Embry and Quill are the easier ones of the pack butt protective nonetheless, still much friendlier than Sam or Jacob⌠or even his own sister. He hates the position heâs put everyone in, even if Fox has no clue itâs still a position. Imprinting doesnât mean they have to be together in that way, he could keep it platonic but thereâs a worry of the unmeasurable heartbreak that would come with countless what ifs even if it was platonic. Despite that possibility, he doesnât want it to be just friends if heâs going to get a chance at being with someone but itâs not his decision to make and itâs not the time to speak about it. âOf course! Everyoneâs well fed when weâre around.â Which was true, it was practically a whole meal ready to be served in the cooler - not some measly chips and dip.
The flutter in his chest when she moves his arm over her shoulder is a relief. It makes him feel like heâs protecting her even if she doesnât need it or want it, he still feels like heâs offering some sense of security. A soft laugh at her valid reasons, âWell, Iâm here this time if you wanted to give it a try. It can be a little scary but I wouldnât let anything happen to you. We go in often, morning, noon, night.â A shrug of his shoulders added, they made good use of everything that surrounded them. He nods to her silent question, arm leaving her shoulder and as he sits he almost reached around and rests it at her waist but he brings both hands forward and is reaching for the Tupperware of food and makes a plate for Fox and him to share, âHereâŚâ scooping a bite with his fork, a mix of everything on the plate and offers it to her. Quill isnât looking directly at them but he uses the mental link to tell Seth to dial it back⌠and he will after she takes the bite, not realizing what it might look like to others. He quickly leans into some small talk with Monty and hands the fork to Fox to continue, thigh against hers and shoulder a bit behind hers as he talked so despite him not feeding her - heâs not exactly letting up on the space between them.
She grins at the prospect of food, staying close to Seth. There's always something intense sitting and shimmering between the Quileute boys that she can never quite figure out, but at least Sam and Leah weren't here tonight. Where she was constantly striving to earn approval earn the right to crush on seth, she always seemed to fail in the eyes of his sister and Sam. At least it felt that way. But with just Embry and Quill it was a little easier to let herself focus on Seth, let herself lean into the comfort he gave her. âI think my odds are surviving the water are better with you around, so if you want to Iâm in.âÂ
He doesnât move his arm from her until they reach the others and she sidesteps a little when he finally does move away from her, having been leaning against him. She sits next to him, trying to give him a little space as she looks to where Harper and Embry are talking, eyes coming back to Seth now and then as he fixes a plate, waiting for her turn. But heâs not interested in space and heâs offering her a bite from his fork and itâs so easy. Heâs easy. She leans in to eat it off the fork without thinking. âMmm, thatâs great!â She says once she swallows. He hands her the fork and she goes for another bite, catching sight of Harper smirking her way. She shoots Harper a âdonât do itâ look but itâs Jasper thought whoâs alcohol-induced non-filter says what Harperâs expression is. âSince when do you eat other peopleâs food?â
âShut it, Jas.â She laughs, trying to hide the way her cheeks redden, taking another quick bite and offering the fork back to Seth as she hides the awkwardness behind rejoining the conversation. Heâs not wrong, she usually denies offers of food but Seth didnât really offer he just⌠did. It hadnât felt like charity, it had been thoughtless, simple. But now sheâs questioning, shifting so her leg isnât quite so pressed against Sethâs and hoping he wonât read too much into Jasperâs comment, especially as Jas has already moved onto Seth and Montyâs topic without realizing heâd given away a tic Fox didnât like talking about.Â