Chapter 19 #2
“Everyone, please welcome to the bull, Oklahoma Richards!” The announcer sings into the microphone, and everyone cheers.
People gather in close. Shoulders bump shoulders as people try to push others out of the way for a better view. Me, Ruka, and the girls are up front, grabbing the silver rail that separates the mechanical bull from the audience.
Oakley stands on the thick blue pads lying on the floor to protect the rider when he falls. He waves to the audience, giving them a curt nod and half smile.
He isn’t happy.
Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma by Luke Combs blares through the speaker. The lights flicker on their own, and the crowd’s excited shouts simmer down to a low murmur. Everyone looks up, watching each bulb, wondering what’s going on.
I turn around to peer out of the window, and rain slips down the windowpane.
It’s probably nothing. Storms happen all the time; it doesn’t mean a tornado is coming.
Even I don’t believe that.
Oklahoma hops on the bull, wrapping his large hand around the rope at the base of the pseudo-neck. He raises one hand towards the sky. While the song blares in the background about a tornado, Oklahoma gives the man in charge of the bull a curt nod, signaling he is ready.
The emotions are high in this place. Oakley must feel suffocated by everyone’s excitement.
“Just focus on me,” I whisper so low, no one can hear, not even Ruka.
I know my mate can hear me with his enhanced abilities. “Focus on me and how I feel. Let my emotions sink into you. No one else. Don’t listen to them.”
I do my best to pour my love for him through the bond, along with my happiness and excitement. I’ve never seen him ride a bull and I’m relieved this one can’t stomp all over him. He’ll live. I’ll get to take him home. He’ll be able to raise his child and hold me all night.
That’s all I care about.
The bond between us relaxes on his end, a soft hum of contentment strumming the chords that bind us together.
Thunder booms so loud, the lights flicker, and the lamps hanging from the ceiling sway. No one else seems to be paying attention, but Ruka is on his phone, checking all radars, chats, and seeing what other chasers are saying.
The cheers return when the mechanical bull spins and bucks. Oklahoma makes the ride seem so simple, as if anyone can do it. A red clock hangs behind him on a wall, ticking away by the second the longer he stays on.
The bull operator tries his best to buck Oklahoma off, but he can’t. There’s no use. A mechanical bull won’t be able to beat a rider like my mate. Smoke drifts from the bull’s nose. Oklahoma slips forward and back with every buck.
He looks damn good up there. I bite my lip, imagining that rock-hard body moving against mine.
The buzzer sounds when the timer reaches eight seconds, and the crowd erupts into cheers, stomping their feet against the floor, sounding like a stampede of wild horses.
Oklahoma gives a few awkward waves as he makes his way back over to me, wrapping me in his arms so tight, I can’t breathe.
But he can.
He lets out a long, relieved exhale. He’s happy the ride is over.
“Can I have your autograph?”
“Can I get a picture?”
“I was there the night Cal got stomped on! I can’t believe you made it out alive!”
This time, it’s me who grabs Oklahoma’s hand, and I drag him away from the vultures, interrupting our night out. I pull him through the crowd, pushing people out of the way and uncaring if they get mad about it.
Don’t bombard my mate and I won’t bombard you; it’s as simple as that.
Walking through the front door, the night air wraps around us, and the noise from inside the bar is muted.
Peace.
It’s just us.
“Hey, you two okay? Do you need anything?” Ruka asks.
I press my cheek against Oklahoma’s chest and give a faint smile to Ruka. “We’re fine. Keep an eye on the radar for us, if you can.”
“Everything seems fine. The radar isn’t pulling up any clouds, actually. Something isn’t right, but I’ll let you know.” Ruka and Oakley share a look of understanding before my brother dips into the bar again.
Crickets chirp all around us, their wings rubbing together to create a song. The wind caresses us. The sky rumbles. The clouds flash with quiet lightning. Thunder booms, reverberating for miles.
“Are you okay?” I tilt my head back to peer up at him. My hands land on his strong chest, his shirt stretched across his impressive frame.
“I’m fine, Sugar. You helped me when I was up there. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
“I knew you weren’t happy. I only ever want you happy, Kokoro.”
He grabs the back of my neck and leans his forehead against mine. “I’ve never been happier. You’ve brightened my life.”
I reach for his face, my thumb rubbing across his bottom lip.
It’s soft and pliant. When I met him, I thought his lips would be hard and firm like his soul seemed to be.
I was wrong. His soul is so far from being cold and numb.
He keeps the warmth of his spirit buried behind walls of guilt and regret.
Once the layers are peeled back, Oklahoma is more than a storm; he’s the calm that comes after.
“You’ve brightened mine too.”
Rain by The Teskey Brothers blares from the walls of the bar. Oklahoma takes my hand, slowly intertwining our fingers. It’s intimate and slow, my breath catching from his every move. He tugs me close by the belt loop, his arm tightening around my waist.
I’m home.
We dance outside under the storm clouds. The crickets sing along. The frogs croak in every downbeat. Thunder rolls, the heartbeat of the sky thrumming to stay alive.
No words are spoken between us. The lyrics stamp their meaning on our bond. The soulful rasp of the lead voice is gravity, tugging me closer to Oklahoma. We sway so slowly; we are barely moving at all.
The parking lot becomes our own dance floor.
He gently spins me out, then pulls me in close again. Rain falls so light, it’s a mist upon my skin. The bond hums with love’s energy and the world falls away. The parking lot isn’t here.
Nothing exists. Only him.
Only Oklahoma.
Our intertwined hands drop to my stomach. His eyes close and I press my cheek against his chest, barely moving my feet.
The steady rain gathers strength. The mist turns to a pour, drenching us head to toe, and yet we don’t move. We stay where we are. Swaying left and right, falling in love all over again with every second that passes.
When the song ends, I expect him to stop dancing, but he doesn’t. We sway to the rain pattering on the asphalt and the guttural howls of thunder.
“Where is he?” shouts an unknown voice through the heavy downpour.
Oklahoma pushes me behind him, claws at the ready to attack, but I notice a woman standing there, just as drenched as we are, with bright blue glowing eyes that seem sad she hasn’t found who she is looking for.
I step forward, my teeth chattering now that I’m out of Oklahoma’s hold. “Who are you looking for? What’s he look like? What’s your name? Let’s get you inside and get you a hot drink, ma’am.”
“He has to be here,” she cries so loud, lightning strikes down right beside her. “I’ve been looking for him everywhere! I feel him. He’s here. He has to be here!” Her screams of heartbreak trigger more lightning. The hot bolts strike and crackle all around us.
A nearby tree gets hit and splits in half, smoke stretching to the sky.
The loud boom triggers car alarms. The sirens blare. My ears ring. Now, I can’t hear her at all.
“What’s your name?” Oklahoma steps forward. “We can help you. We can help you find who you’re looking for, ma’am,” he offers, daring to take another step.
Her dress sticks to her skin. The material filthy and torn. She’s barefoot. The rain washes away the dirt cake on her feet.
“I feel him.” She clutches her chest, clawing at her skin where her heart hides underneath. “He is close. He has to be close. I feel his thunder. Where is he?” she shouts, only this time, she’s full of rage.
The wind picks up speed, gusts so strong, the rain falls sideways.
Every droplet is a sharp sting against my skin, bullets trying to pierce through my body.
Every few seconds, an array of lightning threatens to hit us, landing too close.
One bolt hits a nearby pole, the lights on the inside of the bar going out and plunging the patrons into darkness.
“I don’t know his name.” Her knees buckle. “I’ve come so far. He isn’t here.” She falls to the ground and slams her palms against it, a loud, otherworldly roar escaping her.
The pavement cracks down the middle, and tornado sirens whirl nearby.
It hits me. She’s the reason for the supercells. She’s causing the tornado outbreak. Somehow, she’s connected to the weather. The radars malfunctioning make sense. The five supercells earlier were because of her. There’s no other logical explanation.
Her power is dangerous.
I tug on Oklahoma’s arm. “We need to get everyone to safety!” I scream over the whipping winds.
Softball-sized hail falls, clunking onto cars. Windshields crack and shatter. Hoods of vehicles are demolished with massive dents. Oklahoma speeds me away to the awning, and a massive chunk of ice lands right where I was standing.
“Go inside. Go!” Oklahoma shoves us inside and locks the door behind us.
“Well, well, well, look who showed up to the party,” his voice slurs from too much alcohol.
Evan.