Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
“Did you hit your head?” I took a step closer, eyes scanning for anything more serious.
“I’m fine, Tori. You’re soaked to the bone, and I’m soaked to the bone and covered in mulch and mud. It’s not that different.”
A laugh bubbled up in my throat. I started to let it out, then bit it back with a smirk. “You look like a Wookiee.”
He shrugged, the corners of his mouth pulling into a crooked grin. “It happens. We should get downstairs.”
“Yeah. You need to get cleaned off.”
“Not that—well, not just that. But also the tornado watch.”
“I’ve never heard of one this time of year.” I grabbed a towel from the hall closet and handed it to him.
“Me either. But look how fast that storm rose.” He ran the towel over his face. “I don’t particularly trust it. I feel better downstairs—with both of us downstairs, I mean.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Let me wring out my book bag and change, and I’ll meet you down there.”
I’d stayed in Lucas’s room last night, so I went in there and located my warm sweatshirt. I flipped the light switch without thinking and then shook my head when nothing happened.
Right. The power was out.
Good thing there was a window—though the storm didn’t let much light through. I changed into dry clothes, grabbed a couple bottles of water from the dark fridge, and headed downstairs with the flashlight on my phone lit.
Jayden was in the makeshift bedroom. His shirt was off, and there were twigs and leaves in his hair. Poor guy.
Now was not the time to appreciate how he looked with his shirt off… even though I otherwise definitely would have.
“Do you know if there are any flashlights? Real ones? Or candles?” I asked, glancing toward the dark side of the basement.
He gestured vaguely toward the cluttered corner. “Probably something in that pile, if we look long enough.”
He raked a hand through his hair, dislodging a few soggy leaves onto the floor.
“I’d love a shower,” he muttered, “but it’s pitch black in there.”
“But you’ve got the light from your phone—and you could take mine, too.” I crossed the room, handing it over. “You look kind of cold. And disheveled. Not sure I’ve ever used that word to describe someone before, but it kind of fits.”
He laughed, taking the phone. “I have to admit, a warm shower sounds pretty good at the moment.”
“But the power’s out,” I reminded him gently.
“The water heater is gas, not electric,” he explained. “So yeah, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take your nice offer of using your phone. I mean, I know where all the important parts are, but it would be nice to be able to see a little.”
“Sure.” I handed it over fully, letting the light transfer into his palm.
“That’s going to make it pretty dark down here for you.”
“I’m fine,” I said, waving it off. “It’s a little lighter in the living room. I’ll go there.”
He hesitated, frowning slightly.
“It’s just a tornado watch, not even a warning. I’ll be fine,” I told him.
“All right.” He gave me one last look. “But if it gets worse, come back down here, okay?”
“Sure. Enjoy your shower.”
“Thanks.”
35
JAYDEN
I’d just gotten the water running, letting the spray warm up a bit, when I heard the bathroom door creak open. I turned my head, surprised but not alarmed, and there she was: Tori, stumbling inside with a candle held triumphantly in one hand.
“Found one!” she said, breathless. “I thought…”
She trailed off the second her eyes landed on me. I mean, I was obviously not wearing a single stitch of clothing, and that fact hadn’t quite registered for her until right then. I could see it in the way her cheeks went pink, and in the way she seemed to forget why she’d come in the first place.
I tilted my head, half-smiling. “Thanks.”
She blinked. “Oh—right.” She recovered, just enough to set the candle on the sink. She used a lighter she’d apparently dug out of a kitchen drawer and got a small flame going. It flickered, casting a warm, soft glow on the tile walls.
“Better than just phone flashlights,” I said. The water pounded behind me, steam filling the space. For a moment, I thought she was going to go, but she seemed frozen in place, staring at me. At least her gaze was on my face, but even in the low light I could see the flush on her cheeks.
I cleared my throat, feeling weirdly self-conscious, which was new for me. Normally, being naked wasn’t a big deal, especially in a dark house with no power, but something about Tori seeing me like this made my brain short-circuit. Not that I was embarrassed, exactly—just… curious about what she was thinking.
I reached for the shower curtain, about to pull it across. “Um,” I said, half-joking, because that was my default when I didn’t know what else to do, “do you want to join me?”