Page 105 of Running
Except, I’m really worried about Grace now.
Is she stuck in class, having to drive all the way here in this weather? I switch to her texts, which are from over two hours ago. Shit.
GRACE: They canceled classes. I’m back at my place.
GRACE: What do you want to do about tonight?
I quickly calculate the options, like I’m making a play on the field with the clock ticking and large defenders rushing at me. Only one choice seems acceptable.
JOHNSON: Sorry, Goldie, I was asleep when everything shifted with the storm. Stay put.
JOHNSON: I’m coming to you.
CHAPTER 33
Grace
Knock, knock.
“Grace,” I hear from the door. Johnson’s voice.
Oh my god, I can’t believe he actually drove here with the storm warnings. When he messaged me that he was coming, I told him to stay put. “No way,” was his response before my cell service stopped working.
“One second,” I call out. As I swing my door open, Johnson’s flushed, panicked face is on the other side.
“Why did you risk driving here? It’s so dangerous right now.”
He steps inside, combing his hand through his hair. “My messages to you stopped going through. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being here alone, without any way to reach anyone, and I just drove.”
Oh.
“Well, come in. I was getting my final hurricane prep going.”
He strides into the condo, surveying my setup. I have two flashlights, extra batteries, gallon jugs of water, snacks, a portable charger for my phone, and books all laid out on my coffee table.
“Impressive, right?” I chuckle. “Probably not all I should have done, but since we’re inland and the building has a generator, I thought I’d be okay to hunker down.”
He visibly relaxes. “They have a generator here? Great.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.
“Yeah, silly. If you hadn’t slept through all the storm updates, I would have had a chance to tell you.”
He keeps me in his arms. “Sorry, I got worried that you didn’t have anyone to get help from. Especially with Landon gone.”
Suddenly, a wind gust rattles my windows. A split second later, another warning goes off on my phone.
THIS IS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS UNTIL 7:15PM – LAKELAND, AUBURNDALE, HAINES CITY, WINTER HAVEN, DUNDEE….
“Sheesh, I didn’t even know tornados were a possibility here.” I raise my head up towards him, otherwise content in his arms. “Our night at your house has become a storm party here at my little condo, for sure.”
“I know. I’m happy to be stuck with you wherever we are, Goldie.” He doesn’t sound disappointed at all.
I look around my living room. It’s the first hurricane that’s hit us directly since I moved here, so I’ve not had to plan ahead for one before. “There’s a lot of windows.”
He steps over to the flashlight, clicking it on and off. “Yeah, if things get bad, what’s the best place to shelter? Closet? Bathroom?”
My bathroom has a window too. “My bedroom closet.”
A thought appears to dawn on him, and he smiles at me. “How about we build a pillow fort in the closet?”
