THIRTY-THREE Quincy #2
“Wow. We’re getting personal today, aren’t we?
I don’t have a ton of experience with a question like this, but I’ll do my best. I think it depends on the person.
For some people, there’s not a weather phenomenon associated with falling in love, because it’s always bright skies.
Calm conditions. Easy. Safe. It might be the storm chaser in me, but that sounds boring.
Lately, I’ve started to think love is more like a lightning strike.
Charged, electric. You don’t know when it’s going to hit.
It might never hit. A lot of people are afraid of it because it’s scary and powerful.
But when you see it … when you experience it …
” I trail off, envisioning midnight-blue eyes.
A necklace cool against my skin and the brightest laugh in the world. “It’s beautiful.”
The sky lights up behind me in agreement. A roll of thunder vibrates the ground, the rumble rustling the leaves of the nearby trees.
“What other deep things can we talk about? This is taking a philosophical turn, but I—”
Approaching in the distance is a pink VW Bug honking its horn. The headlights flicker on and off repeatedly, and I look around.
There’s no one else here. I’m all alone in a field, two miles from the main road, and I might be the subject of a kidnapping.
“Uh. Sorry, y’all. We’re going to have to change locations. Someone is driving this way, and it’s making me uncomfortable.”
I reach for my tripod, glad I have my camera rolling. If anything happens to me, at least it will be documented. The Bug parks next to my car, and I curse myself for not staying close to my vehicle.
A quick scan of the area shows me I have room to run if needed. I could veer right then come up to my car from the side. It’s risky, but it might be the only choice I have.
The driver opens their door and sticks out a leg. The next one follows. I rear back when Sebastian stands, arms draped over the window and a grin tossed my way.
“Quinny baby.” He slams the door shut and walks toward me, a pep in his step. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“What—” My eyes flick to my phone. The comments are still coming in, hundreds of people leaving notes like glad he made it!! and can’t wait to see how this goes!!! “What are you doing here? Did your flight cancel?”
“I didn’t stick around to find out.” He stops when he’s in front of me, out of view from the camera but his voice loud enough to pick up on audio.
“I was at the gate, minding my business. This dad and his daughter walked up to the window near where I was sitting. She started asking questions about the weather: What kind of cloud is that? What causes rain? Is that a rainbow over there? Why does the sky turn purple?”
“That made you not want to get on the plane?”
“No. It made me wonder if that’s what you were like at her age. Curious. Smart. On a never-ending quest for knowledge. And then I had an even wilder thought. One I desperately want to find out for myself.”
“Yeah?” The syllable shakes. “What was it?”
“I wondered if two weather-loving people like us had a kid, what would they be like? Would they think it was boring because it’s all Mom and Dad talk about?
Or would they want to follow in our footsteps?
Brave and beautiful like their mom. Reckless and stupid like their dad who is so unbelievably obsessed with someone so far out of his league.
” Sebastian moves around the tripod until he’s next to me.
His hair is drenched. His shirt sticks to his chest, but he’s smiling. “After that, I left the airport.”
I touch his face, wanting to make sure he’s real. “Are you planning on going back?”
“No. The thought of being away from you for even a second seemed like hell on earth. I found a loophole in my contract and turned in my two weeks. I don’t know what I’m going to do next, but I don’t give a shit. Not when you’re next to me.”
“I know you were having a hard time, but you love being on camera. You love talking to people and—”
“I love you more.”
Simple, powerful. Strong enough to move mountains, and a strangled noise leaves my chest.
“You love me?” I whisper, trying to catch up.
“I love you so fucking much, Quincy. I love every single thing about you. No matter what happens, no matter where life takes us, I know we’re going to figure it out because I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, and his eyes light up. His mouth parts, and I’ve never seen him so happy. “I love you so much, Sebastian. Maybe I always have, I don’t know, I’m not into fate or divine intervention or any of that stuff, but I do know that I love you.”
His mouth is on mine before I can say anything else. Each kiss is a second we’ve wasted. A moment in our lives when we did everything but this. Sebastian lifts me off the ground and I wrap my legs around his waist, paying no mind to the wet socks in my shoes.
The whole world narrows to a single entity: him.
Him, who I love.
Him, who loves me back.
“Stop grinding your hips, Monroe,” he mumbles against my mouth. “We’re on camera, and I don’t want to be arrested for public indecency.”
“You’re the one who picked me up.” I pull on his necklace, smiling when he closes his eyes. “The blame is all on you.”
“Sebastian here.” He waves at my phone. “I’m going to go ahead and end this video before things escalate. Quincy will be back tomorrow morning, probably with a new hickey or two, and I—”
“You are never allowed on my show again.” I fumble with my phone and turn off the live stream. “Never.”
“Guess I’ll have to start my own show. I’m going to call it Pocketful of Sunshine. After my username.”
“That was you?”
“I told you I’m a big fan.” He presses me into a tree, the bark sharp against my back. “Tell me, sweetheart. Is love still like a lightning strike?”
“No. It’s so much better.”
Our phones chime in unison, and we exchange a look. Sebastian sets me down and reaches into his pocket. I scramble for my own, a laugh racing out of me when I read the notification.
“NHC,” he says.
“Tropical Storm Isabelle just formed in the Atlantic.” Our eyes meet. His smile matches mine. “Landfall is projected for Sanibel Island early next week.”
“That makes three storms in four weeks. Looks like we’re going for the record this year. What do you think, Quinny baby? Do you feel like chasing another storm?” Sebastian pulls me to his chest. “Or should we sit this one out?”
“We should definitely chase another storm.” I love him. I love him, I love him, I love him. “I’ll race you there.”