Cozy • An Embry Story

.20

Winnie's POV

La Push has lots of charm to it that. Charm I personally avoid like the plague.

Some being the beaches, the farmers markets, whale watching and horse riding ranches, that I never dare to show my face at. If I can avoid it, I don't do my day to day on the Res. I work off reservation at the Lodge, then right after a shift I'll keep avoiding my hometown by making my drive longer to go further into Forks to their grocery store for whatever I need.

Though it may be small, I've never minded the lengthy drive as long as no one hassles me while I shop. I've been one of the few Quillayute shoppers for years, besides the occasional Quillayute who married a Forks local.

"Winnie?" There should have been the sound of broken glass after the sound of my name. I flinched so hard when I first heard it, I dropped the jarred sauce I was looking at. There should be broken glass and tomato sauce all over the floor and down the front of my uniform, but instead it's cupped safely by Paul's massive hand.

"Close one." He grunts out, placing the jar neatly back on the shelf. Since it's pouring out, Paul is in a black hoodie that's damp around the shoulders. Seeing him here reminds me of Embry, and a part of me wishes I ran into him.

"Oh, hey Paul." I greet shakily, glad to see it's only him.

"You don't seem like the type to scare easily." He observes, asking in his own Paul way if I'm okay or not.

"I'm usually not, but the grocery store is just terrifying." I try at a joke that doesn't lighten the mood. "You're fast." I point out, looking back at the end of the aisle I swore he was at when he called out my name.

"Fast reflexes." He flexes his muscle a bit, which are admittedly large.

"We could use those kind of reflexes at the Lodge,"

"I shouldn't work around food, I'll clean out the whole restaurant." Paul admits, pointing at the pile of food in his basket. It's filled with instant foods and junk food like mac n cheese, ramen noodles and flaming hot Cheetos. I'm not much better off with how little I can cook, mostly living off cold no prepare food like cereal or sandwiches or bagged salad. Undoubtedly, Embry would judge the pair of us.

"Just got off work?" He asked, gesturing to my uniform.

"Yeah,"

"You shop all the way out here a lot?" I can already tell he's gonna mention to Embry I come out here to shop instead of staying local. La Push and Forks are already a thirty minute drive apart, with the store being on the other side of Forks lengthening it to at least forty five minute drive.

"Sometimes after work." I shrug, hoping he doesn't ask anymore questions.

"What brings you all the way out here?" I ask, trying to get the focus off of me. His shoulders go stiff as he glares down at his sneakers, and I know I shouldn't have asked. Right, Paul is avoiding his dad.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy." I shrug off.

"You're about the least nosy person I know." Paul says, his mood shifting just the slightest. "No, it's okay. I figured if I shopped out here, I wouldn't run into my dad." I try my best to keep sympathy off my face, feeling like a complete jerk that he felt pressured to tell me at all.