He snapped his fingers and ran his tongue along his bottom lip. “Then… cumulonimbus, right? The ones that tower.”
I grinned. “Yes. Indicating severe storms and possible tornadic activity.”
“Bingo! Exactly what we’re hoping for. You’re pretty smart, Gale.”
I shrugged. “Four years of school.”And no life,I didn’t say.
“Olivia’s lucky to have you on her team.”
“Not really. She doesn’t need my knowledge any more than you do. I bet you can predict a tornado as well as I can. Probably with more accuracy since you have so much practical experience.”
“Doubt it.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and rocked on his heels, peering again at the canopy of trees.
The conversation was weird. The encounter was weird. I couldn’t figure out why Ozrik was at the cemetery. Why was he talking to me?
A swell of uncomfortable silence grew between us. I fondled the camera and stole surreptitious glances at the landscape, wanting to escape Ozrik while also wishing I knew what to say to keep him there longer, but I wasn’t that guy.
My nerves won out. “I should probably find Olivia. She’ll be fuming if I ignore her much longer.”
“She’s pretty fiery.”
I chuffed humorlessly. “You have no idea.”
Only I couldn’t make my feet move. Leaving meant crossing from the grass to the cemetery road where Ozrik stood. It meant walking past him. Being closer in proximity. We were at a safe distance at the moment. Any closer, and I risked a bodily reaction. Wasn’t it bad enough that my skin felt charged in his presence?
“Can I ask you something?” he said when I didn’t move.
“S-sure.”
For a heartbeat, Ozrik looked uncomfortable. His forehead creased as he studied me. “We didn’t upset you last week, did we? The guys. Olivia suggested… I hope you didn’t feel… I was worried, and it was a dangerous situation.” He shrugged. “I was only trying to help.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I was fine. Olivia… She’s… overprotective.”
“So, you’re okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
More silence. More unnecessary standing around.
Ozrik wiped a hand over his mouth and chuckled. “I thought you were leaving.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burned. “I am.”
Forcing my feet to move, I headed to the road. As I conjured the words to say goodbye and aim for the parking lot, Ozrik sidled up next to me. My heart moved to my throat when I realized he intended to follow me out.
The air between us hummed. We were too close. A foot and a half separated us, but I felt every inch. He radiated heat and energy. My heart galloped out of control. Could he hear it? I smelled his deodorant or body wash, something as fresh and clean as a forest in the spring, but God help me, I didn’t want to be caught inhaling him, so I over-fixated on my breathing, doing all I could to keep it even.
At some point, he moved in front of me and stopped, extending a finger.
I stared at it, knowing exactly what he was doing.
“Come on,” he urged. “For science.”
I touched the tip of mine to his.
