Blown Away

by Brenda Rothert

  I shrugged and returned to the front desk, grabbing a peanut butter cup from the candy bowl we kept on the counter. The bowl was almost empty, so I added a line to my list of supplies needed from Walmart.

  “You going to Walmart soon?” Shayla asked as she approached the desk to look at her schedule.

  An outing sounded good right now. It was that dead zone in the afternoon when motivation was hard to come by. “I think I will.”

  “You mind picking up lunch for me?” She reached into her apron for some bills, knowing I never minded.

  “No problem,” I said.

  Jackie furrowed her brow, looking stumped. “I know there was something we needed, but what is it?”

  “Candy? That’s on my list.”

  She nodded vigorously, her pile of bright red curls shaking. “Yes! And then there was…”

  “Iced tea?”

  “That’s it!” She nodded. “You and those lists, Drew. You keep this place running, I’m tellin’ ya.”

  I smiled as I took Shayla’s money and the salon’s credit card from the locked register. It was a good feeling, being appreciated by my bosses. I’d taken on pretty much everything but the actual styling work at the salon, even preparing the records for tax time last month. I also did the payroll and had renegotiated the contract with a supplier to get a better deal for the salon.

  Shayla and Jackie were capable of that work, but they had full schedules of clients and families at home. Our new balance worked well for all of us.

  But was this it for me? I wondered as I slipped on a hoodie and left through the back door. Did I want to be anything other than a glorified shampoo girl at To Dye For? I did have a two-year college degree, but it wasn’t much use in such a small town.

  Not to mention that Shayla and Jackie were like family to me. Ashley had been my roommate in the basement apartment until six months ago, when she’d moved in with her firefighter boyfriend. She’d gotten a teaching job at the elementary school we’d attended as kids.

  Ashley and I still talked often, but I saw Shayla and Jackie more than anyone else. The salon was my home base, my comfort zone. In the months after Colby’s death, I’d clung to the sense of normalcy it gave me.

  But I was starting to feel a little restless. For several years, my life had been about reaching a goal. I’d waitressed, delivered newspapers, and even babysat to bring in enough money to keep the lights on and the pantry full when I was in college. And things hadn’t lightened up much when Ashley was in college and Daniel was in high school. She’d insisted on being the one to help Daniel with money now that he was in college. He had a full scholarship, and she gave him a couple hundred dollars a month to pay for extras so he could stay focused on his classes.

  And that left me…where? I was like a ship rolling along in the sea with no course. It was unsettling. Working hard, having few options, and scraping by was what I knew best. But this aimlessness had started keeping me up at night.

  The Lipton Walmart was on the outskirts of town. I parked and went in, nodding at a woman I recognized as a customer of the salon.

  I went to the aisle where the iced tea was first, bending to get a case from a low shelf.

  “Can I get that?” a male voice asked behind me. I turned and looked up into the face of Murph, the leader of Colby’s storm-chasing team.

  “Drew,” he said, grinning and pushing up his glasses.

  “Hey, Murph.” I stood and put the case of tea in my basket. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. It’s good.” He nodded at his full shopping cart. “Just stocking up for a chasing trip.”

  I didn’t know Murph well, but Colby had always spoken highly of him. He was close to thirty with a wiry build and a Red Sox hat in bad need of washing. It was hard to imagine such an unimposing man leading a team with Aiden and Tex on it. They both had at least a foot and fifty pounds on him.

  “Where to?” I asked.

  “Oklahoma. To start, anyway. We may move at some point.”

  “Sounds like fun.” I gave him an appreciative smile. “Colby really loved his work on your team. He talked about you guys all the time.”

  Murph’s expression clouded. “Yeah, it isn’t the same without him. I’ve thought about you since he passed, hoping you’re…you know, okay and stuff.” He pushed up his glasses again.

  “I am. I’ve been thinking today about finding a new challenge, and that feels good.”

  He arched his brows. “Yeah? Like what? Skydiving, maybe?”

  “Not quite that challenging,” I said, laughing. “I don’t even know. Just…something new. I’m happy working at the salon, but wishing I could try something new at the same time.” I waved a hand dismissively. “It’s probably just a mood. I’m sure it’ll pass.”

  “Grab hold of the mood before it passes,” Murph said seriously. “Life’s too short not to.”

  His words sent a small shiver over my skin. There was truth there, and we both knew it all too well.

  “Anyway…” He cleared his throat. “If you ever decide to try storm chasing, you’ll always have a spot on my team.”

  My mouth dropped open and I broke into a laugh. “Me? I’ve got no storm-chasing skills. Unless you guys need your hair shampooed after a chase.”

  “You don’t have to be experienced. I’d pair you with someone who is. We can always use another set of hands.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded and pushed up his glasses again. “I’ve got a multiyear grant that covers our food and fuel and expenses, but I can’t pay a salary to anyone. It’s tough to find good people who can take time away from their jobs and lives to do this.”

  “I could,” I said softly, my mind spinning. “I mean, I could.”

  “Yeah?” His eyes lit hopefully. “Would you want to?”

  “Yes.”

  Had I just said that out loud? I realized I had, and it was true. I’d always admired the storm-chasing work Colby did. Maybe I could do it, too.

  “Yes,” I repeated. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to come. Anytime.”

  “Great. We’re heading out Friday morning if you want to ride with us. Or you can join us at the campground later.”

  His mention of a campground reminded me that the team lived in Murph’s motorhome while chasing. Aiden had a camper because apparently the motorhome setup was too much togetherness for him.

  “Let me check with my bosses and get back to you,” I said.

  He pulled a wrinkled business card from his pocket and handed it to me. “Give me a call. Hope you can join us, Drew.”

  I nodded and waved as he headed off with his cart. A surge of excitement made me want to break out in a dance right there in Walmart.

  The idea had taken root, and I shopped quickly. By the time I got back to the salon and walked in with my purchases, my excitement had an edge of nervousness. I was handling a lot at the salon. What if Shayla and Jackie didn’t want me to go?

  By the time they both had a break in their schedules and came over to the desk, my heart was pounding. I passed Shayla her sandwich and she leaned against the counter and unwrapped it.

  “You’re having peanut butter cups for lunch?” she said to Jackie, arching a brow in amusement.

  “One of those days,” Jackie said, popping open a can of soda.

  “So,” I said, clearing my throat and tucking my hair behind my ears. “I’ve got something to ask you guys.”

  They both looked at me, waiting.

  “Yeah.” I smiled weakly. “I know this is out of the blue, but I’m wondering if I can take some time off.”

  “Of course,” Shayla said, waving a hand. “You don’t have to ask us. Just put it on the schedule.”

  “You never take time off.” Jackie reached for another piece of candy. “It’s about damn time. You need a break, girl.”

  “Are you going somewhere?” Shayla’s expression brightened hopefully.

  “I might be gone a month,” I blurted out. “And I want to
go soon. Like, Friday soon. I am going somewhere. Oklahoma.”

  They both looked at me, their expressions silently telling me I’d have to give them more than that.

  I sighed deeply. “Storm chasing. I’m going storm chasing with Colby’s old team.”

  Shayla stared at me silently, her lips parted with surprise. Jackie, on the other hand, had plenty to say.

  “Drew, are you out of your ever-lovin’ mind? Why the hell would you want to haul off and chase tornadoes? It’s dangerous. Is this about Colby? Is it him you’re trying to chase after in a way? Because there are better—”

  “No,” I said, stopping her midsentence. “I know the rest of the team. They’re good at what they do. And I need…something. Something new.”

  “Well, take up knitting,” Jackie muttered. “Or square dancing. Hell, even taking up drinking would be a better idea than driving into a tornado.”

  A client walked in the front door and we all turned.

  “Hey, Jules,” Jackie said, standing up. “How are you, my dear?”

  “Not bad.”

  I looked between my two bosses. “Don’t worry about me. Is it okay if I go? Will you guys be all right without me for that long?”

  “Of course it’s okay,” Shayla said. “My niece, Dana could use some extra money. She’ll come in and help out.”

  A wave of worry hit me. “Please don’t replace me. I need this job. And also…I love you guys.”

  Jackie gave me a pointed look. “We love you, too. And that’s why I don’t want you running into tornadoes like a damn fool.”

  I smiled at her concern. She shot me a look that said This conversation isn’t over before turning her attention to her client.

  “You always have a job here, Drew,” Shayla said. “We’ll miss you awful bad, though. A month is a long time.”

  “Maybe I’ll be back sooner. Who knows? I just need to try something new.”

  “Is it about Colby?” she asked softly.

  I shook my head. “It’s about me. I can’t really explain it, but it feels right.”

  “Then go for it. And keep in touch while you’re gone.”

  She smiled and went back to eating her sandwich. I started thinking about all the things I needed to do to leave the salon’s books and supplies in good shape before I left. But my mind kept wandering to excited thoughts of storm chasing.

  Storm chasing? Really? Practical, levelheaded Drew McGovern, a storm chaser?

  It was very out of character for me, but somehow I knew that was exactly why I needed to do it.

  Chapter 4

  Aiden

  I ran a paintbrush coated with dark cherry stain down a post on my cabin’s front porch. It was good to be working outside on a warm, sunny day like this. A breeze rustled the leaves on the big trees nearby.

  I was getting down to the details on the outside of the house. Just staining the decks and railings and landscaping. I’d wondered if I’d feel any satisfaction when I got to this point.

  I didn’t. My satisfaction had come from knowing I could pour myself into this house for years, and I hated knowing it was coming to an end. I was already thinking of ways I could stretch it a little further. Maybe a nice big shed or a shelter on the lake where I could store fishing supplies.

  Probably both.

  A red pickup truck pulled onto the long gravel road that led back to the cabin. The driver parked and got out and I recognized Bob Nixon, the chief of Lipton’s fire department. He was an old-timer and a veteran, and I thought a lot of him.

  “Aiden,” he said, nodding at me.

  “Bob.” I shook his hand and he gave the cabin an appreciative glance.

  “She’s lookin’ good. You movin’ in soon?”

  I shrugged. “Still lots of interior work to do. And I’m booked ’til the end of the year between storm chasing and teaching classes.”

  He folded his arms and looked away.

  “You come out to see the cabin, or is there something else you needed?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” He kicked the gravel beneath his feet. “We’re looking hard for a new director for the county EMS.”

  Emergency Medical Services would’ve been a good fit for me if I wanted to be tied to a job that kept me in one place, but I didn’t.

  “I appreciate you thinking of me, but I’m still not interested,” I said.

  “I know you said that, but…” He took off his baseball hat and put it back on again. “Is it the salary? You tell me what you need and I’ll tell the board to pay it. We really need a man like you, Aiden. You’ve got field expertise in technical rescue and great leadership skills. To be honest, we don’t just need a man like you, we need…you. There’s no one like you. We’ve searched.”

  I sighed and looked out at the shining lake behind my cabin.

  “I love what I’m doing too much, Bob. I teach when I want, where I want, and I still have time to lead mountain-climbing trips and storm chase.”

  “We could work around that stuff.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to be tied down. I appreciate the offer, but it’s an important job, and it needs to go to someone who really wants it.”

  He nodded, his expression dropping with disappointment. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.”

  He left, his truck kicking up a cloud of dust from the driveway. I went back to staining the porch, taking a break for a drink in my camper when I was done.

  I scrolled through my contacts in search of a woman I could have no-strings sex with tonight. They were few and far between. Most women who said they didn’t want more were lying. Sometimes they were even lying to themselves.

  Molly? No, she talked constantly, even during sex. Fuck that noise. I scrolled on.

  Jen? Eh…probably not. She was hot as hell, but she always wanted to cuddle afterward and I could tell she wanted more from the longing look in her eyes when we said goodbye.

  Any woman who got with me should know better than to expect that. I didn’t make love. I fucked women until they were moaning and desperate. I told them all the dirty things they denied loving outside the bedroom. Their bodies told a different story, though. They loved being told to deep-throat my cock. They came hard—and loud—when I spanked their asses and rewarded them for taking it afterward.

  Sex and love were very different things. And I was only interested in one of them. Sex was distant and raw. Pretty much the polar opposite of love.

  Shana. I stopped scrolling and stared at her name. Shana fucked with my head, because she looked so much like Drew. She had the same light blond hair and toned, sexy body. I still felt guilty about the time I’d fucked her from behind and pretended she was Drew.

  I stood, stuck the phone in my pocket and headed back outside. Didn’t look like I was getting laid before my storm-chasing trip. It was all the same. I’d work on the porch until sundown, catch a baseball game on TV in my camper, and go to sleep.

  I’d have plenty of excitement starting tomorrow, anyway.

  —

  I drove my truck under a familiar canopy of trees at Red Road Campground before taking a turn down a gravel road to a large campsite that bordered a forest.

  The worn-out red picnic table was still there. Tex was reclining in a lawn chair next to it, a can of cheap beer resting in the attached plastic cup holder. His trademark dark brown cowboy hat covered his face. Bastard was probably asleep right now. How the hell he could sleep alone, outdoors and exposed, I’d never understand. But that was the soldier in me.

  That was typical Tex, though. It was eerie how much this storm-chasing season felt just like old times in so many ways, but off in a huge one.

  Colby wasn’t beside me right now. He usually chattered nonstop when we were driving to a chase. I’d always told him it annoyed the shit out of me, but today the truck had been too quiet. We’d cut last year’s chasing trip short when he was killed, and nothing had felt right for me since.

  When I parked and stepped out of the
truck, Tex jumped at the sound of my door closing. He slid the hat up from his face and grinned at me.

  “Aiden O’Neal. How are ya, brother?”

  “Can’t complain.”

  He reached into the cooler and pulled out a can of beer, holding it out to me. “Take a load off, man.”

  “I have to get my camper set up.”

  “You want some help?”

  I shook my head. “You keep working on that tan. I’ve got it.”

  He finished the beer in his cup holder, crushed the can, and tossed it into a nearby trash can before popping the top on the one he’d offered me. He reclined and slid the hat back down over his face.

  I moved my camper to its usual spot at the edge of the campsite and hooked up the water and electricity. As soon as I tested them and got shit for water pressure, I knew I had a water line leak.

  Since it was May, the worst of the summer heat wasn’t here yet. Still, I had to run my forearm across my brow to wipe away the sweat before sliding under my camper on my back.

  Now, where the hell was that line again? I hadn’t been underneath the camper since last year’s storm-chasing season. I pulled my cellphone from my jeans pocket to get some light, but before I had time to turn it on, a stream of water hit my face and answered my question.

  “Damm it,” I muttered.

  I slid out, grabbed my toolbox from inside the camper and got to work splicing the line back together. I was almost done when I heard the sounds of an approaching engine, car doors closing, and voices.

  Murph? Had to be. No one else camped near our site, which was one of the reasons we liked Red Road so much. We sometimes kept crazy hours when we were chasing.

  I got out from underneath the camper and saw Murph’s monstrous motorhome parked nearby. But as for no one but the crew being here, that didn’t seem to be the case. A lithe blonde with her back to me caught my eye and I let my glance linger on her round, firm ass. She pulled her hair up with her hands and my pulse kicked up a notch at the familiarity I felt. It couldn’t possibly be Drew. She had taken over my dreams a long time ago, and now she was apparently seeping into my consciousness as well. When I looked at this woman’s long lines, I saw Drew.