Lucas grins without an ounce of shame. “She deserves full disclosure about your idiosyncrasies. You two are about to spend a lot of time together in very close quarters.”
I’m acutely aware, again, of exactly how close Lila is. How close she could be once Lucas goes away. My body reacts instantly and unhelpfully. Again. Unbelievable. I shift subtly in the seat, praying neither of them notices.
Lila glances sideways at the exact wrong moment. Her eyes flick downward, briefly. Then back up. A tiny pause that lasts approximately one geological era. A slow, knowing smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth before she looks back at the road while my soul physically leaves my body.
I stare determinedly through the windshield, trying very hard to think about literally anything else besides the fact she saw my physical reaction to her, and how to not make that situation any worse.
Lucas, mercifully oblivious, keeps talking. “Honestly, this is either going to end in groundbreaking scientific advancement orunresolved sexual tension-induced homicide. I’m excited either way.
“Does he ever shut up?” Lila asks me directly.
“Not even when he sleeps.”
“Hey, uncool. Don’t talk about me like I am not here?”
“I’d prefer it if you weren’t.” Lucas scoffs as if he’s offended, crossing his arms, all the while elbowing me in the back like he’s trying to push me closer to Lila.
“Rude.”
“Annoying,” Lila fires back at him. “You really need to find better friends.”
“Trust me, I am very well aware of that fact.”
Beside me, Lucas has finally gone quiet for once, likely because he’s exhausted or because the universe has briefly taken pity on me.
“So,” I say eventually, mostly because the silence is becoming psychologically dangerous, “when would we start?”
“There’s another system moving in from the southwest,” Lila replies, eyes fixed on the road. “Should hit the Texas Panhandle the day after tomorrow. If your algorithms are as good as you claim, that gives you one day to convince me they’re worth the trouble of dragging you along.”
“One day?” I blink rapidly. “I can show you the simulations, but to properly demonstrate their predictive capabilities?—”
“One day,” she repeats firmly.
The slight edge in her voice says she’s testing me now. Not just the research. Me.
“We’ll find a motel for the night. Get a few hours of sleep, return Weather Boy to his adoring fans, and then we can actually get to work.”
“You’re ditching me?” Lucas asks.
Neither of us pays attention to him. Unfortunately, my brain latches onto the phrase a few hours of sleep and immediatelyturns traitor. Not because I think we’re sharing a room. I’m not completely delusional. But the thought of being alone with her tomorrow—just the two of us without Lucas acting as a human smoke alarm for sexual tension both terrifies and arouses me.
My erection tightens painfully against my jeans. I want to shift again, but stop myself. She’s already noticed, drawing more attention to myself is only going to make matters worse. Can dicks explode? Maybe I should have paid more attention in that human anatomy class I took as an elective.
Lucas's phone chirps with an incoming call, the ringtone some peppy news jingle that makes me cringe. He fumbles to answer it, pressing himself against the door to create what little space he can in our cramped arrangement.
“Hey Rick!” he announces with theatrical enthusiasm. “Yes, sir. About that...” He pauses, his expression shifting to something more serious. “Actually, there's been a bit of a situation with the van.”
I watch his face as he explains the tornado encounter to what must be his station manager. His animated gestures repeatedly invade my personal space, forcing me to duck and dodge his flailing arms.
“Completely destroyed,” he confirms. “But—and this is the important part—I got incredible footage! We're talking ratings gold. Viewers will forget all about the van when they see this tornado footage.” Another pause. “Well, technically it was my life on the line, but yes, the equipment too.”
Lila catches my eye with a look that I interpret as equal parts amusement and exasperation. The corner of her mouth twitches almost imperceptibly.
“We're getting a ride back to the closest town now. I’ll need a lift in the morning if you can arrange that,” Lucas continues. “From Lila Brooks, actually. Yes, the Lila Brooks.” He beams at her like he's expecting a thank-you or something. Helistens for another moment before nodding vigorously. “Yes, sir. Absolutely. I'll get that footage to you as soon as we're back.” Another pause. “Right. Understood.”
He hangs up and lets out a dramatic sigh. “Well, that went better than expected. They're more excited about the footage than mad about the van.”
“Shocking,” Lila mutters, focusing on the road ahead.
