Page 178 of The Storm Boys Series Collection

I clapped his shoulder. “You’re good to stay here for however long you need. My wardrobe’s yours until we can get you some new stuff.”

He gave me a smile and nodded. “Yeah, thanks. I know you and Jeremiah just moved in together, so if you’d rather I stayed at Mum and Dad’s, I’d totally get it.”

“What?” I looked at him funny. “Dude. Jeremiah and I are fine. Sure, it’s kinda new, but don’t worry about it. No one expected your house to be demolished, Ellis. It’s fine.”

He seemed mollified, then nodded to the bird I was still holding. “Still got your bird, I see.”

“Mm. He looks kinda bright-eyed this morning. Needs some food though.”

“Are you gonna help us do your windows?” Ellis asked.

“But you’re doing a stellar job without me,” I said. “I need to feed this little guy.”

Mum came out and took the bird. “I’ll feed him. You do what you’re told. And no fighting.”

Ellis laughed. “Go and put a shirt on and some underwear. Jesus, if you freeball it around the house, maybe I will live at Mum and Dad’s.”

I tried to kick him. “Stop lookin’ at my junk.”

Dad stood up straight, the drill in his hand. “The battery in this drill has about five minutes left in it, and so help me god, I will use it on the both of you. Now shut up and help me.”

We both shut up and helped him.

Ellis made a face from the other end of the plyboard and stuck out his tongue.

I snorted. “You living here is going to be so much fun.”

He smiled at me, and we both started to laugh.

* * *

I wassurprised when Jeremiah turned up at my work just after three o’clock. We’d been cleaning up at the docks and the admin building for hours, but I thought for sure he’d be gone until dark.

I was on the end of a broom when Rowan had called my name and nodded toward the car park. I looked up to see Jeremiah walking my way, and damn, it made my heart skip a beat.

“Uh, hello, stranger,” I said, grinning. “While youareincredibly gorgeous, I won’t be buying anything you’re selling, as I already have a boyfriend.”

Jeremiah rolled his eyes, but his cheeks bloomed with colour.

“Please tell me he never used that on you,” Rowan said. “God, Tully, that was terrible.”

I laughed, still grinning at Jeremiah. Rowan didn’t need to know that Jeremiah had used that line on me, and it wasn’t terrible because it totally worked. “I didn’t think I’d see you till later.”

“I went past your place and you weren’t there. Ellis’ street is all blocked off and your car wasn’t at your parents’ house.” He shrugged. “This is the only other place I know in Darwin.”

Aww. I stepped in close. “Well, I’m glad you found me.” Then I handed him the broom. “They’ve been makin’ me work all day.”

He pushed the broom back to me. “Good.”

Rowan laughed and pointed his chin to Jeremiah. “I like him.”

I sighed. “Nobody loves me anymore.” Clearly, pouting wasn’t getting me anywhere. “How did you go today? Was Doreen mad?”

“No. She was happy to see me, actually. It was disconcerting, to be honest. A little frightening.”

I snorted.

“Suri was there. She was much better today. Jeff and his girls are going to stay with his sister, I think. And Doreen had to stop old Arty from climbing a ladder onto his roof, because that’s what anyone who’s almost ninety should be doing.” Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “We mostly did clean-up and damage reports. We have no antennas, no satellite, nothing.” He frowned and half shrugged. “I don’t know what we can do. We have nothing to work with. Nothing even to start from.”

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