Millie loops her arm through her wife’s and Jessica tucks her hand in Millie’s back pocket. They always have to be touching. Usually, I find how in love they are so sweet.
Right now, I’m irked.
And I’m blaming the hot cowboy with bad manners. Ever since he and his horse galloped up to me, I haven’t felt the same.
A weatherman’s voice drags my eyes from the hardwood floors to the TV that’s mounted above the breakfast bar.“There’s a weather system moving in tonight that has very strong winds and a lot of rain that could bring flash floods with a chance of tornadoes. This is the year of the tornado, folks. You’ll want to make sure you’re prepared. Check your storm shelters, keep them stocked. This season might be a rough one.”
The person I was this morning would have been thrilled about hearing this weather update. There’s nothing I love more than storms. It isn’t like me to feel this way over a man—over anyone, for that matter. Nothing and no one comes between me and what I love.
No one is worth sacrificing what I love, what makes me…me.
Dixie seats us in a large, round corner booth with dark blue leather cushions and a wooden tabletop to match the floors. Islide in first, wanting to be near the window so I can stare outside and get lost in my thoughts.
Ruka slides in next to me, then Reina. Millie and Jessica take the other side of the booth.
Thunder rolls in the distance, and rain falls, softly patting the window. Even the lightning is gentle when it flashes between the clouds. There’s no loud crack in the sky, only hushed rumbles of thunder.
I plop my chin in my hand and sigh, my thoughts lingering on Oklahoma. Even now, I want to push Ruka and Reina out of my way, get in the car, drive back to Oklahoma’s ranch, give him a piece of my mind, then kiss him so hard, he loses his cowboy hat.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ruka whispers in Japanese. “You have this faraway look in your eyes that you get when something is bothering you.” His fingers dance in front of his eyes to gesture what that emotion looks like.
“I can’t hide anything from you.” I nudge his arm, doing my best to hide a genuine smile. “I don’t want to talk about it because I don’t understand it. But when I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
He stares at me for a minute, his reddish-brown eyes analyzing me for the truth. His hard gaze softens when he lets the subject go.
“Hi there, what can I get you all to drink?” Dixie flips her blonde ponytail over her shoulder, clicks her pink pen with a fuzzy feathery top, then yanks out the order pad.
“I’ll take a sweet tea and a decaf coffee, please,” Reina says.
“Same.” Ruka raises his hand at the same time he yawns.
“Me too,” I chime in, not really caring what I have to drink.
“Same order all around,” Jessica states, wrapping an arm around Millie’s shoulder so she can melt into Jess’ side.
Oklahoma comes to mind. I want him to wrap his arm around me like that. I want to sink into his embrace, hold his hand, and trace the veins that slide down his arm.
Knowing I won’t ever have that stings more than I ever imagined. Not once have I ever been relationship motivated. I’ve had a few, and none of them excited me like storms did. If the person I’m with can’t make my heart beat louder than thunder, why bother being in a relationship at all?
What’s worse is that I only feel this way when it comes to Oklahoma. No other man has ever had this kind of hold on me.
My love affair with thunderstorms started when I was just a little girl, watching the hurricanes come and go in Hawaii. I knew storm chasing was meant for me since I was seven years old, enraptured by how the hurricanes formed. Nothing ever gripped me so fast. My attention has never deviated.
Until now.
Until him.
My encounter with Oklahoma was short-lived too. I know nothing about him other than that he is rude and doesn’t deserve a second more of my time.
Get over it, Nariko. He isn’t worth it. They never are.
“Here you go.” Dixie delivers our drinks just as a loud bolt of lightning cracks across the sky.
Dixie jumps, slamming her hand against her chest as she screams.
It’s so bright that the inside of the diner glows white for a split second.
I sip my coffee, unbothered by how talkative the storm is.
