Page 59 of Not Until I Found You

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” She smiles at me as we make our way toward the cabins.

“Good,” I say. “Me too.”

Chapter Fourteen

Maxinne

Aloud crash jolts me out of my sleep. I rise up quickly from my awkward position on the couch, my heart slamming hard against my ribs as I blink into darkness. The wind wails outside in a high, unrelenting sound, rattling the walls of the small cabin.

Something slams against the roof, followed by a loud thud. Heavy rain lashes against the window like it’s trying to claw its way inside as another bang hits the front door. Before panic can fully bloom inside me, the door bursts open, and Zane rushes inside. The wind and rain follow him in before he shuts the door behind him with both hands.

A beam of light cuts through the darkness as his flashlight swings wildly across the room, shining in every corner until it lands on me. His shirt is soaked, and his dark hair is dripping wet. His chest is rising and falling quickly, as if he sprinted here.

“Max.” His voice is sharp with urgency. “Are you okay? I tried calling you, but you didn’t answer.”

I nod, unsure if my voice is working at the moment. I look down at my smart watch and see that it’s been three hours since we parted ways after our hike this morning. I remember coming home, peeling off damp clothes, and standing under a hot shower until exhaustion hit me. I must have collapsed on the couch afterward.

Zane reaches me in two strides and wraps his hand around mine. His eyes skim my face, arms, and legs, checking me over in case a part of me might be hurt. When his gaze finally locks with mine, the panic within them is unmistakable.

“I fell asleep. What’s going on?” My voice is scraped raw from sleep and fear. I know it’s a ridiculous question, but the look on his face tells me this is more than just a bad storm.

“Tornado.”

The word lands heavy in my stomach. “What?”

“It’s okay,” he says quickly, squeezing my hand. “It’s only a watch right now. I heard the sirens go off, and I checked the radio, but this storm is getting worse fast. I have a basement, but you don’t.”

I nod as my brain finally catches up with what is happening, and I move on instinct to grab my phone and shove my charger into my pocket. Zane doesn’t let go of my hand the entire time. Once I give him the okay, he leads us toward the front door.

The pressure hits us as soon as we step outside, as if the storm wants to swallow us whole. Small pieces of hail pelt against my skin, stinging like needles, the rain soaking my clothes in seconds. Wind tears at us, threatening to knock me off balance, and the trees surrounding the cabins bend and groan, their branches thrashing as if they might snap free at any moment.

Every instinct in me screams to freeze, or to run back and hide, but Zane is steady beside me. His grip stays firm as he guides us across the short stretch between the cabins, his body angled in front of mine like a shield. Lightning splits the sky, illuminating the world in harsh white flashes. All I can see are twisting branches, flying debris, and Zane’s determined expression.

Fear claws its way up my throat. And yet, beneath it, something else settles in, because Zane came for me without hesitation. Even with the storm raging around us and my adrenaline spiking, somehow my heart slows with every light squeeze of his hand.

We burst through his front door, the wind nearly ripping it from his grasp before he slams it shut. The house shudders as thunder booms overhead, and Zane flinches. Sven whimpers and skids across the floor, launching himself at me.

“Hey, Sven,” I murmur, crouching long enough to run a hand through his fur. “It’s going to be okay.”

Zane looks over his shoulder and waves for me to follow him. “This way.”

Another boom of thunder rattles the house, and he doesn’t have to tell me twice. I follow close behind him, weaving through the kitchen and living room, opening a small door that leads down a set of stairs, until we’re in the basement, Sven hot on our trail.

I stand in the dark for a moment until Zane turns on a few lanterns for us. I’m shocked for a moment because his basement is nothing like I expected. I’ve always pictured basements being creepy, dark, musky places. But down here, it’s surprisingly cozy.

He’s made it into a sort of makeshift man cave. There’s a pool table in the far-right corner, a fridge close to it, and even a small kitchenette. In the middle of the room sits a worn-out red-and-brown plaid couch, a small coffee table between it and a medium-sized flatscreen. I take another step into the space, taking it all in, while Zane’s rushing around, grabbing a blanket, towels, water bottles, and a radio.

The sounds of the storm are still evident but muffled down here, making it seem less intimidating.

“Here.” He hands me a towel before rushing back upstairs.

I use the towel to dry myself off. Once I’m about as dry as I can be, Zane shuts the door and stomps his way down the stairs. He tosses me a black hoodie before he starts messing with the radio.

I place the towel on the couch and toss the hoodie over my head, inhaling the familiar woodsy scent of him. It swallows me, but the warmth of it is welcoming. Sven sits down at my feet, panting nervously, and I give him another pat.

Zane picks up his phone and checks in with his mom and brother, which has my thoughts immediately drifting to Ashton and my dad. I stand and begin pacing the length of the basement as my thoughts start to spiral. Does my dad even have a basement? I can’t remember ever seeing one, and his house is surrounded by trees. So many trees. What if⁠—