Everything In Between p.l.

Chapter 30

"Honestly? Tempting."

He nudged her knee with his. "You know you've got every right to be mad. Like—every right. Bella made choices, and people got hurt. But..." He paused, his voice softer now. "Don't carry her mistakes like they're yours. Don't let them fester."

Pip sighed, head falling back onto the cushions. "Why are you being all emotionally intelligent right now? You're ruining my rage spiral."

"Sorry, I left my dumbass hat in Sam's truck," Jared grinned. "You can borrow it later, if you want."

"I might need it." Pip closed her eyes for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"Look," Jared continued, more serious now. "You've been through hell. You deserve peace. And if peace is seeing Paul and eating like five helpings of Emily's stew while crushing me in Candy Land? Then that's what we're doing tonight."

She smiled at him, warmth curling in her chest.

"Thanks, Jared."

"Anytime, Pip. I got you."

Just then, Emily popped her head into the living room. "Dinner's almost ready, boys—Pip, wanna help me stir the stew?"

"Only if I get first dibs on dessert," Pip said, rising from the couch and tossing a wink over her shoulder at Jared.

"You cheat at dessert too?" he called after her.

"Only when I deserve it."

And with that, the heaviness of earlier lifted—just enough for her to breathe again.

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The living room looked like a war zone.

CandyLand cards were scattered across the rug like confetti. The board itself sat crooked on the coffee table, two gingerbread men teetering precariously near the Molasses Swamp. Jared and Pip were nose-to-nose, both red in the face. Seth collapsed on a beanbag chair, laughing so hard he was wheezing. Embry was trying—failing—to defend himself with a bent rulebook in hand.

And Quil?

Still asleep in the armchair. Mouth open. Dead to the world.

"You can't just skip the Gumdrop Pass because you 'feel like it's bad for morale!'" Pip shouted, pointing dramatically at Embry.

"It's a game of chance!" Embry shouted back, equally impassioned. "There are no tactics! You can't strategize CandyLand!"

"Tell that to your strategy of blatant cheating!" Jared added, jabbing a finger in Embry's direction.

"I didn't cheat!" Embry protested, holding the card like it might save him from a trial.

"You're guilty and your sentence is eternal shame!" Pip declared, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.

It bounced harmlessly off his chest. Seth was now lying flat on his back, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes.

That was the scene the rest of the pack walked in on.

The front door opened, and in came Sam, Leah, Jacob, and Paul, all fresh from patrol, smelling like wind, pine, and the faint charge of shifting energy.

They froze.

Sam blinked slowly, as if trying to assess whether the house was on fire or just possessed.

Jacob surveyed the board. "Why does CandyLand look like a crime scene?"

Paul's eyes immediately found Pip—wild-eyed, triumphant, hoodie sleeves shoved up to her elbows. His chest did something involuntary at the sight of her like a silent exhale.