Page 35 of Sweetest Hate

He quieted, likely noticing all of the changes in the atmosphere. "Is it about to storm?"

"Piper was trying to tell me my dad had been calling. Yes, there's a storm coming through. Supposed to be pretty bad, and I had no idea it was even supposed to rain. Just help me get the boat into the boathouse, please, and then you can go back to pretending you don't want me."

His steps quickened. "I'm going to pretend like I didn't hear the last part. How bad are we talking?"

"High wind gusts, hail, and torrential rain. I'm not sure exactly the extent we'll actually catch."

"Tornado chances?" he asked as we approached the dock.

I shook my head. "My dad didn't mention that. I'd say we have thirty minutes tops before it gets bad."

The water grew choppier, sending water nearly lapping over the wooden planks, and the wind whipped through my hair.

"Fine. What should I do?" he asked as I dropped his hand and pointed toward the massive boat house lift.

"Go lower the cradle. I'll drive it over there."

He immediately shook his head. "No fucking way. I'm helping with the boat. The wind alone—"

"It'll take longer. Just please get it ready." The wind could cause real problems. I was aware, and that's exactly why he wasn't stepping foot on the boat.

He muttered something that sounded likeassholebut pulled away as we split up. The boat rocked as I took an unsteady step onto the deck and turned the key that had been left in the ignition. With a gurgling rumble, I eased it from the dock and carefully backed up to do a slow crawl around the protruding pier. Once I was in position, I pulled the lever and steered toward the lift, slowly guiding it between the walk around deck and on top of the submerged cradle.

"I hope I did it right." Kellan's voice was almost lost in the wind, and I spotted him by the switch.

I nodded. "You did. Just hit that button again."

I turned off the motor and stepped off as boat was held in place.

"Let's go." I grabbed his hand as we took off on the dock. It looked like everyone was inside as we jogged toward the house just as the first drops of rain began to fall. The way the trees were bending from the force of the unyielding wind had prompted me to grab Kellan's hand without thinking and I quickened my stride. The storm was moving in faster than I had expected.

"I can run by myself." Kellan's voice was a muted shout, but this time he only squeezed back, sending an odd thump in my chest.

When we made it to the porch, I whipped open the door, pulled Kellan inside, and slammed it closed against the gusting wind. Inside, a few people stood around talking animatedly and joking around as if a strong storm wasn't about to blow through. A sudden bolt of lightning lit up the sky as it hurtled toward the ground and struck a nearby tree. The violent burst shook the house with its force, and through the windows, we could see the tree split, then fall, and within moments take the power out with it. Shit.

Girls screamed, and then phone flashlights began flicking on before people scurried toward the open basement door inside the kitchen.

Pissed as hell, I whipped out my phone and turned on the flashlight, scanning the room for Quinn.

"I told you to get everyone in the basement," I barked at Quinn when I spotted him lounging on the couch, arms draped casually over the back.

He shrugged. "We both know your dad sprang for the most expensive glass he could find. Probably bulletproof too."

I shook my head at my moronic stepbrother. How were wefamily,and how the hell had he and Kellan stayed friends all of these years? "One thing I asked you to do, and you're sitting on your fucking ass, putting your friends at risk."

He sighed and started to push up from the couch. Then his gaze lowered, and he froze. His eyes narrowed, then lifted first to me and then to Kellan. Kellan shook his hand free, which I hadn't realized I'd still been holding.

With sarcasm thick in his voice, Quinn said, "Let's get downstairs before mystepbrotherhas a complete seizure. Are you coming,best friend?"

"What's downstairs?" Kellan asked me, ignoring Quinn, as we joined the group that was rushing toward the basement. We both knew he'd seen us holding hands, but we didn't have time to explain or deal with him throwing a fit.

"It's the basement. There's a game room and lounge, and it's big enough for everyone."

"Why haven't we been down there then?" he questioned.

"It's supposed to be off-limits unless someone in the family is down there, definitely not a group of drunk college kids. But my dad was the one that told me, that under the circumstances, to move everyone there."

"Okay."

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