Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(108)

The rain was heavy and thick. It pounded against the pavement and puddled in areas like it had been coming down for hours. A steady stream flowed in front of the sidewalk and curled around a bend.

“This is crazy,” Jenna said. She jolted when thunder cracked above the building. A streak of lightning lit up the sky.

“It’s a monsoon, right?” Olivia asked.

“It’s just a storm,” I said.

“I bet it’s a tornado.” Oliver had his hands cupped to the glass and was peering between them. “Probably suck us up.”

Olivia’s eyes snapped to him. “What?” She looked panicked.

“Oliver,” Jenna said in a warning tone.

“It could be, Mom. Tornados suck people up. It’s what they do.”

“It’s not a tornado.” I got beside Olivia and rubbed her shoulder. “It’s just a storm. We can wait it out.”

“That could be a while,” Oliver said. “It’s not stopping or slowing down. And that river is getting bigger.” He pressed his finger to the glass and pointed at the stream.

I looked over at Jenna. “What do you want to do?”

She bit her lip, thinking. “Mm. I’m not sure. I’m a little worried the roads will just get worse with standing water if we don’t leave soon.”

“Your drive home shouldn’t be bad,” I said, thinking of her route. “It’s all major highways. No back roads or anything that could flood.”

“Yeah.” Her gaze moved to the glass.

Jenna’s hesitation was obvious. She watched the rain like she really was anticipating getting sucked up into the sky.

“Why don’t you let me drive you home?” I suggested. “Just leave your car here for the night.”

“Or we can all go to Nate’s house.” Olivia slowly grinned.

Nice.

“No, we should really get home,” Jenna was quick to say. She slid her gaze to mine and softened her dismissal of Olivia’s suggestion with a smile. “Could you drop us off? That would be great.”

“Yeah, of course. No problem.” I dug out my keys. “Let me pull the truck up.”

I opened one of the doors and stepped outside.

The rain was cold and pelted against my head and shoulders on my run to the truck. I slid in the driver’s seat and wiped water from my face, removing my glasses and keeping them off for now. I pulled off my tie, tossed it up onto the dash, and slicked my hair back. Then I started the truck and pulled up to the curb. The twins ran outside and laughed into the night as the rain hit them.

I met them at the door, taking Marley from Jenna so she could get in the truck herself. Marley roused awake and whined a little. I shielded her face, got her secured in her seat, and gave Olivia a boost after Oliver got in on his own. The back of my shirt was drenched by the time I got around to the driver’s side.

“Nate, you look like you’ve been swimming.” Olivia giggled.

“Yeah?” I peered at her in the rearview. Water dripped down my face. “I feel like it.”

“Thanks to you, my hair is mostly dry.” Jenna pulled off the hat, smiling at me as her dark hair toppled down her back and over her shoulder. “And lice free,” she murmured.

I chuckled, slipping the hat on myself, and began to unbutton my shirt. I stripped it off and tossed it in the back, leaving on the white shirt I wore underneath. It was barely damp. I looked over at Jenna when I was finished.

She blinked and looked ahead as if something had suddenly grabbed her attention. Following her lead, I peered out the rain-splattered windshield. Even with my headlights on, nothing stood out.

Something outside hadn’t grabbed her attention. I’d had it. Jenna wanted to look at me and look longer than she would allow. I felt us moving closer to being us again, and I was smiling as I pulled away from the curb.

We talked on the drive—me, Jenna, and the twins—as I carefully navigated the roads. Marley had fallen asleep soon after we turned out of the theater parking lot. The conversation lingered on the film and I had fuck-all to add. I’d watched Jenna through most of the movie. I couldn’t help myself.

Everyone was laughing at something I had said when I parked in front of Jenna’s apartment building. If someone had asked me to repeat myself, I wouldn’t have been able to. I suddenly couldn’t remember details of our discussion.

We were here, and our evening was over.

Something that felt close to panic moved inside my chest. I didn’t want this to be done yet. We’d had a great time together tonight. I wanted to stay with them or for them to stay with me. I wanted to bottle up their sounds. In a minute, I would no longer have them.

“Here, Oliver.” Jenna handed him her keys. “You guys need to run for it. I’ll be up in a minute.”

Olivia was giggling, excited for the opportunity to run out in the rain again. “Come on, Ollie.” She opened her door.

“Bye, Nate,” Oliver said.

“Bye!” his sister echoed as she climbed out of the truck.

I blinked when two doors slammed, snapping out of it, and watched them through the windshield.

Oliver and Olivia dashed under the rain and up the stairs. They disappeared inside the building.

That panic moved again, spreading itself out underneath my ribs.