for her to throw a party. She replied that it was an excuse for all of us to come together.”
He thought about it. “I guess we haven’t all gotten together for a while. I mean, sure, for breakfast and an occasional wedding,” he joked, “but nothing like this.”
“Just as long as the storm doesn’t get too bad, we should be fine,” Owen replied.
“Agreed,” he added before heading out.
When he arrived at the campgrounds, he radioed and found out that Aubrey was out helping them close the storm shutters on the last cabins. Already, he could see the skies growing darker. Even though the storm wasn’t set to hit them full force until ten o’clock, the front was already moving in.
He gauged that they would have rain in the next few hours and he’d have to step up his timeline. He skipped lunch and headed directly to help hang the plywood over the massive deck windows on the pool house.
An hour later, Aubrey found him as he and Liam were finishing sealing up the dining hall with boards.
“Wow, it looks almost the same as it did before we opened the camp back up.” She held her rain jacket hood over her head.
He remembered the day he’d met Elle out at the camp to discuss fixing the place up. Joe had sealed the camp years before. Now it was looking more like a haunted summer camp rather than a functional one.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her raincoat just as the first drops of rain fell over them. “We’ve got another hour or so of work out here,” he said with a groan. “Why don’t you get in out of the rain and help out inside. I hear we’re having a party.”
Aubrey chuckled. “It wouldn’t be a storm without one.” She kissed him back before turning to go. “Oh, Elle wanted me to let you know, in case you were too busy to get the latest update yourself, Laura is still a three at this point.” She smiled. “And heading directly towards us.”
He frowned. “We could head to Destin?” he offered.
Aubrey stopped and frowned back at him. “And miss all the fun? Besides, they’re supposed to get hit too.” She shrugged. “I’d rather stay here with the people I love.” She turned around and headed down the path.
He’d been so shocked at her casual use of the word love that it had taken him almost five minutes to get back to work. Liam had to nudge him with a board to get him moving again.
The soft rain turned to a torrential downpour a half hour later, causing them to abandon their work and head inside.
“What’s done is done.” Liam shook his longer hair out, sending rain all over the lobby floor.
He did the same and realized that his hair had gotten longer over the past few months.
“Guess it’s party time. Good thing all the guests are gone. I delivered the last of them to the airport shortly after breakfast. They actually tried to convince Elle to let them stay.” He shook his head.
“Riding out a storm is exciting and scary at the same time,” he admitted.
“I still remember a few crazy ones when I was a kid. The difference between those and the few I’ve sat through now is shocking. I used to be so afraid,” Liam said as they walked into the main dining hall. Then his eyes landed on Elle and he sighed. “Now I’m more concerned about the people I love than my own safety.”
He searched the small group of people and frowned when he didn’t spot Aubrey immediately. He slapped Liam on the shoulder and headed off towards the group to ask where Aubrey was.
He stopped beside Zoey and asked her.
Zoey frowned up at him. “She was heading out to help the two of you,” she answered.
“I sent her back in here half an hour ago.” He frowned and glanced around again.
Zoey pulled out her walkie-talkie. “Aub, check in,” she asked, and they both waited as static filled the air. “Aubrey, please check in.” Zoey’s voice rose slightly, catching the attention of a few others around them.
“What’s going on?” Elle rushed over to them.
“Has anyone seen Aubrey in the last half hour?” he asked the entire group.
Everyone immediately shook their heads.
“She was heading out to help you and Liam with the last boards,” Hannah explained.
“Aiden sent her back inside,” Liam answered.
“She could be in the back?” Zoey asked.
“Fan out. First one to find