Page 125 of This Time Around
“Tornadoes popping up all over the place.”A few more clicks.“Strong ones, Cooper.Shit.”
“What?”
Goddamn, I needed my laptop.I need a fucking plane.
I needed Rebecca and why was nobody answering my damn calls?
“They’re all over.Three have been reported touched down in the county.Storm’s set to last for hours yet.Coop—”
His voice broke and it hit me we were talking about his niece.Emotion threatened to barrel through my chest and I beat it back as hard as I could.
“Where can I get to?Closest place, Max.Small airfield.Private.Anything.”
“If you wait…this might be for nothing, Cooper.Power might be out.Cell phone towers down.Just because they’re not answering doesn’t necessarily mean—”
I couldn’t let him finish.I refused to think about what not contacting them could mean.“I’m flying out somewhere tonight.Where can I go?”
My taxi was stuck on I-fucking-five.Goddamn, this stretch of highway killed any desire I ever had to ever return to California.For the last month, I’d cursed this highway.Clogged at all hours.Didn’t matter the time.
My nails dug into my knees until pain distracted me.
Moments passed.Moments where I sat in the back of a car.Helpless.Half a country away.
Fuck!
“Lincoln,” Max finally said.“Nebraska isn’t under watch, just rain.It’s still almost a four-hour drive.”
“Get me on it.And get me a car.”
“I really think if you wait—”
“Not waiting, Max.I’m using your plane or I’m sitting my ass in the airport until I can get out and if I have to drive through a fucking F-5 tornado, I don’t really give a shit.I’m getting to Rebecca.”
“Take the plane,” he sighed.
“Thank you.”Sweet, sweet relief.
“And Coop?Tell her I love her.”
Jesus.My eyes burned something fierce and I pressed my fingers and thumb to my closed lids.“Will do.”
