Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

2

"Y'all are going to be good though?" I asked as I paced in the living room.

"Xena, everyone has been through multiple hurricanes. We are gonna be fine." I sighed as Kie's voice came over the phone speaker.

"You're right. Okay, well I'm gonna let you go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes ma'am you will. It's gonna be fine." I nodded, the two of us finishing our phone call as I went to help lock down the garage.

My bike situated inside the living room along with a few other things from the garage as we crammed my mom's car and Gray's truck in the two car space. And by a hair, we made everything fit.

"Okay, well that's everything. Xena if you'll go shut down all the windows and put the protection pads on them upstairs, Gray and I'll do the downstairs."

"Then we will get candles and make some popcorn before the power goes out." Gray added. .

The upstairs was my domain so I had the seven windows and the floor to ceiling balcony doors to worry about. The locking windows and securing blinds was the easy part. The hard part was getting the pads to stay.

The pads were on the inside to help minimize if anything were to hit the glass and try to come in. Basically they act like wooden boards in a zombie apocalypse. Just minus the nails... and the zombies.

But after twenty minutes, all the glass upstairs was covered. I moved candles into strategic places upstairs so that whenever I came up later tonight I only needed to light them then blow them out when I was finished.

Being that the three of us hadn't experienced a hurricane like this we were overly cautious. The complete contrast to the two goobers at the Château.

I had offered both JJ and B to stay with me but they were both adamant about staying. I don't blame them, the Cut is only supposed to be getting the tail end of things, while the rest of us get hell before Agatha reaches the mainland of Kildare.

Perks of living in the Outer Banks, I guess.

When the wind picked up and the first motions of Agatha hit the house, I was shell shocked. I sat on the couch, candles lit up, snacks all around, ice chests filled with stuff from the fridge and freezer as I listened to the howling outside. The cracking of tree limbs, the thundering of rain.

It was beautiful but so deadly.

"There's a reason why my geography teacher said females were like hurricanes." Gray spoke up from where he and my mom were cuddled on the opposite couch. "In an instant that can turn wild and dangerous while remaining beautiful phenomena."

"I'm surprised you remembered that after all this time, old man." I laughed as my Ma gently pat his chest. Her own laughter trickling out as he started to poke at her.

I couldn't help but watch as the two of them fall deeper into one another. They really did love each other. It was a right person wrong time back in high school when they went on one date and determined they were better as friends.

Several years later, roughly 27 to be exact, here they are.

Still no ring, but I could tell Gray has been looking. He's been working extra hard. And something tells me the bonus he's going for isn't just gonna be put to groceries.

I gave a loud yawn, throwing my acting skills to use as I stretched.

"I'm exhausted," I started rising from the couch, "I'm gonna go off to bed now."

"Honey, just take the couch. It's safer for tonight. Gray and I will go to our room so you have some privacy."

"Yeah, do you want us to leave any snacks?" I smiled grabbing ahold of the pretzel bowl. Gray laughed as he nodded. "Would have guessed that."

"Goodnight, Ma. Goodnight, Gray." I called to them as I fluffed up my pillows and laid down.

"Goodnight, Xena." They echoed one another as they crept off to their bedroom with their bowls of snacks and drinks like little kids. Their voices hushed but excited.

I just shook my head and rolled over, tucking the blanket up over me before going to sleep. The sounds of the storm lulling me away.

Thoughts of the mess I'd have to help clean up here and at the gym tomorrow were pushed from my mind as I let myself rest while I could.

Tomorrow was definitely gonna be a mess, I just didn't know how messy it was going to be.

_______•*•*•*•_______

"Xena, thanks for your help. We should have our generators back in about a week." Murphy said as I walked over to my bike. My backpack over my shoulders as I slid my helmet on.

"No worries. It wasn't much. I'm glad the tree was in the parking lot instead of on the gym."

"You and me both. Go check in with your friends. Something tells me that they've managed to get up to something." I scoffed at his statement.

"They're always up to something. I just try to get involved." I stuck my tongue out playfully making him laugh as I slapped my visor down. My legs straddling the bike as I popped the kick stand up and started off down the road.

My body leaning side to side as I maneuvered the debris from the storm on my way to the Château where I knew I'd find my merry crew.

Though, the merry part was a little off.

_______•*•*•*•_______

"How? I was gone for not even the full day, and you're already nose deep in trouble." I groaned as I followed the blockheads up to the porch. Kie beside me as she sent me a worried smile.

Damn. Trouble finds us somehow, someway, I guess.

First they found a new Grady white and a hotel key. Then in the hotel room they found cash and a gun.

Both of which JJ has on him.

Next, John B and JJ watched Deputy Shoupe and his partner grab some of the cash for themselves. The two goons would have gotten in trouble if Kie wasn't there to make up for Pope the Mathlete.

Then they learned Scooter Grubs was dead, and the Grady White was his.

"And down the rabbit hole we go." I whispered as they filed out on the porch in front of me.