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The crush of everything that’s happened while Trent was away weighs on me. But it’s impossible not to smile right now. I jump up and down, my wave turning frantic. This tall, massive, striking soldier that I’d always thought of as my brother…until that night before he deployed. That night is singed into my memory and into my body, like a flashbulb halo that never fades.

The memory of that night still tightens my core and makes me shiver. Was it him outside my bedroom door? Does he know? Did he hear me saying his name? Has he been thinking about that night for two years, just like me?

I shake away the thoughts, pushing onto my toes with more effort, now flapping both hands above my head.

“Trent!” I call.

His dreamy, sky-blue gaze snaps toward me, focusing my way like a hungry predator.

My insides tangle, flipping and knotting. Rearranging me from the inside out. He seems different somehow. The same, but tired and worn. And yet, there is something else.

An energy between us. An energy I don’t remember from before that night. An energy that two years apart did not diminish.

The look in his eyes steals my breath as my last little jump falters and I stagger back a step, then make my way through the crowd, parting the people like Moses with sheer will. He’s a black hole sucking me in. As I get closer, his blue eyes aren’t just deeper set and tired. They are focused.

And greedy.

“Hi.” It’s all I can muster. I’m tongue-tied and upside down. I forgot how imposing he is. A full 6’ 5” in bare feet, he towers over me, his shadow engulfing me in the late afternoon sun.

“Hi, Kitty Kat. No hug?” His deep voice is playful, but stern as well. I close the few inches between us. But the hug I give him is awkward, and I find myself very aware of how close my hips are to him. Because, God, if I feel the pressure of his body on mine, I’m going to…

The weight of his incredible arms pushes my feet into the tarmac. When he squeezes, my ribs ache and drawing a breath is impossible for what feels like an hour. But when I do, his familiar masculine scent mixes with the jet fuel and a bit of his sweat and my heart absolutely dissolves.

I wrap my arms up his back and return his squeeze but feel his body tighten and he lets out a grunt.

His arms lift and I step back, untangling myself from the one place I want to be right now.

“Easy, man,” says the friend who helped him off the plane. “Don’t fucking push it.”

Trent winces, trying not to let me see. I instinctively step into the space that his buddy left behind, tugging one of his arms over my shoulders.

His friend offers a warm smile, the sun making him squint. “You good then, man?” he asks.

“Yeah, we’re good. Thanks man.” Trent gives him a quick sideways bro-hug with his open arm. “Hey, Kat, this is Luke. He’s in my company.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Luke says. “You have quite a brother here. Saved my ass at least twice and plenty other guys too. He’s a force. A hero.”

“Shut up, dick.” Trent gives him a quick shove. “You’d have done the same for me.”

Luke shakes his head, likemore of this shitagain.

“I’ll see you around. And take care of yourself, man.” Luke gives him a final fist bump, and moves back, engulfed into the throng of humanity.

I loop my arms around Trent’s waist to give him support, as I lead him toward the car.

“I’m so glad you’re home. Are you okay? Can you walk? Or, do you want a wheelchair to take you the rest of the way to the car?”

“Fuck no, I don’t need a wheelchair. Jesus, Kat, I’m fine. Just got a little cramped up on the flight. Let’s go.” He gives me one of his life-changing smiles. The first one today. And the thing I have been aching to see since he waved goodbye.

The emotion bubbles up. A sting of tears pinches my nose.

“Hey, hey.” He turns to me. “Areyouokay?”

I swallow the threatening sob and smile up at him. “Yes. I’m just so happy you’re here. Tell me what you need. Anything. Anywhere. Ice cream?”

He snorts on a low chuckle. “Yeah. That’s what every guy coming home from war thinks about first, Kat.Ice cream.”