Page 52 of Bloom

“My truck is here,” I tell him for at least the tenth time as we idle outside Bloom. “I’ll get home fine.”

He grunts—doubtful or unhappy, it’s hard to tell. When I reach for the hem of my borrowed sweatshirt, intending to return it to its rightful owner, he grunts again. “Keep it.”

What am I gonna do?Argue? Yeah, right.

What I do do, though, is worse. I’m not sure what possesses me. The spirit of the rain, maybe, or the aftereffects of a really good day. It doesn’t matter; all that matters is I do it.

I kiss Hunter on the cheek.

And then, in an arguably much more embarrassing move, I flee into the stormy night.

Not until I’m inside with the door safely locked behind me does Hunter drive off.

Not until his truck disappears from view do I hurry upstairs.

Leaving my clothes in a wet pile on the floor, I throw myself beneath the shower head, a content sigh escaping me as the boiling spray descends. I don’t linger as long as I want—the water here has a habit of going from hot to not in a split second without warning—and in a matter of minutes, I’m shimmying into blessedly dry pajamas.

And just in time too; I cringe as the lights flicker. I wouldn't be surprised if the power got knocked out. It happens at least once a summer, when the heat breaks in the form of a monster storm and knocks down a power line or two. After checking the generator that keeps the storage room cool in the event of an outage, I hurry around my apartment, digging out all the candles I can find and lighting them, illuminating the room with a soft glow. Despite the fact I’m expecting it, I still jolt when a giant clap of thunder sounds and the world goes dark.

Since cooking dinner is a lost cause, I settle for leftover pizza from a couple of days ago. Drenching a slice in sriracha and taking a bite, I'm trying to decide whether I should read or just pass out for the evening when I hear a boom.

I ignore it, assuming it’s just another bout of thunder, but then I hear it again, and I realize it sounds different. Closer yet quieter. Like knocking, but not quite. More like… thumping.

Setting down my food with a frown, I quietly open the door separating my home from the store and creep down the stairs.Through the thin blinds I closed after watching Hunter drive away, I can just about make out the outline of someone standing outside. They knock again, harder this time, and a bad feeling curdles my gut.

I don’t move. I watch with bated breath, trying not to jump as every bang hits harder. I have no idea how long passes before the shadow backs up. Another immeasurable moment later, and it disappears.

I’m breathing out a sigh of relief when the buzz of my phone scares me half to death.

Unknown: Hey

Only half a heart-pounding second passes before another text chimes.

Unknown: It's Hunter.

My shoulders slump, fingers flying across the screen as I type out a reply, so relieved, I don’t even pause to wonder how he got my number.

Me: Power out at the ranch too?

Hunter: Yeah. Lux is making me stay at the main house.

I snort. Like my mom, Lux loves the rain, especially real storms like this, but I bet the idea of leaving Hunter stranded alone in the dark made her newly softened heart ache.

Hunter: You get home okay?

Me: yeah, thanks.

thanks for the ride too

and for today

The second they all send, I cringe at the trio of texts. Overeager, much? I gnaw on my thumbnail as I wait for a reply, surprised when it comes through almost immediately.

Hunter: You're welcome.

Night, Line. See you tomorrow.

16

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