Page 72 of If Our Hearts Collide

My attention goes back to the windows, watching the rolling clouds darken and explode with rain.

“Is the power going to go off?” I ask, but more to myself.

“It might. We haven’t had a storm of this magnitude in a while, but most power lines are protected around here.”

I hate the dark. My mental demons find me there. Hell, they have no problem finding me in the light as well.

A loud buzz simultaneously sounds coming from our devices.

Collins grabs his phone and opens what appears to be the radar, running a hand through his hair.

“What’s wrong?” I’m afraid to look at my own phone, knowing it’s an issued warning.

I can see all the color wash out of his face. “It’s that, um…”

“No. Don’t sugarcoat it.” Worry fills my body. “Please.”

Sighing, Collins looks down at his phone and then back up at me. “There’s a possible tornado forming on the upper east side. It’s best that we prepare for the chance of one forming here.”

“Those are super rare for the Pacific Northwest.”

Collins nods in agreement. “They are, but still possible. The coastal states basically get three or four a year.”

“Why do you know so many things?”

He shrugs. “I love trivia.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, our phones buzz again with the automatic alert system warning us to take safe shelter.

I quickly open up my messaging app to text Graham and Nic to make sure they are safe at their places. They respond within seconds that they are home. “My brothers already know I’m with you?”

“Yes,” he responds.Of course they do.“And safe.”

“What should we do?”

“The best place to be right now is away from the windows and preferably underground. I’m going to go gather some supplies, and we will make our way to the basement. A building with this type of modern architecture is almost always safe, but it’s best that we prepare for the what-ifs since we have the luxury to do so.”

I bite at my bottom lip as I try to think of the last time we had a storm this big. I can’t even remember. Collins grabs a backpack from the coat closet and starts tossing items inside. Bottled water, a few snacks, hand sanitizer, battery USB chargers, a pack of batteries, flashlights, and a fleece blanket.

I can’t tell if this all is just extra precaution or if this is how he prepares to do mundane tasks like go to the grocery store.

“I’ll go grab you some clothes,” he says, moving toward a hallway, “if you prefer to get into something comfier.”

Looking down at my sundress, I nod. I suppose I didn’t prepare for a potential crisis when I chose to wear this. I’m sure our building will be fine, but no one wants to get hit by flying glass or sucked out the window if it does touch down.

My feet stay cemented in their spot on the tiled floor until Collins returns with an armful of clothing. Accepting his offering, I hurry into the bathroom to change. Thunder booms through the room, startling me and pressuring me to move faster. The lights flicker, hinting to the realization that we will probably lose power after all.

I pull my dress over my head, folding it onto the vanity. I slide into the gray jogging pants and powder-blue T-shirt—both several sizes too big. I tie a knot into the bottom of my shirt, shrinking it in size, and cuff over the waistband of the pants several times to keep them from falling down.

I quickly use the toilet, wash my hands, and fix my hair into a messy bun. I join Collins at the door, slip on my flip-flops, and allow him to escort me out of his unit and into the already crowded hallway.

“We can’t take the elevator,” he says, opening the door to the stairwell and pulling me inside with him. “For one, I imagine other people are thinking the same thing. And also, it’s not safe to be stuck there in a true emergency.”

Groups of people are making their way down the concrete steps. We merge into the cluster, getting bumped into by the herd of people. He reaches for my hand, and I allow Collins to hold it as we descend to the next floor.

“You okay, Pen?” he asks, taking note of my appearance.

“I’m good.” It’s a half-truth.

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