Page 52 of Crash Over Us

It was a brutal lesson to learn my first summer as a property owner on the island, but this was what water life was about. The beautiful was always accompanied by the brutal.

There was a loud bang against the side of the house, and I jumped. I’d never heard rain like this before. The wind made it land in bursts on the windowpanes. I had to get out of the cottage. I needed to be somewhere I could feel safe around people who cared about me.

I rushed back upstairs and began to throw things in a bag. I tossed in my toothbrush and hairbrush. I filled up two cosmetic bags with shampoos, makeup, and mouth wash. I didn’t know how long I would stay with the O’Connors. I kept adding clothes until the bag was full. I unplugged my lamps and the AC unit. I turned off the lights and headed downstairs.

Nan had told me to go through the fridge. I hadn’t done it yet. If the power went out, I would end up with some unpleasant spoiled food to contend with. My heart raced. I was getting more anxious by the minute. I didn’t think I could handle the fridge right now. I was willing to trade rotten food for my sanity.

I ran to the car and threw one bag into the back seat, and then shielded my face to return to the cottage for another bag. I looked around the kitchen. I wondered if I should take some extra food to the O’Connors. I hesitated. Nothing felt like the right decision, except to get out of here. I slung the second overnight bag over my shoulder.

I took a big breath and grabbed my keys. I turned off the TV and headed for the porch. The rain pelted my legs. I struggled to hold the door closed and lock it against the force of the wind. It had picked up in the past hour.

My hands trembled. I ran to my car and threw the second bag in the back seat with the first. The water was coming up over the bulkhead. Now I understood why Stella was worried about the roads. The parking lot was already flooding at a rapid rate. What if I couldn’t make it to the island road?

Shit. I had left my phone charger upstairs. I pulled the keys out of the ignition and shielded my face against the rain once again. I raced up the stairs and nervously tried to open the door. I dropped the keys into a puddle.

“Shit.” I retrieved them from the water and tried to dry them on the hem of my shorts before inserting them into the lock. It finally turned, and I opened it.

I had to slam the door shut behind me to make it stay. Wind like this was something I had never encountered in New York. I raced upstairs to my bedroom. The phone charger wasn’t next to the bed. I looked everywhere. When I had unplugged the lamps and the AC I couldn’t picture the charger. Was it in my bag after all? What if it had been the first thing I packed?

I tried retracing my steps. It wasn’t in the house. It had to be in the car. The wind howled.

I fought against it to lock the door for the last time, pledging I would not go back in the cottage. I had to get over to the O’Connors’ house while the roads were still passable. If they were still passable. I was out of my element in this storm. I tried to remind myself I was learning. I wouldn’t make the same mistakes for the next storm.

By now, the entire porch was soaked. The rain was coming in higher and faster. My legs were drenched. I was finally able to get the door to latch.

I turned around, ready to run back to my car, worried it might already be too late to make it.

“Margot!” A deep voice echoed over the howl of the wind.

My mouth opened as my body responded to the sound of my name on his lips.

“What are you doing here?” I eked.

Caleb stood next to my car. He stepped toward me. The rain slid down his face. His hair was soaked. His T-shirt clung to his chest, hugging every muscle. The rain dripped from his chin. How long had he been in the rain?

“I promised you I’d always keep you safe. I swore to you I’d come back. No matter what,” he yelled through the violent storm.

I dropped my bag, and the keys landed in the mud.

His arms folded around me. I felt the warmth of his mouth against mine as he curled his fingers into the small of my back. The cold rain pelted us, but I didn’t care. His tongue thrashed wildly. I wanted to climb every inch of him. He was here. He had come back for me. For us.

He lifted me against his chest, pressing me firm and tight to his body. He licked my neck and my throat.

“You left,” I cried. “You left me and didn’t say goodbye.” I grabbed a fistful of wet T-shirt in anger. “You did leave, Caleb O’Connor.”

His hands coasted against the wet shirt and shorts that had stuck to my skin.

“I didn’t get very far,” he growled. “I turned around. I can’t leave you.”

I choked on a sob. I didn’t know loving someone could hurt this much. My body ached for him. My soul burned for him.

“Can you unlock the door?” he asked. “Will you let me back in one more time?”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Caleb

“The time to prepare is over. It’s too late if you aren’t ready. The time to take shelter is now. Repeat. Take shelter immediately.” The radio crackled as if airing the announcement had already taken too much effort.

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