Flame - Erin Noelle Page 0,1

traffic to an absolute standstill.

For over an hour, I sat unmoving on the major thoroughfare, bumper-to-bumper with a bunch of other motorists, also eager to escape the city limits. Bored, I’d taken the top off of the Wrangler for the trip in an attempt to get a jump start on my tan, but I ended up in the middle of what looked like a midsummer snowstorm, with various sizes of white, wispy puffs swirling around in the warm Colorado wind.

Twisting to glimpse over my shoulder, my blue gaze makes a quick sweep of the vehicle, the white sprinkled seats and floorboards only confirming my suspicions. I groan as I grab my purse from the passenger seat. Vacuuming out my vehicle was not a part of today’s plans of doing absolutely nothing. Five finals over the last three days have left my body drained and my mind a pile of mush, and though I’m not sure what it’s going to be like staying under my parents’ roof again for the first time in a couple of years, I’ve been looking forward to a little of Grams’ spoiling. I may be twenty-two, but I’ll never be too old for her homemade tomato soup and special grilled cheese sandwiches, with the crust removed and cut into abstract shapes.

“Dakota, you’re finally here! It’s so good to see you, honey. We’ve missed you so much.” Mel bounds cheerfully down the steps of the front porch toward me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders in a motherly embrace. My family may be unusual, not calling our parents “Mom” and “Dad,” but Mel and Doug are about the best damn parents any kid could ever wish for. And recently, as I’ve gotten older and am learning all about adult responsibilities, my eyes have opened to what an amazing childhood I had. I may joke about their tree-hugging, far-left political views and ambitious hopes to spread inner peace to all the guests who stay at their resort, but in all actuality, they kick parenting ass.

Smiling, I press a chaste kiss to her cheek before trudging around to grab my suitcase from behind the backseat. “I’ve missed you too, but I think you’ve got enough kids to keep you busy around here,” I tease, playfully tugging on her sandy-colored ponytail when I walk by.

“Oh, you have no idea. There’s a reason God gave me a boy last. If Denny would’ve been the first child, he most likely would’ve been the only.” She shakes her head and laughs heartily as she moves to follow me inside. “We’re leaving in about an hour for Crew’s birthday dinner. You can ride with us if you want, but I assumed you’d be going out afterward with your sisters or friends, so you may want to drive yourself. I know they’ve missed you since you moved away.”

Shit. I’d completely forgotten about the dinner tonight. Well, there goes my evening of vegging out and doing nothing.

“Uh, yeah, I’ll drive myself. I haven’t talked to any of them, so I’m not sure what the plan is, but that way, it’ll be easier,” I reply as we stride through the foyer and into the den, where Grams is screaming obscenities and flapping her arms like a wild bird, apparently not thrilled with whatever just happened during the basketball game on TV.

She stops the minute she sees me, a mischievous grin replacing the scowl on her face. Sashaying—yes, she’s a seventy-something-year-old who still sashays—over to me, she uses the most over-the-top accent when she speaks. “Dakota, dah-ling, tell me you’re home to stay.” She pauses to do the European cheek-kiss thingy in between my giggles, then takes a drink of whatever crazy spell she’s got mixed in her glass today. “We’ve been needing some excitement around here. Ever since you older three moved out and Hudson and Crew pulled their heads out of their asses, the biggest thrill of my day is when your little brother farts at the dinner table. Please. Help a poor, old woman out.”

“We have plenty of excitement around here, Grams, and stop instigating trouble,” Doug interjects as he walks into the room from the backyard, his tone lighthearted. Turning his attention to me, he opens his arms out wide and cocks his head slightly to the side. “Kota, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re here.”

Without wasting a moment, I rush into them and squeeze my dad as tight as I can. “Hey, old man! Have ya missed me too? You actually getting some sleep now