Page 69 of To the Moon and Back
Jenna did as he asked. She grabbed his waist and held on like her life depended on it. For all Brady knew, it did. He wrapped his arms around her body and clung to her.
“Jesus, help us!” Jenna cried out the words.
And even there, hanging on to each other beneath a picnic table in the middle of what seemed like a tornado, Brady felt the name grate against his soul. Jesus ? She was crying out to Him now? The flicker of a thought ran through his mind.
Why would Jesus help them? He hadn’t helped their parents.
Stop, he told himself. Focus . The most important thing was protecting her. The shelter started to shake and suddenly sections of wood pulled away and disappeared.
Jenna buried her face in Brady’s chest. She was still praying, at least it sounded that way. It was too loud to hear her. Brady put one hand over her head and the other tight against her back, holding her as close as he could.
Next it was the roof. The half by the entrance collapsed in a sudden ground-shaking crash. Their bikes were buried in the rubble.
Right where they had been standing.
Jenna had her eyes closed, her face still pressed against him. She didn’t know yet what had almost happened. The storm roared overhead and then, gradually, the sound began to lessen. More thunder and lightning, but the tornado sirens stopped.
He breathed against her hair, holding her. That was close. Way too close. Adrenaline continued pumping through his arms and legs. “It’s okay.” His heart still raced. “It’s over.”
They climbed out from under the table and Jenna held on to him again. Only then did she see the collapsed roof and their bikes, somewhere under the debris. “If we hadn’t . . .” She turned and eased her arms around his waist. “If you hadn’t . . .”
She didn’t have to finish her sentence. If they hadn’t gotten under the table, they could’ve been killed. Brady had responded to storm scenes where people had died in lesser situations.
A ton of roofing and brick and wood collapsing over them? He shuddered. “I’m glad we moved when we did.”
“It all happened so fast.” She stepped back and held on to his forearms. “I mean, ten minutes ago we were riding our bikes and now . . .” Tears shone in her eyes. “Brady, we could be dead.”
The storm was passing, leaving only the subsiding wind and rain and an occasional rumble of thunder. Never mind the broken pieces all around them, all Brady could see was her face. Her unforgettable green eyes.
“Jenna . . .” He eased his fingers along her cheeks and into her wet hair. His voice grew quiet. “I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you.” He allowed himself to get lost in her. “Not ever.”
Like the tide against the shore, they came together. The attraction, the chemistry between them was stronger than the storm. Brady’s kiss came in a rush of passion and intensity, more than before. Everything about it was like a dream. Before, Jenna had always seemed so careful when they kissed.
But here, now, there was none of that. Nothing could’ve stopped the moment. The kiss grew until it felt almost desperate. This was Jenna, in his arms. The one he’d looked for and longed for half his life.
Finally he drew back, his breathing fast. He released his hold on her and looked at the scene around them. Beyond the damaged shelter a few trees were down. Nothing like the destruction Brady had seen from other Oklahoma tornadoes. But bad, all the same. He reached for her again.
“We need to go.” Fear returned to her eyes. “We need dry clothes. And you’re not supposed to be out this long.”
Brady nodded. She looked so beautiful. All he wanted to do was live in this minute forever. He would’ve stayed here all week if it meant not letting go of Jenna. But she was right. His adrenaline had worn off and the tired feeling was back. They were both drenched as he took her hands, and that’s when he noticed it. Something in her touch was different. Like her heart had pulled away in a matter of seconds.
Brady knew deep in his gut that the change had nothing to do with the storm or their soaking wet clothing.
He hugged her again, but it didn’t last as long. He studied her eyes, her expression. There was no time like now. He tried to draw a deep breath and failed. It didn’t matter. He had something to say. “Can we talk? Before we go?”
Jenna relaxed, and nodded. “Okay.” The concern was definitely there. Concern or hesitation. Something. “We should.”
He wanted to kiss her again. But he wanted answers more. “Something’s different. With you . . . with us.”
She didn’t deny it. She only looked at him, straight to his soul.
“Why?” The thudding in his chest came harder, faster. His legs felt weak. “What’s . . . going on?”
Jenna placed her hand against his cheek. “Summer’s almost over.” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’m going home soon.”
Panic wrapped its fingers around his throat. “Jenna . . . I spent years looking for you.” He forced a single laugh. “You think my feelings are going to change because summer’s over?”
She lowered her hand. This time she eased her fingers between his, but she focused on a spot on the floor. When she looked up, there were tears in her eyes again. “We . . . whatever we have . . .” She shook her head. “It isn’t going to work.”
