Page 49 of Through the Storms

“There’s this pull. Every time I look at the maps, my attention keeps returning to Oklahoma City, even though there’s no discernible storm activity there—yet.”

“Ah, yet? You’re sensing something’s coming.”

“That’s the problem. I don’t know.”Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.“I can’t figure out if my gut is talking to me or if it’s fear. Fear that I’m skating on thin ice with you.”

Lana wanted to offer Oakley reassurance, but Oakley wasn’t wrong about the thin ice. “You’ve got the best instincts for tornadoes of anyone I’ve ever known.”

“But my heart is fucking up my instincts. Tell me you won’t leave me while I’m gone.”

“Is that what you’re afraid of?”

“Yes.” Oakley’s voice was no louder than a whisper.

“I wouldn’t do that to you.” Lana hoped that was enough and that Oakley wouldn’t push her to say that she’d never leave because Lana couldn’t make that promise. “If it makes you feel any better, the National Weather Service is tracking a potential storm that will likely move into the area Thursday or Friday, so give yourself a break. Maybe your instincts are projecting into the future.”

“I saw the report, but then I wondered if I was just hiding behind it to justify my poor choice.”

Lana had rarely seen Oakley like this and needed to do something to break her spiraling emotions. The keyboard on her desk caught her eye. Now if she could only replicate the sound. She pounded her fist against her desk three times and rattled the keyboard. Would it translate across the phone line?

“What the hell?” Oakley said. “Are you pounding your head against your computer?”

“Why not? You’ve been doing it.”

Oakley laughed. This time, a genuine laugh. “You win. I’ll stop being a head case.”

“So which way you going?”

“Closer to you.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Britt said and gave Oakley a disapproving glare. “Have you been watching the direction the rest of the chasers are going?” When Oakley didn’t answer, Britt pounded her fist on the dash. “North. And you want to go to the east. Why?”

“Jesus, could you keep your voice down?” Oakley glanced over her shoulder at Chloe and Riley, who sat huddled over the open notebook in Riley’s lap. They had the good manners to pretend not to hear the argument in the front seat, but Oakley suspected, despite trying to keep her voice low, that they’d overheard, especially with Britt’s flamboyance.

“Why should I?” Britt said. “Don’t you want our customers to know that they’re paying a small fortune to have us go away from the best storms?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, you’re acting like I’m taking us out of Tornado Alley.” Oakley knew it was a weak defense, but she didn’t have much else.

“We might as well be. Whatever’s going on with Lana is taking you way off your game.”

Oakley wanted to tell Britt that she had a hunch about today’s storms. It wouldn’t be the first time Oakley had gone rogue and went against the crowd. She’d been right more times than not. It was how she made a name for herself, but she knew today was different, and going east wouldn’t produce the best results. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t bring herself to lie to her best friend.

Oakley put her hand against her forehead and ran it over the top of her head. She didn’t care that it was messing up her hair.All she wanted was the thoughts to stop swirling in her mind. “Can you just drive?”

“No.”

Typical Britt.No, that was it, no further explanation. “If we sit here much longer, Asher is gonna be pounding on our door wanting to know what the hell is going on.”

“Good. Maybe he can talk some sense into you.”

Ugh.The last thing she needed was Britt and Asher teaming up against her. She shot another glance over her shoulder. The passengers certainly didn’t need to witness that. “How about we compromise?”

“I’m listening.” The set of Britt’s jaw said she may be listening but wasn’t open to what Oakley might offer.

“We need to go east anyway before we decide whether we go north or continue to the east. We discuss it farther on the drive.”

Britt glanced at the GPS mounted on the dashboard and pointed. “Traffic should be light, so it won’t take much more than ten minutes to get there. You better talk fast.” Britt put the van in drive.

Good.With them moving, hopefully, the passengers would have something more to focus on than the conversation between her and Britt. “Hey,” Oakley called out. “We came in after dark last night. For those that have never been to Wichita, now’s the time to check it out.”