DOG DAYS ✶ Boone

[ 001. ] THE TORNADO WRANGLERS

˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊
chapter ONE     ╱     THE TORNADO WRANGLERS

   Theodora Carter is not one to make decisions on a whim.

Here she was, settled into the backseat of Javi Rivera's truck, along with her sister up front. Theodora had made the long trip from Cambridge, exhausted but still clinging to the thoughts that the day might bring some clarity. Things were never simple with these two, especially with Kate, whose unpredictability had always been a constant.

The song "Never Left Me" by Megan Moroney played softly, its melancholic notes weaving through the heavy silence in the truck.

Javi, never one to let silence linger too long, finally broke the quiet with an air of surprise. "I'm not gonna lie, I didn't think you'd come."

Theodora understood his surprise perfectly. Kate had been distant and unresponsive despite her promises to reconnect, to never leave. Theodora had left countless messages and made numerous calls, but they were met with silence. After five long years of trying and eventually resigning herself to the idea that Kate had moved on, receiving a call from her had been a jolt. The circumstances of Kate's call had been unexpected and complex, adding layers to the shock of reconnecting after such a long silence.

Javi looked around at the high-tech equipment packed into his truck with a proud grin. "Nice upgrade from the old van, right?"

Kate glanced over the numerous devices with a thoughtful expression, then raised an eyebrow. "Yeah; how are you paying for all this?"

Javi casually shrugged, his fingers tapping on the sleek controls in front of them. "Got investors, you know. Storms are getting more erratic, and there's a lot of new housing going up. The developers want full-time weather data. So, anytime a new building goes up, I want a Storm PAR radar right there, letting people know exactly what the storm's gonna do."

Kate looked over at Theodora, who was gazing out the window, lost in her own thoughts. After a moment, she turned back to Javi, her eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and curiosity. "I'm telling you, I really feel like we're gonna change the game, Kate."

Kate's smile slowly grew wider, which caught Javi's attention. He looked at her with a hint of confusion. "What?"

Kate hesitated for a second, trying to find the right words. "No, it's just, um, business entrepreneur was not how I saw your future. I mean, we used to feel lucky if we could get you to wear pants."

At that, Theo, who had been quietly listening, interjected with a smirk, "Gross." His comment drew a laugh from both Javi and Kate. Theodora couldn't help but recall the many times she had walked into the barn to find Javi lounging around in his boxers, a habit that seemed to have stuck around longer than anyone might have expected.

Javi chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, that hasn't completely changed," he said with a humorous tone, earning a broad smile from Kate and a playful grimace from Theo.

   Silence enveloped them again as they pulled into a gas station parking lot, this time, no so uncomfortable. Javi parked, opening his door and opening Theodora, who sat behind him. She offered a small thank you before shutting the door behind her and followed Kate and Javi.

"Bring it in, team," Javi commanded the men who gathered in a group in front of Javi, Kate, and Theodora. "You guys have all heard me talk about Kate. How no one has better instincts. She's the smartest person I know. She's the best. And you will never work with a more talented team than this one."