TEN : MY PAST MISTAKES IN BARBED WIRE
CHAPTER TEN : MY PAST MISTAKES IN BARBED WIRE
CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA
HER RITUAL DOES NOT STOP, EVEN WHEN SHE'S ON "VACATION". She wakes up on her own, the red numbers of the motel clock blinking a crisp 4 a.m., with Kate still tossing around in her sleep beside her, blankets tangled on the floor.
It makes her smile; some things never really do change.
She tries to stay in bed, willing herself to grab even a few extra minutes of sleep, but the restless anticipation gnaws at her. She isn't sure when Javi will even want to leave yet, when his crew will even wake up to start their clock.
Eventually, with a heavy sigh, she gives up and gets out of bed. Swapping her pajama shorts for a pair of jean shorts, she pulls on her old Muskogee sweatshirt over her tank top, not ready to gear up for the field but decent enough to step outside. Her tablet, left to charge overnight, is ready to go. She pulls up the NWS Doppler feed, scanning for cells that Javi had mentioned heading towards. There's one just east of them, hitting northwest above Arlington, that looks especially promising.
She's still poring over the data when her phone rings—loud, insistent, and all too familiar. Rolling her eyes, she picks it up and sets out for the motel lobby.
Willow grips her phone tighter, feeling that familiar mix of irritation and exhaustion settle over her as Joel's voice blares through the line. She only answered thinking it had been a serious work concern he could not handle on his own, but alas, he apparently spends his free time watching the Tornado Wrangler live-streams, one she had been unwillingly apart the day prior.
"I cannot believe that is actually what you requested time off for," Joel snaps, laying on his disbelief so think she can practically see him shaking his head. "Storm chasing, Willow? Are you serious?"
Willow huffs as she grabs a cup from the complimentary coffee stand. She knows it's bitter, stale, but it's the closest thing she can get to comfort as she puts up with this man's bullshit. "I don't see how that's any of your business, Joel."
"You nearly got knocked out by that camera yesterday!" he retorts. "And StormPAR? I shouldn't have ever let that guy get through to you." There's a huff, a pause. "You need to come back. Right now."
"I'm not coming back yet, Joel," she replies, keeping her voice steady even as her patience thins. She pours herself a cup, dropping in two creams, hoping it does something for the stale taste. It doesn't, but she sips on it still.
Joel takes in a deep breath on the other side as if he's trying to calm himself too. "You belong here."
"You don't need me right now," she explains cooly, carrying her conversation from the lobby outside again. She sets up shop at the picnic tables out to the right of the motel, empty in the early morning, a perfect spot for her to set up with her radar. "I set you up with a whole team there."
There's a beat of silence, and then his voice softens, taking on that wounded tone he used in her office, pleading with her to stay. "I meant where it's safe," he says, quieter now as if that changes anything. "Willow, please. Is it not clear that I am worried about you? What you are doing is dangerous; you report on how dangerous tornadoes are every day."
Just then, a familiar voice cuts through her frustration. She should have seen him coming, dressed the way he is, much less cowboy and more everyday man in his t-shirt and sweatpants. "Mornin', pretty girl," Tyler drawls. "Got room for another?"
Willow lets out a sigh of relief at the perfect excuse to end the call. "Joel, I've got to go."
"Is that Tyler Owens?" Joel demands, catching the sound of Tyler's voice. "Willow, you should stay the hell away from him. He's insane. Did you not see what he did yesterday—?"
"Joel!" Willow cuts him off sharply. "Unless something is actually wrong, do not call again. The T-O in PTO stands for time off. You know, from work?"
"Willow, please, just-"
She doesn't wait for him to finish, hanging up and tossing the phone onto the table with a groan, rubbing her temples in annoyance.
Tyler raises a brow, clearly amused. "Didn't sound like too pleasant of a call."
"I took time off at the station," she tells him with an eye roll. Willow at her phone as it buzzes again with texts she's sure are from Joel. She ignores them, letting them pile up. "Didn't tell anyone what it was really for, but my debut on your channel did." She shoots Tyler a pointed look.
Tyler raises his hands in defense. "Hey, Boone apologized." He takes her silence as an invitation to sit across from her at the picnic table, and for the first time, Willow notices a flicker of unease in his usually smooth, confident demeanor.
Their fight the night before had kept her tossing and turning, frustration gnawing at her. But as her anger faded, she started feeling a pang of regret. She'd been too quick to judge, and even with clearly a lot left to learn about him, she knew him better than to assume he'd risk his crew for cheap thrills. Watching them after the chase, she'd seen the easy camaraderie, the way they all truly looked out for each other.
But he'd still gone after Kate, and when it comes to her, Willow doesn't have a middle ground. Kate's family—all that's really left of it—and Willow would do anything for her.
Not quite sure how to break the tension, she glances up at him. "Why are you up so early?"
"I got the room below ya," he says, flashing a small, tentative smile. "Heard someone get up, figured it might be you."
"I usually get up at four for work. Can't quit the habit," she admits, her tone tinged with resignation. She notices he is waiting to say something too, just waiting for her. "What do you want, Tyler?"
He shifts, a flicker of guilt passing over his face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did last night." he apologizes sincerely and she immediately softens at it. Tyler seems to relax the moment she does. "I wasn't tryna start a fight with you."
Willow sighs, looking down at her lap as she fidgets with her fingers. "I know," she says, her voice quiet. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have lashed out over Kate when you were just worried about me."
Tyler nods, understanding in his gaze. He places his hand on the picnic table, palm up, and she instinctively reaches for it. His hand closes around hers in a gentle squeeze, a silent exchange of forgiveness. After a pause, he asks, "How long y'all known each other?"
Willow takes a deep breath, a small smile crossing her face; it's one of the easier things to remember. "I met her my freshman year of undergrad in a physics lab," she tells him. Her gaze drifts to the motel room where she's sure Kate is just now stirring, then returns to his. "You ever had that feelin' when you meet someone and realize you were missing them your entire life, but you just didn't know it yet?"
"Yeah." There is something in his gaze, something longing and she cannot tell who it is for as he swallows, thick. "You felt that way about Kate?"
Willow nods, her voice filled with warmth. "Kate's the other half of my soul. She's one of the only people I trust out there. She..." She hesitates, trying to find the right words without diving too deep into their shared history. "She stumbled out there—we both did. It ain't easy getting back into this, but we'll get better."
Tyler listens, almost as if he wants to ask more, but she sees him catch himself, learning when to press and when to hold back. Willow's heart softens at his restraint.
After a moment, she sighs. "I shouldn't have made that YouTube comment," she admits, a bit ashamed. "I know you're better than that."
Tyler nods. "Yeah, I try to be," he says softly, his thumb tracing a gentle path along the veins on the back of her hand. "I know it doesn't always look like it, but we're careful. Been doing this long enough to know when to pull back."
A flicker of regret crosses Willow's face. She'd been quick to judge him as reckless, a thrill-seeker—and he was, no denying that—but here he was, assuring her that safety mattered too.
"Why didn't you tell me that's why you chase storms?"
He gives a small, sheepish grin, shrugging. "Had this pretty girl in front of me telling me she's practically a genius with her degrees in physics and atmospheric science," he says, trying to keep it light. "Didn't exactly feel great to admit I was just an adrenaline-junkie YouTuber."
Willow can't help but smile. "A YouTuber with a million subscribers," she points out, pride sneaking into her tone. "I may not get it yet, but if it's what you love, Tyler, that's not something to be embarrassed about."
"Yeah," he replies, raking a hand through his hair. "I wish we could do more with it, but it's a way to get people informed, to get them thinking about staying prepared—while we're having one hell of a time doing it." A hint of pride shines in his voice, and Willow leans forward, resting her chin on her hand, caught up in his words. "We try to help where we can, too. All our merch proceeds go toward tornado relief funds."
Willow's eyes brighten. "Oh, your shirts. I haven't seen one of them yet." She gives him a teasing look, glancing up through her lashes. "You gonna get me one?"
Tyler laughs, the tension between them fading. "Yeah, baby, I'll get you one," he says, pausing before a grin lights up his face. "So, where you chasin' today?"
She pulls her hand back, folding her arms as she smirks. "I don't think I'm allowed to tell you that—big rivalry and all."
He clicks his tongue, shaking his head with amusement. "If you don't tell me, though, how am I gonna find you and take you out after?" He leans back, eyes twinkling. "Gotta give me a fair shot at recruiting you."
Willow feels her phone buzz again—this time, it's Javi, letting her know to get ready to set out. She slips out of the picnic table, tossing Tyler a sly smile as she starts to head off.
"You'll find me, cowboy," she calls over her shoulder. "You've tracked me down with worse leads."
She walks away from him again with the last word, but this time, he gets to watch her with a smile.
◆ ◆ ◆
ARLINGTON, OKLAHOMA
THEY END UP AT THE SAME TRUCK STOP. For a moment, Willow thinks fate might have failed to bring Tyler to her, but as she steps out of the restroom—an hour and a half from Chickasha—she spots Boone by the counter, sipping coffee and watching the news. He catches her eye and grins, wiggling his fingers at her over his styrofoam cup.
Willow sidles up beside him, figuring she'll wait for Kate to get back from her own restroom break anyway. She glances at the TV screen, where her usual news station is on. Joel, stepping in for her during her time off, stands in the spotlight, looking every bit the seasoned anchor.
Joel, for all his faults that day, seems like he was made for this—delivering the report smoothly, raising his tone at the right moments, nailing the transitions effortlessly. It's enough to make her wonder if he was always the one meant to be promoted, born for the screen she could never quite embrace. She could've been his assistant—albeit a far less clingy and pushy one than he ever was with her.
Boone doesn't seem to share her sentiments. "Don't like that fella much," he remarks, taking another sip. Cream clings to his mustache as he pulls away. "He don't know storms like you."
Willow frowns slightly, curious about his comment. She always knew she's got more of a handle on storms than Joel, but he clearly can feign enough expertise to convince the average viewer. "What do you mean? How can you tell?"
To her, Joel reports with calm, confident ease, ticking off the facts that data gives just as she would have—even better than her.
"I don't know," he starts, raising his cup towards the screen so he can point at Joel's visage, "he just don't seem to care about what he's reportin' on, but the way you talk about em..." He's watching her closely, delivering his easygoing smile with a shrug. "Only a real chaser can do that."
"Huh," she whispers, her eyes looking at Joel again, imagining herself in place. No one's ever said anything like that before—realized who she is under all that glamour and professional delivery without even trying to dig. There must be some way Boone can see it, that fascination in her voice carrying as she tracks the storms across Oklahoma, apparently in a way only someone who's chased before can have. The idea that she'd been showing that love, that hunger, without realizing it—it makes her chest tighten.
Boone tilts his head towards her. "Wanna settle a bet for me? Dani thinks yesterday was your first chase, but I bet good money you've been out there before."
Willow feels her cheeks flush, unsure of how Boone caught on to it even from their few conversations. "You think I'm a chaser?" she asks.
"Ain't no regular reporter jumpin' in a truck and headin' toward a twister like it's nothin' if she ain't done it before," Boone says, eyes crinkling with certainty. She isn't sure how she ended up smiling, a huff in disbelief as she looks at him, and he thinks he's got her all figured out. "Am I right?"
He might be if this storm goes the way she thinks it will. Kate steps out of the bathroom at just the right time and Willow's smile coy turns as she steps back from him. "How about I tell you later?" she teases and Boone's grin in response is practically maniacal.
"You ready?" Willow checks in. She can see the haunted look in Kate's eyes, the fear that still settles in with the anticipation.
Kate nods despite herself. "I'm ready."
They head back towards Javi, who should hopefully be wrapping up his meeting. It's an odd place, the middle of nowhere, in a truck stop diner of all places, for a meeting with an investor to take place. Willow has no clue what could be so important that it would be scheduled for first thing in the morning, picking an out-of-place setting than rather waiting for the comforts of a home office, like most money-holding investors would prefer.
They stop at the edge of the booth, grabbing the attention of all three men, Javi, Scott, and a older gentleman dressed in a suit and bolo tie. He's awfully familiar to Willow, even in the way he smiles at them, seeming harmless, but she cannot quite place it.
"When do you want to head out?" Kate asks Javi, her hands clasped in front of her. Javi doesn't outright answer, a little surprised at her interruption. Instead, he glances towards his meeting company.
"Kate, Willow, this is..." Javi trails off, hesitating to introduce him. "This is Marshall Riggs. We've been working together. He's one of the StormPAR investors I told you about." The name rings a bell, sparking a faint recollection in her mind, but she can't quite place it.
Kate offers Riggs a pleasant smile in greeting. He returns it before asking, "How scary was that tornado yesterday?"
"Not at all," she replies, her voice steady.
Willow catches Scott trying to stifle a snort behind his hand, and her eyes dart to him, openly glaring at his lack of respect toward Kate.
"Oh, and Ms. Thornton," Riggs draws her attention again before she can jump down Scott's throat, reaching out to take her hand and shake it. The grip is firm, but Willow nearly startles at the unwanted touch, feeling a jolt of discomfort at the sudden intimacy. "When Javier told me he was bringing you out, I just couldn't believe it. I'm a big fan of your weather reports."
"Thank you," she responds, her tone even as she tries to remain respectful for Javi's sake. Riggs hangs on to her for a moment, the smile he wears toward her making her more uncomfortable by the second. Willow's eyes flicker to Javi for help and he is quick to excuse the three of them from Riggs and Scott.
He stands and gently pulls them away from the booth. "Listen, can you give us a couple of minutes?" He asks them, clearly not wanting them to be a part of this side of the business. "Maybe grab something to eat or..." He glances back over his shoulder at Scott and Riggs, both seeming impatient. Willow wonders if they're related— they seem to share the same mean mug. "And then we can head out."
Kate agrees for them, though Willow wouldn't dare argue with leaving Riggs alone. She leads Willow away, though Willow throws one last look at the booth, trying to piece it all together. As they step out into the suffocating Oklahoma humidity, Willow glances over at Kate, her mind racing.
"Who did Javi tell you was investing in StormPAR?" she asks, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Land developers," Kate answers, her uncertainty evident in her tone, as if the words taste sour on her tongue. "He said they wanted to be aware of storm patterns or something."
Willow isn't sure how that works, but she's never been in the business of land development, only storms. She simply shrugs as they walk toward an unobstructed view of the sky, the vast expanse stretching out before them. "I guess you take what you can get, right?" she mutters back.
They pass the Wranglers as they head to the edge of the lot, Tyler manning a grill, his hat pulled low over his eyes, looking every bit the cowboy. He glances up when the pass, pulling a grin at Willow. She knows she saw Boone inside, confirmation enough that he found her, but it's still reassuring to see him, a reminder that fate has brought them together again. A warm flush spreads across her face, and she waves at him.
Kate stops at the edge of the lot first, slotting on her sunglasses to look up. There's something brewing, Willow can feel it deep in her bones, even if she can't quite spot it yet. The radars this morning suggested that this area would be a storm chaser's Christmas morning, but right now, the clouds don't seem to favor a storm just yet. Not with the sun beating down on them, forcing Willow to pull her sunglasses on too.
The clouds to the east aren't promising, not even in the numbers like the day before, but the west could be in worse shape.
"Numbers are pointing us west today," Willow advises Kate with a small shrug, both of them still scanning the expansive sky, their eyes flickering between the ominous gray clouds.
Suddenly, someone sidles up next to her, their bicep brushing against hers, and Willow doesn't need to turn to know it's Tyler. Still, she does, peering up at him through her lashes. He's searching the skies alongside them, his focus drawn to the storm she's already dismissed.
"Well, nothing's coming out of that one," he remarks, hands moving to his hips.
"That one?" Kate points out towards the east mass. "No, it's clearly moving into a stable environment."
"Yeah," Willow agrees, pleased to be on the same wavelength as Kate. For the first time, Tyler gets to witness how truly in sync they are, studying the clouds with a shared urgency. "No low-level CAPE. Not enough shear to keep it interesting."
"Exactly. It's gonna die out," Kate chimes in.
"Not enough moisture to grow," Tyler adds, glancing over at Kate, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Where'd you say you learned how to chase storms again?"
"I didn't," Kate replies offhandedly, her attention drifting from the conversation. She's become still, cautious, her gaze fixated on something in the sky.
Willow follows her line of sight toward the clouds in the east—the very ones the numbers had favored all morning—and finally, she sees it: the buildup they've been waiting for. It's powerful and promising. Kate's mouth twitches, fighting a grin, but Willow pinches her side, silently warning her to keep it under wraps.
She likes Tyler, obsessed with him if she really wants to be honest, but she ain't gonna let him run them off the road like he did the last time they chased the same storm. Just trying to return the favor in the name of friendly competition, that's all.
Tyler hasn't noticed the change in the air, not with the way he huffs and pulls off his sunglasses in frustration. "You know, we're gonna be stuck here all day waiting for nothing to happen," he tells Kate, directing his attention toward her as he leans slightly over Willow. "How about we try to get along? For our girl's sake, if anybody's."
"Yeah, you're right," Kate begins, turning to meet his gaze. "Tell you what, I'll get us a couple of drinks. What would you like?"
"Really?" Tyler asks, surprised.
"Really."
He glances at Willow as if searching for confirmation that Kate is being sincere. Willow assures him with a nod. His tongue darts out across his bottom lip, and he looks back to the sky one last time before making up his mind. "Wouldn't mind an iced tea," Tyler decides, turning back to Kate.
His eyes flicker back to Willow, a playful glint in them. "You want anything, baby?"
"Oh, I'm going with her," Willow replies with a pleasant smile, her expression innocent, of course. "I gotta help her, anyway. She only has two hands, you know."
Tyler, ever trusting of her pretty face, offers a grateful smile as both women turn on their heels, leaving him to ponder the shifting skies alone.
Once they're far enough and Javi is leaving the diner, Kate quickens her pace, grabbing Willow's arm and tugging her along until they're practically jogging. She doesn't care if Javi is still mid-conversation with Riggs and Scott, cutting in urgently, "We gotta go."
Scott raises an unimpressed eyebrow at her interruption, while Javi frowns in confusion. "All right, look," he starts in a low voice, already trying to smooth things over, not wanting to encourage more tension. "We're almost done here."
"Now," Willow insists, pushing herself into the conversation with a firm edge. "We've got something big." She glances over her shoulder, and sure enough, Tyler has caught on, cursing under his breath as he hustles to mobilize his own crew. "And if we don't leave now, he's gonna get to it first."
"Damn it," Javi mutters, catching on to what Willow is putting down. He throws Riggs an apologetic nod before springing into action, gesturing for everyone to follow. "All right, let's go, people! Move, move!"
They surge toward the StormPAR vehicles, each one charged with an urgency that ripples through the team. Just as they're loading up, Willow ready to push into his passenger seat this time, Javi turns to Willow, barking out his final orders.
"Will, you're riding with Scott."
"Wait, what?" Willow protests, her voice sharp with disbelief. "Why the hell are you putting me with Scott?"
"Dan's out sick today," Javi replies, glancing over his shoulder as he rounds his own truck. "Scott needs another set of eyes, and I trust yours."
Willow glances over at Kate, who doesn't like this news, but they both hear that unmistakable whistle of the Wrangler's drone buzzing overhead, already hitting the skies. They're falling behind.
"Fine," Willow snaps, steeling herself as she heads over to Scott's vehicle. "Let's go."
—AUTHOR'S NOTE
TITLE FROM INVISIBLE STRING BY TAYLOR SWIFT
I forget how tough it is writing fanfictions for films because scene pacing ain't the same as book scene pacing. like i had more planned for this chapter, but the pacing felt off including it all in, so you'll get the chase next round. This chapter feels more like a filler, but you get some sweet tyler and willow groveling and then booney baby out here hyping up tyler's girl.
DON'T WORRY: WILLOW DOESN'T WANT SCOTT. she actually is starting to dislike him and will dislike him EVEN MORE in the next chapter.
tyler bout to be obsessed even more with willow, though, you just wait.
i hope you enjoyed this weekend filled with updates! you should be getting some more in the next few days!
thank you for reading,
kari
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro