Page 10 of Through the Storms

Lana snorted. “Yeah, but instead, they’re talking about expanding their business into Dixie Alley, which means a longer chasing season. I see her less and less, so I guess it won’t seem much different if I don’t see her at all.” Lana swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat.

“Oh, sweetie. Are you sure?”

“Eight years and nothing to show for it.” Lana knew she was being melodramatic, but she felt like wallowing.

“Eight good years,” Carol said. “They may not have been perfect, but she makes you happy.”

“Made,” Lana said, emphasizing the past tense. “I can’t keep hoping for her to make me…our relationship a priority. There’s always another excuse. Another achievement she must reach before she can settle down. I don’t know if I want kids or not, but the time’s gonna pass, and I’ll lose the option.”

Carol sighed. “I can’t claim I’ll ever be able to figure Oakley out. She’s an enigma. But the one thing I’m certain of is that woman loves you.”

Lana looked up and met Carol’s gaze. For some reason, she needed to see Carol’s reaction to her response. “Maybe sometimes love isn’t enough.”

Sadness danced in Carol’s eyes. She pursed her lips and appeared to be thinking. Lana had known her long enough to know that it meant she was about to deliver a message that Lana wasn’t going to like. “Just because you gave up your shot at a big-time career, it doesn’t mean Oakley should give up her dream.”

Lana’s jaw tightened. She wanted to be angry at Carol, but she knew there was some truth in what she’d said. Still Lana couldn’t just let the comment go. “And I thought you were my best friend,” Lana said with more venom than she’d intended.

“You know I am.” Carol reacted as if she’d not noticed Lana’s ire, but Lana knew better since Carol never missed anything. “I love you like a sister, which is why I have to keep it real. I don’t know what the answer is, but you can’t keep punishing her because you turned down the gig in L.A.”

“Did you see what that bitch Janet is doing?”

“You’re better than that.” Carol’s eyebrows drew together. “You don’t call another woman a bitch because she took the jobyouturned down. And yes, I saw she’s been asked to joinThe View.”

Carol was right. She wasn’t that type of woman. She celebrated her sisters’ successes; she didn’t tear them down. “I know,” Lana mumbled. “Ugh, this situation is so fucked up.” She put her closed hand against her forehead and pretended to pound it.

“Let’s grab a cup of coffee, and you can tell me what happened.” Carol slid off her desk and reached out her hand.

Lana took it. “What about the painting?”

“Are you crazy? We can’t hang that thing.”

Lana’s mouth dropped open. “But you said—“

“I had to have some excuse to come talk you down, didn’t I?”

CHAPTER 6

There was no joyon Oakley’s return trip to Two Trees Storm Chasing. Earlier, driving the Oakanator to surprise Lana, she’d relished the shocked looks from other motorists, but now she stared straight ahead at the road. Visions of the hurt in Lana’s eyes made it impossible to concentrate on anything else.

She steeled herself when the familiar sign for Two Trees came into view. Maybe she should bow out of this run and try to patch things up with Lana.No.It would be a punk move to ditch at the last minute, especially when conditions were shaping up to be a storm chaser’s dream.

Oakley wouldn’t let her team down. She snorted. Sure, she saved that honor for Lana, the woman she repeatedly disappointed.Damn it.How could she concentrate on storm chasing when she wasn’t sure if Lana would be there when she returned?

Oakley turned off the road onto the gravel lane. She clunked herself on the side of the head with her open palm, hoping todislodge her thoughts. Surely, Lana wouldn’t do that to her. Why not? She’d shown Lana no consideration, so why should Lana show her any?

As she got closer to the large pole building that served as their headquarters, she noted the frenzied activity out front. She’d delayed returning for as long as possible in hopes of avoiding Asher and Britt.

She pulled the Oakanator in behind the two vans that sported the Two Trees logo on the side. Oakley’s best friend, Britt Ryan, was slowly moving around the lead vehicle with a clipboard in hand, likely doing a safety check. Britt glanced up and frowned at Oakley before she went back to her inspection.

Oakley took a deep breath. She could do this. With as much nonchalance as she could muster, she pushed open the door, grabbed her suitcase from beside her, and swung her leg out of the car.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Britt said before Oakley had both feet on the ground.

“Hello to you, too.” Oakley put on a smile and sauntered toward Britt.

“More than half the guests are here already.” Britt glanced at her watch. “You’ve gotta debrief them in less than an hour.”

“I’m aware,” Oakley said, not trying to hide the defensiveness from her voice.