Page 129 of Out of the Storm

“Yeah,” Jeff said, nuzzling him back. “I know.”

Holding each other tight, they waited in the basement for a long time, each rumble and creak of Gary’s old house sending shivers of fear up Jeff’s spine. Mostly, it was silent.

Even though the tornado had been in full view, Jeff could have sworn that they hadn’t been in its path, and he had to hope, then, that Gary’s house was safe. After many minutes—minutes that felt likehours—Jeff thought they should check on everything.

Tornadoes moved fast.And ones that big, they were merciless.

Knowing they needed to face whatever was waiting for them upstairs, Jeff tried to find Gary’s lips for a soft, reassuring kiss but inadvertently nudged Gary’s slightly swollen nose instead. Gary hissed in pain.

“Sorry,” Jeff whispered. “I wanted to kiss you.”

“Let me try,” Gary whispered back.

And then Gary captured Jeff’s mouth in a kiss.

Shaken from the intensity of the storm, the two continued to kiss, their lips meeting over and over and over, rather than try to face what may lie ahead, and some time passed before Jeff finally pulled away.

“Gare,” he said, “we should see what it’s like up there.”

“Okay,” Gary whispered back. “I’m worried, though.”

“We’d have felt it if your house fell. We’d have even heard a thud from here if a big enough branch had fallen on it. I think we’re okay.”

“I know, but . . .”

“Niles.”

“Yeah. It’s my home. I love it here. People may have been—”

“I know.”

Together, they walked up the staircase.

Outside, everything seemed so peaceful. Gary’s portion of the street had barely been touched. Some trees were missing theirbranches. Patio furniture had been knocked over. Trash cans were overturned. Otherwise, everything seemed okay.

But then sirens started to sound. Fire trucks, maybe, or ambulances.

“Do you think your house is okay?” Gary asked.

“Only one way to find out.”

They hopped in Jeff’s car. Once they reached the intersection of Niles Vienna Road and Youngstown Warren Road, maybe a bit less than half a mile from Jeff’s house, they were unable to pass. Downed trees and power lines and scattered building materials littered the road, some of it blocking their path.

“Let’s walk,” Jeff said as he pulled over to the shoulder.

Gary had been quiet for most of their drive, just staring out the windshield of the car at the devastation around them, but he finally spoke up, his voice shaky. “Wow, it looks pretty bad out there. I can’t see all that well, but it’s terrible, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it is.”

The two climbed out of the car. Jeff jogged around to the other side to meet Gary and immediately reached for Gary’s hand.

“Uhm, Jeffrey, I’m not sure if we should—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jeff said curtly, keeping his hand outstretched. “I’m not letting you walk by yourself while you’re still struggling to see. No one will bother us right now. Not with the neighborhood like this.”

“Okay.” Gary took Jeff’s hand, threading their fingers together. “Thanks.” After a few steps, Gary looked over at Jeff and said, “I feel so safe with you.”

Jeff’s chest warmed, and he smiled a little. “I feel safe with you too.”

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