Ash n' Leather

Time Simply Stoked the Fire

Author's Note: I hope y'all are enjoying the book so far! By the way I am totally one of those people that comes up with an idea of a character's appearance in their mind, ignoring the pictures and stuff that author's put on their stories because it's less enjoyable for me so feel free to ignore the pictures I put on each chapter, they're gonna be different people anyways lol. Enjoy!

As I drive through town I look up at all the towering trees that I've missed so dearly. Even though I know the way by heart Jack drives his motorcycle in front of me, leading the way. I never forgot how good he looked on that thing, although having a visual makes it so much better.

We turn onto Chestnut Drive and memories flood my mind. I haven't been here in 3 years. We pull up to the familiar house with plants growing everywhere and the crawling hydrangea up the side of the entrance. I get out and pop the trunk, taking out my small suitcase. 

Jackson turns off his bike and pulls out the keys, unlocking the front door and letting me in. I hear a cage rattling inside. As Jack locks the door again I immediately drop my bag and run into the living room, falling in front of the dog cage. "Harley!" I open the gate and the wiggling pitbull bursts out, falling into a happy heap on my lap. 

"She really missed you didn't she," Jack walks in laughing at the sight.

"Well duh, of course she did, I was always her favorite."

Harley was Jackson and I's dog. More his than mine even though she did in fact like me better. Before his mom and I moved to Texas, when he and I were engaged, he begged and begged me to get a dog. I wanted to but I didn't think we should since we had so many other priorities that wouldn't have time for it.

"You haven't been keeping her locked up in here by herself all day every day right?" I look up at Jack accusingly.

"Of course not! Mrs. Lilian next door usually has her during the day, she brought her home at around 6 cause she had to drive to the next town over to visit a friend."

As I'm scratching the dog's belly I hear Jackson take his leather jacket off and set it on the couch before walking into the kitchen. I look up and hold in a moan. He looks to be in even better shape than when I left. His arms are now filling out the sleeves of his white t-shirt nicely.

"Are you hungry?"

"Oh yeah, I didn't eat anything for lunch."

"How does spaghetti sound?"

"Only if that means you have ingredients to make your homemade sauce."

"Mac n' cheese it is then, I don't keep those kinds of ingredients on hand at all times," he laughs.

"I'm kiding, store bought sauce is fine." I smile, remembering the old times when he would cook for me and we would go sit at one of our many date locations as the sun went down, sometimes having to sit in the car with the heat blasting as the temperature drops.

"How about while I cook this you go into the guest room and get changed into something more comfortable?"

"Sounds good." I get Harley out of my lap and pick up my luggage, walking down the hallway to the guest room. I smile as I pass the pictures on the walls, some of the Matthews family, and some of Jackson and I. Our two families had been as close as close can be since the beginning of time. I suck in a breath as I pass the master bedroom. Jack and I shared that room for just over a month before I left with his mom. This house would have been ours still if I had stayed.

I push myself past the doorway and into the guest room.

After laying the suitcase on the bed I walk into the connected bathroom. Since I had been driving all day I decided I needed a nice shower. I slip out of my clothes and into the shower, thinking of how life used to be.