by RM Alexander
“No, you’re right about that. But, I did take for granted you’d always be there.”
“I will. I’m afraid I’m still not following where you’re going with this.”
She laughed. “I don’t think I’m sure either.”
Another silence gripped the space between them, and Cami shifted in the seat, glancing over the fully loaded cab. What was I trying to say? She rolled her eyes as the lids closed over them. Nothing like starting a two day road trip on the wrong foot.
Alex’s hand brushed against one of her hands and Cami opened her eyes, turning to look at him. No words, simple raised eyebrows searching for explanation.
“Cami, haven’t I made it clear enough?”
She drew in a deep breath of air conditioned air. “I’m sorry, I’m circling the landing pad here, I just …” She glanced down at the hand weathered by work and strong against her smaller palm. “How often do you go out on dates? We never talk about relationships, do we?”
Alex chuckled. “I guess there’s a reason for that.” He sighed. “Occasionally.”
“I’ve never seen you with anyone. It’s kinda … hard to believe.”
“Is it?”
“You’re a great guy. Supportive, sweet, hard-working, I could go on and on. You’re every woman’s …” She fell silent, biting on her lips, stumbling over thoughts and feelings.
“I don’t know about that.” He paused, rubbing the stubble on his chin, a strange smile playing with his features. Lighting up his eyes, his face.
Cami smiled too. Shouldn’t he be my dream come true? Why isn’t he?
“What about you, Cami?”
Reading my thoughts now? “I won’t answer that.”
The smile widened and then faded. “That’s, uh ...”
She giggled. “It’s not like that, Alex.” She leaned forward and switched on the music. “Change of subject?”
He nodded. “After that answer, I think the old ego needs one.”
Cami and Alex arrived into Battle Creek, Michigan a little after midnight. They checked into a hotel off I-94 with neighboring rooms. He paused at Cami’s room as she fidgeted with the key card, watching the glowing lights shift from red to green. A hand pushed the faux gold-plated handle downward, held it open as she shifted her weight to look at Alex. “I can drive back tomorrow. Thanks for making the drive today.”
He shrugged, fidgeting with the duffle bag. “You needed the break.” His eyes lifted to the darkness of the room, then redirected the gaze back to her face. “See you in the morning.”
She nodded, wondering where his thoughts had wandered to when he looked past her, body burning. She shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other, then stepped forward and quickly left a soft peck on his cheek. She fell back to her heels, eyes dropping to the patterned carpet and slowly meeting his, face flushed.
Alex’s eyes remained trained on her, jaw working. He stepped forward, lips meeting her mouth, open hand spread across her cheek, barely touching the skin. She closed her eyes, the feel of his lips against her skin soft and gentle.
He lifted away and whispered, “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
Easing her eyes open, she stared into the depths of golden brown pools of adoration. Heart pounded deep within her chest, the pulse battering her ears, legs weak, hands fluttering as they hovered around his neck. No words escaped, the lips only wishing the kiss lasted longer. Or hoping for another. She swallowed hard.
“Good night, pretty lady. See you in the morning.”
Alex walked to the door to his room for the night, smiled at her over a shoulder and disappeared behind the door.
Cami turned, trembling fingers unlocking the door which had slipped closed during the stolen kiss.
Inside, she plopped the overnight bag on the queen sized bed, and dropped next to the bag, hands holding her chin, the kiss playing through her mind and tingling on the soft pink flesh of her lips. The lower lip crept over her teeth, tongue running along it before pushing the lip out. Alex was a better kisser than she imagined. The admittance of ever giving that any thought at all tickled her with a mixture of delight and guilt. Raking fingers through her hair, Cami stood, stared at the wall her room shared with his room and wondered if he was looking at the opposite side.
Laughing, she walked to the television, flicked it on, then off. Pushing out of her clothes, refreshing in the bathroom and sliding into an oversized t-shirt, she climbed into bed and closed her eyes, dreaming of a man, tall, dark and handsome with a white Stetson.
The morning beamed through the thin white curtains hanging across the third floor window. Cami blinked tired eyes open, glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table, the green glowing numbers announcing the minutes prior to a scheduled ringing. She groaned, hand slapping the button to turn the alarm off. Rolling over, she pulled the blankets to her chin, yearning for another hour of sleep.
A knock on the adjoining door and Alex’s voice calling through the cheap metal beckoned her. “Cami, want to go down for a continental breakfast?”
The lingering sleep begged a growl. The sound of his voice earned a smile. “Give me a few minutes.”
“Waiting for you, just knock.”
Ten minutes later, Cami stood before the mirror, brushing out the mane of golden strands dressing her shoulders and streaming down her back. Dressed in jeans adorned with minor rips in the knees and left thigh, along with worn navy-shirt decorated by a tiger face and northern lights, she knew she looked the part of wildlife preservist. A smiled creased her face. Good.
She packed her bag, stepped into a pair worn sneakers and knocked on the door.
The connecting door opened, Alex’s broad morning smile greeting her. “Ready? Sounds like cold cereal, mini muffins and OJ await us.”
“First class all the way,” she said, eyes focused on his lips, “absolutely.”
Downstairs, as predicted, Cami picked through an assortment of prepackaged muffins, yogurt, cereal and orange juice, and settled on strawberry whipped yogurt, a plain bagel and orange juice. Strange combination teasing tastebuds with sweet and sour.
Alex watched her with amused eyes as he drank ink black coffee and a banana nut muffin.“Looks healthier than what I see you grab most mornings.”
She grinned. “Yeah, I guess it is. I can’t even remember the last time I had a real breakfast of any kind – eggs, waffles, French toast. Seems like I vaguely remember what those are.”
She looked up at him in time to see something catch in his eyes. Cami studied him for a moment, a poker face clean of whatever she’d thought she’d seen. With a soft smile and tiny shake of her head, she turned attentions to the TV hanging a corner of the breakfast room. Weather dominated the newscast, severe storms headed in the direction of northern Ohio, southern Michigan, now only an hour or better away. Her shoulders dropped.
“We didn’t think to check the weather, did we?”
She shook her head. “No. We didn’t. Never even listened to the radio on the way up here.” She paused, listening to the weatherman announce watches and warnings from Michigan to Georgia. A heavy sigh. “We’re not going to miss it, Alex.”
“No, doesn’t look like it. We better contact the sheriff’s department.”
She nodded and stood. “Yeah, we can’t risk transport. Not if they can hold the cubs until later today or tomorrow.”
Excusing herself from the table silently, her fingers punched the number which called her the night before. A short conversation and the pickup date was arranged for the next day. She returned to Alex, sipping his coffee, eyes locked on the television screen.
“It’s all settled,” she said as she followed his gaze, listening to the weather man caution to continue watching the broadcast to stay up-to-date with developments. “How’s it sounding?”
He shrugged. “Heavy duty storm coming. What’d they say about the cubs?”
“All set for tomorrow. I have to call and check on Regellius still, ask Liz to
keep an eye on things there. Did the guys ever get anything done on the underground area for the cats?”
Alex shook his head. “Not with the poisonings.”
She nodded. No, of course not. No time, too many distractions. She sighed. “Hopefully it won’t be too bad. The clinic has a basement, but no holdings. Won’t do any good.”
He reached for her hand. “They’ll be fine.”
She grimaced. “With all the drama lately, I wish I could be so sure.”
Alex smiled. “Go call. Then we’ll decide where we’re going to spend our day.”
An hour later, with Jessica’s assurances Regellius’ condition remained steady, Cami sat uneasily on the edge of the bed in Alex’s room, the TV droning on in the background, some daytime talk show being interrupted with a growing list of new watches and warnings. He stood between the wall and the bed, shifting his weight. She felt his eyes settling on her every few minutes, the crawl of acknowledgement shivering the length of the spine. She shifted against the mattress, sidled to meet him. Eyes met, they stared at one another, seconds ticking down, minutes passing, unease louder than the TV humming behind them both.
He stepped forward, paused at the edge of the bed, and sat next to her. “I don’t want it to be like this between us. If this is how it’s going to be, I could apologize for that kiss last night.”
She smiled, legs drawn beneath the rest of her body, leaning against the mattress with stiff arms. “It’s not that, Alex. You didn’t offend me.”
He nodded. “Good to know, because I’ve been wanting to do that for some time. A long time.” He reached out, tucked some hair behind an ear. “Everyone needs someone, Cami.”
She grinned ruefully. “Yes, I guess so. I’ve never had time for that. My focus …”
“Was always on getting what you want. I know. But you have that now.”
She shrugged. “Kind of. Feels like I’m hanging on to all of it by the skin of my teeth.”
The room darkened, the morning sun swallowed by clouds. They glanced out the window, and back to one another. “That’s not true. You were just referred two cubs we pick up tomorrow. Even with everything that just happened, you’re building a reputation and the sanctuary is going to be fine. You’ve done what you wanted to do. Now what about the rest of your life?” he asked.
A single finger rubbed the bottom eyelid of her left eye, Cami edged around, and leaned into Alex. His arms wrapped loosely around her, no words passing between them. The newscaster came on once again, tornado watches morphing into warnings. She pressed her head into Alex’s chest a little firmer. “This isn’t looking good.”
“No. Is your overnight packed?”
She nodded. “Packed it before breakfast.”
“Good. Maybe we better head downstairs, just in case.”
She nodded again, rose from the bed. Through the connecting door, she gathered the handles for the bag and turned to return to Alex’s side. The wind howled outside, the lights flickering and then went black as Cami froze, staring in the darkness, waiting.
They didn’t come back on.
“Cami? Are you alright?”
She nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see her. “I’m fine. I think I left my phone on your bed, can you turn on yours? I’ll be able to find you without stubbing my toe.”
A dim light shone from around the corner, his voice coupling it. “Stay there, I’ll come to you.”
Tossing the straps over a shoulder, she watched as the light grow a little brighter, barely illuminating Alex’s silhouette as he rounded the corner and stepped into her room. “You didn’t have to come get me. I wasn’t frightened.”
“No, I’m sure you weren’t, but I am a gentleman, and so coming to you was the right thing to do. Have everything?”
She nodded again, remembering he couldn’t see her well, and said, “Yes.”
He reached out, took her arm and weaved it around his elbow. “Let’s head downstairs.”
The hallways glowed with cell phone lights, and echoed with rushed murmurs and crying children. Alex leaned over. “Don’t let go of me.”
She didn’t answer, pressing closer to him with the only response needed. The crowd moved down the stairwell, Cami unable to brush out of mind the image of cattle struggling against one another during a drive like she’d seen in the old westerns her father liked to watch. Gradually, they reached the first floor, nearly every guest crowded in the halls, a hard silence gripping everyone as the collective listened to the rushing winds echoing through the windowless space. The storm picking up velocity. Thoughts strayed to Tennessee, her cats, Regellius, Liz. The weather and whether everything she loved was safe.
Alex pulled Cami against a wall, strong arms wrapped tight around her as he pressed her against the wall. “Storms don’t bother you, do they?”
She fought out a smile. “No, not usually, but this one has my attention. It’s a different animal being in one at a hotel.”
“It’s been an active season, we had those threats at home just a few weeks ago, and now this.”
“They predicted a busy one.”
Alex nodded, looking up and down the hallway. He turned back to Cami, lowered his head and brushed a kiss along her lips.
The winds howled, the three story building rattled. His strong grip pulled against her wrists, pulling her down to the carpet, his body a shield as he huddled over her.
The hotel squeaked and rattled, protested against the storm’s coaxing. A growling roar announcing the moment the hotel gave in, screams rippling through the hallway as something above their heads splintered, sounding like bones and flesh being ripped apart.
Alex’s weight pressed down against her back, arms wrapped around her chest, Cami’s body swallowed into his.
The whole of the hallway held its breath. If anyone breathed, she couldn’t hear it. The first floor of the hotel waited, listened, begging for the worst of the storm to be over. Twenty minutes passed, Alex never moved, no one whispered except an occasional child’s cry, followed by a mother or father’s urgent shh-ing. Winds stopped whistling, rain slowed from pounding sheets against the exterior of the hotel to barely audible pattering.
She felt the berth of Alex lift off as screams echoed from the stairwells. Movements in the hallway began with a flutter, morphed into buzzing as parents began gathering children and purses.
Alex reached out to help her stand. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. You?”
He nodded, and turned to the stairwell, where screams continued to wail. “I’ll be back.”
She reached for an arm. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
*
Alex grimaced as he left Cami behind in the hall, but screams kept calling, and it sounded like they were calling his name. He pushed past families – men, women, children. No one else followed, but that didn’t matter.
He pushed the door to the stairwell. It didn’t budge. Tightening his shoulder and arm, he backed a couple steps and charged forward into the stairwell door.
The door gave and Alex edged into the stairwell, the sky encroaching upon the area where second and third floors had been a mere hour before. People were huddled against the remaining walls, a couple families crouching with their young children under the broken stairwell. Pieces of roof and furniture, even a couple car tires, littered every corner of what was left of the building.
Cami was safe, she was unhurt. So was he.
These people were not as lucky.
“Hang on everyone! We’ll start getting you out of here.”
Turning, Alex returned to the first floor hall, calling for anyone to help. “I need other men. There’s people trapped out here.”
Few moved. “Come on! There’re women and children, some men who can’t move the debris. We need help.”
He stood, looking over everyone, and slowly, men started pushing their way up the hallway. He patted a couple backs and turned back to the stairwell. Someone nearby pul
led out a cellphone and he heard them tell an operator help was needed.
In the stairwell, Alex began moving the debris closest to the doorway, piling items – a tire, table, telephone, branch, a strange twisted piece of metal he couldn’t identify – all of it in an empty corner. He reached a little girl first, her mother still buried, but alive, pleading for him to take the child.
Cami pushed down the hall, struggling against a crowd either too afraid to move or helping the efforts ahead. Struggling, she bumped into a couple of men in a assembly line of volunteers moving items out of the way, apologized. She turned, stopped. Alex came into view, child in his arms, huddles against the strong arms and chest. She froze. Something inside broke, and melded together. Her mouth dropped open. Dusty, sweat dripping down his face, shirt dishelved and hanging over the large belt buckle, everything about him chipping at every desire she’d ever held up tight like a fortress around her. Shattered like the storm that broke apart the hotel.
Alex.
It was Alex.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The people trapped in at the hotel were rescued and safe. No causalities. As rescue and police arrived to take over what Alex had began, he and Cami climbed into the truck. Heading east to Jackson, where the tornados never touched down.
She hadn’t been able to talk to him, not since they left Battle Creek. Everything she’d seen, how wonderful he was as Alex fought to reach people, carried children, every emotion was locked within. Cami only wanted to sort through the feelings she never expected to target at her best friend. A man she’d grown up with, knew more about than she knew about anyone, and yet, now looked like someone she’d never met.
Checking into the hotel, she quietly wished Alex a good evening and bowed into the room, changed, pulled back the blankets and settled against the full sized mattress.
“Alex.” The name caressed her lips and stomach fluttered. His face danced before her mind’s eye, years of passing moments. Always wanting to share life’s defining moments with him, and many times, only him. “Alex.”