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1059 Words
Seated safely, back in her truck, she took a deep breath. She could still smell him. It was the same cologne that he wore when they were together. She had almost forgotten what it had smelled like. She cried when the day came that she could no longer smell it on her pillow. It was like the little things were being erased from her memory. It was like the scent disappearing from her pillow was equivalent to Jake disappearing from her life.
But, when he gave her a hug, every memory came rushing back. Every night they snuck off the property to spend some time together without being under the watchful eyes of their parents. Every stolen kiss, every sideways glance and every laugh they shared. Everything came back into her thoughts and heart all at once. It was almost too much to handle.
Allie kept a safe distance as she followed him along the dark and narrow winding roads. She forgot how intimidating these roads could be. When you thought you would be driving off the side of a mountain, the road would wind around and continue along. It was easy to get turned around and lose your sense of direction if you were not familiar with them.
Jake navigated the roads with ease. He grew up and knew every twist and turn like the back of his hand. When he glanced in the rearview and saw he was further ahead of Allie than he thought, he slowed down. He remembered it had been years since she had been to his home and might not be as comfortable with the roads as she used to be.
It took every ounce of restraint to not take her into his arms and pick up where they had left off all those years ago. He wanted to and got the indication that her body was willing. He could feel her heart pounding against her chest. His was doing the same. There was so much energy between the two of them that there was going to be no way that they could ignore it forever. They were going to have to address the situation and everything that happened between them.
He was broken when she left him. One phone call changed their lives completely. It nearly destroyed his. He journeyed down a path in life that he did not want to revisit ever again. Jake didn't know if he would be able to survive that road again. It almost killed him last time. He was determined to handle things differently this time. He wasn't going to let her leave his life so easily after coming back into it.
They are older now. They are more mature. They are not the two teenagers sneaking away to spend time together in the barn, out of sight of their parents. They were more equipped with life experiences to handle things the correct way. Part of him wanted to be that irresponsible teenager, though. No cares in the world and only worrying about themselves and the next time they would have time alone.
Jake was shocked when his mom and aunt pulled him away from the family gathering and into the kitchen just a half an hour ago. "What is going on?"
"Listen, do not freak out and do not be mad at us."
"Mom, you are kind of freaking me out by saying that. What is going on? Why would I freak out?"
"I need for you to do me a favor but you cannot tell anyone what is going on right now."
"What's the favor?"
Jake's aunt, Allie's step mother Lisa spoke up, "Allie is down at the gas station."
"W-what did you say? Allie? M-m-my Allie?"
"Please do not be upset at me. It is time to clear the air and put this family back together. Can you drive down and get her and show her the way back? Uncle David did not want her driving up the mountain alone at night."
Jake stood there stunned at the request. In his mind he was already in his truck and headed down the long gravel driveway but he stood frozen in the spot. She was back. He never thought that this day would come. She was back. She came back to him.
"If you don't want to, I completely understand."
"Huh? Oh, no. I can go. Is she there now waiting?"
"Yes."
Jake turned quickly and started to rush out. "Be back." He rushed out of the house and down the front steps to his truck without saying a word to anyone. He dashed across the yard and hopped in the cab, driving a little faster than necessary down the drive.
"Where in the hell is he off to in such a hurry?"
"Who knows? You know how Jake is. I swear, sometimes I think that he should be on meds."
"Randy, do not talk about your brother like that."
"It was a joke, Mom. Where is he off to anyway?"
"Let me guess, the Queen called and couldn't open the jar of peanut butter, and he must return home to handle the situation immediately," Randy's wife Julie joked.
"Randy's bad habits are rubbing off on you, Julie."
"You have to admit that she is the most needy person that you know. She cannot do anything for herself. I am surprised that she is not here following Jake around like a lost puppy dog like she is every other time we have a gathering."
"I purposely planned this for a day that I knew she had to work."
"Seems like Randy's bad habits are rubbing off on you as well, Amy."
"Since when did I become the punching bag?" Randy asked his mother and wife taking a drink of his beer. They were right, though. That was something that he would have said and done when it came to the Queen. He never understood why his brother was still with her after all of these years. They weren't married, they didn't have any kids together; they just lived together. Randy felt she was too clingy for Jake who liked to have his freedom.
"We are sorry. We didn't know you were so sensitive."
"Whatever." Randy rolled his eyes and went back to drinking his beer; wondering where his brother bolted off to so quick.
- Writer
