Once in a Lifetime Love

Emma's heart raced as she drove down the highway, inching forever closer to her hometown.

Ninety more miles to go.

For a split second, she contemplated

turning into the next rest stop and turning around. Hightailing it as fast as possible back to the city. Then in the same second, she knew she couldn't. She had to keep on an get there.

Get a grip. She told herself silently. No matter what had happened six years ago, she knew she had to be there for her father.

Her father had become ill a couple of years ago. It started with small headaches, then turned into lasting migraines until Emma and her mother both convinced him to get checked out. The medicine he was prescribed worked for a short while, but when it stopped working none of them were prepared for the news the doctor gave them.

The MRI showed two tumors on his brain. One was operable, while the other was only possibly treatable.

Emma shook as she read the next sign. Fifty miles left.

Wondered as she drove when people would realize she was home. Unless her parents already told everyone they knew. Hopefully not. She was only here for now. Maybe a month tops. However long it took too see her father recuperate from his surgery.

The distance she had put between herself and her small off the map town was not an accident by any means.

The small town itself was gorgeous. Country living at its finest with a community that really sticks together, where everyone knows everyone and everything. The kind of town most folks get stuck in if you are born and raised there.

With a taste of city life and all it has to offer, Emma wasn't sure how long she would even want to stay there now.

Only twenty-five more miles. Emma's grip on the wheel tightened until her knuckles were white.

She knew she could deal with anything anyone wanted to toss at her while she was here. She knew she could help her mother with her father in any way she had too. The only thing Emma was certain of was that she still after all these years face him again.

Darren.

Her heart skipped a beat just thinking his name. Emma scoffed at herself for being pathetic, it's been six years, there's no way she was still on his mind. Couldn't be.

Down to only ten miles.

Darren Jonesy.

Emma's first and only love.

She found herself thinking back to when he and his family had moved in. She had only just turned eleven when she had been outside playing and watched the uhaul truck pull in two doors down.

Darren and his family had settled in and fit in with everyone nicely. His mother was our new town vet and his father opened up a little corner store down the road from our houses.

The two had become fast friends, doing everything together they could.

Once the pair turned sixteen their friendship slowly turned into more.

Emma smiled at times that seemed simple. Back when they used to talk and joke about everything while they devoured ice cream at her parents ice cream parlor. Or even the hot summer nights when he would kiss her goodnight with lightning bugs lighting up the sky around them. Or all of the whispered i love yous over the phone late at night.

Passing the Welcone to Town sign, Emma's shaking was beyond her control.

She could only hope with everything in her that Darren Jonesy left this god for saken town.

As Emma drove towards her parents house, she noted not much had changed at all in the six years she had been gone. They had a walmart now, she chuckled at that. They used to have to drive almost forty-five minutes to a Walmart when she was a kid. She knew everyone in town loved that addition.

Next she took notice of a remodeled building in the town center. Not knowing exactly why, she pulled into the parking lot.

Growing up this could barely be called a building. As teens they would all sneak here and drink and smoke a little pot every now and then.

Now it seems it's a hardware store that sold what the sign said was handmade wooden furniture.

Curiosity got the best of her and she went in.

Emma's was completely lost in her thoughts as she walked aimlessly through the store, letting her fingers trailer over some of the beautiful furniture on display.

Rounding the corner faster and sharper than she should have, she felt her body collide with another. Her instincts made her reach out and grab the person, taking them down with her. Feeling a strong arm curl around her waist and flip her so they fell on the ground and she on top of them, hitting her head on a shelf in the whole process.

With her head aching Emma pushed herself up, now straddling the person under her as she tried to get her bearings and rub the growing knot on her head. Once she was able to peek her eyes at whoever was under her, her heart immediately skipped a beat. No.

No damn way!

"It's been a while huh Em?" His voice is deeper, like sexy velvet.

Emma was at such a loss for words as she stared down at none other than Darren Jonesy.

She couldn't stop herself from noticing all the changes these six years had brought him. All good from what she could see. He was more muscular, then again he is twenty-five now.

Emma's literally lost all her words as he smiled up at her, he was still stupidly handsome his hair shorter than he kept it as a teen, but it suited him. Emma was completely lost in her thoughts and comparisons of him.

"Not that I mind being under you like this," Darren smiled that damn smile that always made her melt as he raised his hands to her hips, a couple of his fingertips brushing exposed skin causing her to shiver slightly. " but we will definitely be the talk of the town if you don't move." He finished with a wink. As Emma felt a slight but certain bulge grow and press against her center, she gathered her with and took off out of the store as fast as her legs would take her. Nearly tripping over loose gravel a few time she had just barely made it to her car when she felt a hand on her shoulder turning her around to face him.

The years had been kind to him. He could probably never look bad. Emma scoffed in her head at herself.

"Please Em, don't take off again. It's been too long. Six long years, please? I miss you." Darren pleaded with his big brown eyes, as he tried to reach out she pulled back. The hurt evident on his face. What did he expect? She would just fall into his arms, wait she kind of did, but not like he wants.

"Darren you know exactly why I can't do this. Just forget about it. I have." With her lies in the air and the hurt on his face, she got in her car and sped to her parents house.

Why did he have to be here. Why does he still look so dangerously handsome. Why did she lie right to his face like he hasn't been on her mind constantly these last

Emma groaned in frustration and beat up her steering wheel for a moment before composing herself and going inside to greet her parents.