Page 100 of Escaping Our Reality

“His son came and picked him up about an hour ago. They have a basement at their house.”

It starts raining harder. “I have to finish securing everything. Go home. I’ll meet you at your house, Lulu. Your parents are probably worried.”

“My parents aren’t even here. Dad’s a guest speaker at another medical conference. They’re in Las Vegas. And I’m not leaving without you. Tell me how to help.”

“Leave.”

“No.”

He drags a hand over his face, spreading rainwater in his facial hair. He hasn’t shaved in a few days, and it makes him look dark and dangerous. He watches the darkening clouds, settling lower around us. “Fine. But we have to hurry. We’ve got to get the hell out of here. Stack the Adirondack chairs over by that tree. I’ll come strap them down when I finish with these bins. And grab my computer bag before it starts pouring.” He points over by the firepit.

I run around, and we each complete our assigned tasks with super-sonic speed. The barometric pressure is rising; I can feelit making my ears hurt. We make the homestead as secure as possible, trying to protect our home from damage. By the time we finish, it’s pouring rain. We are both drenched from head to toe.

“I’ll follow you. Drive safe, but hurry.” He kisses me and slams the door to my car.

I can barely see what’s happening around me. I carefully turn onto the main road, sitting forward in my seat to see through the rain. I turn up the volume on the radio as loud as it will go to hear the announcements of the weatherman over the pounding on my windshield. The wipers are flipping back and forth at the fastest speed. I can barely see the lights from Ry’s truck behind me. The storm is close. Really close. A tornado has been confirmed on the ground, and based on the street names and highway numbers being announced on the radio, it’s heading straight in our direction.

A burst of rain and wind pushes my vehicle across the middle line, scaring the crap out of me. I can’t even see. My vision is blurry. It’s definitely not safe for me to drive, so I yank the car over to the side of the road. I’m fumbling for my phone to call Ry when my driver-side door opens.

He’s standing there in the pouring rain. “Move over!”

I scramble across the center console and fall backward into the passenger’s seat. Ry jumps in. I turn in my seat. His truck is pulled over behind me. Half of everything he owns is in that truck right now. He can’t leave it on the side of the road. “Ry, what about your truck!”

He grabs my face in his hands. “Fuck my truck! You’re the only thing that’s important.”

I don’t know how he drives so fast. In the flooding rain. In the tossing wind. The first few seconds frighten the shit out of me so I close my eyes. I listen carefully to the forecast instead. By the time we get into the city limits of town, the tornado sirens areblaring. The tornado is chasing us. Chasing us down every street, past every turn, clipping our heels.

I pray. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so hard in my life.

Well, except for my prayers for Carrie.

A shaky breath of relief pours from my body when Ry finally pulls the SUV into my driveway. Flinging ourselves from the car, we run into the house. Ry follows me down the long breezeway that connects us to the Big House. “The decoration room is a safe room! Tornado proof.”

Ry pushes past me, grabbing my hand, making me run even faster. Hurling me into the room, he flips on the light and locks the door. He’s not happy with what he sees. “Your dumbass mother is the only person I know whose storm room is covered in breakables, scissors, and large paper cutters.”

We’re both out of breath. Water drips all over the floor, puddling around us. “Sorry.” I’m not really sure what else to say, so I just say that.

All of a sudden, the overhead light flickers and then goes out. The constant hum of electricity wafting through the house dies. It’s so quiet. Too quiet. My heart thunders in my chest, bouncing a tennis ball against my eardrums. I grab the phone from my shorts and turn on the flashlight.

And then… the noise starts.

News reports are right. Tornados sound like a roaring train. Like a huge waterfall. Like a jetliner flying directly overhead.

Ry grabs my shoulders, pressing his body against mine. Not waiting for permission, his tongue delves into me, kissing away my fear. Kissing away my every worry.

The noise gets louder. Louder. Louder.

He tips my chin up. His whisper is raspy and deep. “You’re the love of my fucking life.”

I can’t even respond. I’m not given the chance. And I want to. I want to, so badly. But I can’t.

A terrible, ripping sound drowns everything out. He grabs me and forces me onto the floor, covering my body with his. Tears stream down my face. Fear and anxiety blur the edges of consciousness.

I love you too.

But I don’t get a chance to say those words back to him before all hell breaks loose.

Chapter 41

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