Free RECKLESS - Part 3 (The RECKLESS Series) by Alice Ward Page B

will.”

***
    The rest of my classes for the day were practically a blur; I think I might have even sat in on the wrong one at some point because I hadn’t recognized anyone in the room. Thankfully, they were finally over. All I had to do was drop off my books and I’d be on my way to the coffee shop to meet Jace... only, I never made it there.
    I had just set my books down on my desk when a call from home came through. I couldn’t say why, but that feeling of dread that had been nagging me all day suddenly hit me at full force, twisting and curdling in my stomach like sour milk.
    “Mom? Dad?” I asked, picking up on the first ring.
    “Andy, sweetie.” It was my mom. “Don’t panic.”
    Oh, God. Things were never good when someone started a conversation with those words. Never.
    “Mom, what’s going on?”
    “It’s your brother.” I could hear the strained crack in her voice. My heart thundered away as she continued to speak. “He’s—he’s been in an accident.”
    And just like that, the last nail had been driven into the coffin and the entire world opened up to swallow me whole. I didn’t even recognize my own voice as the next words left my mouth. “Is he—how—do I need to come home?”
    “You should. Yes. He’s—“ my mom released a choked sob. “He’s stable now, but still not doing so well. The doctors have him in ICU.”
    “I’ll be there tonight.”
    Feeling numb and completely out of sorts, I hung up the phone, booked my ticket, and then sent a text to both Jace and Becca, letting them know I needed to go home. Jace was the first one to respond.
    What happened?
    My brother was in an accident.
    No more responses came through until Becca’s message.
    On my way.
    Jace came crashing through the door just about the time her message came through. He was panting, covered in sweat. Oh, God, he really was my knight in shining armor.
    “I’m going with you,” he said, not even bothering to ask how I felt over the matter.
    “I already booked my ticket, Jace,” I said, grabbing my bag from off my dresser. I didn’t even grace him with a look; I was afraid that, if I did, I would fall apart completely. I could feel the fear, worry, and tears all simmering below the surface, just waiting for me to slow down for a second so they could take over.
    “I don’t care,” he said, stepping into my path as I tried to grab my things from the restroom. His jaw was set and those sexy lips were pulled tight. “I’m going.”
    I could feel the frustration mounting; the last thing I needed was an argument in that moment. Couldn’t he see that? Couldn’t he see that I was ready to crumble at any given second?
    Thankfully, Becca walked through the door before I had a chance to explode. “Need a ride to the airport?” she asked, already tossing stuff into my bag.
    I had the best friend on the planet. Period.
    “Please,” I responded, giving Jace a pointed look.
    He didn’t say a word. Instead, he puffed out his chest and then turned on his heel to walk out the door. I wanted to care, really I did. But my baby brother needed me and I wasn’t about to let a rocker with an ego mess with my head right then.
    “Sheesh, what was that about?” Becca asked, turning to look at the door as he slammed it behind him.
    I shrugged. “I told him he couldn’t go.”
    Becca’s pierced features twisted and scrunched in confusion. “Why the hell not?” she asked.
    God, not her, too.
    “Becca, this is my family. In a crisis. Sean’s probably going to be there, and shit’s going to be stressful enough without them having a damn pissing contest right there in the ICU.”
    Becca’s mouth fell open and her eyes started to tear. “ICU? That bad?”
    I could feel the emotion trying to take over, the panic setting in again, but I shook it away. I had to get ready. “Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat and then looking around for anything else I needed to pack. “My plane leaves in three hours. I have to get