Yet, every time I hear the telltale rumble in the distance or see a flash of light in the sky, a sweat breaks out across my entire body, and I freeze.
Which is where I’m at now.
On my bathroom floor, with my knees held to my chest and my head buried in my hands as I try to calm my erratic breathing.
It’s pathetic.I’mpathetic.
I’m a twenty-four-year-old woman having a panic attack over a thunderstorm.
Why am I in the bathroom, you ask? Because it has no windows.
Yup.
Pathetic.
Droplets of sweat run down my back, mimicking the rain rolling down the windows of my bedroom, yet my whole body is wracked with violent shivers.
I silently curse Bella for choosing tonight of all nights to stay late at work. And I curse Olivia for still being in London, where it’s probably not storming at all.
I have no one to call. I can’t call Savannah and ask her to drive over here at seven months pregnant. And even if I could, my phone is in the kitchen, and you couldn’t pay me all the money in the world to move from this exact spot right now.
Another boom rattles the windows, making me jump and causing me to curl further into myself. I keep my eyes on the door, waiting for the crack underneath to light up.
“One, two, three.” Lightening illuminates the gap, and I whimper.
Did I mention the fucking power went out?
My pulse thumps in my ears, fear gripping my heart in a chokehold and I swear I hear my name being called somewhere in the distance.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I tell myself it’s just my mind playing tricks on me as I hear my name again, followed by three heavy bangs.
I lift my head and frown.
“Dais?” The voice calls again, sounding closer this time.
I recognise that voice.
“Killian?” I call out, although it comes out more of a whimper.
Like something out of a horror movie, the bathroom door swings open, revealing a dark figure right as the sky lights up once again and I barely hold back the scream bubbling up in my throat.
“Jesus, Dais,” Killian mutters as he sinks to his knees next to me. He pulls me into his arms; his woodsy scent mixed with the smell of rain immediately relaxing me for the first time since the storm started.
Killian lifts me off the ground, holding me close to his chest as he carries me through the dark house and sinks onto the couch with me in his lap.
“I’m gonna put this blanket around you to warm you up, okay?” His voice is a soft, comforting whisper against my ear and I nod against him, soaking up the warmth from having his arms around me.
“How long have you been sitting on the floor in there?” He asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I…” I clear my throat. “I don’t know.”
Another roar of thunder sounds from beyond the windows, and I flinch. Killian holds me tighter, pressing his lips to my head. “Shh, it’s okay. I got you.”
Tears well in my eyes at the softness in his tone, the care in his hold. It’s… everything I needed in this moment.
“T-thank you,” I murmur, my voice shaking.
“For what?” he whispers.
