Page 2 of The Grumpy Storm Chaser

Without another glance in Oz’s direction, I follow Marjorie toward the exit.

“There’s a once-in-a-century storm system brewing right now,” Oz calls to me. “It’s going to explode like a powder keg when it crosses the Mississippi River in two days.”

I stop in my tracks as his words hit me. I can’t help it. I’m a storm junkie in desperate need of a fix. If there’s really a once-in-a-lifetime storm brewing, I can’t sit it out.

“It’ll leave a path of destruction all the way from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast,” Oz continues. “But don’t worry. While I’m filming footage right in the heart of the storm, you’ll be safe and sound in front of your green screen.”

I slowly turn to face him. My entire body quivers with anger—and with anticipation. “I’m the better forecaster, and I’m going to prove it.”

Oz raises an eyebrow. “Is that so? How?”

“I’ll chase the storm, too,” I say, ignoring Majorie’s surprised gasp. “The man with the best recorded footage of the bigger storm wins.”

Majorie stiffens beside me. “Colby, that’s stupid. It’s unnecessarily risky to chase tornadoes, and you’re needed here in the studio for—”

“We’ll need an impartial judge,” Oz says, rubbing his chin and ignoring Marjorie.

“Kane Charming,” we both say in unison.

Oz chuckles. “It’s been a long time since we agreed on something.”

I shrug. “Kane’s the obvious choice.” He’s a storm chaser and a Youtuber with an uber-popular podcast—and he’s always on the lookout for exclusive storm footage.

“Game on,” Oz says. “May the best man win.”

“I will,” I say with absolute confidence.

I can’t lose.

I won’t lose.

I can barely contain my excitement as I follow Marjorie out of the room. A massive storm is brewing, and this time, I'm not riding it out... I'm chasing it down. Come on, rain. Bring on the thunder and lightning. Send the whirlwind.

I'm not afraid.

Chapter 2

Petra

My phone trills in my pocket, and I pull it out to see who’s calling. My best friend’s name appears on the screen. I can’t help but sigh. It’s hard being best friends with a trial attorney sometimes. As much as I love Cressida, I’m not always in the mood to be cross-examined about my life choices.

Ignoring her call, I return to the task at hand: packing. My ex-boyfriend, Marcus, is away for the week, so it’s the perfect time to get the rest of my belongings from his house. I glance around the interior of the home, sighing as I examine the high ceilings and exposed beams. The farmhouse has been completely refinished and modernized, so it’s now the perfect mixture of the old and the new. Sometimes, I wonder if I was with Marcus for so long just because I’m in love with his house.

Tears sting the backs of my eyelids, but I choke them back. After more than a decade of our on-again, off-again, relationship, I’ve cried too many tears over Marcus as it is. I’m not sad that it’s finally over for good this time. Good riddance. I’ll miss this house, though. And I have deep regrets about giving so much of my time and energy to a man who was so unworthy.

The rainfall intensifies, slamming into the windowpanes. I glance toward a window and am surprised to see that it’s grown so dark outside. A thick wall of clouds blocks out the sun and there’s a slow roll of thunder in the distance.

My phone rings, and I know without looking that it’s Cressida again. She’s the only person who ever calls me. Everyone else simply sends a text. There’s no point trying to avoid her. She’ll just keep calling until I answer.

Sighing, I tap the screen to accept the call. “Hello?”

“Where are you?” my friend demands.

“I’m at Marcus’s house. I—”

“Please tell me you didn’t get back together!”

“Of course not,” I say with indignation. It’s true that I’ve always gone back to Marcus in the past, but this time, I caught him cheating. The dimwit sent me a text that was intended for another woman, thanking me for a fantastic night. Since he was two hundred miles away on a business trip, there was no way he could talk himself out of trouble. Instead, he said it meant nothing, and that he was just so lonely without me. Asshole.

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