“Thanks, thunderstorm,” he panted. “Now I know just how much better my body is doing.”
Whistling cheerfully, he buzzed Noelle’s apartment and the inner door opened for him a moment later. He took the stairs to Noelle’s apartment two at a time, reveling in how much energy and strength he had.
Noelle met him in the hallway and gave him a big hug. He could tell that she was happy to see him but also a little worried about the storm.
“It’s pretty bad out there,” she said, taking his hand and leading him back to her apartment. “I was on the balcony until a few minutes ago, and the wind has really picked up fast. That makes me worried it’s going to be another really bad storm.”
Dean nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. I really raced into your building, but if I hadn’t, I would have gotten totally soaked. It’s really pouring out there.”
She shut the door to her apartment behind them and they walked over to the sliding glass doors that looked out onto her balcony. The rain was pummeling down from the sky like a curtain of water, and the wind was now making the trees thrash wildly.
“I don’t like this,” Noelle said, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head against his chest. “What if something breaks?”
Dean swallowed, watching how intense the wind was. “I think we should bring your balcony furniture and your potted plants that you have out there inside your apartment. I know you took the cushions in already, but I’m worried that wind is strong enough to knock the metal chairs and table back and break your windows.”
“Okay,” Noelle said, and he saw her square her shoulders as if bracing for the impact of the storm.
“Ready?” he said, placing his hand on the slider door handle. “I’ll grab the furniture, you grab the plants.”
“Three, two, one, go!” she said, and Dean tore open the door. The wind was cold and the rain was colder, and he grunted as he grabbed the first metal chair, thinking to himself that it didn’t matter that he’d stayed relatively dry before, since he was going to be soaked to the bone in a matter of seconds.
Noelle squeaked and spluttered as she grabbed the first plant, and Dean found her reaction to getting drenched to be so cute that he was soon laughing despite how cold the water made him. They worked busily, moving the pots and the furniture inside in under three minutes. Finally, they stood gasping and laughing in Noelle’s living room area, surrounded by the puddle that was being formed by the water dripping off their clothes and the furniture and pots.
“I’ll go get some cleaning rags,” Noelle said as Dean shut the slider door firmly. “That was a wild adventure.” She laughed. “Thanks for helping me.”
“What else are fiancés for?”
“Mmm, how about snuggling on the couch and watching a movie while we eat frozen pizza? I think our plans to go out for dinner tonight have gotten rained out.”
Dean grimaced. “You’re right. It would be foolish to go out in weather like this. I don’t want to eat frozen pizza, though.”
“I thought you loved frozen pizza. I even have Hawaiian and barbecue chicken, which I know are your favorites.”
“I like cooked pizza. Can we heat the frozen pizza up in the oven first?”
Noelle shook her head at his silliness, but he could tell she appreciated his effort to cheer her. “Yes, we can, Mr. Smarty Pants. Can you preheat the oven while I get the rags?”
“Sure thing.”
A few moments later, they were both back in front of the slider doors, mopping up the floor with the rags. It didn’t take them too long, and afterward Noelle took a shower while Dean changed into the pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt that he kept at her place for when they watched movies together. Both of them loved cuddling up in comfortable clothes, and Noelle had bought him the set because they were especially soft inside.
While he waited for Noelle to finish getting changed, Dean put the pizzas into the oven and listened to the wind rushing against the side of Noelle’s building.
Thank goodness there aren’t any trees close to the side of the apartment building,he thought.I wonder if it makes it better or worse that Noelle’s apartment is so high up?
“Is everything okay?” Noelle stepped into the kitchen area with a frown of concern on her face. She seemed to have noticed Dean’s worried expression and gotten worried herself.
He couldn’t stay worried when he looked at her, however. She had a pink towel wrapped around her hair and she was wearing a fuzzy white hoodie with bear ears sewn to the hood and fleece pants with smiling clouds printed all over them. He thought she looked so adorable he started grinning the second he saw her.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” he said, pulling her into a reassuring hug. “It’s intense, that’s certain, but I think you’re all snug and secure up here.”
“What if something happens?” she said into the arm of his hoodie.
“Everything’s going to be just fine. Nothing’s going to happen. Come on. What movie do you want to watch? Something old? I saw that you rentedThe Wizard of Ozfrom the library. Do you want to watch that?”
Noelle nodded, smiling gratefully at him, and they made a bowl of popcorn to go with the pizza. Soon the pizzas were ready, and they settled down on Noelle’s couch to watchThe Wizard of Oz, which was one of her favorite movies and also a favorite of Dean’s.
They’d finished eating and were about halfway through the movie when there was a terrific flash of lightning followed instantly by a bellow of thunder. Then a snapping sound seemed to reverberant through the entire apartment and the lights went out.
