Cozy • An Embry Story

.17

Embry's POV

This isn't a date. It's an errand.

Early this morning I asked Winnie if she would accompany me on a run out of the res to some auto parts stores. I've finally wanted to start detailing the van, to cover up the emptiness and exposed metal with actual interior. The errand was a poor pick, but right when I woke up I wanted to see her. Winnie was nice enough to agree, getting ready as quickly as possible when I picked her up at 9am.

Maybe if we stopped for some breakfast, a good playlist, some spontaneous stops for ice cream or something, maybe it could have been a date.

It could have been a date, if Jacob hadn't tagged along. Then he also brought Paul.

"Okay, here me out," Paul sticks his head up front, right between Winnie and I.

"Just a ton of posters. Everywhere." Paul suggests, holding out his palms to visualize it.

"What kind of posters?" I sigh, already knowing the answer.

"You shouldn't even ask." Jacob chuckles under his breath. Though all of us except Winnie can clearly hear him with our werewolf hearing.

"Posters of hot girls," Paul continues on as of he wasn't interrupted by Jacob.

"Pass," I ease off. My eyes glance over to Winnie, who clearly looks uncomfortable, but not in a tense way. More like she's trying not to roll her eyes. Women who brave being the only female in a group of straight guys are strong. We're barely ten minutes into the drive and already we brought up naked women.

"Come on," Paul groans, siting back to cross his arms.

"There's a lot of reasons that's not a good idea, Paul." Jacob finally can't hold back his laugh anymore.

"Like how?" Paul puffs.

"For one, I drive my mother around in this van." I point out which immediately makes Jacob laugh harder and even earns a laugh from Winnie.

"And Winnie too," I add, resisting the urge to reach across and squeeze her hand.

"And how can Embry even appreciate them if they're all behind him in the back of the van?" Jacob comments.

"Or if I get pulled over, how do I explain having naked women plastered all over?" I laugh, now finding the situation too funny not to happen at least once. It would make a great story.

"Fine, whatever man," Paul waves off. "If I didn't have a bike, I'd do it to my van."

"Paul, you say four wheels are for PTA parents." Jacob adds with a smirk. Which just makes Paul flip him off, whatever he never manages to finish because it turns into a laugh of his own.

"Winnie, what do you think the van could use?" Jacob inquires. She thinks it over for a minute, before turning in her seat to tell him.

"String lights could be cool. Mood lighting and all." She answers, thoughtfully resting her chin on the seat. "But not those fairy lights. Something that can change colors."

"Damn, that blows my poster idea right out of the water." Glancing in the rear view mirror, I can see Paul rubbing his jaw as if he's sore she one upped him.