When he wasn’t texting, Ozrik held my hand. We shared countless smiles across the console, and every so often, he leaned in and pecked a kiss on my cheek. I didn’t know what kind of arrangements Charles intended, but I secretly hoped we would find a way to be together away from cameras, even if we didn’t end up sharing a room. Considering the stunt Charles had pulled in Tulsa, it seemed unlikely.
We landed in Dodge City under an angry, puke-green sky, the stillness in the air foreboding. We congregated in the parking lot of a chain motel, deciding how long we had before we should hit the road. Our hot spot was predicted to cut a path south of the city in about an hour.
I clutched my iPad, reading the Doppler. Twice, I was consulted to give my professional opinion on air currents, wind velocity, and projected rotation patterns. The supercell showed many positive signs of producing, and we were determined to see it happen.
As we talked, Charles and his people arrived, and the mood instantly shifted. Spines stiffened, and laughter melted away. Charles spoke with the three-person camera crew before huddling us into a semicircle for a group chat. The producer had lost the ability to stir animosity, and his comments were met with dead air and inexpressive faces all around. He seemed disappointed when he didn’t get the response he was hoping for.
“Where’s Elliott?” he asked.
“Couldn’t get off work,” Lex explained, glancing at Ozrik.
“It is what it is.” Ozrik shrugged.
Charles didn’t comment but was clearly perturbed. Instead of assigning us rooms, he tossed Olivia five key cards and asked her to pass them out as she saw fit. Finished with his speech, he wrapped an arm around Ozrik’s shoulder and took him aside.
“Kiss ass,” Jazz muttered under his breath.
Olivia elbowed him in the ribs but watched after Ozrik and Charles, evidently put out at the constant favoritism.
Although the distribution of room cards appeared random—Olivia paired people who stood next to one another—it was obviously intentional. Vern and Maggie ended up together. Surprise, surprise. Gone were the days when Maggie bitched about being put with guys she didn’t know.
Lex and Noah were paired. They bumped fists. Olivia bunked with Roe, which didn’t surprise me. The two had been friends for years. Olivia took one look at Jazz, who stood on her other side, and informed him he would be on his own before tossing the last key card at me.
“You can share with Ozrik.” She winked, and I ducked my head as a blush raced up my neck and settled in my cheeks.
I waited for the comments, but no one said a thing. Not even Jazz.
Ozrik shimmied up beside me a few minutes later and took the key card from my hand with a secret smile. He leaned close and whispered in my ear. “Your God is smiling down on us.”
I snorted and elbowed him.
“Unpack your shit and let’s hit the road,” Olivia said.
We were on our way in under an hour. In that time, much to our dismay, the Jeep had been installed with its nanny cam. All intimate exchanges between us came to a halt.
Mostlycame to a halt.
Ozrik and I couldn’t help stealing the odd clandestine touch or smile when nobody was looking. His face was too expressive, and anyone watching would know what was happening between us, but for once in my life, I couldn’t find it in me to care.
The chase was a bust, but the night was incredible.
We had more success in Oklahoma the following day. On our home turf, everyone bubbled with energy. Vern willingly gave up his navigation spot in the bug to Ozrik, announcing he and Maggie were driving separately.
“We’ll take the caboose.”
Roe and Ozrik seemed to get along well, and since I was comfortable riding shotgun in the bug as Lex drove, I joined them, offering to be a sounding board for their decisions and be the chief radio operator in Maggie’s absence. Not once did the arrangement feel suffocating or claustrophobic. Maybe it was the company. Maybe I was finding my place among the group. Maybe it was that these people had truly become my friends.
Either way, it was the first time I felt excited about a chase.
My sister took Jazz and Elliott in her car. Jazz tended to hold his tongue under their influence, so he was subdued, which helped keep everything harmonious.
Energy was high.
The numbers and radar made promises we hoped they would keep.
The roads were familiar, and Lex raced down them with effortless skill, never once questioning the county’s geography.
At twenty to six, the supercell grew a distinct hook echo and sent us flying toward our destination. Gravel crunched under tires. The wind rattled the windows and buffeted the bug. Lex easily maintained control.
