Page 26 of Through the Storms

“Sold,” Britt said. She smiled at Chloe. “I apologize in advance if you hear things you don’t want to.”

Chloe grinned. “I have a teenage daughter.”

“Well, damn, you two are perfect for the front.” Britt motioned toward the open side door. “Enter the chariot.”

Riley took a step back and put her hand on Chloe’s elbow. “After you.”

Riley swore that Chloe’s cheeks reddened, but it was probably just the way the sunlight hit her.

As soon as Chloe stepped into the van, she stopped, and Riley ran into the back of her. “Oh, shit, sorry,” Riley said. “Why’d you stop?”

Chloe took another step inside to make room for Riley. She pointed to the front seats. “Um, we didn’t think it through. The front seats are next to each other.”

Riley glanced around the empty van. There were three rows of seats for passengers. The chairs were plush and oversized.Nice.An aisle ran down the middle of the van and separated the middle and back seats, so everyone had a window. Because of the passenger entrance, the front seats were positioned together. “The newlyweds are gonna be pissed when they see this.”

“Uh, do you think we should give themourseats?” Chloe appeared to be nervous, but that seemed silly. Surely, the newlyweds would get over it.

Riley studied Chloe and noted her furrowed brow. Something was definitely up. “Do you not want these seats?”Duh.Suddenly, it hit Riley. Obviously, Chloe wanted her own space. “We can go to the back.” Riley took a stride toward the rear.

“But I thought you wanted to listen to Britt and Oakley.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m sure you’d prefer not being crammed in next to me all day, especially when you have to share a room with me at night. Might be too much togetherness.”

Chloe grabbed the bottom seam of her shirt and ran her fingers over the material, but she made no move to follow Riley to the back. “I don’t mind.”

Riley froze. “Are you sure?”

“We said we’d be honest with each other.” Chloe smiled, but she continued to twist the bottom of her shirt. “I like these seats, but I’m sure you came on this trip alone to get some peace and quiet.”

Riley laughed. “Sure, nothing says peace and quiet like chasing tornadoes.”

Chloe laughed and let go of her shirt. “Point taken. Window or aisle?”

The others were just outside the door talking to Britt. Riley’s gaze shifted to the door. Chloe must have understood her concern since she practically dove into the seat. Riley scurried back to the front and slid into the seat beside her.

Both were laughing as the others entered the van.

“Apparently, you talked to Lana,” Asher said to Oakley as he did a final inspection of the emergency equipment lined up outside of the building. He was always the most thorough and insistedon doing the final check himself before everything was loaded onto the vans.

“How’d you guess?”

“That stupid grin that hasn’t left your face since you showed uplateto the meeting.” He checked several items off the list and closed the back of the van. “Or the spittle dripping down your chin while you watched her give the weather report.”

“But damn, didn’t she look hot?”

“Eww. Stop being such a trollop. I refuse to look at my sister’s girlfriend like that.”

“Oh, wow, so there’s one woman in the world safe from your charms.”

“He chuckled. “She wouldn’t be safe, either, but I’m throwing you a bone. You know since you’re so gangly and unattractive.”

She slapped him on the arm. It was their typical sibling warfare. Asher turned people’s heads wherever he went, and he knew it, but he also knew they looked too much alike for her to be unattractive. Still, he couldn’t resist throwing a jab at her whenever he could.

“But I wouldn’t mind getting to know your passenger Chloe,” Asher said. “Do you want to do a swap?”

“No.” Oakley scowled. “I’m not trading my passengers.”

“Aw, come on. She’s here solo, and I have a couple solos in my van.” He shut the case and tossed it onto the dolly. “Hey, Todd,” he called. “The gear can be stowed.”