Page 34 of Love in the Storm

Dawson: Dude, call me.

Chief: Should make it your way tomorrow morning.

Good updates. Asa sent a quick thanks to his boss before calling his mom. When the call went to voicemail, he tried Dawson, who answered on the first ring.

“You’re alive!” Dawson shouted.

“I’m snowed in, not on my deathbed.”

Dawson exhaled dramatically. “I know, but I was worried. When Chief said you weren’t coming in, I just knew it was because you were unalive.”

Asa chuckled. “Special circumstances this time, but I’m still breathing.”

“I wasn’t going to believe it until I heard it from you. Chief said you had a wreck though. You still in one piece?”

“Oh, yeah. Just a scratch.” Asa rubbed his fingers over the bandage on his head. It would be sore for a while, but it could have been much worse.

“I also heard you’re shacking up with awoman.” Dawson drawled the last word like a kid in grade school talking about cooties.

Asa pinched the bridge of his nose. Dawson was a good friend because he was honest, loyal, and dependable. Mature, he was not, but he balanced out Asa’s stern demeanor. Thanks toDawson, Asa had been able to laugh again after Danielle died.

“There’s a woman here, but–”

“I heard she’s taking good care of you.”

Asa jerked his head up. “How’d you hear that?”

“Your mom.” Dawson’s humor disappeared, replaced by the no-nonsense tone he reserved for sharing information in the line of duty.

That was another reason Asa liked Dawson: He took their responsibilities seriously.

“I stopped by to check on her and Jacob after Chief said you were stuck on the mountain.”

“Appreciate it. I talked to her earlier, and she said they were doing okay.”

“Yep. Jacob showed me his latest model. A ‘66 Chevy Nova.” Dawson whistled high. “That thing is sharp.”

“He’s ten. When can I expect the obsession with super rare and expensive cars to subside?” Asa asked.

“Beau never got over it, but look at him now! He’s living the dream.”

Their friend, Beau Lawrence, was raised on a farm, but he was born to be a mechanic.

“I’m not sure spending eight hours a day covered in grease is considered living the dream,” Asa quipped.

“Says you. Beau would think differently. If Jacobwants a classic car when he turns sixteen, tell him he’ll have to build it.”

“That’s the only way he’d get a car like that.” While Asa was happy to spend the time in Beau’s garage fixing up cars with Jacob, affording one was a different story.

“Stop that. I can hear you worrying from the other side of town. Jacob is cool. He’ll be fine if you don’t buy him an expensive car.”

“I know.” Maybe building a car together was the better option anyway. They already spent a lot of time at Beau’s garage.

“You dodged my question about the woman,” Dawson said.

Asa had almost believed he could end the call without having to circle back to the topic. “You didn’t ask a question, and you already heard all there is to know.”

“Is she hot?” Dawson asked.

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