Page 8 of Broken Bonds

“Well, that’s not too bad. We can hunker down at home and bingeFriends.”We passed by a gas station. All of the pumps were taken, and the line of cars that were waiting to get inside was on the road. One would think people were used to hurricanes coming through and not buy up all the gas and all the nonperishable items in stores, but nope.

“A lot can change in a few days, Celine. We might have to leave.”

Peeking at his gas meter, I noticed he had only half a tank. “You might want to pull in for some gas then. The lines are onlygoing to get longer.” The gas station I could see down the street wasn’t in much better condition.

Ryan scoffed. “You know, this isn’t my first hurricane.” Nonetheless, he still put his indicator on when we neared the next gas station.

“And your asshole friend—what about him? Surely, campus will be sending everyone home?”

“Mom said he can stay with us.” He shrugged like it was simple. I grimaced. “And he has his own apartment, by the way.”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to be in close proximity with Ace like that. “Why can’t he just stay there then?” Even I could hear the bratty tone to my voice. Ryan cut me an annoyed look.

“It’s his first hurricane. Mom said he shouldn’t be alone in case we lose power. Why do I have to explain everything to you?” He huffed. “You aren’t a child anymore.”

“How could you do this to me?” I demanded, suddenly feeling betrayed. Ryan knew Ace and I didn’t get along. Why would he subject me to spending God only knew how long under the same roof with his jerk of a friend?

“What do you mean, do this to you? He’s my friend, Celine.”

“He’s an asshole, Ryan. And now you want him to stay inourhouse!”

Ryan looked fed up with me, but oh well. “Exactly, Celine—ourhouse, not yours. Stop being a brat for once in your life and benice. He has nowhere else to go! He has no family!” My gut churned, and I suddenly felt like shit at his words. We were at the pump now, and Ace was pulling up next to us on his red bike with that stupid, green Mohawk helmet. He couldn’t hear us arguing, could he?

“What do you mean, no family?” I turned back to Ryan as he got out of the truck, quickly slamming the door to end the conversation. I frowned, glancing back at Ace for a moment. He paid me no mind; I sighed.

I turned the music up as Ryan filled the tank while talking to Ace, the two leaning against the tailgate. Ace went into the store a minute later and came out holding two red gas cans. Ryan filled those too and put them in the bed of the truck.

When he got back in the cab, he lowered the music with an eye roll. “You’re going to blow my speakers like that.” Jesus—he’d just been blasting the music even louder, butIwas the one who was going to blow his speakers?

He put the car in gear and pulled out of the gas station, Ace following closely behind.

“What did you mean by no family, Ryan?” I asked again.

Ryan sighed, tightening his fingers around the steering wheel, not looking at me. “I didn’t mean to say that. Don’t you dare say a word, Celine.” He threw me one last glare before turning up the music again—even louder than I’d had it.

Blow my speakers, my ass.

“What’s the update on the storm?” I asked the next day, yawning after a long day of work with Dad, Ryan, and, unfortunately, Ace, who had been invited to come help and earn a few hours worth of pay. I took a bite of the spaghetti Mom made with a loud slurp, and she shook her head, shooting me a scowl.

“They’re estimating in a day or two—plenty of time, hun,” she told me. “I’m waiting for the eleven P.M. advisory to decide if we’re staying or going to Georgia.” Ryan and Ace had stopped talking and began listening to our conversation. Honestly, the two of them hadn’t shut upall day. Not hearing their voices for a moment was nice.

“You think we’ll need to leave? It’s only a category three right now.” I looked between my parents. Mom was sitting nextto Dad, and they shared a look, doing that weird nonverbal communication thing they did, before turning to the three of us.

“They’re predicting it will become a category four by the time it hits the Bahamas. It might lessen before it hits us after making landfall, but that’s unlikely,” Dad said.

Oh. It’s going to be bad.

I took a sip of my soda, processing that information. I glanced in Ace’s direction, only to see he had gone deathly pale.

“Don’t worry, man,” Ryan said, clapping a hand to Ace’s shoulder. “You can come with us. We’ll put your bike in the garage, and we’ll go in my truck,” Ryan assured him, but Ace still looked a bit shaken. Why? Traveling north to Georgia would be a pain in the ass with traffic, sure, but Mom tended to make it like a mini-vacation. So, it wouldn’t be terrible.

Ace just nodded and ate the rest of his food, but he didn’t say much the rest of the evening.

“Celine, can you go to the beach house today and check that everything has been brought inside? Oh, and see if we have any food and water there while you’re at it. I remember leaving a couple cases of water in the pantry,” my mother told me as I walked into the kitchen the next morning, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

It was too early for this.

“Did you and Dad decide about leaving?” I asked, making myself a cup of coffee.

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