Force of Nature Read Online Free Page A

head
and began to cry. I was so overwhelmed with everything—exhaustion, hunger,
grief—and it was finally catching up with me.
    “Let me take you
home, Laura,” Aiden offered quietly. “Get you showered, some food, some fresh
clothes. And then a very long nap.”
    “You won’t
leave?”
    “I won’t leave.”
    Nodding numbly,
I let him lift me into his arms. I entwined my arms around his neck and laid my
head against his chest as he carried me to the vehicle.
    * * *
    I had no idea
how long I’d slept, but when I opened my eyes, I could see stars outside my
bedroom window. Glancing at the clock, I blinked as I tried to make sense of
the neon numbers.
    It was after
midnight.
    Stiff from lying
too long, I pulled myself up, letting my legs dangle off the side of the bed.
Everything was a blur. I could vaguely remember the drive home and my dad’s
welcoming hug before he forced a sandwich into my mouth.
    But I clearly
remembered Aiden, carrying me up the stairs to my old bedroom and holding me
close as I cried myself to sleep.
    “Hey.”
    His voice echoed
in my room. My eyes squinted against the darkness until they finally found him.
    I switched on my
bedside lamp. Blinking against the harshness of the light, I found him sitting
in the rocking chair next to my window.
    “You’re still
here.”
    “I promised you
I wouldn’t leave.”
    I smiled. I
remembered that, too.
    “Your dad was
glad I stayed, too. He was called out not long after you fell asleep.”
    I wasn’t
surprised. My dad would be called out a lot over the next few days.
    “Your mom
called. Her flight out of Dallas was delayed, but she’ll be home tomorrow.
Today. Whatever.”
    “Good. Did you
sleep?”
    “Nah, I’m okay.”
    “You should have
slept with me.”
    He chuckled. “I
had specific instructions to keep my ass in that chair .”
    I grinned. “Not a
bad imitation of my dad’s voice.”
    “His tone is
much scarier.”
    I laughed
softly. Then I felt guilty for being momentarily happy.
    “Has anyone
heard from Chloe?”
    “No,” he
replied, “but her roommate at the dorm said there’s no word from her boyfriend
either. Brandon something?”
    “Brandon Yates.
He’s on the soccer team.”
    “So maybe
they’re together.”
    “Maybe.
Hopefully.”
    A chill ran
through my body, making me reach for my blanket. Aiden stood up from the rocker
and walked toward my door, reaching for the knob and locking it.
    “You’re a brave
man,” I said when he joined me on the bed.
    He smiled. “Are
you hungry?”
    “Just thirsty, I
think.”
    Aiden offered to
get a bottle of water from the kitchen while I slowly made my way to the
bathroom. The shower was calling my name, so I quickly stripped and adjusted
the water until it was nearly scalding against my skin. The spray felt good
against my tired muscles. Bowing my head, I let the water cleanse me—hoping it
would wash away my misery and guilt, and despair.
    It didn’t, but
it did lessen the tension in my shoulders.
    After drying my
hair with a towel, I wrapped another towel around my body and made my way back
to my bedroom. I assumed we were past any awkwardness now, but I still blushed
when I saw Aiden’s eyes widen.
    “Sorry,” I
muttered as I walked toward the drawer. “I just wanted a shower.”
    “It’s okay.” I
heard his nervous sigh as he quickly turned around, giving me some privacy. I
couldn’t help but laugh a little as I found some old sweats to wear.
    Such a
gentleman.
    “I’m decent.”
    I slid my
fingers through my damp hair before climbing back into bed. Aiden joined me
there and handed me a bottle of water, which I sipped gratefully.
    “I called my mom
while you were in the shower,” he said quietly. “The news is saying that ten
people are dead. Most were on the freeway at the time.”
    Tears filled my
eyes. Even with all the warnings, ten residents lost their lives.
    Maybe they
ignored them, too.
    I took another
long drink from my water bottle before placing