“I think she’s trying to drown out the noise of the storm,” I say with a laugh, coming to her defense.
His massive hand covers the top of her head and he ruffles her already frizzy hair. His attention shifts back to me when he realizes that she’s completely enthralled by the ongoing storm coverage.
“Trying to scare my kid by making her watch hurricane footage?”
“This is nothing, you just missed the Great White Shark video I showed her. Very bloody, gory, full of nightmare inducing stuff.”
He shakes his head and then wags his finger in front of me, but it’s almost… playful? “You’re lucky you’re joking. That one is prone to nightmares.”
I shove a handful of popcorn in my mouth and take a seat at the island while Chase chugs two full water bottles in record time, and I add extra melted butter to the popcorn.
“More butter, huh?” He raises his eyebrows at me.
“The butter is what makes it delicious,” I say, licking my fingers.
He laughs and places the water bottles in the recycle bin.
“How was the radio ad? What was it for?”
“Well.” He licks his lips before speaking, and I have to remind myself to breathe like a normal human. It should bestudied how easily he affects me. I really hope I was never this obvious when I was around him with a boyfriend, how shitty. “Hated every second. It was for a car dealership the team has a partnership with or something. Thanks for watching her, by the way. I should have led with that when I got home.”
I shrug, shaking my head and inhaling this bowl of butter riddled popcorn, “I know you’re thankful for me. No need to say itover and over.” My eyes roll in dramatic form, and he scoffs before pushing himself from the counter and walking down the hall to his bedroom.
Despite the weatherman’s prediction of heavy rain and storms all night, I’m still somehow hoping there will be a small break for me to leave without risking being swept up into a tornado. Sadly, it’s not looking good. I don’t live far, and technically, my car is in the parking garage, so it’s really just managing the quick drive home.
I’ve learned that one of the worst parts about living in Tampa is when it rains, especially when the weather is so intense, the streets flood. And it’s not worth risking a puddle when you don’t actually know how deep it goes. Even though I know my route and it’s pretty straight forward, I’ve witnessed one too many people get stuck because they think they can drive through flooded streets. I can’t afford to make that kind of mistake, but I can’t possibly invade Chase’s space for much longer.
“Fucking wind,” he mumbles as he stares through his back door, seeing the way things have moved around. “I thought I’d have time before this happened to bring everything inside.”
“It came pretty quick, otherwise I would’ve tried to grab some things… but by the time I noticed, it was already crazy.”
He waves me off when he turns back to face me. “No, no, that’s not your responsibility anyway.”
I hear the loud beeping noise on the TV indicating another type of severe weather warning is about to be announced. BothChase and I glance at the screen as a red alert displays across the bottom.
Tornado warnings in effect until midnight. Tropical storm warning in effect until 4 a.m.
Damn it.
“I should go now so I can get home before this gets insane,” I say, reaching for my purse.
“You wouldn’t call this insane?” he asks, jerking his thumb behind him as the palms are literally flying off trees with the wind.
I sigh, letting my head fall back slightly, annoyed at this situation.
“It’s not safe. Stay here and see if it dies down a little first.”
More time ticks by, and I’ve already colored, done a puzzle, and put on a puppet show with CeCe while Chase braves the balcony trying to secure what he can. The weather isn’t slowing down and it’s only getting later and darker.
Chase hurries back in, slamming the door shut and pulling the hoodie off over his head. “I’ll go grab a comforter and some pillows. You can have my room for the night.”
“What? No. I can’t stay here overnight.” My mouth instantly becomes dry. I havenothinghere except for the clothes on my back and a half eaten protein bar in my purse.
“Did you think that was a question? You’re not driving in this weather.”
He doesn’t wait for another reply from me, he just walks down the hall and opens the closet.
This can’t be happening.
