Sitting In Traffic

Chapter 71- A trip inside her mind

"Home sweet home" Riley said as Max started pulling up the long gravel drive in a rented out Aston Martin to her house. She argued with Max about the car they were renting out, but ultimately Max won. He wanted a luxury car, and Riley wanted something that would fit more into the town's scenery.

"So this is where the famous Riley Matilda Stowan spent her summers" Max said, looking at the large house that had some over grown vines growing on its siding.

"And every summer forever" Riley told him, she had been holding his hand nearly the entire journey there. She fell asleep on the jet with it in her hand, whether or not Max kept his hand in hers the whole time was up for discussion. But he made sure Riley woke up with it. "You're going to love it"

"It looks very victorian" He told Riley, feeling her kiss the knuckles on his hand softly. "Where should I park"

"By the pick up truck" Riley pointed to the old 1983 Ford F150.

"Who's driving that old thing" Max said when he pulled up next to it.

"It was Josie's husband's" Riley told him, letting go of his hand while he turned the car off. "He left it for Joshua but it broke down when we were in high school"

"He's older than you right?"

"Just 2-ish years" Riley said, getting out of the car when Max did. He walked around the car to Riley's side, helping her push down her seat to get the bags out of the second row.

There were more bags than either of them initially expected. Riley only packed one larger bag, but Max had his for this week plus all of his racing gear.

"Is someone here?" Max looked up at the porch light, seeing it on.

"No," Riley took the bag Max was handing her. "Josh said he came by an hour ago just to turn it on so we could see"

"He should've stuck around," Max knew he was meeting him after Riley's birthday, but he wouldn't have minded getting the initial greetings out of the way.

"He had to put the baby down" Riley said, waiting for Max to get his last bag out.

Riley started guiding Max to the porch after he closed the car doors. She was holding two bags just the same as Max. The excitement she was feeling echoed off of her when she opened the front doors. She took the first step in, seeing a fresh bouquet of flowers in a vase sitting on the counter which was most definitely Misty's touch.

Misty loved birthdays, she knew it was a sore topic for Riley and her family, but she wanted to do something. She came around earlier that day and cleaned the house entirely, making sure rooms were in order. She wasn't sure what room Max was staying in, Joshua told her Riley most likely wouldn't have him in hers out of respect for Josie.

But he was wrong, Riley was pushing the two beds together as-well as mentally planning on packing away all of Jonah's things. If Max was going to be her endgame it didn't matter if he slept with her. Josie would've argued otherwise, but Riley would've pulled 'the deeds in my name' card.

"It smells like cookies" Riley whispered to herself, walking into the kitchen with Max following behind her. Max was taking in his surroundings, he wanted to walk into the living room, to look at all of the photos that were hanging up on the walls. But he followed Riley. He knew he'd get a chance to see that hint into Riley's past.

Max saw a picture of Jonah, Riley and Tristen before prom sitting on the counter. That was a photo Riley would pack away before they left. Not because of Jonah, but because her and Tristen didn't talk anymore.