not worried so much, but I was trying to remember what had taken place when he had his ‘turn’.

“Extenuating circumstances?” He knew Nova was okay. We were signing them out. #Charlie had come in? And then... Well nothing... that was it.

“I’m just glad you are feeling better.”

Collin

I gave a little shrug of my shoulders and a light laugh. "I won't lie, I did want to take him with me. Just not as badly as I wanted not to take Mom's companion away." I replayed the sentence in my head. That was not very clear.

"It's not like I never see him or anything so it's okay. especially now that Nova stays there most days."

I watched her mull over what I had said. 'Just do it!' I told myself. 'Tell her.' I wasn't planning on telling her 'Oh... yeah I thought you had a boyfriend and my whole world threatened to collapse all around me.' One day when she knew everything, maybe... hopefully, that would be a funny story.

"It was you, Harper. You were the extenuating circumstances." I smiled, my heart thundering now that I was committed to saying something. Damn! What was I going to say? "I'm not sure if you've ever noticed but you're..." My ears flared red. "Well..." My face flushed now too. "Breathtakingly beautiful."

Harper

I gave a small wave of my hand.

“Oh, trust me, I understand, and I would have to agree with you. Your mom and Mr Custard seen to have a special Relationship from what Kevin had said. She was so very upset about Mr Custard and scared too. I could only imagine how she would have felt if you had taken him.”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly again thinking or the scenarios.

“Maybe she would have kidnapped him back after a day or two?”

My eyes dropped to my lap again, and I took another bite of the cookie. I didn’t know his mom, and nor had I met her. But that image of a mom ( any mom ) dressed as a ninja trying to steal their family pet back was amusing to me.

My eyes flickered up at his next words and I coughed. The cookie stuck in my throat a little, but I gathered myself. ‘Good move Harper Lee!’ I scolded myself. But had I just heard him?

“Excuse Me?”

I felt the blood rush to my face and my cheeks flush. My eyes blinking as I look at him a little shocked by what he had said.

I was the reason for him.. he thought I was breathtakingly beautiful? And I could hear #Kenz in my mind. ‘When a guy says you are pretty, he is only looking at your face. When he says you are Hot, he is only looking at your body. However when he says you are Beautiful.. He is seeing all of you.’ And I knew right there, I was overthinking it. So, he thought I was ‘beautiful’?

“I— I— uhm— Thank you?”

Collin

I smiled and watched her as she spoke, taking another sip from the mug in my hand. "I did, the same guy that she went to the first time is gonna squeeze her into his current classes. Apparently, he has a lot of puppies enrolled. We are very excited." I flashed a grin. I had to admit the prospect of being in a room full of puppies was exciting.

"Mom can be a little overprotective of her kids." I chuckled. "Mr Custard was always included."

I saw her cheeks flush and she choked, just a little. 'Great timing you fool.' The wolf chided, but she was okay. "Too much?" I asked, with a sideways smile.

"You're welcome?" I teased, making it sound like a question too. So, it wasn't just me that did that!

Harper

Picking up the cup of hot chocolate I took a long slow sip from it. Just to give me time to gather myself. ‘Thank You?’ I said, ‘Thank you?’ as if I was asking him if I should thank him for saying I was ‘Breathtakingly beautiful’? But then He did it too? Making me smile looking at him. Then again, I knew if #Jenna was to call me a fool for this, I couldn’t disagree with her. No, she would be within her rights to say so.

As I placed the cup down on the table, an elderly couple from the table behind Collin got up to leave. The man was the first to stand, walking around he helped to pull the chair out for his wife and kissed her forehead as she stood. I didn’t mean to stare, but it was sweet to watch. Until I heard what he said to his wife.

‘Kid’s now days. The boy told her she was Breathtakingly beautiful, and she just thanked him.’

My mouth dropped open, he was eves dropping? My cheeks started to burn as they walked by and the lady smiled at Collin and then me. Stopping by my side she leant down and whispered. ‘If you think he is handsome, you should tell him.’ She looked over to Collin again. ‘He looks like our Matty. So handsome.’ She squeezed my arm closest to her, and her husband helped her up, they both walked out of the diner arm in arm.

My eyes shot over to Collin, what was I even meant to do here? Was he handsome? Yes, he really was. But more so it had been his kindness and his love for Nova which had pulled at me. The way he carried her into his truck and looked out for her.

“So—” pushing the rim of my glasses up my nose. “—Puppy classes, that is so lucky he could fit you both in.” Kicking myself and rubbing my hand over my forehead I burst out laughing. “I mean—” My hand moving behind me where the couple had left. “—It feels like I should acknowledge such great advice maybe. However, stating you are handsome I feel isn’t the right thing to say. But you are, as well as kind from what I have witnessed to date. But I’m sure you know this all.”

Collin

Spirits! there it was again, that cute little push of her glasses higher onto her nose, the little glint in her eyes just behind them. It was adorable and kind of sexy all at once. But I couldn't let my mind go there right now. I had told her she was beautiful and I didn't want to overdo it and have her run out the door.

You'd think compliments were something you could never give too many of... but it was very possible. And Harper was so much more beautiful in every way than anyone I had ever met.

And that laugh...

"Handsome?" I scratched the back of my neck, trying to reign myself in and fight the burning that a had spread from ears to my cheeks, too. "No... I have to say tha-... that one is new."

The normal response I got for girls when I tried to flirt was 'Cute.' and not always in a complimentary way. My rambling was off-putting. But I had no idea why? Because listening to her ramble was incredible. Maybe she was better at this?

Harper

Ok that was not the response I was expecting to hear from him. “How is it even possible?” The words leaving my lips before I knew what I had said.

Rubbing my lips together I bite down on the lower lip to stop myself from talking. What was it about being around him that turned me into this? I couldn’t even put my finger on whatever This was.

“I mean, maybe you should check in with this Matty? It sounds as if he is told every day that he is handsome.”

Turning my upper body, a little I just saw the elderly couple walking to a car.

“Older people say things we would never dear to say right?” Once again, I said without thinking. It was just so easy to speak with him.

Turning my attention back to him, I tilted my head slightly. He was red in his cheeks. And the open visible ear from under his shoulder length hair, it was pink too.

Collin

I choked a little into the mug that I had just raised to my lips when she asked how the was possible? But I think the last I was called that was by my Mom when I went to the prom. "I mean it's not that I never. Just normally things like cute... you know. Like something you'd say to a puppy." I laughed a little.

Words like hotcame up later on in a relationship and I rarely referred to my temperature, after they realised what lay under the over-sized t-shirts and hoodies. But I wasn't about to tell her that, we were both turning red as things were.

I followed her gaze and tilted my head as I thought about what she said. "I guess it is a word that's mostly used by older people... It’s a shame really." My eyes moved over her face and settled on her lips for a second before moving up to her eyes. "It’s kind of hints a charming personality too." I smiled. "I could get used to that."

Harper

“Puppies are cute, there is nothing wrong with being compared to something so endearing in my eyes.” I reframed from picking up another cookie, I had a vision of hearing something and truly choking on it and making a fool of myself. ‘Not twice in one day’, unsure I could gather myself from it again.

“Uhm..” Turning my head back a little, the couple were gone however I could still hear them. “Handsome. It has a ring to it. I believe you maybe correct, I’ve not heard many people use the word.” I moved back again and crossed my legs.

When my eyes found his again, that pull was back. The one I couldn’t explain but it just wanted me to be close to him. ‘I’m going crazy’, I told myself. Thinking of a way to move things off to a different topic.

“So, uhm. You have always lived here in La Push and never moved away?” I remembered #Seth telling me that La Push was a special place. It was their tribal lands which was hard to stay away from. He missed home, even if he never admitted it in front of #Kenz. But I could tell by the glint in his eyes when he spoke about it.

Collin

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to calling me cute either." I was all confidence and smiles until the words were out and then my ears and cheeks flared again with renewed heat. My knee started to bounce under the table. I bumped it a little but luckily the mugs were half empty now.

I pressed down on my knee to stop it. "Yeah, I've always lived here. I guess there's never been a need or reason to leave. This land has a pull, were all bonded to it in our own way."

I smiled at her, starting to get my composure back little by little. "The longer you're here the more you'll feel it. This place will attach itself to a piece of your soul and no matter where you go, you'll always know you have a home here."

I wished I could tell her why. I longed to tell her that the minute I laid eyes on her she became a treasured member of this tribe. That this place became just as much her’s as any other person that lived here or was born here.

Harper

I couldn’t help myself, my hand moved to cover my face and I laughed out seeing his cheek and that one ear of his still visible to me go a warmer colour. My hand moved to the table right away to steady it and I wasn’t sure if he had kicked himself or the table.

“Are you okay over there?” I had to ask, the laughter still dancing in my soft voice. I didn’t bother to look around, because I really never had been someone to care what others saw or thought, unless it was #Jenna shouting out something inappropriate at the top of her lungs. Then we all ducked and hid.

Licking the corner of my lip, I tucked my hair behind my ear. My eyebrows pulled together as I listened to what he was saying. “Seth says that too. The thing about being bonded and the pull the earth here has on your people.” I was smiling now and drifted a little back into my own thoughts. “I never had that, you know. A pull? I mean Thompson is home, however. I don’t know, from a young age when all the people around me were happy with being there. Being home. I wanted to run. To leave and find that feeling. That pull, but it’s never happened.”

Leaning my elbow back on the table I picked up the cup and looked at what was left in there. “I have no idea why I told you that. I’ve never shared it with anyone before.”

I’d always felt it, but never had the courage to say the words out aloud like this. Scared it would hurt those closest to me. Dad, #Kenz or #Jenna. Even if they had guessed it themselves, I’d told them they were making a big deal of nothing. But now? Now here I sat in a diner in La Push and I affirmed their thoughts and none of them were here to hear me say it. However, this stranger, he was the one who witnessed those words.

Collin

There it was again, that laugh. The velvety sound made my heart skitter, it was unrestrained despite the hand over her mouth. I curled up one corner of my mouth in a shy smile. "I've never been great at the false-confidence flirting thing." I bit my tongue. Why did I say that out loud? My thoughts just refused to stay in my head, and I knew why.

Of course, I knew why... it was because every thought or feeling I had felt so much more real the second I shared it with her. And then she spoke about her hometown and I knew why too. I could tell it was because she was always supposed to come here...

I knew that it was possible that I was always meant to go there too... just like #Seth. But the Spirits always had a plan and if that were the plan I would have been with #Seth the night he met #Kenzi.

I smiled at the declaration, she hadn’t told that to anyone before and felt a little emboldened again. I slide my hand across the table and this time I turned my hand over and hooked the tips of my fingers just under the tips of hers. Her hands were softer and cooler than mine. "Well, your secret is safe with me." I locked eyes with her.

"It will happen." I clarified. "The pull... we all have a place in this world, but some of us are presented with the challenge of finding it for ourselves, others are challenged to open their eyes and realise they've been there all along."

Harper

I felt a little easier now, a little more myself. If I gave it time to really think about it, I would see that I’d not felt this relaxed in a long time now. Sitting here laughing, at such things, hearing my own real laughter when I wasn’t even sure I could do such a thing anymore was indeed eye opening.

‘The false-confidence’ thing? “Why would you need False-Confidence? Isn’t it best to just be yourself and allow the chips to fall as they do?” my eyes moved up from the cup to meet his and I smiled now. From what little I had herd about Collin from the way #Jessica had spoken he seemed to be somebody you would most definitely notice in a crowded room. Firstly, because he was tall, and secondly because of that smile of his and the glint in his eyes—. Shaking my head, I scolded myself. What in the name of God was I even thinking right now? ‘glint in his eyes’? Who am I and where is Harper?

My eyes moved back down to the cup again. My mind was like a roller coaster since I’d met him. I couldn’t seem to follow or keep my mind from digressing and thinking about him. When I thought of Nova, his smile was right there too.

A bolt of electricity shot through my fingers and hand, all the way up my arm and into the core of my soul. Or at least it felt as if that is what happened the moment, he touched my fingers. My eyes moved from the cup to our hands, seeing how he hooked my fingers into his. His were warm, so warm to the touch. A little roughness too which reminded me of my fathers’ hands. They always had that strong feeling to them, as though nothing could hurt them or him. I didn’t realise until he spoke that I’d held my breath. Closing my eyes, I took in a low and slow pull of air.

“How do you know? I mean, of course I hope so, I hope you are right. But at the same time, I am aware it doesn’t happen for all. I mean that is why some people live the nomadic life right?” Again, conversations from the pass start to play, times when dad had worried about me. When he blamed himself for maybe not moving from Thompson after mom passed. He saw how the town wanted to help him and me, but instead had made me feel like they were pitying the girl who had lost her mom. I was ‘That Girl’ all my life from the age of ten. Not a place I wanted to stay, or feelings I wanted to repeat now that dad was gone too. I didn’t believe I had the strength to live it all again, twice in one live time was too much.

Collin

I smiled and dropped my eyes to my almost empty cup and then back up to hers "I guess what I really mean is I prefer to be myself instead of relying on looks.”

I did get a lot of attention at the beach an on jobs when girls realised I was in what could be modestly called good-shape but in my experience, any conversations or dates that came from that kind of attention were very two dimensional.

"That's true too. some people are happiest that way... But I'm a pretty good judge of character and I don't think you're one of them. I think you'll find your place." I smiled, without conscious thought or even the realisation it was happening I brushed my thumb across the back of her fingers. Only when the feeling made my heart pound did I realise I had done it.

"When you find it." I couldn't help it. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, even though the scents of food, coffee and hot chocolate I could pick the subtle hints of home. "There's nothing like that feeling."

I knew she felt something, she had to. We had only just met, and she hadn't moved her hand away yet. She could easily and politely slip her fingers from mine and continue this conversation. But she didn't, the lingering contact had my heart sustaining it rapid beat.

Harper

My eyes moved back down to our hands, his thumb brushed over it and my mind was telling me to pull back. Not to be rude, just pretend I needed to pick up my cup maybe? Then my hand would be free. But it was my heart. It didn’t want me to move. There was a sense of calm surrounding me with his smallest of touches. My mind and my heart were for once in my life fighting one another on this.

“I have to believe that nobody should even really rely on their looks alone. And I know it isn’t always the case. But I have to believe there are people out here in the world who wish to make a deeper connection.” Slowly I moved back in my seat.

Bringing my hand free from his touch and Picked up the close to empty cup to my lips. Taking the last sip, I set it down and placed my hands back on my lap. The moment I pulled back away from him the heat and the warmth I’d been feeling was gone. My eyes moved up to find his again. “Not everyone is only out for the looks. I’m sure you will find someone who is looking for more.”

There was a slight sting with those words leaving my lips. Did I really want him to find that with somebody else? Was I one of the ones he had been speaking about? All this I had felt, was it to do with his face? His looks? I didn’t even know him, and here I sat letting him hold my hand?

“You seem to have more faith in me than I do at this time.” I half smiled, pushing the rim of my glasses back up my nose as I spoke. “Maybe when or if I find the right place, I will be lucky enough to feel what you and Seth have, or even a small percentage of it someday.”

My hand moved over to the cup and I traced the rim of it. “Tell me about these stairs you and your friend make? How would you even start to create something like that?”

Collin

The tingling in my fingers was spreading and moving in wiggling in lines up my arm and chest to where my wolf rested just below my heart. If he could he'd be purring right now.

The thought earned me a little growl, but he was pacified by her nearness right now, so it didn't last long.

"Real attraction was always a little more cerebral for me. I mean I think everyone can admit a physical attraction has to be part of it too... but there has to be more. That kind of electricity doesn't happen if all you see is a beautiful face." Her words about finding someone felt like needles pressing into my chest but it was a passing comment... something people said.

People that had no idea that they were your soulmate. People that didn't know they were the reason the sun came up in your world. I sat there too and dropped the hand that had held hers onto my lap and ran the pad of my thumb over my still tingling fingertip.

"I have plenty of faith." I smiled. "I'll hold yours until you're ready to have some in yourself. Just let me know when you're ready for it." I stopped fidgeting under the table and rested my elbows on the table.

"Um... will a lot of it is fairly standard. There are regulations about the actual structure. But things like the rails and spindles we get to design from time to time. Sometimes we just grab a block of wood and start carving or we sketch it out... We think very similarly and can normally get through that pretty quick and then we just make each one and put it all together."

I was smiling. "The custom work is my favourite. But I like all the work, I guess we all have parts of the job we like better than others."

Harper

Having to remind myself not to stare was repeatedly on my mind. The draw to keep looking at him had really become something today. Especially for me, when I hadn’t wanted or felt this before with another person. But then again it had been his words which kept pulling me in. Now when he mentions ‘Real Attraction’.

“It’s easy to believe when you have real role models who have proved it to be true. My mom and dad were something amazing to witness together. I was lucky that they were there to show me and my friends what caring, loving and wanting to be with someone should feel and look like.” I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about #Kenz in that moment and how wrong my friend, my sister had gotten it before she met #Seth.

I wasn’t thinking about it, however my fingers were lightly moving over the back of my hand where his touch had been. I could still feel his thumb there moving over my skin.

Leaning forward I rested my elbow on the table, and my chin on my palm once again, listening to him speak about his work. “Does it mean that the two of you handcraft the rails and each spindle? How long would something like that take you to do?” People who worked with their hands and were creative were different to people like me, I was about books and lists. But I was born to a father who crafts furniture from wood, and a mother who was an artist. When they said that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, they had no idea that I would prove them to be so wrong.

Collin

It was so hard not to stare, so I tried to steal glances when I could, committing all the tiny details of her face to my memory. Her eyes and her laugh were already locked in.

"They sound like they make a great pair." I smiled at her, still using the present tense to talk about her parents, certain they had been reunited now. "I always thought that how I felt when I was with someone was the most important thing."

I nodded to her question, having to pull my focus from her heartbeat and focus on her words. "For costume jobs we do, sometimes we'll make one or if someone's stairs get damaged and they can't find a replacement, so we'll match it to the others. But for a custom job, we do each one. It depends on the level of detail really it can be anything from two hours to five. But we try to keep them simple to keep costs down, and then the newels... the big post at the top and bottom... we make them a little more complex to add a little Wow factor. It's kind of cool we turn out pretty identical work, so we get it all done fairly quickly."

I realised I was rambling again and looked down. "Sorry, I'm talking too much against." I laughed. "It's a bad habit."

Harper

“They really are, and I am nothing like them at all. I did at one point ask if I had been adopted. It would explain a lot really if I had been.”

Smiling at the memories. “However, dad found some baby pictures of my mom and I at the same age. And we are twins.” Biting my lips because now I had started to ramble again. Telling him things I’d not in my right mind shared with people before.

My hand reached out across the table and I placed the tips of my fingers on the back of his hand.

“You are not, I promise you. This is really interesting to me. I mean I just learnt for the first time that those posts on the top and bottom of the staircase are called ‘newels’? Did I say that right?”

I was sure Dad would have told me this over the years and I clearly hadn’t listened to him. My eyes lowered and only now did I realise that I had reached out to him in the hopes that he wouldn’t stop talking. I liked hearing his voice, listening to him speak about the things that meant something more to him than the weather.

“Sorry, I didn’t meant to.” I pulled my hand back from him.

Collin

I smiled at the way she talked about them, as much as saddened me that she'd lost them it made feel good that she was willing to talk to me about them. She hardly knew me... And I knew it was the same for me. But I also knew everything that was going on here.

Was I doing wrong by her by not telling her everything? It was impossible to know. #Sam told me everything in me would be driven to protect her, and when the time was right for her to hear it all I would know.

I felt the jolt of electricity skitter up my arm and across my chest again, when her hand touched mine. She had reached for me this time. "You did." I smiled when she asked if she'd pronounced the word right. "I bet there's a hell of a lot I could learn for you about your job." My mouth curled up on one side with another smile.

As her hand pulled back, I reached out and caught her hand gently, linking our finger together. "Don't be." I said softly. "I'm not... and I did mean too." My heart inexplicably pounded.

Harper

My eyes feel to our hand. The shock of him taking a hold of my hand and the way he laced his fingers into mine.

My cheeks were starting to burn, there was a silence which fell all around me.

It felt as though time had stopped, there was a pause for my mind to catch up with the skipping best of my heart.

I knew in the back of my mind we were not alone in the diner. And yet, right now. All I saw were the way out hands linked together and his words ‘I'm not... and I did mean too.’

What was this all? Why did I feel so connected to this man who I’ve only met twice? Why did it feel so right when I didn’t even know him? But most of all. Why hadn’t I pulled my hand away from his yet?

My eyes hadn’t moved for our hands and I found myself curling my finger into him. Watching to see how perfectly they fit together.

“I’m sorry?” The world speed out again, his voice in my ears and his eyes pulled me right up to the now. To the present with him sat here on this table.

“Uhm. Yes. Leaning about my work? It is interesting, however not as artistic as yours Collin.” My voice was a little unsteady, my heart had started to race in my chest as I’d not felt before.

Collin

The flush of pink in her cheeks was enchanting, there something happening. Some kind of realisation going on behind those beautiful eyes.

She apologised again and wasn't sure what for, but I could see she was feeling a little awkward, so I didn't mention it. She moved her hand into mine and it caused a rush of heat through my whole body.

"I'm sure you need to come with creative solutions sometimes." I smiled at her. "Like getting wedding rings out of Jack Russel without operating and things on that nature."

"What you do is important? If it wasn't for you, I might not have found out about the puppies and things could have gotten bad for Nova. I've put a little of that artistic side into building her a whelping box. Just in case she has the babies at home."

My hand squeezed hers lightly, A voice in my head told me I should let go, but even my wolf disagreed and who was I to deny he wisdom.

Harper

Trying so hard ( and it really was ), not to keep looking down at how he held my hand. The warmth had come back. Even the sky grey and dark, the clouds threatening to open up with rain. I felt warm and together.

My gaze had locked into his eyes when he mentioned the Jack Russell.

“Mr. Custard had done most of the hard work himself before Kevin brough him in to see me.” I couldn’t take any credit for that at all.

“However, you are right, sometimes we have to find a way around issues and hurdles, when standard procedures and solutions don’t help. I have to admit, it’s the exciting part of the job. The part where I find myself thriving.”

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear with my free hand. I couldn’t help but laugh once again softly.

“Wow, you have a whelping box ready for her already? That is amazing. Has Nova stepped into it and tried it out for size?”

Collin

"He's a gent like that" I teased her about Custard. Her hand was still in my and her heart was still jumping. This... just sitting her holding her hand was one of the most amazing moments in my life.

"See... and my job isn't always very creative; sometimes we have to put up the mass-produced stuff... or worse the glass or metal railing instead of wood. And I have to admit... it breaks my heart a little every time."

It wasn't really that I didn't like them but there was no room at for creativity and not all space the perfect lines and angel and this material were rigid and then things need to change to fit those parts.

"It's not done just yet; I still need to add in the roll bars that stop the mom lying on a pup and a door to keep the little ones in when they start moving. But yeah, I started it the next day. I figure the more familiar she was with it the better. She likes it but she still sleeps in my room." I laughed and finally, but reluctant released her hand.

I wanted to hold on as long she'd let me, but I didn't want to push too hard too fast and send her running for the hills.

Harper

It felt natural to laugh when I was talking with him. As though my laughter had been Emphasise by his being so close. I closed my eyes and scolded myself again. I was acting and thinking like one of those clingers who made me want to run.

“Mr. Custard? I would most definitely have to agree with you there. And those eyes. He is too cute not to be.”

I knew full well he was teasing me, and it was fine by me. He wasn’t the first, I knew how I was around the animals in my care. And I was proud that I felt so protective of them.

“We all have those parts in our jobs unfortunately. Things we would never do ourselves, and it hurts when others want them done.”

When he let my hand go, I pulled it back and rested it into my lap once again. I didn’t overthink it, some part of me had been thankful that he has let it go. Even if another part had started to get used to his warmth.

“You really do not do things in halves do you? The next day?” I never had someone starting to plan for the arrival of puppies so soon after finding out.

“Maybe if you have a shirt or a jumper of yours you no longer want? Place it in the box. However, do wear it for a few nights first if you can. It will help her in the long run.”

Collin

That laugh. I pulled in a deep breath as subtly as I could. She had my heart sustaining a pace that I was sure would give a human a heart attack.

It was hard to think about the parts of her job that she didn't like... I was so sure they would break her heart. I know they say you get used to that part of the work, but that wasn't she loved the animals so fast and so purely. I knew ever loss would chip away at her.

I listened to her advice about Nova and nodded. "I never thought about that. I just assumed that when the pups were in there she'd stay too." I planted my elbows on the table against and smiled at her. "Any tips on how I sleep with her in the living and I'm left all alone in my room?"

Dammit! Was that suggestive? No... She wouldn't take it that way. Would she? Was I overthinking this?

Harper

Pushing the rim of my glasses up my nose. He was asking me for advice? I guess it was where I exceeded so why not?

“Most mothers would be older where their Natural mothering instincts would kick into play. However, with Nova being a puppy herself, she may need help if those instincts don’t kick in for her. Having something of yours, being used to the box being in the house where she can come and go as she pleases. It all makes for a path in which you are supporting her and showing her, she isn’t alone in her Journey.”

This was like breathing for me. Talking about Nova, animals, work it was so easy because for the last six months it’s all I had been doing. Work. Work and more work. It was a good thing that I loved it so very much.

His next question made me tilt my head to the side. My hair from behind my ear falling freely.

“Maybe a hugging pillow, or even a Nova sized teddy bear? You would be surprised how many people have withdrawal when their pets are pregnant. It is quite common.”

Collin

"I was a little a worried about that too, but I'll definitely try putting a t-shirt or something in there. I've been focusing on reading related to pregnancy and labour. She still seems exactly like herself, Hyper and full of mischief." I grinned. I was expecting her to start slowing down a little over the next few weeks as she got bigger.

She looked at peace when she talked about her work, but I remembered what #Brady had told me. Not to talk Nova the entire time.

I laughed when she answered the last question. "Good to know I'm not the only one with the habit of answering rhetorical questions." I teased her. "So, other than running what do you spend your time doing outside of work?"

Harper

“You are doing all the right things, it is always great to see people taking proactive steps to learn and prepare themselves for what is coming. At the end of the day, Nova will need you more than you know.”

I smiled, nodding my head a little. “Dogs are no different to humans, some will slow down, others are full of Energy and drive right up to the day before they give birth. And again, she is still a puppy herself. So her want to play and learn is high. Even when her body may tell her to stop and rest. She could push herself to keep going.”

My shoulders relaxed, my body and heart too. It was easy when I could talk about taking care of animals.

My cheeks flushed. It had been a ‘Rhetorical question’, he hadn’t really expected an answer to it. What a fool, my brain once in work mode always moved a hundred miles per hour.

My hand moved to rub my cheek and comb through my hair, pushing it off to one side.

“Hmm.. well to be honest, the last few months had been about work. Setting up the office and practice. Allowing the towns people to know me and how I work. If I do have down time, running has been an outlet as well as the boxing gym in Forks Cha has taken me too. And of course, unpacking too. One flat pack at a time. I live an exciting life.”

Collin

"I guess I kind of feel like I need to make it up to her. If I'd taken her with me in the first place she wouldn't be going through this." I knew it would have wrong, and it would have made me the bad guy... but clearly Nova needed a bad guy back then.

"I guess hindsight is 20/20." I smiled half-heartedly.

"You need to find some free time." I chuckled. "Are you really on call all the time?" I was shocked to think she was always on duty. We all needed downtime. Even with work and patrols I still had some free time.

I was intrigued when she mentioned the boxing gym. and I cringed for dramatic effect when she said, 'One flat-pack at a time.' "Oh! Committing cardinal sins!" I teased her. "Never use the F word around a carpenter. Have you always boxed or is that something you took up when you got here?"

Harper

Once again I found myself resting my elbow on the table, and then my chin in my palm. Not commenting, just listening. People didn’t always need advice, sometimes just to have someone sitting with them, or listening was enough.

I didn’t know the story of his Ex. But from what he’d told me when he bought Nova in to see me, the passing comments that day and now this. I had a feeling thing may not have ended well with them. And Poor Nova had been stuck between it all.

“You are here for Nova now. Hindsight is something to help us not make the same mistakes again. Not to keep looking back as the past.” There was nothing good that would come of it all. He would just beat himself up and nothing could change.

Looking down at the table, my free hand reaching out daring to break and cookie in half and taking a bite. Praying I don’t choke on it again, I chewed and swallowed before speaking.

“I know, Jess, Cha and Teddy keep saying the same. However, as you yourself so kindly said before. Being the only Vet in a small town means you are the only person who will be called in an emergency.”

Looking back over to him, my eyes found his without even searching now. “But it’s not been too bad of late, I managed two night with undisturbed sleep so far this week.” Pulling my face and then I dropped my face telling my hair fall to cover it. My hands on my cheeks. “I know. I know. Dad would be highly disappointed I me. But F—“ looking up at him again. “— I mean the stuff that comes in the boxes was all I could find, and I had great intentions to have the house all fixed up by now.” I could feel my cheeks burning red. Dad ready wouldn’t be happy with me for this one.

Shrugging my shoulders, shifting in the seat I sat on. My heart started to race with #Jimmy’s face flashing before my eyes. I pushed his face away, and I thought about his question on boxing. What could I say to him? ‘One of my best friends Ex drove me off the road and attacked me. So my other best friends now husband took it on himself to train me’. That wasn’t a topic to share with another over a hot chocolate.

“My best friend Jenna, her Husband Damian is ex- army. He believes girls should know how to look after and protect themselves. He was the one to start me on boxing. I’m not great at it, however I enjoy the workout, so when Cha said there was a boxing gym close by and he was a member, he took me down with him to have a look.”

Collin

I nodded a little, but the twinge of guilt was there both for thinking I should have taken the dog and for not having don't so. But all I could do now. "Sometimes being one person’s good guy makes you someone else's bad guy." I laughed ironically.

"Hopefully you'll be able to bring in someone else at some stage to help out. Maybe give you at least one day off a week." I doubted that was an easy thing in a small town. There probably wasn't enough work to pay two vets and #Jess but enough that it was too much for one person to do alone.

I remembered her offering to keep Nova overnight. Did she really sleep at the clinic sometimes? Two night this week she'd not been called... did that mean she'd not slept all night since she got here?

Her hear started to pound anxiously and it made me sit up straighter and my eyes darted around the room to see what it was that was causing her stress. 'Act human!' The growl penetrated my mind and forced me to fidget and try to pass it off as an awkward moment. "Oh right... You mentioned him. I'd like to tell you that we're in a place that you don't need to worry about that stuff. But sadly that's not the world we live in, Everyone should have some idea how to protect themselves. But..." I forced a smile.

"I'd be happy to help you out with your..." I covered my mouth hands and whispered the next word. "Flat-packs." Clearing my throat like the word had hurt me and fighting the urge to scan the room again. "I mean its no wonder you feel like a wanderer still... Your place isn't yours yet. Of course,... that is if you let handsome acquaintances across the threshold." I smiled again, less forced now.

Harper

“If done for the right reasons, how can it be bad?”

Tilting my head to the side, I knew what he meant. But at the same time, I found myself looking out the window, and I wondered if he truly believed he was the bad guy in this scenario. “We don’t have the budget for another Vet at this time, however I am in talks with the practice in Port Angeles?”

Trying to think if I remember the towns name correctly.

“If our practices could become ‘sisters’ if you may. We could cover one another. The only thing to stop me is the Distance and the time it could take for help to arrive.” Shaking my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m sure you don’t want to hear all about my plans for the practice.” I had gone off into that comfort zone of talking about work.

The tip of my tongue licking the corner of my lip. I didn’t mention the fact that I’d needed #Damian’s training the first or second week I had moved into town.

“Handsome acquaintances? Well Cha and Ted step over my threshold regularly. Do they count?”

I had to smile, my eyes back on him.

“I couldn’t ask that of you Collin. Thank you so much. You are really kind to offer, I will manage to get around to it at some point I am sure.”

From what I had witnessed of him, he was a hard worker, and the last thing he would want would be to help the new Vet in town with Flat pack.

“I wouldn’t put you through the Torture of having to see what Mass produced furniture looks like.. The last time I moved, dad stopped talking to me for a week because of it. I can’t lose handsome acquaintances just as I’ve started to get to know them now..”

The word ‘Handsome’ making me smile again to myself. The elderly couples’ words making me blush again.

Collin

Part of me wanted to tell her the whole story but I didn't want to make her feel awkward or like I was oversharing. "Um... Well, I guess that depends on the point of view. You already know that I got Nova with my ex... really for her... Jo." It felt weird saying 'my ex' every time like I was drawing too much attention to that fact. "As a birthday present. When we broke up it was very pretty."

I wasn't going to say why unless she asked. It would just sound like I was trashing her I that was definitely the guy I didn't want to be or need to be. "I um... I left Nova with her even though I knew I should take her. But it felt... petty... I guess and I didn't. Then - Well, you know what happened to the pup. I can't help but feel like if I followed my gut maybe Nova wouldn't have all this going on."

I listened to her story about the practice and nodded. "Have you ever thought about going to the Tribal Council? There's a house on the Rez they use to put up Doctor's from Forks for emergency care when ours or taking leave or time off, it's only used a few times a month, I'm sure you could co-ordinate with them. People around here take their animals pretty seriously. And my Uncle's the Chief, I bet he could swing it."

I laughed again. I couldn't believe she hadn't realised yet that I would take any excuse to spend some time with her. "They are good-looking guys for sure. But..." I raised a brow and smiled at her. "It could be a chance for that particular handsome acquaintance to become a friend. He might even accept payment in pizza... and these things always go faster with help. Also, you didn't ask, I offered."

Harper

“It is true what they say ‘one woman’s hero is another woman’s villain. However, what they forget to tell anybody is that all Villains have a reason for what they do, and all heroes don’t always act in the best interest of everyone.” Closing my mouth.

And pressing my hand to my lips. “Okay, that analogy sounded so much better in my head than it did out loud.” Shaking my head. “I just mean like you say, it all depends on who the storyteller is”

Covering my face, rubbing my forehead. I was rambling again. Lord! I could Physically see #Jenna in my mind cringing at my words. ‘Hush up Nerd!’

And there once again he threw me a lifeline. “I have not spoken to the Tribal Council, and I had no idea that it was even an option to do something like that. I mean, that really could make the offer to support and be supported so much better.” I was leaning to the side and taking my phone out of my pocket and then stopped.

“I hope you don’t mind, I just wanted to make a quick note so that I know to look into this as a solution.”

As I was typing my eyes moved back up to you.

“You are related to the tribal chief? Does this make you a tribal prince or something?” I Genuinely asking not knowing how the Hierarchy within a tribe would work.

Pushing my phone back into my coat pocket, my full attention was back on him. And I laughed softly looking down to my lap and my hands rest in it again. Before looking to him.

“I will be sure to let the guys know you agree with me and that you also see them as Very handsome.” I was laughing with him again. “You know Collin, once a very intelligent woman told me that we shouldn’t rush to move an acquaintance into a friendship circle. People need to work up to such an upgrade.”

Laughing I covered my mouth. Seeing #Leah stood before us all, her arms crossed over her chest as some guy had tried to chat her up. He failed Drastically as did six others that night.

“However, something tells me, that if said ‘acquaintance’ is willing to help build mass produced furniture, when they are a carpenter themselves. I should say. ‘Yes please’ and ask; ‘which toppings do you like of your pizza?’ Would you happen to agree with me here?”

Collin

I smiled at her. "I get it." I chuckled a little I like her little ramblings. the revealed so much about her. Even hearing how I had left Nova behind she showed no signs of judgement... hearing how I wanted to take away a woman's pet she didn't look horrified.

She was spectacular.

I shook my head when she pulled out her phone. "Go for it. If you want, I can ask my uncle to drop in and talk you through what you need to do. Local business is a big deal around here" I chuckled. "Its the only kind we have."

I dropped my eyes and laughed a little louder. "No. That burden falls to my cousins. Thank the Spirits for that. But really all it means is the Chief’s mantle passes to my cousin Jake when his dad steps down. But I am a direct descendant, my mom is the chief's sister. Bloodlines don't afford us any special treatment, I guess they make us want to make our ancestors proud, though."

The next thing said really rang true. "So, I see you've met Seth's sister, #Leah, then?" I chuckled, still blown away by the fact that #Seth had imprinted on her best friend. "I definitely agree, it really would be rude to say no if you think about it." I laid in the guilt trip just a little. "Order your favourite and I can guarantee I'll love it. I never met a pizza I didn't like."

Harper

My cheeks were still burning, even after the fact that he’d said he understood where I had been coming from. I wasn’t sure where this Harper was coming from, but she was one to ramble when around him.

The truth was that I didn’t know #Jo, I didn’t know anything about their Relationship together. But what I did know was that Nova had ended up at the Vets more than she should have in her young life. That she was right now pregnant when she was a puppy herself. All which pointed toward #Jo not really being somebody who should maybe have a pet. But again, I wasn’t going to say it out aloud.

My eyes widened a little hearing him say he would speak to the Chief of the tribe for me?

“Collin, really that would be amazing, however once again that is above and beyond the call of friendship. I couldn’t ask you to—“

I stopped because I could hear his reply. “— But you are going to say you didn’t ask, you offered.”

Shaking my head “How did I end up talking to someone who is answering a call to so many of my open questions and requirement? It would be amazing if I could find some help to guide me over what the Tribal Council are looking for, just so I could be fully prepared to answer their questions.”

Nodding my head when he mentioned #Leah. “Yes, I know Leah, she came to visit Seth in Thompson a few times. And being someone who doesn’t sugar coat what she thinks. It’s refreshing and I like her for it.”

Pushing the rim of my glasses up my nose I whispered “The Spirits” smiling “you speak like she does. That is for sure. I’m not sure if she would agree with us progress this acquaintanceship into a friendship so Quickly.” I teased.

Raising my eyebrow. “Oh, but what if I have pineapple added to the pizza? Would you still feel the same way?”

Collin

I chuckled when she stopped herself and reiterated my reasoning that I had offered. "I talk to him or see him almost every day, it's not a big at all. And don't feel like all of this me doing you a favour, or if the council agree that they are too." I leaned on the table again slowly spinning my empty cup just to stop myself reaching for her hand again.

"What's good for your business is good for the community too. We have people here that make their living off their animals. Not to mention pets and wildlife. They need you here as much as you need the occasional night off. Don't forget that."

She pushed up her glasses again, drawing my attention back to her eyes. "Okay... what if you invite #Charlie, his boyfriend... #Teddy, right? And #Jessica too. That should prove that my intentions are honourable and we'll have your place all set up in no time, with all the extra hands." I grinned a little at my cleverness. But maybe that way she wouldn't be as nervous about having a guy she just met in her place.

I really wanted her to feel at home here. Getting to know her friends wasn't a bad idea either.

"I mean if you like pineapple on your pizza... I'll eat it. But if you do I'll just have to invite you over for a real homemade pizza... so you understand what real pizza tastes like."

Harper

I found myself looking at him, not staring but just a little taken aback. How was it possible that one person, somebody who had just stepped into your professional life could be so kind?

Thompson by all means wasn’t a big town, with the Population of 2,310 at the last count. But La Push was less than a fourth of that I was sure. If I felt Thompson was small, La Push was a who’s who of families interlinked in one way or another. The man sat across from me was proving that fact.

“Really thank you, I don’t know how I can repay you for thinking about the idea and of course sharing it. I do understand that I will be asking to bring another outsider into the Rez, and I wouldn’t want to upset the Tribal Council in any way. But I promise I will make sure that the proposal I put before them and the Chief your uncle will be fully formatted and thought through.”

‘Nerd!!!! Stop!!!’ #Jenna and #Kenz voices where shouting in my head now in synchronisation. But it was hard for me to stop when I was so excited about work.

“I’m sorry, you really do not need to hear all about the plan as it’s forming in my mind.” Which it was starting to.

Nodding my head “Yes, Teddy is Cha’s boyfriend.” I answered his question and then continued rubbing my hands together and then I covered my eyes.

“Oh Lord! You are going to become very popular with Jess and Teddy. They have been trying so hard to have me allow them to come over to ‘help’. They would jump to the chance of opening all the boxes up”. But my worry was what they would do with my things once they did open then.

That is when it clicked to me what he was doing here. He was trying to help me feel more comfortable with his offer to help. He really was something out of this world?

“If you are sure, I’m giving you an out here again, that would be a great idea. As long as you promise to help rain Jess in if she come up with some crazy ideas of painting my bathroom.” I had to laugh at the memory of her wanting to paint my living room pink.

“As for the pizza? I’m not a fan of pineapple, however now I’m Intrigued about this ‘real pizza.’ So, I may have to Order pineapple just to learn the difference.”

I felt my cheeks burn as I said it, because it just occurred to me what he had said and I had just invited myself to his place.

Collin

I found myself shaking my head again. "I told you..." I teased when she asked how she could repay me. "Pizza... or well... any food at all really. I'm not fussy."

The twinge in my chest was back when she said another outsider, I knew she was including herself in that category. I'd make sure #Billy knew everything before he spoke to Harper. Not that he'd make her feel like an outsider either way.

"I'll load that video I told you about onto my phone and threaten to post it on YouTube. Pretty sure she was missing a tooth, so its powerful blackmail material." I laughed.

I wasn't a bit shocked at #Jessica's suggestion. "That girl has, um.... unique ideas." I laughed. "But no one around here would change her. Much." I added the last bit with a cheeky grin.

"Well, I couldn't subject you to bad pizza just so you can taste mine. So how about I promise to make you pizza sometime and you just order you're favourite?”

Harper

Rubbing my cheeks with the back of my hand and shaking my head too, and I laughed softly.

“Not fussy?” My eyebrows raised at his comment.

“You sound like Seth, does this mean your food intake is as big as his too? That boy could eat us out of house and home. I used to have to order him two pizza’s just for himself. At first Damian used to try to keep up, however it soon got too much for him too.” I knew I had that look in my eyes, so I made a point to look away and out the window as the memories settled themselves and my heart stopped missing my family.

Clearing my throat, I shook my head. “I would not want her to change. Jessica Clearwater is a breath of fresh air. However, I will deny I ever said this if you repeat it to her.” I smiled thinking of the 18-year-old who was bubbly, always happy and smiling and full of life. “She is however in need of her batteries removed for an hour a day. That’s this Vets orders anyway.” I joked, I had said it to her time and time again.

“I hope you enjoy pepperoni; I like to keep things simple and straight forward.” Pushing the rim of my glasses back up my nose and tucking my hair behind my ear. Thanking the Lord that he couldn’t hear the racing beat of my heart at his proposal.

‘Just being kind, it’s a small town and you are the new vet.’ I told myself.

Trying to push away #Charlies comments about me being the ‘new toy’ in town for the young men.

Collin

"Only two?" I laughed when she mentioned #Seth. "That boy must be slipping over there in Thompson Falls." I laughed and gave her a smile. "Yeah, people shouldn't try to out eat the guys from La Push." I imagined a human trying to keep up, I'd seen it with drinking and it always ended badly.

"#Jess always finds the sunny side of things, that's for sure." I chuckled. "I can understand the impulse when you work with her all day."

One corner of my mouth curled up in a smile when I heard her heart speed up. It was the most amazing sound. Hearing people hearts rise, and fall was something I was used to. But hers was different, I knew I could pick it out of a crowd in a second.

"Who could say no to pepperoni?" I grinned. "So, is that a yes on accepting my offer then?"

Harper

“Are you saying you could eat more than two pizza’s on your own? And before you answer, you must be aware that I will test this theory out. I’m a woman of science, I need to see results Mr. Littlesea.”

I laughed with him, dropping my eyes to my lap before I looked back up at him. His smile caught me, I felt my heart jump again. There was something in the way he looked in those moments when he smiled like this.

“People should not, are you sure?” I laugh softly again shaking my head. “As if you men here in La Push weren’t born with superhuman appetites? And with the ability to hold your liquor, very well from what I am seeing too.”

He was funny and again reminding me of #Seth, and how sometimes he would say that too as he joked. ‘Y’all need to stop trying so hard.’ Or ‘you are mere mortals.’ And then flex his biceps at us as to show us how strong his was. now that I thought is it. When he said things like that it would be followed quickly by a nudge or a kick from #Kenz which made us all laugh even now.

I had to half wave my hand in the air on his comment about #Jessica. “But jokes aside, I really would not want her to change.” Half smiling, I thought about her and the change in her the last week or so, she had become quieter and a little lost within herself. Making a note to watch her a little closely to see if she was feeling better.

Raising my eyebrow, his last question taking me off guard once again. “Accepting your offer?” Trying to recall what offer had he made.

Collin

I grinned, the change in her heartbeat spurring mine into a faster pace too. "I never back down from a challenge, Dr Jenkins." I leaned back into my seat and raised a brow. Just hearing the words I realised how sexy that sounded.

I knew she really had spent time with #Seth when she mentioned the ability to hold liquor. I laughed again, it was so easy around her. "Well... some of us anyway. But I'll have to get #Seth home for a visit so you can see what he's like when he drinks Rez moonshine. It's... um... interesting." I chuckled.

"My offer to help you out with your furniture. You'd be surprised how quickly these things can go when you have extra mm--" I stopped myself from saying 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 and stretched the back of my neck. "People power."

'Lucky #Leah isn't here... we'd get clocked across the back of the head.' My wolf chided.

Harper

The was a flutter in my stomach, with a rush of a tingle in my jaw at hearing him say that. My eyebrows raised over the frame of my glasses. And I could feel the way my lip was starting to curl into a cheeky smile. Reminding myself we were talking about Pizza. Nothing more. “You talk a good game here Mr Littlesea, I believe we need to see the play in action. Just so we can ensure the experiment and the results are exactly as desired.”

Sure, the nerd in me wanted to see if he could do it, but then after the time I’d spent watching #Seth, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was setting myself up for failure.

“Moonshine?” I shook my head. Only in a small town like this and Thompson would moonshine be on the menu. “We have moonshine back in Thompson too. I never have been a big drinker, however the nights when I was left to carry the others home. I can imagine it’s potent.”

I couldn’t help the warm feeling I got when he said he would try to have #Seth come; I had told them all they were welcome to stay at mine. And with this being #Seth’s hometown. With Ms Clearwater and #Leah here There were so many reasons for them to visit.

“I am sure they will be here soon enough.”

Giving him a short nod of my head. “I graciously accept, people power would help. And I can promise to feed and water you... And the others too of course. But only if you promise to bring Nova with you? I do miss the kisses and cuddles from the baby-girl.”

Collin

I smiled, talking to #Seth was a must now. I mean he had gone through imprinting on a girl that hadn't even heard our legends before. And I was sure #Kenzi would probably jump at the chance to be able to tell her best friend everything. Harper didn't strike me as the type to do that. But form what #Seth had told me his imprint was definitely the girl talk type. Maybe I could work out telling her everything while they were here? Maybe having a friend to talk it through with would make things easier?

"Excellent." I grinned at her. "Just let me know when. I promise to bring Nova, but I won't take any responsibility for any socks or TV remotes she may eat." I teased.

Harper

Shaking my head and laughing again softly. This was now becoming a thing. I hadn’t laughed as much as I was today with him in a long while. My cheeks had started to hurt a little, and yet I liked it. Having a friend that I really could feel so at ease with. And I didn’t really even know him.

“She won’t eat anything but her treats and I can promise you if she tries, I will watch her carefully. As well as the fact that Jess wouldn’t let Nova out of her sight too. And Teddy. He loves fur babies too. He is trying to talk Cha into them rescuing one. So, really you would do Teddy a favour too if she came along and showed Cha how amazing she is and how she shares her love and attention.”

I sat forward and placed my fingers over my lips. “I have no idea why I am so chatty today. Maybe Jess is rubbing off on me.”

Collin

"I'll have to try squeeze in a few puppy classes to get her on her best behaviour." My flushed a little the Harper was talking to her friends about finding homes for the puppies. That certainly wasn't part of the job description.

But it would be nice to keep their homes on the Rez. I hadn't really worried about homing the puppies yet, I was trying not to get my hopes that they would make it and be okay... but deep down I knew I was way past that.

"It's not just you trust me." I smiled. "The fact that my ramblings are semi-coherent is a shock. I'm a mess around beautiful girls... But there's about you that just easy to talk to."

My ears burned again when I realised what I had just said out loud. Too direct, too blunt.

'Idiot!' The wolf snorted. It was a compliment... How bad could it be, really?

Harper

My heart spiked and I felt the sensation of blood rushing to my cheeks. There, he’d done it again. How was it so easy for him to compliment me so openly and not hiccup when doing it.

I didn’t believe I’d ever spoken to a man who had called me beautiful without being drunk first. It wasn’t how men did things right? Say things like that?

Shifting in my seat. The tip of my tongue over the corner of my lips.

“Uhm. Puppy classes. Yes. That’s a good idea to have her settle a little maybe. If you like I could send you over some videos of online trainers too? Just to help start you and Nova before your face to face lessons start?”

Kicking myself at How had I not thought of it sooner?

My eyes dropped to the table and then when I felt my heart slow and the blood start to leave my cheeks only then did I look back up at him.

“Your rambling isn’t so bad. So, that would mean you’re not in the presence of a beauty.”

My lips quirked as I teased him a little.

Collin

Her heart doubled and I feared for a second that my unintentional forwardness had made her uncomfortable. I cleared my throat. "Um... yeah. That would be great. Thank you."

My eyes widened a little at her words and I took in her face again, her beautiful eyes, framed by thick lashes and slightly hidden behind the rims of her glasses, to anyone with the sense to really look. The round cheeks to should hide her high cheekbones but seemed the accentuate them even more, her full lips with a natural pink tint in them.

My tongue darted over my bottom lip at the last though and my mouth watered a little at the thought of kissing them. I knew I shouldn't be entertaining that thought so quickly, but it couldn't be helped, her features had an elegance I hadn't ever seen before.

"Trust me." I chuckled, dropping my eyes for a second to regain my self-control. "You are... stunning. There's just something about you that makes me feel like I could tell you anything."

Harper

I reached into the pocket of my coat once again for my phone.

“Not a problem at all. I have a list back at the office I could ask Jess to email it across to you. Just some basic to have under your belt and my Nova to have before you are both ready to work on the important things.. such as no eating the T.V remote.”

The note made I locked my screen and set it back into the pocket. Freezing once I hear his comment again.

That rush of blood moved back into my cheeks. And I shifted in my chair. I wanted to say something, anything but the word we’re lost to me again.

What was one to say to someone who had just said such a thing? One thing I refused to say was ‘Thank you’. I’d already been told off by the elderly couple for that today.

When I dared to look up at him across the table his eyes were dropped. There was something about that small gesture, the way he dropped his eyes, I wasn’t sure yet if it was to hide or so show that he was being truthful?

“You flatter me Mr Littlesea.” Why was I still using his surname?

Collin

I nodded. "Thank you... All the information #Jess gave me that day was really useful, even suggestions for her diet and everything. She really put effort into it. I the email with all of her appointment reminded me at least twice to call whenever I needed." I chuckled a little. "She really loves that job. I can tell."

The flush of colour in her cheeks was just adorable, but it did draw my eyes back to her lips and my heart thumped again. My ears burned again, and I sure my neck was turning red too. "Well honesty can be very flattering sometimes." I pulled my eyes away from her lips to look into hers.

Harper

#Jessica, a topic I could speak on without my blush giving me away. “Hmm. She really is, and the way she came to ask for the job.” The smile growing once again on my lips. “Let’s just say it was something I did when I first stepped out to look for work myself, just to at bubbly as she had been. I didn’t think there was another who would do something like that. And she’d never in the last six months made me doubt the decision on hiring her.”

When I finally dared to look back towards him, my gaze stopped on his neck and the blush of pink in his almond skin. Was he blushing too? And then he took my words away from me once again. I really wasn’t very good at this taking these complements thing at all. “I will have to take your word for it, honesty is something not many people offer these days. You have to always read between the lines or second guess every step of the way.”

Biting my lips to stop me from talking. That had just gone too deep, too fast. Why in the name of the Lord did I feel so comfortable with him to blart out everything I was thinking without filtering it first?

Collin

I snorted a little laugh when she said #Jessica had literally asked for the job. I covered my mouth as if it could take back the awful sound. But when I thought about it, it didn't really surprise me.

"That sounds like #Jess." I smiled.

I leaned over the table and gave her a soft, honest smile. "Well, I can promise you right now... I'll never lie to you. There may be questions I can't always answer. But I'll never be dishonest."

I knew that promise might mean leaving her with unanswered questions or having to tell her things she may not be ready to hear. But my whole future was wrapped in this incredible woman, and I had to believe that the Spirits chose her for me for a reason and no matter what... everything would go how they planned in the end.

I couldn't start that journey with lies, no matter how small.

Harper

I found myself resting my elbow on the table again and resting my chin on the palm of my hand. “Like I said, I wouldn’t change her for anything. Or the Danishes and coffees from her mom and dad’s bakery she used to bribe her way into the office before it was even open.”

Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. This really wasn’t what I was expecting when I agreed to meet him. A conversation which had become a rollercoaster ride in the best way possible. This small town most definitely had some interesting and kind people living here.

My eye shot open as I felt the table move and he had come closer. His eyes were such a deep dark brown, and yet I felt like I could see the sea in the flecks of them. His words floored me once again and my heart started to race again. “That is an immense promise to make to a person you don’t really know Collin. I’m just the town Vet, you owe me no such thing.” And as I said it, that pull was back telling me that I could trust him, that he was telling me the truth and that my faith wouldn’t be lost if I were to place it in his hands. But why? What was this pull? And Why would I want to have faith in a man I only had known for a few days? What was happening to me?

Collin

The relief I felt when I made that promise was indescribable. I remembered the lies I'd had to tell #Jo sometimes when she wondered why I was gone so late, or what I was doing for hours that I couldn’t pick up the phone. They had eaten at me. All the guys told me they were white lies... they didn't matter. I wasn't cheating or doing something I shouldn't be. I was protecting the pack's secret; I was protecting La Push and even her. But I hated it. I didn't need to do that with her, she was a part of that secret now, even if she didn't know it yet.

"Actually..." I rubbed my fingers over my forehead and an easy, relieved smile slipped across my features. "I think it will be the easiest promise to keep that I've ever made." My eyes staying on hers.

I had to believe that my truth was something she could accept and believe. I had faith in that, I had faith in the powerful, invisible, sacred bond between us.

Harper

Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t pull my eyes free from him. ( and there was the fact that I really didn’t want to look away.)

That pull was growing in my chest and it was as though it had laid a seedling in my stomach and was curling its way up into my heart, my mind, and my soul. But how was that even possible? My body shivered at the realisation of what I was thinking, and I knew I should be fearful, that I should get up and run out of this diner. Never look back and never see him again. That had to be the right thing to do here. To protect myself from whatever was happening here between us? Was I even really to open myself up to this? To him? Only if I knew the answer to all these unanswered questions.

But in midst of the fear was that warm feeling, the seedling showing itself as it was growing inside of me. My lips parted and the words came out before I knew. “I don’t know why it is, but I believe you when you say it. I don’t really know you, or you me. But. I truly feel like I believe you.”

Collin

I watched her eyes swim with deep thoughts, as deep as my own were and my heart began to still. Even though the pace was approaching normal the intensity of each beat was more powerful than anything I had ever felt before. I felt like each thump could bring life to ten men.

I smiled, but it wasn't like before. "Don't worry." My voice was softer now, too. "We have plenty of time to get know to each other. I just really hope we can keep doing that."

I knew the waitress was hovering to clear the table and bring over the bill, but she seemed to recognise that we were having a deep conversation and hadn't disturbed us. If Harper's anxiety hadn't spiked earlier, I probably wouldn't have even noticed that she kept glancing over here.

Harper

Again, that calm washed over me, all the thoughts and the feeling of the fear seemed to be washed away with his words and the way his voice sang in my ears. What was going on with me? Why was I even acting this way? If #Jenna or #Kenz were to tell me they felt this way after being in the vicinity of somebody I would believe it. Lord that is what the both of them had done when they met #Damian and #Seth, but me? I wasn’t prone to their whimsical ways.

And yet here I sat, and I was now nodding my head in answer to his question. Until I found my own voice again. “Yes, I really would like that.”

From the side of my eye I saw some movement, and it took me a moment to pull myself together and sat up and look back over my shoulder. The waitress with the small name tag reading Gemma, stood smiling at me, and yet I could see a question in her eyes too. I smiled at her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise what the time was. Do forgive us.”

She waited and then took a tentative step towards the table. ‘Not at all, we have plenty to do.’ She set the bill down on the table. I turned my head to look around and saw that we were the only two left in the diner, this making my cheeks heat again. Where had the time even gone?

Reaching down into my coat to take out my small wallet. I turned to look at Collin. “Please let me take care of this. You have been too kind with all your help and the help to come.”

Collin

My wolf lifted his head again when she said she wanted to keep getting to know me. He was stunned and relieved and a little proud though he tried to conceal that part from me.

I put my hand down on the bill when she offered to pay. "Nope" I teased trying to lighten the conversation before she freaked out. "You're buying the pizza remember? And if you want to test your theory on how much I can eat... that's not gonna be cheap." I laughed and reached into my back pocket for my wallet.

I handed Gemma the cash and smiled, she took it and headed to the counter.

"Keep the change Gem." I called after her.

'I was planning to.' She called back.

It wasn't true, it was what she said to all the regulars that told her that. I leaned my elbows on the table. "Now you have to call me." I teased her again.

Harper

Parting my lips to protest the fact, until he made his point and when I glanced up at #Gemma she has been smiling and nodding her head. She clearly had worked out parts of what he was saying now. I sat back and watch the two of them and laughed softly as #Gemma’s reply on the change. “I like her, I whispered and laughed again.

When he was back with his attention on me, I mirrored him with my elbows on the table. “Maybe I should have asked before, just how many pizza’s can Collin Littlesea consume in one sitting?”

My eyebrows pulled up over the frame of my glasses. “Oh, is that so? Now I 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 to call you, do I? What if I forget, or if I lose you number?” I teased right back because realistically if any of those were to happen, I knew #Jessica and #Teddy would kill me that was for sure.

Collin

I chuckled when I heard her say she liked Gemma. "Everyone likes her. She is a less talkative #Jessica... I'm pretty sure she has a crush on a friend of mine." I quirked a brow wondering why I'd told her that.

She leaned across the table a little too and I propped my chin on my hand and smiled. "Touche!" I teased. "But I have a witness that you promised me pizza... and trust me... no one wants to earn a reputation around here as a pizza tease." I laughed at my own ridiculousness but fixed a serious expression on my face and shrugged.

"There's just no coming back from that."

I sat back and looked around the almost empty cafe. "Can... um... can I give you a ride home? Or walk you to your car?" I didn't even know if she drove... it was a weird thing not to know about someone.

Harper

“I knew she reminded me of someone. Of course, it is Jess, I see it now.” Smiling I turned my head watching #Gemma ring up the bill. “Oh, she does?” I asked looking back towards him. “She is a pretty girl; you should ask him to buy her a hot chocolate.” I couldn’t see why a young man wouldn’t want to ask such a funny, pretty girl out.

I was laughing softly again, my index finger tapping my lips. “You are well prepared here, witnesses, a backup plan, and I mean why would anybody in their right mind want to be known as a ‘Pizza Tease’? That is social suicide in such a small town. I guess there is no-way out of such an offer after all.” I couldn’t help myself now.

My eyes lingered on him for a few moments, before I realised that he had asked me a question. “Oh.. umm.. No, you don’t have to do that. My car is at the practice, and it’s not that long of a walk from here. But thank you for the offer.”

Moving I stood up, looking back over to #Gemma and then thinking about #Jessica. #Gemma seemed to be a little older than #Jess, but I could see it now. Picking up my coat from behind the chair I shrugged it on and then reached to pick up my wallet and pushed it into the pocket.

“Thank you for this Collin, it was nice to spend time talking with you and getting to know someone here in La Push.” But something inside me told me it was so much more.

Collin

"Spirits no!" I laughed out loud. "He is definitely not her type... she just hasn't realised it yet."

I tapped my temple like I had planned it all to the last detail. "No way out... you're stuck with the burden of enduring at least a few more hours of my company." I laughed.

I shook my head when she said I didn't need to walk her to her car. "I'm walking you to your car." I laughed.

"Not because it’s a guy thing... just because the kind of car a girl chooses to drive can tell you a lot about her personality... And I'm kinda nosey." I smiled, but my voice stayed casual, giving her the chance to say no.

I hoped she wouldn’t, but I wasn't going to push either and be a creep. It wasn't so late yet that I had any real reason to worry about her making that short walk.

Harper

Shaking my head, I rubbed my temple listening to him. That Laugher of his was hard not to join in with. And he said it again. ‘Spirits’, I had always thought it was a #Leah and #Seth thing to say. But now with Collin saying it too. Maybe there was really so much more to all #Seth and his sister had tired to explain to somebody who knew nothing of their culture, people or their true history.

“Okay, I don’t like to assume however it sounds like someone should help the girl work it out maybe?” The one thing I knew from the past was once some girls thought they knew who they liked, there was no telling them ‘No’.

“Umm. No way out? I guess another couple of hours could be managed.” Buttoning up my coat as I spoke to him.

I started to move backwards taking a couple of steps and then I stopped. That hadn’t been something I’d expected from him. “Oh, if it’s not car you want to check out, you maybe a little disappointed. I know Cha was. It is a VW Beetle and a new one at that. I was told I have to sell it and pay an old classic”

Waving to #Gemma, “Thank you and I am sorry again. Have a lovely evening.” I smiled as she did the same back and I pushed the door open. The cold chill in the air hit my face and made me shiver. “It’s gotten colder while we were in there.”

Collin

"Maybe I should rephrase that. She knows... but thinks she's the one that will change him." I chuckled at the thought. Never gonna happen.

I waved goodbye the Gemma and the cook and headed outside with her. "Okay... so kind of a chick car. But I can forgive that... a modern twist on a classic design... Respectable." I nodded, giving it all some serious thought as we walked.

"You definitely don't care what other people think because a Beetle is a clear statement. They get noticed but brushed off at the same time. So, you clearly know what you like no matter what anyone else says. How am I doing so far?" I chuckled as I walked with her towards the clinic.

My instinct was to wrap an arm around her shoulders when she said she was cold, but I didn't need my wolf to tell me that was too bold. "The night can get cold here, no matter what time of year." I didn't even have a jacket to offer her.

Harper

My mouth turned into an ‘O’ when I heard what he said. “So, he is gay, and she thinks she can change him. I see.” I nod, rubbing my hands together and then I turned to look at him and stopped.

Blinking my eyes at him at the bold but correct statement he’d gone and made. And this was only by the fact that I told him which car I drove.

“How did you do that? I mean.. Well.. I.. okay yes maybe? I mean I never put that much thought into it when I bought the care, or at least I didn’t believe I did.” And yet he was right.

“And excuse me? What do you mean by a ‘Chick Car’? Herbie would not be happy with such a statement I will have you know. He was a proud race car, who liked to be driven by men and women.” I said it matter of factly as we walked.

“I am starting to learn this about La Push, I can never leave home without a coat even if the sun is out.” My eyes moved from the dark sky and street before us, “Did you leave your coat or jacket in the diner?” Stopping I turned to point back over my shoulder towards the way we’d come. “You must be freezing Collin?”

Collin

I snorted at her comment about Embry being gay. It wasn't the first time I'd heard it. It was the tight shirts and skinny jeans. I really need to stop making that sound around. "No... but he's the type that doesn't call. She's the type that wants someone to call." I clarified.

"Wild guesses." I teased. Mostly I could tell all of this from the way she acted but the car did give clues too. "In that case, I take it all back." I laughed and glanced back over my shoulder "I think I left it in my truck. I'm used to it though... I grew up with La Push winters. This is summer-y to me." I laughed. Not a lie. "Plus, I'm full of hot chocolate." I spotted the vet clinic and her car up ahead, I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before.

"How did I miss that?" I Laughed, not having meant to say that words out loud.

Harper

Pushing the rim of my glassed up my nose I looked toward the diner once again and then kept walking toward the practice. It was all kind of making sense.

Whispering to myself. “Need to stop spending so much time with Jess and Teddy, they were starting to rub off on me.” Jumping to the conclusion his friend was gay, but then I was sure that was what he was pointing towards.

“I grown up in a cold place too, we see a lot of snow in Thompson. However, I’d not dare walk the streets without my coat.” I teased, but then I did notice that his hand had been really warm before when he touched mine.

Seeing the practice come up ahead I smiled and shrugged a little. “She is parked there most days, however she has just been in for a service.” I tried to maybe explain why he’d not seen it. Taking my keys out I clicked the alarm and the Emerald green colour of the care came to light with the flash of the lights.

I glanced to the Practice and I was glad to see that #Jessica had gone home and wasn’t waiting for me to return. “Looking Like Jess has gone home.” I said coming to a stop beside my car and opening the driver side door. “Thank you again for the cookies and the hot chocolate Collin, it was a nice evening.” I smiled up at him.

Collin

I laughed a little. "You wouldn't be the first to think that... Though probably the first that hasn't met him before they thought it."

The colour of the car really caught my eyes and I pressed my lips together in a tight line to keep from chuckling. "Definitely an individual." I muttered to myself. Like I could talk with my Orange Nissan Novara parked outside the Cafe as we speak.

"You're welcome." I wanted to thank her for coming but that seemed like a weird thing to do. "I had a great time... I, um... It was awesome getting to know a little more about you. I'll um... Be waiting for the call for our pizza and flat pack. I'll tell Nova all about it when I get home. I know you won't want to get her hopes up only to shatter them."

Harper

I felt my cheeks flush with the cold burn on my face too. How did he always manage to hear my whispers? I open the door to my car I stood just behind it as he spoke.

Lifting my finger to my lips I made the ‘Shh’ sound. “We were meant to use the ‘F’ word remember? It was your rule.” Laughing softly my eyes on his now. “If you are going to blackmail me, Baby-girl is the safe bet. I could never disappoint her or let her down.” Climbing into my car I closed the door and let the windows down. “Take care of yourself Collin and drive safe. I promise to call this time.” I held a hand to my heart as I started up the car, and then looked up at him. I wanted to say thank you again, but I knew it was silly I’d just said it.

“Good Night.” Is what I decided to say and then put my car into drive and pulled out of my parking spot to drive home, looking in my rear-view mirror before he was out of sight.

“What an evening.”

I whispered to myself as I made my way home turning the music player on. smiling as I sing along.

( Music: Do It Again )

Collin

“Oops!” I whispered and pretended to zip my lips. I looked down and feet tapping my toes against the road. “Hey! Can’t blame a guy for using all the angles he can.” I watched her climb into the car and start the engine.

“Good night, Harper.” I smiled at her taking a step back. So she could pull out. “It really was amazing getting to know you better.”

I watched her pull away, knowing that she would make good on her promise to call this time. Knowing she was feeling to the same pull that I was.

I tilted my face to the sky and shut my eyes, “Thank you.” I whispered to the Spirits. But it hardly covered the gratitude I felt that they had chosen her for me. “Please don’t let me fuck this up.”

- 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 -