Page 102 of Prince of Storms
I gunned it, and he was slammed back into his seat with a yelp of surprise. We flew up the ramp and onto the driveway. I slowed slightly to weave our way through the trees before exiting the property onto the long, straight country roads where I opened it up, the wind flying in through windows, making a mess of my hair as we zipped along.
Tor laughed with me as we hit the outskirts of the city, and I finally slowed to something just a hair over the speed limit.
“Was that fun?” he teased.
“Yeah, it was great. Was it good for you?” I said, winking at him.
He laughed harder, and we drove on, his hand finding mine and holding it tight. We pulled up in front of my childhood house and got out, Tor rushing around to open my door.
“Cutie,” I said.
He stuck out his tongue, then grabbed my hand, pulling me to the front door, where he knocked perfunctorily. I frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“We’re guests. It is polite to knock.”
“Silly. We’re not guest-guests. Come on.” I punched in the key to the electronic door lock and let us in.
“Hello?” came a call from deeper in the house.
“Hi, Dad!”I called back. “I have a surprise for you. And a guest. So be on your good behavior.”
Laughter bubbled up from the rear of the house, followed by footsteps coming closer. Then my dad appeared, and I grinned, going to hug him. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hello, dear,” he said, his craggy face wrinkling in a giant grin. “Good to see you.”
“And you.”
“I know you,” he said, looking at Tor, big, mostly white eyebrows rising in confusion. “You were at the car auction. You bought the Chevelle. She came to talk to you.”
I could see wheels turning in his eyes already as he glanced back and forth between us.
Tor smiled and stepped forward, extending a hand. “That’s correct. My name is Torrent. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you. A lovely car you bought.”
“It is,” Tor said, nodding.
“Come on, Daddy,” I said, tugging his sleeve and pulling him toward the door. “Look.”
I opened the front door to reveal the Chevelle parked in the driveway.
“Ah, there she is,” he said, nostalgia filling his voice immediately. He left the house, went to the car, and placed his hand on it. “Hood’s still warm.”
Tor followed us out, wrapping an arm around me and giving me a squeeze when my dad’s back was to us. “I can see how much it means to him.”
“Same,” I said. “Come on.”
We walked over to where he was peering in the front. “Looks exactly like the one I had,” he said wistfully.
“Yeah?”
“Right down to the details.”
“What was the license plate of yours?” I asked, moving around to the rear of the car.
“WHZ2A”he said automatically. “We used to call it the Whizz.”
I laughed. “I hadn’t heard that nickname before.”
