A flash of light filled the air and soon after, another rumble and then crack of thunder came down. Cheeky sat up on his place on the couch, looking toward the window, a little alarmed. Roman went over to him and gave him some scratches on his neck.
“I’m not letting you boys head out in weather like this,” Donna said, shaking her head.
“Do we need to get into the basement or anything?” I asked.
“I think we’re safe in the house, because there are no tornado warnings. But it’s definitely not safe to drive in. Peddleman Road is going to be totally flooded.”
“Shit, you’re right,” Roman said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“The road that leads to the main highway around here gets flooded out during heavy rains,” Roman said. “It usually flows out into the ditch pretty quickly, but only after the rain stops.”
A flare of something like relief flooded through me. I bit my lower lip. “So does that mean… I won’t be able to get home tonight?”
Roman’s face fell. “I’m so sorry, Theo.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s fine. Completely fine, actually.” I was too prideful to admit the truth: that I was actually looking forward to the idea of not having to go back to my own house tonight.
I realized, in a flash, that I had felt safe in this house for the entire night.
As we’d been here, there hadn’t been a single moment where I’d been worried about my stalker. We got to eat great food and sit in a cozy little house that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, and for once, I hadn’t been thinking about the outside world.
It was a miracle, actually.
Another rumble of thunder came through the house and Roman nodded once. “She’s right,” he said. “We really do need to wait out the storm before we head back.”
“Well,” Donna said, “You can look at my collection and pick something to watch. I’ve got DVDs and some more old VHS tapes, too. Do you like old movies?”
“I love them,” I said.
“Let’s see what we have on offer, and I can make us some hot cocoa with Irish creme liqueur, if you’re interested?”
“That sounds like absolute perfection,” I said.
Roman and I browsed through the impressive collection of DVDs and tapes and I saw one that I could never pass up.
“The first Indiana Jones movie is what I consider a perfect film,” I said, taking out the old VHS tape.
“You’re kidding me,” Donna said, coming out and looking at me with wide eyes. “You like movies like that?”
“Of course,” I said.
“But all of the movies you star in are so… artsy. Intelligent. The kind of movies that make you think.”
“Hey, Raiders of the Lost Ark can make you think,” Roman said. “Think about how badass Indiana Jones is.”
“I agree with him,” I said. “And yes, I’ve starred in very cerebral films. But when I’m relaxing on a night off, I love watching action movies where I can just turn my brain off and go along for the ride. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park. I love them all.”
“This first Indiana Jones movie was always one of Roman and Brody’s favorites,” she said.
“And now that you guys have talked about it, I have to watch it,” Roman said. “Even if the song will be stuck in my head for days.”
“Let’s do it,” I said.
Soon, Roman and I were back on the couch with blankets and spiked hot chocolate, and Donna was curled up on her reclining chair.
My entire body ached to get closer to Roman. I wanted to cuddle up against his large frame, to feel his bulk against me again.
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get to feel that again, which made me want to scream. It was like having the most delicious meal dangled right in front of me, knowing I’d never be able to taste it.
But I had to respect the distance that Roman rightfully wanted to keep in place.
Cheeky had come up next to me, though, his chin resting on my thigh. The thunder and rain continued to pelt the house, but by the time the movie was over, the thunder was further off in the distance even though the hard rain was still falling.
“Oh,” Roman’s mom said, waking up after she’d fallen asleep for the second half of the movie. “It’s over? Good Lord, am I tired. I’ve got to head to sleep.”
“No problem, Ma,” Roman said.
She blinked at us, bleary eyed. “It’s still coming down out there. You’re going to have to take the guest room ‘til tomorrow morning, I’m afraid.”
“Theo can have the guest room, and I’ll take the couch,” Roman quickly corrected.
“Right. Right,” his mom said, giving us a hazy wave before taking off down the hallway, half asleep. “G’night.”
The door to her bedroom gently shut and Roman looked down at me. “I’m sorry again for the unplanned evening. I know this isn’t your usual thing.”