Page 41 of Burn Point

No.

There was no point in revealing any of that. No point in us becoming more than friends when we had no future.

“What did you want to say, Jordan?”

I swallowed my confession and tried for a smile. “Nothing. Just…thanks so much for everything.”

“You make it sound like you’re never coming back.” His voice was low and soft in the room.

Was I? The thought of hitting the road and being free was compelling. But not seeing him again left a hollow, empty ache around my heart. “Well, if things go well, I might not be back. I just want you to know, I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

Nate reached over and grabbed my foot, giving it a squeeze. “I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. My head got all confused, and I didn’t handle it well. But I’m proud of you, and what you’ve accomplished. And I’m going to miss you being here.”

I swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. The confusing mix of pride and sadness caused my eyes to well up, making it hard to draw a full breath.

He gave my foot another squeeze, then turned back to the game. “Now, can we continue with the game, or am I going to have to tickle you until you pee?”

I smirked and started the game. Things felt a little more normal as we cheered and analyzed plays. Almost like before whatever chasm had split us.

At the end of the game, I stood and said, “So, I think I’m going to give the new bed a try tonight.”

“Tonight?” Nate turned his blue gaze to me, brow raised. I’d surprised him.

“Well, yeah, I didn’t make it up for nothing.” Plus, putting some distance between us might be a good thing. It’d been too tempting to snuggle up next to him during the game. To rest my head on his chest, and maybe he’d slide his arm around me and hold me.

He gave me a single nod, his expression unreadable. “Okay, make sure to lock up. But take the house key with you, in case you chicken out in the night, and decide to come home. I mean, back inside.”

I didn’t miss his slip, but I let it go.

“I’ll be fine.”

A low rumble of thunder woke me with a start. Then the lightning started in earnest, the flashes illuminating the interior of the van. The similarity between this storm and the night of the tornado had my breath hitching. Rolling over, I grabbed my phone to check the weather app. As I unplugged the phone from the wall, rain began pouring down. Harder and harder, until it changed to a more distinct sound, and I knew it was hail. It had to be.

Dear God, there was no protection in this van. Any minute a tree could fall, or the roof could cave in, and I’d be pinned inside. I rolled out of the bed, dragging the pillows and blanket with me to the floor, and curled into the smallest ball I could.

My heart pounded. Tears welled in my eyes as every memory of that terrible night of the tornado flashed through my mind. I waited, listening for the sound of cracking trees over the howl of the wind.

A powerful gust shook the van, and something slapped against the front window.

OhGodOhGodOhGod. Here we go again.

The wind grew louder, as if the doors and windows were open, as if the roof had been torn away.

I burrowed under the blanket, curling to make myself as small as possible.

“Jordan! Jordan! Hold on, I’m coming.” Nate’s voice sounded far away. In my mind, I saw him as I did that first night, my savior. Just a voice in the dark.

The sound of rushing wind died quickly and then the blanket was peeled back from my head, as Nate’s warm voice crooned, “Oh, sweetheart.”

The blanket lifted, and I was tugged into his warm embrace. My face was pressed against damp fabric as strong arms cradled me, and his hand smoothed over my hair.

He was here.

He’d known I’d be scared, and he’d braved the storm to come to me.

“Breathe with me, Skippy. Inhale, now exhale. Good, keep doing that. Everything is okay. It’s just a little storm. It’s ok, I’ve got you.”

I gripped the fabric of his shirt and held him close to me, letting his soothing words wash over me, matching my breath to his, until the worst of the terror subsided.

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