Page 27 of Through the Storms

Oakley put her hand on her hip and glared at him as he handed off the dolly to his driver. Once he looked back at her, she pointed. “Absolutely not. Besides, I think Riley might give you a run for your money.”

“What? No. God, I swear you see lesbians lurking around every corner. I heard Chloe say she’d just been through an ugly divorce.” He must have seen the look on her face because he added, “From herhusband.”

Oakley shrugged. “Lots of women are straight, until they’re not.”

He rolled his eyes. “We’re heading toward Wichita? Any particular reason?”

It wasn’t lost on Oakley that he changed the subject, but she’d go with it since they needed to move out soon. “Lana told me to,” Oakley said, knowing it would get under his skin.

“Any other reason?” Apparently, he wasn’t going to take her bait.

“It was between Wichita and Amarillo. I don’t think we could go wrong going either direction. But…”

“But?”

“Nothing.” She waved him off and picked up her equipment case.

“Bullshit. You aren’t getting away with that.” His eyes held a mixture of challenge and amusement.

She dropped her case to the ground. “Don’t you feel it in the air? Like something big is coming.”

“Not very scientific of you,” he said, but his eyes showed no sign of mocking her.

“You didn’t answer the question. Do you feel it?”

“We’re scientists.”

“Fine.” Oakley smiled. His non-answer told her everything she needed to know. “Are you seeing anything on the radar?”

He nodded. “Maybe. Too soon to say for sure, but we could be in for some rough times around here if everything holds.”

“Exactly. That’s why I want to stick close, so we can get back in a hurry should things heat up.”

“And Wichita is about a hundred miles closer to Oklahoma City.”

Oakley smiled. “See, you aren’t as dumb as you look.” She picked up her case. “Let’s blow this joint.”

CHAPTER 13

After an hour onthe road, the noise level had finally calmed down. Chloe’s cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. The shenanigans had begun as soon as they’d pulled out of the Two Trees lot.

Britt and Oakley had gotten into a spirited debate, one might say argument, about the best route to Wichita. Eventually, Britt won when she reminded Oakley whose hands gripped the steering wheel.

Not to be outdone, Oakley had challenged Britt to an eighties and nineties sing-off and enlisted the passengers’ help. Those in the left-hand seats joined Britt and the right-hand Oakley. It turned out neither could sing, but what they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm.

Soon the entire van was singing, the teams long forgotten. They’d finally called a draw and declared everyone a winner before things settled down.

“Those two are so funny,” Chloe said to Riley.

Riley still sported a huge smile. “We scored getting paired with them. They remind me of Reed Timmer and Joel Taylor.”

“Who?” Chloe scrunched up her nose.

“Seriously? You’re on a storm-chasing tour, and you don’t know Timmer?”

“Afraid not.” Chloe put her hand against her chest and feigned fear. “Does that mean they might kick me out?”

“If Oakley finds out, maybe. He’s like her idol.”