Chapter 8

The rumbling of thunder had not let up for the last hour, and my nerves were nearly shot at this point. I'd always hated storms. My family and friends used to laugh and tease me whenever Southern California would have one. While they were far less frequent there, I should've been used to them here in Colorado by now. Familiarity didn"t breed acceptance and security, though.

The rain had also been steadily beating down against the heavy paned glass of my window, and I hated that my bed was so close to one. I could hear the heavy drops pattering on the thick glass, as well as the wind as it whipped through the trees outside. After having heard there was a potential of severe weather this evening, I'd had the hindsight to bring in all the items from my balcony that could be blown around or away.

After, I tried to keep my mind off of everything by watching regular television, but the broadcasts kept interrupting to issue or extend storm warnings which only worried me more. This would've been the perfect night to hole up at Syn, but I knew why that was impossible now. Since seeing Easton the past two nights, I didn't want or need anyone else there. He was away for work, so I was stuck home tonight alone.

"I sure wish this would've happened last night. Ugh," I groaned aloud, then turned off the cable channels.

I logged into Netflix in hopes of watching something there that couldn't be interrupted, but a ferocious streak of lightning raced across the night sky and it was followed by two large booms. I was more than officially scared now. Terrified would be a better word, but there was little I could do. At least that was what I thought. As my cell phone rang, I picked it up and smiled immediately as I saw Easton's name flash across the screen.

"Hello," I said quickly answering the call before he hung up.

"Hey, Shelby."

His voice sounded strained and I wrinkled my nose up as I tried to figure out if I had upset him in some way. Not wanting to drive myself crazy by entertaining any number of negative thoughts, I just spit it out there.

"Is everything okay? I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."

As the storm continued to grow worse, I wondered for a moment whether it had sidelined his trip, but then I remembered his flight had been this morning when it had been bright and sunny outside. The weather had been too beautiful to make me feel ashamed or self conscious about staying at Syn all night long.

"I know, and I'm sorry to have worried you–"

"You didn't," I quickly interjected while flinching at the sight of another streak of lightning. "I'm glad you called."

"I am too," he offered up before going silent for a moment. Before I could respond, he cleared his throat. "Your voice sounds off, but I figured it would since Denver is getting a line of storms."

"You know about them?" I asked.

"I get weather alerts all the time, and remembering what you said last night about your fears, I wanted to call and check on you."

I couldn't believe he actually remembered, much less put forth the effort to check on me. A warmth spread through me at that, and I leaned back against my pillows and smiled.

"I guess I am a little out of sorts tonight. It's storming pretty badly."

As if to provide confirmation, the vicious lightning set off a series of loud booms that sounded more like a bomb going off than just normal thunder. Had Easton had not been on the other line to distract me, I likely would've jumped out of my skin by now.

"I wish I was there to take your mind off of them."

I sighed. "You actually are whether you believe it or not. I'm so glad you called. How is your trip so far?"

"It's work, so there's not much more to say. Are you at home?"

"Yes."

"I wish I was there with you. Hell, I'd even take those extra firm beds at Syn right now over these hotel room beds."

"That bad?" I asked.

"Maybe, until I heard your voice. I've been hearing it nonstop like a broken record."

He didn't make it sound like a bad thing, so I played along with him. "What have I been saying?"

He chuckled softly. "My name. You've been screaming it like you did when you came for me. It must be your siren's call."

I closed my eyes and remembered that moment. It was one I had frozen in time, but his recollection of it, and knowing he'd been hearing it in his head made me feel special. I usually was left with doubts, even after a night at Syn. Easton was essentially extinguishing those from my mind.

Boom!

I jumped, then remembered to breathe. "Calm down," he said, and his words sank in right away.

"I'm trying. I should've known better than to move to Denver. If I was in Los Angeles, I would hardly ever have to deal with these."

"You're from L.A.?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm from Carson. Lived there my entire life until college."

"Did you go to Metropolitan State or the University of Colorado?"

"UC," I replied. "They offered me a full scholarship, and I've never left the city since."

"Well, I should send them a thank you card because I'm glad you stayed in Denver. It certainly wouldn't be the same without you there."

Again, I couldn't help but smile. My terror was dissipating quickly, but I still pulled my silk comforter to my chest and rolled over onto my side, taking my cell phone with me. I let it rest next to my head so I wouldn't have to hold it the entire time.

"I've thought about moving several times, but I was able to secure a loan for Oasis right out of school, and it's been easier to expand city-wide than nationwide. I still hope to accomplish that goal one day."

"I'm sure you will. Tell me more about yourself, Shelby."

The way he said my name made me shiver. His voice was one I could listen to recite the old-school phone books or an encyclopedia and never tire of hearing it. I could still not believe we had finally met face to face, so having him here to virtually hold my hand had butterflies fluttering in my chest. It didn't hurt that all my dreams recently had included him, and he was even better than anything I'd ever imagined.

"What do you want to know?"

"Family? Friends? You have any in Denver?"

"My parents moved to Florida a few years ago after Dad got a job selling insurance policies. My mother has always done housecleaning and works at a hotel."

"One like you work in?"

The ones with Oasis were much more glam, but thinking about their current lot in life made me a bit sad, so I lied. "Yes."

"Do you have a lot of friends in the area?"

"I have some, but most are for different things."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked me.

I heard the sound of rustling and knew he was up and moving around. I then heard a creaking sound and assumed he was getting back into bed. I nearly moaned as I imagined him lying naked on the sheets. He looked damn good lying on the massage table.

"Just that I'm closer to some friends more than others. Some I might hang out after work and have drinks with, while others I would meet for coffee in the morning."

"Do you bring any to Syn?"

"God, no," I responded. I felt my cheeks heat up as they turned red at the prospect. "I tend to keep that part of my life to myself. I'm a very private person which is why I'm shocked I'm even telling you any of this."

"I'm easy to talk to," he joked.

"You really are," I agreed, although I was being serious. "You're also distracting but in a good way."

"That's good. I'm glad to be of service. I–"

Before he could finish, I heard two simultaneous beeps, and I quickly looked down at the text message received.

Emergency Alert - National Weather Service: Tornado Warning.

"Oh God," I said as fear filled me.

"Don't be scared, Shelby.Do you have a big closet?"

"No," I cried out unsure of what to do, and also unable to listen to him this time.

"Go into your bathroom. There is no window inside there, right?"

"N-no. There's not a window."

"Okay, so just calm down and go inside there like I said."

I grabbed the sheet and my cell phone, then hurried into my bathroom as he instructed. I quickly closed the door, and just removing some of the proximity to the outside world, it seemed to get exponentially quieter outside of my heavy breathing.

"I'm so scared," I whispered.

"It's going to be okay. I'm watching the storm's path on the radar and I think it's just north of downtown. You live in Lo-Do, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. You're going to be fine. I want you to stay in the bathroom until the warning expires. Once it does, the worst for the night will be over so you can go to bed. I know it's getting late there."

"I'll do that. Do you know how much longer on the warning?"

"It says until 12:15 AM so another ten minutes or so."

Easton then filled that time by reminding me of what we'd done the night before. My body came alive for him once more, and I was inwardly cursing the distance between us. He was so seductive though, even over the phone. By the time the warning had come and gone, I did as he'd asked and soon returned to bed where I'd been when he'd called.

"You were such a good girl tonight that I'll have to reward you when I get back in town."

"When will you be back again?" I didn't think he told me, but I wanted to cover my bases just in case so he wouldn't think I had forgotten.

"I'm not sure, but I'll let you know once I do. In the meantime, I want you to go ahead and go to sleep. We'll talk more later."

"Okay. Goodnight, Easton."

"Goodnight, Shelby." The line went dead right after, and I sighed.