Page 20 of After the Storm

Roman

I was ambushed by your best friends this morning.

Audra

Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I told Ares because I didn’t want it to seem like I was sneaking around and I asked him not to tell Ravyn.

So of course that was the first thing he did. I totally meant to tell you, I just lost track of it with everything last night.

Roman

Sounds like my brother. I’m not mad, just would have gotten breakfast somewhere else if I knew.

Audra

I really am sorry.

Roman

Don’t be, I think it’s good you told Ares, so he doesn’t think we’re hanging out behind his back.

Audra

I’m home now BTW, my mom is here. Thought you’d enjoy a check-in text.

Roman

Thank you. If anything seems off give me a call and I’ll swing by, okay?

Audra

Sounds good, thank you. You’ve been amazing.

She adds a heart and it feels like mine fucking explodes in my chest. I know she probably meant nothing by it, but holy shit—Audra Hart is texting me hearts and thank yous. I’ve been graced with more of Audra in the last few weeks than I have in my life. All I can hope is that I keep seeing more and more of her.

Chapter7

Audra

“Doyou think you could come with us on a rescue today?” Maryanne asks. “I know you don’t have all the training, so we won’t have you doing anything too intense. We’re just short and need some extra hands.” She looks sympathetic, like she doesn’t want to be burdening me with this. I cannot for the life of me figure out why, though. Half of the reason I applied for this job in the first place was because I was praying something like this would happen one day.

It takes all I have not to jump up and down and pull her into a hug. Instead, I keep my composure and smile brightly at her.

“Of course! What’s the story today?” I ask, looking to get more information on what I’m getting my hands on.

“Nothing that requires rehab, thank God. Beached shark is what was called in. You know there’s always a chance that it’ll be a dolphin when tourists call in a shark, but we always stay prepared,” she explains and I nod in response.

“Are we going now?” I ask, standing from my chair.

“Yes, ma’am! Let’s get a rescue under your belt.” She winks at me and I know I’m grinning like an idiot, but I can’t help it. I don’t think I wipe the smile off my face for a single second. Not when we’re loading the van, on the drive there, or even now as we walk down to the beach.

“We’ll start by assessing the situation. Our rescue today specifies the animal is beached, meaning it’s stuck between the shore and deep water due to the change in tide,” Sean, the lead for rescue operations, explains as we finish our trek. I nod, taking it in.

“And what do you need me to do?” I ask, beaming at him.

“For now, let’s see if Rick and I can drag him into deeper water on our own.”

Maryanne cuts in, leaning over to me, “If that’s the case, we won’t be needed at all.”

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