Page 46 of Empower

I looked at Raine and asked, “Wouldn’t it be easier to bring one vehicle?”

We both watched as Tank pulled his black Chevrolet Colorado to a stop in front of us and then we watched as Storm’s new truck pulled to a stop beside him.

I knew it was Storm’s new truck because he had sent me a picture of it.

It was a twenty-twenty-four Chevrolet Silverado Z28, crew cab. And man, it was pretty. All blacked out.

I didn’t have time to admire his truck like I wanted to, because in the next second, he was opening his door, hopping out and rounding his hood, heading to the passenger side.

I watched as he opened the door, then looked at me, “Your chariot awaits milady.”

I busted out laughing again.

Once I was safely inside Storm’s truck, he closed the door just in time for me to see Raine get into Tank’s truck.

I smiled as I cupped my hands in front of the heat, tilting my head to watch Storm climb in. I said, “Okay, you have until the time it takes to take me home to explain your words to me.”

He didn’t say anything.

No, he buckled up, put the truck in gear, placed his hand on my seat, looked over his shoulder, and backed up out of the parking spot.

And then, again, mind you, without saying a word, he put the truck in drive and then drove out of the parking lot.

I didn’t say anything, even though I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to, badly.

But if I’ve learned one thing about Storm, it was that he wouldn’t talk until he was good and ready to.

What that really meant, was that he wouldn’t talk until he had the time to give the conversation his full concentration.

As soon as we pulled into my driveway, I saw my truck sitting there, pretty as she pleased.

I looked at him and whispered, “Thank you, Storm.”

He nodded, “Welcome.”

I took in a breath and asked, “Wanna come in? I’m going to make a nice batch of hot chocolate; it’s so cold out tonight.”

Instead of answering me he nodded, shut the truck off, then looked at me and said, “Stay there.”

I listened and stayed where I was.

I watched through the windshield as he rounded the hood of the truck, then made it to my side, and opened my door.

“So, we don’t have to have this conversation every time you're with me, in whatever vehicle we find ourselves in, you never get in a vehicle unless I open the door. And you never get out of one if I don’t open the door. You with me?”

Was it possible to visibly swoon?

Because I’m pretty sure I did.

And I knew that Storm caught it because I watched as his eyes went soft.

And yes, he offered me his hand so I could climb out of his truck, and with that same hand still cradling mine, he led me to my front door.

“Keys,” he whispered softly.

I got them out of my bag and handed them to him.

Once he unlocked the door, and opened it, he placed my keys in the little bowl I had for them on a cute, whitewashed entryway table.