Page 62 of Here and Now
“I’m going to help wash dishes and never look you in the eye again, okay?”
“If you say so.”
“I do,” I tell him and walk to the sink, keeping my eyes down and hoping I can wash away the shame with soapy water.
“Why don’t we just head to your house from here? I have the chain saw, and my truck will get up the mountain better than your car,” Miles suggests as we stand outside Eloise’s house.
He used the same logic when it came to bringing Ethan back here. I figured we’d drop him off, and then I could go home with Kai and get to work on cleaning up.
However, that’s not the case. At Eloise’s insistence, Kai is staying with her. She has a whole-home generator as well, and after the night we had, she wouldn’t let it go. I agreed to let him stay, at least until we assess the house and see what’s going on. For all I know, a freaking tree fell on it.
What I didn’t intend on was Miles deciding to spend the day with me, claiming if there was debris in the road, it made sense for him to come to clear it, and then stating how he would be able to help with any home issues.
Of course, under the guise that friends do this for each other.
So friends we are, and he’s making sense, so I tamp down my need to be independent a little and just allow someone to help.
“All right.”
We get in his truck and head back toward our side of town. When we get past Miles’s road, it’s like the entire area seems to have changed. I’d swear we had a tornado touch down. There are branches, leaves, and even more debris than I remembered from last night.
“I’m going to have to cut this one,” he explains when we get to a big branch that’s blocking the road.
I get out of the car, helping him clear the cut-up branch. “I can’t believe how strong the storm was.”
“Yeah, it was pretty intense. Just fair warning, you’re going to be without power for a bit. We don’t get things restored around here quickly, and they focus on the other parts of town before this side.”
“Why?” I ask, not even thinking that could be a thing.
“Population. We’re like four people up here where the other parts of Ember Falls have more homes. It’s why I put the generator in.”
“I wish I’d known that.”
He smiles. “Mr. Kipland put one in last year after we had a freak storm that left him without power for weeks.”
“Weeks?” I scream. “I can rough it for a few days, but weeks. I can’t handle that.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Parts of the town are already back online,” Miles tries to reassure me.
Of course my brother put me in this remote side of town where I’d lose power for weeks. That is, if the house even survived.
“I hope so.”
“As a friend, I’m just saying if you need somewhere to stay, you and Kai can always stay with me. No strings, just so you don’t have to suffer in the heat.”
“You’re a good friend,” I say, grateful that he even offered.
Not that I could ever take him up on it. I need sleep and not to be dreaming of the man across the hall.
We get the downed tree off to the side and pass through. As we approach my house, I pray it’s still standing. I let out a huge sigh when I see that it at least looks intact.
There are leaves and debris thrown all over the yard, but that can be cleaned.
We cut down the huge branch that almost took out my car and push aside twigs and leaves so we can get inside. The power is still off, but nothing looks damaged.
“Let’s check the back,” he suggests.
We exit the kitchen door and I gasp.
