Page 137 of Through the Storms

Riley shrugged. “It was the last one. I won’t be needing to come back around anymore.”

Chloe’s heart sank. Of course, with everything over, there would be no need for Riley to come back to Summerton. “I thought I heard something about a ceremony of some kind.”

“Oh, yeah.” Riley picked at her fingernail. “I’ll be back for that.”

Hurt gripped Chloe. Why hadn’t Riley wanted her to know? Chloe narrowed her eyes and studied Riley. Something was off.

Red climbed up Riley’s neck. “Fine. If you want to know, the mayor wants to give me some kind of plaque or something.” Riley shook her head. “I told him I didn’t need it. I was just doing my job. Doing what comes naturally.”

Chloe let out her breath.Good.Riley wasn’t trying to hide from Chloe. She was just embarrassed by the attention. “I’d say you did more than that. Can I come?”

“If you want.”

“Do you want me there?”

Riley met Chloe’s gaze. “What are we doing?”

Chloe sat up straighter, surprised by Riley’s question. “Are you angry at me?”

“No.” Riley’s eyes filled with horror. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to think that.”

“Then why do things feel so weird between us?” Chloe surprised herself by the question.

“Nothing ever really got resolved, and then all this happened.” Riley rubbed her hands together. “I don’t know what to say to you. Where to even start.”

“I feel the same.”

Riley motioned to the bag that Chloe had forgotten. “Maybe you should take out the rest.”

Odd.It didn’t seem to be the time for gifts, but Chloe moved the bag toward her. She pulled out a large bag of M&M’s. “My favorite. You remembered.”

Riley nodded.

While the gesture was sweet, Chloe wondered why Riley had broken the conversation over a bag of M&M’s.

“There’s something else in the bottom.”

Chloe peeked inside and pulled out a small flash drive. “What’s this?”

“Oakley and Lana gave it to me. They’ve been holding on to yours. They weren’t sure if you were ready to see it or if you would even want it.”

“What is it?”

“Do you have a laptop?”

Chloe rose and grabbed her laptop off the kitchen table.

“If you’re not ready to see it, I understand,” Riley said.

Chloe put the laptop on the coffee table and sat. This time a little closer to Riley. “Is this what I think it is?”

“It’s the video from our trip. The one that theinvisiblecameraman shot. It was part of our storm-chasing package.”

Chloe’s pulse quickened. She shook her head. “I’m not sure I’m ready to see tornadoes any time soon.”

“It’s not just tornadoes, I promise,” Riley said. “You might want to see it.”

“You’ve watched it?”