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— "EYES ON THE ROAD!" Jacob's panicked voice filled the silence of her dad's car. "I'm looking!" Rory's hands stayed steady on the steering wheel. Since Bella had become more zombie-like, she couldn't lean on her father and Mike to take her to places anymore. So, after taking classes, and taking the test. After a long while, Rory was finally licensed!
"I don't know why you're so jumpy." Rory parked the car far from the beach. "I'm licensed."
Quil, who was sitting in the backseat, loosened his grip on the seatbelt. "Just because you're licensed, doesn't mean we trust you with our lives!" The boy shot back, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the vehicle like his ass was on fire.
Rory turned off the car and climbed out. "I think you're being dramatic." The brunette followed after him.
"Remind me as to why we're here again?" Jacob questioned, following behind his friends. Rory rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Do you not listen to anything I say?"
"I forgot!"
"I want to find some seashells, new hobby." She explained, laying a towel on the sand. "New hobby?" Quil echoed with a snort. "What're you a mermaid?" Rory glared over at him.
"No, dipshit."
"I'm taking a marine course, outside of school—it's supposed to help with my grades. Seashells are one of the many things I'm learning about." She explained.
She gave them a grin, slipping off her sandals and walking towards the water. She'd opted to wear shorts and a tank top. After a few minutes of collecting what she could find, she walked up to her friends.
"Look!"
Both boys looked at her with the similar bored expression on their faces. She rolled her eyes, turning her head when she heard loud hollering.
Sam, Jared, Paul, and Embry, seemed to be engaged in a very intense game of soccer. Kim and another woman she didn't recognize sat to the side on some towels under an umbrella.
Jacob and Quil followed her gaze, frowning.
"Let's get outta here." Jacob grunted, moving to stand. Picking up Rory's sandals and her towel for her. "What a gentleman." She mumbled, watching as Quil stood soon after.
"You guys go, I'll catch up. Take these, please." Rory took the sandals from him and traded them for her seashells.
Jacob and Quil began to walk away, she went to follow when—
"Ow!" Rory exclaimed, feeling a harsh impact on her back. She turned to see the soccer ball on the ground now, noticing Paul's approaching figure.
She kneeled down to grab the ball. "I'm so sorry." Paul apologized as he came to a stop right in front of her. Rory raised a brow, handing him the ball. "You guys have great aim, but unfortunately for you, you won't win by hitting me."
Paul snorted at her sarcastic tone. "I'll be sure to tell that to Jared." She peered over his shoulder, meeting Embry's gaze.
"Good luck on your game." She pointed. "I have to get going." He nodded in understanding.
"Uh—yeah, see you around?" Her brain short-circuited, here she was standing in front of a freakishly hot guy, who was willingly talking to her and she was left speechless.
"Yeah!" Her response was short and she hoped he wouldn't notice the blush beginning to appear on her cheeks. With one last glance at him, she turned and walked away.
—
Since the day Embry Call had met Rory Sinclair, the boy had developed a crush on her. All of his friends knew it, his mom knew it, everyone but Rory.
When he shifted and learned that everything was true, he'd hoped that he'd be the one to imprint on her. Embry was sure of it—until he wasn't.
On his first patrol, he'd seen Paul's thoughts. The way they were consumed of her, and sure he'd been told already by Jared blabbermouth Cameron that Paul had imprinted. That didn't meant he was okay with it.
Embry was furious. Practically pounced on the older shifter before anyone could stop him. After a harsh ass-kicking from Paul, Embry had come to terms with the fact that—Rory would never be his.
She'd never be his to comfort when she cried; she'd never be his to hold.
She never was.
No, the fates chose her for Paul. The hot-headed prick who didn't want an imprint.
Embry thought it wasn't fair, how could she end up with someone who didn't want her; when he'd wanted her for so long.
Yet, he finally understood that day at beach. Rory had only said a few words to Paul, and he was staring at her as if she'd just hung the stars.
So with a heavy heart, Embry Call vowed to try and let Rory Sinclair go.
