Page 40 of From the Ashes
“Don’t you meanbeat up?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “I said what I said.”
I laughed, falling back down on the couch and throwing an arm over my eyes to block out the light.
“Alright,” I said at last. “Let’s go see my family then.”
And hopefully,nobodyelse.
“I have one request though,” I added, glancing over at him.
“Name it.”
“We take my motorcycle.”
Tony sighed. “Youcan take your motorcycle. But my six foot two ass isn’t gonna be your backpack.”
“You’re missing out.”
“As much as I’d love to have my cock jammed up against your ass at ninety miles per hour, I think I’ll pass on this one.”
“Just make sure you’re there when I get there.”
He furrowed his brows in confusion.
“I need someone to distract my mother. I still haven’t told her I have a motorcycle yet. She’s gonna lose her fucking mind.”
Tony ran his hands over his face with a sigh. “Just remember the money,” he grumbled to himself. “It’ll all be worth it.”
I grinned, leaving him to his musings. If he wanted to manage me, I’d give him something to manage. The man loved to be a pain in the ass, so it was only right that I dished it back. Of course, it brought me no small amount of pleasure to mess with him, but that was just a perk.
Five days until I was home. And, if I played my cards right, I’d be in and out without a single person noticing. That was the plan.
I just hoped I could pull it off.
CHAPTER 16
Phoenix
Feeling the rush of the wind around me was a sensation I wouldn’t trade for anything. I used to feel this way as a kid, riding my bike down the big hill back into town. Throwing my arms wide I would let the wind rush around me, making me feel like I was a bird in flight. It was the same on my motorcycle. And sometimes, when nobody was around, I spread my arms wide and let that feeling take me just like I was right that moment as I sailed down the last mountain toward Creekside. I had to get my kicks while I could because in a few minutes, I’d be practically bombarded by my family.
Thankfully it was just Mom and Ted. But Mom was enough hassle for at least ten people. She meant well, of course, but sometimes her well-placed intentions caused me a lot of trouble. Considering I hadn’t been home in over a year, I figured I was due for some. It was good I’d sent Tony ahead of me to cool them down first.
Well, I didn’tsendhim ahead… more like I told him I was heading out but neglected to say I was going to take averyscenic route. I wanted to make sure he was in Creekside before me so he didn’t havea chance to pull anymore of his little tricks. Tony liked to meddle now and then, especially when it came to my parents. I had no doubt in my mind that if I’d gone to Creekside directly, he would’ve been a good fifteen minutes behind me. However, this way he would surely arrive before me, and I knew he’d be irritated about it. But a quick blowjob once we were back on the road would clear that right up. Besides, he always forgave me. I was too cute to stay mad at, or so he said.
I came to the bottom of the mountain at last and placed my hands back on the handlebars. Thanks to the steepness of the road, I was well over the speed limit. Putting on the brakes, I coasted past the creek that ran down the hill into town. It was the same one, the samespot, where Charlie and I had spent so many summers looking for treasure and pretending we were Indiana Jones. I still wore the opal arrowhead under my shirt every single day despite wanting to forget about him. For some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it or even put it away. It was a part of me, a piece of my past that had shaped me into the man I was today.
I was surprised to find the bike rolling to a stop off the side of the road, the kickstand flipping down on the edge of the pavement. Flipping off the engine, I got off the bike and walked over to the creek, leaving my helmet on. I just wanted to look one more time before I left the place forever and I wasn’t gonna stay long.
The water was flowing quickly and as I bent down to dip my fingers in, I hissed through my teeth. It wasicecold and definitely the first snow melt of the season. The frigid temperature of the water kept it crystal clear, allowing me to catch a few chunks of obsidian here and there glinting in the sun on the bottom of the creek bed.
It was just like I remembered it. And somehow, the river still maintained its magic. I felt myself drawn down the banks, my feet carrying me to places I hadn’t been to in years but remembered like the back of my hand. I hopped a couple boulders along the edge, ducked intothe woods, and quickly found the little spot where Charlie and I used to hang out as children.
The ring of stones was still there, although it was no longer charred black. Instead, heavy orange lichen clung to the stones and moss grew around the base. The fallen tree was still there too. When we were kids, it was solid and still had most of its bark. But now the bark had rotted away and the wood was soft as I ran my fingers over it.
The entire place was like a tiny time capsule with all the memories of my childhood wrapped up neatly inside. I wondered at it for several minutes, taking note of how the grass had grown and the trees had thickened. But it was still the same in my mind, as if I’d been there only yesterday.
However, there was one thing out of place. Where the rest of the clearing looked lush and overgrown, as if it had no human contact for years, there was a small patch of bare ground against the old fallen log. I bent down to inspect it, noticing that the dirt was freshly scuffed, as if someone had been there in the past day or two. Mixed into the dirt were little black flecks, like someone had been smoking and ground their ashes into the dirt. There were no other marks, just a spot big enough for a single person to sit.