Page 60 of Weathering The Storm

I curl closer. Conserving my energy by not speaking in hopes that I can produce more heat instead, and give it to him. As far as I’m concerned, he can have it all.

Logically, I know that’s not how it works. But just in case, I stay still and I count the swells for a long while. I count them until they slow. Until they seem almostgentle.

A generous word for what we’re riding out, but all I know is that more time passes between the next swoop of my stomach. More gaps breathe between the patter of raindrops hitting the canopy.

“I’m gonna have a cheeseburger when we get out of here. A big, fat, greasy one. With all the toppings, and extra cheddar, slathered in mayo. And a side of onion rings,” Perry says. It sounds so good, I almost hate him for it. “Maybe we’ll go to that diner where Erin and I had our first date. We were seventeen, and I knew I was gonna marry her. You know that? Told her I loved her after two weeks. She’s the coolest person I’ve ever fucking known.”

The melancholy of his tone grips something in the back of my throat and squeezes.

“I’m gonna build her that She Shed I owe her. I should’ve started on it over the summer anyway. We never needed to make a bet. I just want her to be happy. I always just… wanna bewith her.”

“You will be,” Orlov says. I’m glad he does, because the words are on the tip of my tongue, but I’ve never made a promise I haven’t kept.

“I’m gonna hug her. Kiss her. Hold her. Tell her I love her. That’s the first thing I’m gonna do,” Perry says. In the drawn-out pause that follows, all I hear through the thunder is,If we get out of this alive.“What about you guys? What are you doing when we get out of here?”

“I dunno, your plan sounds pretty good,” Jorgensen says, his tired voice muffled by fabric. “I’m also gonna get a cheeseburger and kiss your wife. I’ll probably beat you to it, too. My leg isn’t broken.”

“Fuck you, you little shit.” Perry chuckles.

“Erin’s hot,” Jorgensen doubles down. “Outta your league.”

“Andwayoutta yours.”

Seth makes a faint sound. A laugh, maybe. But the only reason I know it is because I’m right beside him. Engrossed in the sluggish rhythm of his breathing.

“I am going to ask Anna to move in with me,” Orlov says lowly. “I have kept so much distance with her. Expecting her to get sick of being alone while I work. Expecting her to leave. But she has been there for me, almost two years. She has never pulled away. I should notpushher away. Made me think of it, this trip. Sometimes it can be... good. Trusting people. The right people.”

“And you, Seth?” Perry asks as the conversation lulls once more.

The only thing more terrifying than Seth trembling as intensely as he was is the fact that now he’snot. He’s practically still. Each inhale and exhale further apart.

Fresh as it is, my mind goes straight to the widening gap of theSuoja’s recovery time as ice accumulated.

“Seth?” I repeat.

The conversation dies. Our last vestiges of levity snuffed out.

“Mmm,” he hums lowly. Like the soft groans he sometimes makes in his sleep.

“Seth, are you awake?”

“Mmhmm.”

“What day is it.”

“‘S… November.”

“That’s not a day, Seth.”

No response.

“That’s not a day.”

I turn him over. It’s impossible to tell if it’s the low light playing tricks on me, but I swear his face looks blueish. I pull him chest to chest, trying to figure out if there’s a way to get himinsidemy damn suit with me.

“Seth.” I stroke his cheek until his eyelids flutter open. “You told me not to talk negative, so I’m not going to. Instead I’ll tell you, right now, that youhaveto get out of here. Okay? I’m not making it out of here without you.”

“Mm’kay,” he says. I can’t be sure he heard a single word I said.