Page 83 of The Storm

I grab my stuff and glance out the window, absently scanning the driveway. The lack of cars there makes me do a double take.

“Um, where the hell is my car?” I ask.

He glances out the window too. “I’m guessing Dia hasn’t gotten home yet.”

I pull out my phone and scan my messages. Nothing from Dia, but Dad has texted me that he and Mom have decided to stay at a hotel after their date night.

“Great,” I mutter. “Just great.”

I rub my fingertips over my forehead. Late on my first day back. Fantastic. This is just so fucking?—

Fingertips brush the back of my neck.

“I’ll drive you.”

My shoulders slump now that my spiraling has been effectively and decisively cut short.

“You don’t have to.”

“Do you have a lot of other options?”

I purse my lips. I’m sure there’s something.

“I want to, Blue,” he says.

Nick never just says things to be polite. Which means… he means it. I turn around and lean closer. My lips touch his. It’s soft and short and chaste, but somehow no less impactful than all the needy kisses from last night.

His Adam’s apple moves when he swallows roughly. “I’ll grab the keys.”

I smile as he walks out of the kitchen and make my way outside.

The first dayis long and exhausting, but I also fall back into it so easily that by the time I’m done, it feels like my last shift was only yesterday and not almost nine months ago.

Once everything is set back into place for tomorrow and the doors are locked, I walk toward the parking lot with Isla and Ben, who’ve both been working here as long as I have.

“You guys want to grab something to eat?” Isla asks. “Celebrate Indy’s first day back?” She bumps me with her shoulder.

Ben glances at me with a smile and shrugs.

“Sure,” I say.

We get burgers and fries from a nearby diner and hang out, talking and laughing.

A few hours later I stand in front of the diner. It’s getting dark now, and it’s been a long day. I yawn as we say our goodbyes.

“You got a ride?” Ben asks. I almost say no, because fuck knows whether Dia will even pick up. But then I get an idea, and I’m not good with temptation.

“I’m good,” I say.

They walk one way, and I head in the opposite direction.

I’m not even sure if Nick is still at work. Not like he told me anything about his schedule. His car’s not out front, but when I make my way around the corner, I find it in the employee parking lot.

I go to his car and settle in to wait.

It takes him about an hour, but then the door opens, and he walks out.

He stops for a second when he sees me leaning against his car. His eyes move up and down me, taking me in. All of me. Slowly and thoroughly.