Page 6 of Through the Storms
“What the fuck is that?” Lana said, her face an even deeper shade of crimson than it had been moments before.
Oh, shit.This wasn’t going as Oakley had planned, but she could still save the moment. Oakley put on one of her best smiles. “Isn’t she a beauty?”
“Beauty?” Lana crinkled her nose. “You call that monstrosity a beauty?” Lana shook her head. “Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”
Oakley doubted that Lana meant it literally and would certainly become more enraged if Oakley followed Lana’s instructions. “Um, I thought…well, I thought you’d…” Oakley walked to the car and put her hand on the roll cage. “Do you know how much force this can withstand? The roof’s reinforced steel.”
By the look on Lana’s face, she didn’t care. “So this is how you spent your grandma’s money? On a toy?”
Toy?How could Lana call it a toy? Oakley knew she needed to tread carefully, but she also needed to defend her creation. “It’s state of the art.”Really?That was the best she could do?
Lana snorted. “It looks like a catcher’s mask wrapped around a gigantic lemon Skittle.”
Ouch.How could Lana insult the Oakanator, or if Asher got his way, the Ashatron? “But check this out.” Oakley tried again. This time, she put her hand on the curved shield that protruded off the roof. It hung over the windshield like a baseball cap. “The coolest part is I can hit a button inside, and it will lower mesh webbing that will protect the windshield from hail damage.”
Lana didn’t look impressed.
“There’s more.” A sinking feeling reached the pit of Oakley’s stomach, but she couldn’t give up yet. Surely, something would reach Lana. “I know you’re probably afraid it’s not safe because it’s smaller than our other vehicles, but don’t worry. They made it extra heavy, and it has a beast of an engine.”
Lana crossed her arms over her chest. Her previously red face had drained of color.
“Oh, and the best part.” Oakley bounced on the balls of her feet. “Here, come look.” She reached out to Lana, who stared but made no effort to take Oakley’s outstretched hand. Oakley withdrew it and jammed her fist into her pocket. “Um, see on the back there.” Oakley motioned toward the large two-foot spout coming off the roof. The angled tube could easily be mistaken for a smokestack. “It’s a tornado cannon. It’ll shoot sensors into the air. Kinda like those cannons they use in stadiums to shoot free shit to the crowd. Cool, huh?”
“Nice,” Lana said through gritted teeth. “I’ve got work to do.”
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “But—”
“No.” Lana shook her head. The playful light in her eyes from earlier was gone, and all that was left in its place was weariness. A sad smile played on her lips. “I thought…no, I’d hoped thatmaybe you’d finally put us first.” She laughed, but it held no joy. “I’m such a fool.”
A lump caught in Oakley’s throat. She’d seen the look on Lana’s face too many times. How could she explain that if this, the Oakanator, worked, then Oakley would finally make her mark—earn her way, and then they could settle down and have the life Lana wanted? “Please, don’t say that. Don’t you understand?”
“Yes, Oak, I do understand. I’ve waited eight years for you to get…to get this…” Lana waved her hand toward the fortified vehicle. “This obsession out of your system. To put our relationship first.”
Oakley wanted to correct her and tell her it was a passion not an obsession, but she knew better, so instead, she said, “I love you, Lana. I love you more than anything in this world.”
“And I love you, too.” Lana frowned. “More than I wish I did.”
Ouch.Lana had never said that to her before. Sure, Lana had gotten mad plenty of times at Oakley’s passion for storm chasing, but she’d never voiced regret at loving Oakley. “But once I prove the Oakanator works—”
“Oakanator. Really?”
Oakley’s face warmed. “Well, that’s just one possible name.” She’d not intended to tell Lana until the name was official. “The point is, I’ll get recognition. I’ll be somebody and hopefully make some money doing it. Then we can settle down in the biggest most beautiful house imaginable.” Oakley gestured toward the town house. “No more living in a place you hate.”
Lana’s shoulders slumped. She shook her head slowly. “And you never thought that you could have done that now, instead of sinking all your money intothat.”Lana gestured and saidthatwith venom. “By the look on your face, it wasn’t even an option you considered.”
Lana was wrong. Oakley had considered it, but she’d have been buying the house with her grandma’s money not her own. “But I need to earn it. Don’t you understand?”
“I’m afraid I don’t.” Lana glanced down the road. “Here comes Mr. Lincoln. He’s gonna ask a million questions aboutit.I’m going inside.” She turned and started up the sidewalk.
“Wait.” Oakley chased after her. “Can’t I take you for a ride? We can talk.”
Lana turned. The pain in her eyes nearly took Oakley’s breath away. “No. I don’t want to ride in it.”
Oakley followed Lana inside. The conversation couldn’t be over. She had to think of something to say, anything to make it okay. “I know you’re upset, but you’re scaring me. I can sell it. I can get a real job.” She didn’t want to do either, but she’d never seen Lana like this before. “Just yell at me, get it out of your system.” She refrained from saying,like you always do.
“I’m done yelling.” Lana took a deep breath. “Do you know what’s been on my mind the last two weeks?”
Oakley’s eyes lit up.Good.Lana was still willing to let her in. It had to be a good sign. “No, what’s been on your mind? Tell me.”
