Dearest Bad Boy

Day One Again

Current day:

“Welcome to Ozara Ice,” Jared grumbled as we are herded off the plane and into the blistering heat of the desert city I was going to call home for the next few years.

Even after 3 years apart, Mom couldn’t wait to glue me right back to Jared’s side as soon as I was accepted into Ozara State University. Despite it all, I was excited to have a summer with my brother. Hoping we could bond and reconnect after being apart for the last three years, only seeing each other on big holidays. Ozara was far enough away that it required a 3-hour flight or a 2-day drive to visit home. Which was probably a good thing.

To my horror, Jared only came home for a few weeks so that we could make the trip back to Ozara together. Although he said he wanted to come home to see our parents, I overheard Mom on the phone with him a couple of months ago asking him to come because she didn’t want me making the journey alone.

Summer wasn’t over yet, but Jared works at the campus radio and couldn’t be away from work for long. So here I am, spending half my summer staying with my brother in his off-campus apartment until the dorms are available for the new school year and I can finally be free.

Excitement and nerves flutter through me at the thought, the emotions fighting within me causing a whirlwind of anxiety to settle down in my guts. I was so close to finally being free. Off on my own to start university and build my life without the scrutiny of my mom. Don’t get me wrong – I love my mom, truly, but she can be a smidgen overbearing as she tries to look out for me. Sometimes a person needs to be free to make their own mistakes and I definitely planned on making some mistakes this year.

Also, let’s not pretend that my big brother is any happier to have me hovering around for the summer, or is not going to go big-brother protective over me while I stay with him. On the bright side, I only have to deal with being forced on Jared for a few more weeks until the dorms open and then I will be on my own. I have been looking forward to this freedom my entire life and I can’t believe I am almost there. This is the home stretch and the plan is to stay out of his way as much as I can for the next few weeks.

We head over to baggage claim to grab our suitcases and then we are out of the airport and back into the desert heat. I only packed a few of the more important things and some clothes to last for these first couple weeks while the rest of my stuff comes up via truck.

“What’s up Ice-Breaker!”

Cringing at the nickname shouted across the parking lot – I look around for the only man that name could have possibly come from. Freezing when I finally spot the behemoth of a man leaning against a chipped clue pick-up truck. I haven’t let myself think of him until now. I haven’t thought about what he is up to, or how he is doing. I haven’t thought about the fact that he shares the apartment with my brother. And I totally haven’t thought about sharing that very apartment with him for the next few weeks. I had successfully forgotten about his entire existence. A swarm of butterflies invade my already anxious gut as I get my first look at Kyle Hayes in three years.

Holy Hell. From his chocolate brown hair still falling unruly across his brow, deep stubble and biceps that are barely controlled by a well-worn band t-shirt, all the way down his dark jeans hugging his thighs and calves to the biker boots despite the summer heat, Kyle Hayes was as hot as ever. My insides clench as I take in the full view of him.

Get a grip on yourself, Jessica Crawford. He is your brother’s best friend. And you’re still just the little Ice-Breaker.

Breaking my stare from the muscles rippling across his chest as he breathes, I lift my hand, flip him off and carry on to the back end of the pick-up to load my suitcase.

“Woah, got some fire there, little Ice?” Kyle taunts, holding up his hands in surrender as he pushes off the pick-up and comes walking towards me. “Haven’t seen you in a while, hey?”

Jared loads his suitcases and steps aside to reach for mine. Before he can grab it, I step forward and lift it. “Three blissful years without seeing your face Hayes,” I coo as I lift it over the tailgate and into the back.

“Got some power to match that fire. Maybe we should call you Little Firecracker instead.” He grabs my arm and teasingly squeezes my muscles. “Holy s**t, J, have you felt the muscles little Ice has gotten?”

My brother shakes his head and opens the passenger door. “Harass Ice later, I wanna get home.”

Kyle looks down at me, a brief look of surprise in his eyes and he says in a softer tone, “What have you been up to these past 3 years?”

I shrug and pull out his grip. Walking to the door my brother has open and I hop into the truck. Neither of them are small men and I find myself squished between them on the bench seat of the pick-up as we leave the airport.

However, even the overbearing warmth seeping into me from where my leg rests against Kyle’s fades into the back of my mind as excitement fills me while I stare out the window, taking in the city as we make our way to their apartment. I’m not even bothered as Kyle tries to rile me up when I let out a squeak as we pass the library because I was too busy noting the bar on the next block. Ozara and I were going to get along just fine.