Chapter Seven.
A BITTER GOODBYE
˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚

Theodora couldn't imagine anything more perfect than waking up in Boone's arms.

The warmth of his body against her own, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the peaceful quiet of the morning wrapped them in a cocoon that felt like the only place in the world she wanted to be.

She took a quiet moment to gaze down at him, drinking in the sight of him so close. His arm was draped protectively around her waist, his hand resting lightly on her hip, his head nestled perfectly in the crook of her neck. His lips were parted just slightly, his breath soft and steady against her skin. In the gentle glow of the early morning light streaming through the half-open window, his skin seemed to glow, the sun casting delicate shadows across his features. He looked so peaceful, so beautiful, that her heart tightened in her chest. She found herself smiling, unable to look away.

Theodora's fingers itched to trace the line of his jaw, to brush over the faint stubble that graced his sharp facial figure, but she held herself still, not wanting to disturb the moment. There was something magical in it—the quiet intimacy, the way his presence made everything feel calm and right. She sighed softly, content, simply watching him sleep.

Then, without warning, his voice broke through the silence, low and raspy with sleep. "Can feel you starin', baby." Boone mumbled, his words muffled against her skin, his lips brushing lightly over the sensitive spot on her neck as he spoke.

The brief touch sent a shiver coursing down her spine, and she bit her lip to keep from gasping. His breath, warm against her neck, made her heart flutter all over again. She felt his grip around her waist tighten slightly, pulling her even closer, and her body responded instantly, melting into him.

"I didn't mean to wake you." she whispered softly, her voice barely above a murmur as she ran her fingers gently through his tousled hair. "You looked so peaceful."

Boone chuckled quietly, the sound rumbling deep in his chest as he nuzzled further into her neck, placing a lazy kiss just below her ear. "Can't sleep with you lookin' at me like that." He teased, his voice still heavy with sleep, but laced with affection.

Theodora smiled, her heart swelling with love as she ran her thumb softly over his cheek. "I can't help it." She whispered, gaining a new-found confidence. "You look so pretty."

Boone lifted his head slightly, his sleepy eyes meeting hers, a slow smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're trouble, you know that?"

She laughed softly, her fingers still playing in his hair.

   "Say it again, please." Boone murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes were filled with something soft and unguarded as he arched a brow, a small, shy smile playing on his lips. There was a vulnerability in the way he asked, like he needed to hear it, like her words meant everything to him.

   Theodora blinked, her confusion evident as she tilted her head, studying him for a moment. "What?" She asked softly, her voice laced with curiosity. "That you're pretty? Is that what you want, Boone?"

   His smile widened, the corners of his lips twitching upward, and his eyes fluttered closed, a quiet contentment settling over him as he leaned into her touch. The way his shoulders relaxed, the quiet sigh that escaped him, all told her how much her words affected him. As he nestled closer, Theodora noticed the soft flush of pink that spread across his cheeks, a delicate blush that made him even more endearing. And then, there they were—those dimples that appeared whenever he smiled like that, deep and charming, like the sweetest secret only she was privy to.

   She couldn't help but admire him, her fingers tracing his jaw as she marveled at how someone could look so effortlessly beautiful, so perfect in moments like this. The way his hair fell slightly into his eyes, the warmth of his skin under her fingertips, the peaceful expression that had overtaken his features—it all made her heart swell.

   As if he couldn't get any better.

   Her lips parted, ready to speak again, but she found herself lingering in the moment, soaking in the sight of him. Boone was a mix of contradictions—tough yet tender, confident yet shy. And right now, in her arms, he looked completely at peace, like her words had given him something he'd been quietly craving.

   Then, their peaceful moment was abruptly shattered by the sharp, insistent buzzing of their phones. Both Theodora and Boone's screens lit up with an emergency tornado alert, the red text flashing ominously across the displays. Almost immediately, the sound of distant sirens reached their ears, growing louder by the second, echoing off the walls of the motel room.

   Theodora's heart skipped a beat, fear creeping into her chest as she processed the gravity of the situation. She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper as she called his name. "Boone..."

   Boone was already moving, his instincts kicking in as he quickly sat up, his expression shifting from relaxed to focused in an instant. "It's gonna be okay, baby." He assured her, his voice low but calm, even though the urgency was clear in his movements. He was wide awake now, pulling a shirt over his head in one smooth motion before reaching for her hand. "Come on, we need to move."

   With a firm yet gentle tug, Boone pulled Theodora out of bed, his arm circling her waist protectively as he guided her toward the door. His touch was comforting, grounding her in the midst of the chaos unfolding outside. "There's gotta be a basement here." He said, his mind racing as he scanned the area, thinking of their next move.

   "What about Kate and Tyler?" Theodora asked, her voice trembling as she glanced at him, her mind filled with worry for his friend and her sister. She barely had time to grab anything, her hands trembling as they stepped out of the room. She didn't bother locking the door—it felt insignificant compared to the growing sense of danger around them.

   "They're gonna be okay." Boone replied, his tone steady as he led her down the hallway toward the motel's main office. "They know how to handle this. But right now, I just need to get you to safety, alright? That's my priority, Theodora." He shot her a reassuring glance, his brow arching slightly as he squeezed her hand, trying to calm her nerves while keeping his own composure.

   As they reached the main office, Boone pushed the door open just in time to see Tyler and Kate running toward them, their faces flushed but unharmed. Behind them, a mother and her young daughter hurried along, the fear in their eyes mirroring Theodora's. Relief surged through her as she saw her friends, and without thinking, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Kate in a brief but fierce embrace.

   "Thank God." Theodora whispered into her friend's shoulder, the tension in her chest easing just a little at the sight of her safe and sound.

   Theodora stepped back, her arms falling to her sides as she returned to Boone, who was already scanning the room, his eyes sharp and alert. He pulled her close again, his arm wrapping around her waist like a protective shield. She leaned into him, feeling the strength in his hold, the way his presence steadied her even in the face of uncertainty.

   Outside, the sirens blared louder, echoing through the empty streets as the wind picked up, making the motel's windows rattle. Boone's grip on the youngest Carter girl tightened.

   As the four of them entered the motel, they were met with a scene of disarray. A teenager at the front desk was shouting at the beleaguered clerk. "Hello! Nothing works in this dump!"

   Theodora, with a shaken expression, clung to Boone's arm. The boy continued. "The cables are out, the vending machine's broken, and the pool's empty!"

   Kate, her voice tinged with panic and fear, rushed past the boy. "Do you have a storm shelter?"

   The clerk's nervous shake of the head was accompanied by the boy's ongoing complaints.

   Tyler stepped in, positioning himself opposite Kate. Boone squeezed Theodora's shoulders, helping her stay grounded. "Alright, maybe a basement. Do you have a basement?" He demanded.

   The boy, irritated, snapped, "Hey, there's a line here, buddy!"

   Tyler ignored him, his usual expression filled with ease was one of urgently and panic, which didn't help Theodora's nerves one bit. "We need to get everyone underground, now!"

   A girl behind them rolled her eyes dismissively. "Okay, there's no tornado. Nine out of ten times it's a false alarm."

   Theodora watched as debris danced wildly outside the windows, her heart pounding. She tightened her hold on Boone, pulling his arms closer, her panicked instincts flaring.

   "We need to find shelter." Kate declared urgently. "Fast!"

   Theodora's breath came in shallow bursts, her hands trembling. Boone placed a gentle kiss on her head, his presence a calming balm as they continued their frantic search for safety. "Gonna be okay, baby. I've got you, alright?"

   "Everybody, come with me!" Kate commanded, her voice firm as she gestured toward a door.

   Tyler rallied the group, leading Boone, Theodora, the other mother and daughter, and the clerk toward the pool area. Kate opened the gate, ushering them inside. As they helped the mother and daughter into the pool, Kate's eyes caught the two teens climbing into a car. "No! Stop!"

   But it was too late; the tornado had already seized them.

   Boone guided Theodora down the ladder, his urgency palpable. He stayed behind with Tyler, shouting alongside him for Kate to hurry up and get down.

   "We have to go!" Tyler shouted to Kate, urging her and Boone to join them in the pool.

   "Hold on!" Kate instructed as she led them to a small alcove by the pipes. "You need to get down here."

   "Boone, come on!" Theodora shouted, her panic intensified, pulling his arm toward the little hole in the wall.

   Kate emerged to help Tyler, but a sudden gust knocked the clerk down by a dumpster. Theodora's heart raced as she watched Tyler crawl to the clerk, offering aid as he struggled against the wind. Tyler's efforts were heroic but futile; the tornado soon claimed the clerk, pulling him away despite Tyler's desperate attempts.

   A flash of lightning illuminated the scene, revealing the tornado's fury. Theodora shrieked, tightening her arms around her own waist.

   A truck fell dangerously close to Tyler, eliciting a shout of alarm from him. Boone, ever the helpful friend, began making his way over to Tyler to assist him. Theodora's eyes widened. "Boone, no!"

   Her stomach churned with dread as Boone stepped out, reaching his hand outward for Tyler to grab. Kate and Theodora reached, their hands gripping onto Tyler's arms, assisting Boone in pulling Tyler up just in time to avoid the falling truck.

   Tyler's arms enveloped Kate while Boone found his around Theodora, their heads buried in the crooks of their girl's neck as they held them close. Theodora's cries filled the space beneath them, and Kate's heart ached with compassion.

   Reaching out, Kate enveloped Theodora's hand into her own tightly.

   "Breathe, baby." Boone cooed comfortingly into her ear, his hold tightening. "I've got you, ain't gonna let you go, don't worry."

   The winds, eventually, began to abate, and Boone exhaled a sigh of relief into Theodora's hair. His embrace was tight, a protective cocoon for his girl.

   The mother, quickly checking on her daughter before looking up at both Kate and Tyler with a mixture of hope and fear. "Is it over?"

Theodora let out a soft whimper, the sound escaping her as she clung to Boone with an almost desperate relief. Her breath hitched slightly, her heart still racing, but the immediate danger had passed, and that realization brought a wave of exhaustion and gratitude. Boone's smile, warm and reassuring, was a beacon of calm in the midst of the turmoil.

"Look at that." He said softly, his voice soothing as he held her close. "We're safe now, baby. I told you I wasn't going to let you go."

His arms tightened around her, a firm yet gentle embrace that made her feel cocooned in security. In that intimate hold, Theodora found a surprising serenity, a rare oasis of calm amid the storm's chaos. The world outside might still be fraught with uncertainty, but within Boone's embrace, she felt a profound sense of peace. His steady heartbeat against her ear, the warmth of his body pressed close to hers, and the soft rhythm of his breathing all combined to create an atmosphere of safety that was almost palpable.

For that fleeting moment, all the fear and tension melted away, leaving behind a tranquil clarity. The chaos of the storm outside seemed distant and almost inconsequential compared to the steady comfort of Boone's presence. She closed her eyes, savoring the rare feeling of complete security and connection, her mind and body finally able to relax as she leaned into him, letting the quiet strength of his embrace anchor her.

In Boone's arms, Theodora's attention shifted, her eyes catching sight of Kate locked in what appeared to be a heated argument with Javi. Concern tugged at her, and she cast a quick glance over Boone's shoulder, her brow furrowing as she watched the tension between them escalate.

Boone, noticing her distraction, followed her gaze. Without hesitation, he loosened his hold, gently gesturing toward Kate. Theodora shot him a grateful look, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on his cheek before rising to her feet and hurrying over to her sister.

As Theodora approached, Javi's words struck her like a blow, stopping her in her tracks. "I don't know what that's like? How about losing three of my best friends while you were trying to land a big fat grant for your science project?"

He practically spat the words at Kate, the venom in his tone cutting through the air. Theodora's heart sank as she saw the hurt flash across her sister's face. She stood frozen, trying to process the bitterness in Javi's voice.

But almost immediately, Javi's expression shifted, regret clouding his features as if realizing the weight of what he'd just said. "Kate, Kate, I didn't mean—"

It was too late. Kate didn't even give him a chance to finish. Without a word, she turned and walked away, her shoulders tense and her steps hurried. Theodora hesitated for a moment before following close behind, worry twisting in her chest. She caught up just as Kate was hastily climbing into the truck, her movements sharp and fueled by the sting of Javi's words.

   Theodora froze, the familiar grip of panic tightening in her chest. "What are you doing, Kate?"

   "I'm leaving. I'm going home." Kate's voice was firm, even as her fingers trembled against the wheel, the engine roaring to life.

   "Wait, stop!" Theodora's words spilled out, hurried and desperate. She rushed to the passenger side, sliding in and slamming the door shut behind her. "You're not leaving me behind, Kate. Not again."

   A sad smile ghosted across Kate's lips, one filled with the weight of too many unspoken things. Without a word, she reversed the truck, slowly navigating through the rubble that surrounded them.

   Theodora pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window, her gaze searching the chaos outside. She spotted Boone in the distance, his eyes trailing the truck with a silent sadness that tugged at her heart. The lump in her throat grew heavy, the ache of words unsaid filling the space between her and the glass. She longed to say goodbye, to run to him one last time, but she knew Kate wouldn't wait.

   Instead, Theodora closed her eyes, a quiet prayer whispered inside her heart: that this wasn't the end of their story, that somewhere beyond the horizon...

   The two of them would find their way back to each other.

🌪️: ANOTHER UPDATE IS FINALLY HERE! i want to say thank u so much for all the support on this book (and my others), honestly, it really means the world to me. 🤍

🌪️: let me know your thoughts, and i hope you enjoyed! 🫶