"You're back?" Said Paige, looking up from her knitting as she watched Avery walk through the front door.

"Yeah. But not for long. Jax is picking me up in a few minutes."

"I wondered how long it would be before you two ran into each other." The way Paige said it, Avery knew that there was no way that she was getting out of the talk that her mother obviously wanted to have.

"Come sit with me for a minute." Said Paige as she placed her knitting tools onto the coffee table. She then patted the seat cushion next to her to emphasize her point.

Avery followed her mother's instructions and quietly walked across the living room. She sat gracefully on the sofa next to her mother and waited expectantly for her to speak, the silence in the room feeling heavy.

"Are you nervous?" Paige asked, turning slightly so that she was facing Avery.

"About what?"

"Being alone with Jax. You two were quite hot and heavy before you left."

"Why would I be scared to be alone with him?"

"It's been a while since you two were together, and that can make things feel distant. Having some alone time could be a chance to get close again, if you both want that." said Paige. "Mom!"

"What? You honestly thought I was oblivious to the fact that you and Jax were sleeping together? Seriously, Avey? In this entire town, there wasn't a single soul who didn't predict that you and Jax would end up as another teenage pregnancy statistic. It was the subject of gossip down at the diner, whispered about at the gas station, and probably even discussed during Mrs. Henderson's Sunday school class. You two were practically inseparable after Homecoming. Everyone saw it coming, Avey. Everyone but apparently you."

"Well, I hoped you didn't know we were. Guess we weren't hiding it as well as we thought, huh?"

"Avey, I know I'm older but I'm not blind. I know what it looks like when two people have just finished having sex."

"Seriously mom?"

"Seriously Avey. You and Jax wore that 'just fucked' look so often that it I often wondered if you two were part Jack rabbit." Said Paige, making air quotes on the just fucked part and smiling at her daughters horrified face.

"MOM! You didn't not just say 'just fucked'."

Avery had never heard her mother use such language. Hearing her mother use the mother of all swear words sounded so foreign to her that she wasn't sure that it was even her mother sitting beside her doing the talking.

"I did." Said Paige laughing. "Look, all joking aside, I know you and Jax had something special. The types of feelings you had for one another don't just go away. Not even time and distance can make them cease to exist."

"Mom, I'm not going to fall into bed with him just because we have a past. It's been ten years. I've changed. He's changed. Who's to say that he's even attracted to me anymore?"

"Are you still attracted to him?"

"You've seen him mom. Who wouldn't be?" said Avery. There was no need in denying that there was still a level of attraction for Jax. Her mom had always been able to read her like an open book so denying it would be pointless.

"That's true. If he was a little older or I was a little younger and not so madly in love with your dad, I just might have to give you a run for your money, daughter of mine." Said Paige as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

"Oh my god mom! Stop!" said Avery laughing even though she was kind of creeped out by her moms admission.

"All joking aside though, just have fun with Jax. See where it goes. You two had something special and that doesn't just go away. Have fun with one another and see what happens." Said Paige as she patted Avery on the leg and picked her kitting back up, the conversation clearly over.

******

Exactly one hour after agreeing to meet Avery at her parents house, she heard the roar of a Harley coming down her parents' quiet street. Thankfully, her mom had gone into the kitchen to start prepping dinner for Quincy and herself, allowing Avery to watch Jax from the living room window as he came to a stop at the curb.

Avery had been hoping that Jax would ride his bike over. It had been 10 years since she had been on the back of his bike and she missed it. She missed the rumble of the powerful engine between her thighs. She missed the wind in her hair. But most of all, she missed being pressed tightly against Jax as he raced down streets and cruised leisurely down backroads.

She watched as he unfastened his helmet as hung it on the handlebar and then ran his hair through his luscious blonde locks. Seeing Jax run his hands through his hair made her palms itch with the need to do the exact same thing. Back when they were together, it had been her favorite mindless thing to do.

Taking a deep breath to calm her rioting emotions and wayward thoughts, she climbed off the couch and went to meet him at the door. Before he was able to ring the doorbell, she opened it wide, taking him in.

Casually dressed in jeans, a white t-shirt beneath an open flannel shirt, and white sneakers, she found him incredibly attractive. Her mother's earlier words echoed in her mind, causing her to blush at the thought.

"Hey." Said Jax, learning against the door frame. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Said Avery smiling. "Just let me tell mom I'm gone. Come in."

"Okay." Said Jax as he walked into the entrance way of my parents house.

"I'll be right back."

Avery walked into the kitchen to find her mom stirring homemade Alfredo sauce.

"I'm gone. I'll be back in a few." She said and she walked over and kissed her mom on the cheek.

"Okay. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Paige said smiling.

"Okay mom." Avery said laughing.

Walking back to the entryway, she saw Jax looking at the photos her mom had on the wall. He was focused on one in particular. Avery hadn't even noticed that her parents still had photos of her and Jax hanging up inside the house.

"I remember this day like it was yesterday." Said Jax smiling at Avery. "It was the first time I met your grandparents from Wyoming. I still don't think they liked me all that much."

"They liked you fine. They just didn't understand why you chose to ride a Harley but not a horse." Said Avery as she thought back to the day Jax was talking about.

Avery's mother's parents had come out for a visit and wanted to do some horseback riding while they were visiting. They had convinced Jax and Avery to go with them. When Jax found out that he was going to have to ride on an actual horse and not the iron kind, he had immediately refused, saying that the animals were too unpredictable.

After a few moments of trying to convince Jax to ride, they finally convinced him that it was just as safe. The photo itself was from one of the riding trails where Avery, Jax, and her grandparents had stopped to have a picnic. They had snagged a passing trial rider and asked them to snap a picture of them.

"Im not scared of many things, but I was scared to get on the fucking horse." Said Jax smiling at Avery.

"But you made out okay."

"Yeah, thank god."

"Anyways, you ready." said Avery. Her stomach chose that moment to rumble, reminding her that it had been hours since she'd had anything but water.

"Sure. Let's go." said Jax. He smirked at her and added, "I remember hangry Avery very well and I have no desire to be reintroduced to her."

"Whatever," Avery said, heading for the door. Jax followed, his hand on her lower back, a single touch that sent chills through her. He guided her along.

"Are you cold?" Asked Jax, no doubt feeling the shiver that ran through her body.

"No."

"Okay." He said. Avery swore she could hear the smile in his voice as if he knew the effect that simple touch would have on her. "The sexy bastard probably did it on purpose" Avery thought to herself as the two of them walked to Jax's bike parked at the curb.

This is going to be a long night!