WHIRLWIND ✶ Tyler Owens

[ 003. ] A LITTLE LONGER

˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
chapter THREE     ╱     A LITTLE LONGER

Valentina was beyond exhausted.

   Today unfolded in ways Valentina could never have anticipated, leaving her feeling overwhelmed by the challenges she faced. The thought of having to endure it all again tomorrow────and every day after that until the storms finally passed────filled her with a deep sense of dread. It wasn't just the relentless nature of the work that weighed on her; it was the realization that she had committed herself to this demanding role without fully understanding what it would entail.

   Meeting their so-called competitor only added to her complications. She had agreed to be their photographer with the hope that it would be a straightforward job, but the reality was proving to be far more complex and stressful than she had imagined. There were moments when she regretted her decision, wondering if she had made a mistake by getting involved in this project.

   But despite her doubts, she knew she couldn't walk away. The financial compensation was too important. She needed this money, not just for herself, but for Bella, the most important person in her life. Every sacrifice she made was with Bella in mind, and the thought of giving her a better life than she had known was what kept her going. No matter how challenging the days ahead might be, she was determined to see this through, to endure whatever hardships came her way, because she knew it was the only way to secure a brighter future for both of them.

After picking up her room key from Javi, she drove herself and Isabella to the motel, the events of the day still swirling in her mind. As she navigated the narrow roads, her black Jeep hummed quietly, almost a comforting sound in the stillness of the evening. She pulled into the back of the motel, choosing a spot far from the entrance, out of habit and preference for discretion. She assumed that, like earlier that day, she would be leaving in the morning and driving with someone else to the next destination. The thought of doing it all over again weighed heavily on her, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on the small tasks at hand.

Javi had offered a day or two off throughout this trip, but Val assumed she should save those when they're really needed.

As she stepped out of the Jeep, preparing to settle in for the night, she suddenly heard a name that made her stop dead in her tracks. "Val!" The sound of that long-forgotten nickname echoed through the lot, sending a jolt of panic through her. It had been years since anyone had called her that, and the memories it stirred were as unwelcome as they were unexpected. Heart racing, she turned around, her eyes scanning the area until they landed on Boone, who was leaning casually against a Wrangler, his broad grin unmistakable even in the dim light.

"Val!" he repeated, clearly enjoying her surprise. "How was your first tornado?"

She hesitated, feeling the weight of the moment as she put Isabella down, letting the little girl stand between her legs. The child, blissfully unaware of the tension in the air, clung to her mother's leg. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked Boone in the eye and managed to reply, "It wasn't my first tornado."

The grin on Boone's face shifted into something more knowing, a smile that hinted at their shared history. "Is that so?" he said, his tone softening.

   "Ty!" Isabella called out, her small voice cutting through the sound of the wind. She managed to catch the attention of the man perched atop the Wrangler. Tyler's gaze shifted initially toward Valentina, who stood nearby, but then his eyes fell on Isabella. The little girl was half-hidden behind her mother's legs, peeking out with a shy wave in his direction.