“It’s cold,” Sam said.
“Welcome to Wisconsin,” I said with wide eyes.
After the tank was full, I reached into my pocket and touched the keys, squeezing them slightly. I pulled the handle to make sure the SUV doors were locked.
Sam eyed me with a raised eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I’m working on it.”
“It’s better than it used to be,” I said with a shrug.
“Definitely,” Sam said, hugging herself tighter. “I’m surprised you haven’t called Olivia to go make sure your oven is off.”
I shot her a look.
“You checked it six times, didn’t you?” Sam asked.
“I said I’m working on it,” I replied firmly. “It’s not like it’s hurting anyone.”
“I just don’t want to see you fall back into that place,” Sam said.
I sighed. “Okay. Thanks for your concern.”
Sam didn’t even know the half of it. I’d always struggled with certain things, but after Elijah it had all gotten so much worse. I didn’t like to think about it or talk about it.
I pushed open the gas station door, and a bell over my head jingled. The man behind the counter perked up and smiled.
“Evening,” he said, muting the TV.
I gave him a nod and turned toward the coolers. I needed caffeine.
Sam hesitated by the bottles of booze. “Should we get some wine?”
“It’s after nine,” the man called. “I can’t sell it.”
“Aw, bummer,” Sam said. She walked over to me and leaned toward me. “No need to worry. I packed some.”
“Of course, you did.” I grinned as I pulled out a cold can of iced coffee.
We filled our arms with food and drinks and set them down on the counter. The cashier, whose name was Dorian, scanned our items.
“This isn’t going to be anywhere near enough stuff,” he said, looking up at us.
“I think it’ll be fine,” I said, narrowing my eyes. I didn’t appreciate it when people commented on my purchases, and I wanted to tell him to mind his own business.
“Are you guys from around here?” he asked.
Sam rested her arms on the counter and leaned forward. His cheeks turned red. Sam had a way with men. They were fascinated and intimidated by her, and she knew it.
“We’re not,” Sam said, blinking several times.
Dorian cleared his throat. “Oh, then maybe you haven’t heard the news? Although I’m not sure how that’s possible when it seems to be all they’ve been talking about for the last day.”
“What news?” I asked, glancing at the TV. The marquee at the bottom was spitting information, and the words ‘breaking news’ were in big, bold letters at the top left-hand corner.
The cashier glanced at the register. “There’s some kind of solar storm due to hit in a few hours.” He chuckled. “We’re all doomed.”
4
Dorian, the cashier, scratched the back of his neck and his smile faded. “Yeah, I guess they miscalculated or something.”
“You’re not joking?” Sam asked, turning toward the TV.
“No,” he said, grabbing the remote. He unmuted the TV, and the newscaster started speaking in an extremely serious tone.
“… should hit Earth in the next few hours. Crews will be out all over the United States, ready to combat the after-effects of the solar storm. Authorities are highly recommending everyone stay indoors until they are able to give out the all-clear.”
Sam slapped the table. “That’s nuts.”
“I think we should get going,” I said, twisting my fingers together. “How much do I owe you?”
“You got gas too?” Dorian asked.
“Pump four.”
Dorian tapped a few keys on his register. “Forty-six dollars and two cents, please.”
I placed the cash on the counter, but Dorian didn’t take the money. He stared at me for a long moment.
“You’re not from around here?” he asked.
“No,” I replied.
“Where you headed?”
“My mom’s house,” I said.
Sam slapped her hand on the money and slid it closer. “You don’t have to answer his questions. Don’t be a creep.”
“I wasn’t trying to be a creep,” Dorian said, his voice shaking. “I… I just… she seems familiar.”
“I lived in the area a long time ago,” I said.
Dorian took the money and gave me a receipt. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Just curious. Jeez.”
“It’s fine,” I mumbled as Sam pulled me out of the gas station. She muttered something as she shot him a look over her shoulder. “People are nosier around here. He didn’t mean anything.”
“Yeah, right. You, of all people, need to be more careful,” Sam said.
“Me of all people?” I snapped.
She sighed. “Must I remind you of the whole Elijah situation? We don’t want a repeat of that.”
“This wasn’t that,” I groaned as I pulled my keys out of my pocket. “Let’s just get out of here, okay?”
“Yeah,” Sam said, placing her hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be fine.”
I hadn’t realized my hands were shaking until I heard the ringing of the key clanking together. My lips parted as I slowly exhaled a breath.
“I don’t like being outside in any storm.” I looked up at the sky. It looked the same as any other night. “Is this even real? What the hell is a solar storm?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, and the news just wants viewers. Blowing things out of proportion because there isn’t anything else to talk about,” Sam said. “We’ll just get to your mom’s house and wait it out. That’s what they said, right? Stay inside and wait for the all-clear.”
“We should already be inside,” I said, biting my lip. “Not traveling.”
She shook her head. “Why is that guy still here? Shouldn’t he be going home?” Sam gasped. “Is that why those people left the burger joint? They seemed pretty worried.”
I pressed the button on my key fob
