Page 10 of Beauty and the Grease
“What do you think I’ve been doing all these years without you? Barely existing?” The audacity. The outrageous audacity.
“No, Jenny, that’s not at all what I meant—”
“Because I’ve been just fine, thankyouverymuch.” I can’t tell if the whooshing sound is in my ears or from the sideways rain.
He left me and I was a wreck, but eventually I was fine. Iamfine. I’ll never go back to finding my identity in a relationship. Ever.
A sharp crack sounds. Suddenly something falls in front of us on the road. I hit the brakes and swerve.
CHAPTER 6
Chase
My body tenses, bracing for impact—two accidents in one day? What am I, cursed?—only the impact never comes. Jenny deftly steers to the shoulder, tires crunching against debris. We end up unscathed, now stopped on the side of the road.
Jenny’s breathing hard.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. Good. You?”
“I’m okay.” A huge tree branch angles across the road behind us. That branch could have fallen on the truck. We could have slammed right into it. But we didn’t. “Nice maneuvers.”
Jenny face kaleidoscopes between expressions too quick to name. She snickers. “Nicemaneuvers?” She cackles. “Oh my gosh. What is happening right now?”
I find myself laughing too.Nice maneuvers. No wonder I haven’t dated since the divorce. “I only meant, you handled that well.”
She holds up an unsteady hand. “Well, I’m shaking, so I’m not exactly a pro here.”
“No, you’re a pro. You’re good at what you do. I watched you hook the tow to my car.”
She taps her nails against the steering wheel. The wind fills the silence.
“I never doubted you’d thrive.” My worst fear was that our break-up ruined her spirit, ruined her belief in love. But I never doubted she would succeed in whatever she set her mind to.
“I think—” An unmistakable sound cuts her off. “Is that a tornado siren?” Jenny sounds more irritated than worried.
“Sounds like it.” I’m worried. Very worried. What if Jenny gets hurt? I mean—us. What if more branches fall or something? I wish I could roll down the window to get some air in here, but it’s pouring.
Jenny checks the mirrors and gets back on the road. “Let’s just get to this place. We shouldn’t be out here in a tornado.”
Progress is slow going, but soon a sign comes into view noting the retreat center. The tornado siren provides a soundtrack for the drive onto the grounds. The shape of abuilding appears. Sleek lines and tons of windows, it’s low and covers a lot of space.
Lightning streaks across the sky above the treetops. A long peal of thunder follows.
Jenny rolls to a stop beneath the covered entrance and drop-off area. “Sir? Your destination awaits.”
I wish I could say I’m relieved but the siren won’t quit. “Leave the truck here and I’ll grab my stuff. Let’s go.”
“I’m not coming in.” She sounds almost disgusted at the suggestion. “I’ll wait it out in the truck.”
Visibility-destroying rain streaks down beyond the covered entrance. “It’s not safe.”
“What am I supposed to do? Get a foot massage?”
“Sure, I’ll get you one. Shut the truck off and come with me.”
She gapes at me. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are ordering me around? Did thateverwork for you?”
