*** CAMERON It was like trying to hold a hurricane in my hands. Kara's anger was unstoppable. Like a hurricane, she'd destroy everything in her path. I knew that was the reason she was trying so hard to push me away. But I was more than willing to take the damage so I could stay with her until her storms ceased. I didn't want her to wallow in her suffering alone. I could handle her anger—I was familiar with it now. But there was something else mixed with the anger. She was heartbroken. I felt helpless having no idea what she needed, how to make her feel better. I felt an almost desperate need for her to tell me what the hell to do so I could do it for her. Her face had crumpled in agony when I told her that I was hers if she needed me. No one had looked at me that way before—as though I was both her end and her savior. It paralyzed me for a beat. That look on her face made my heart stop. By the time I realized it, she was already inside her car, driving away. I rushed back inside the campus to look for Caleb. He wasn't in the rec room anymore. He wasn't answering his phone either. After a few minutes, I finally found him in the photography studio. "Caleb." He looked up from where he sat. His face mirrored surprise when he saw me. "Yeah?" "Keys," I said simply. He spread his arms on the back of the sofa, looking relaxed, but he must've seen something in my face because he sat upright, alert in his eyes. He stood, patting his pockets for his keys then threw them at me. "Don't wreck it." "I owe you." Before I left, I heard him say, "she did promise she'd get you to watch a horror movie with me." Where the hell would she go? To work? Back to her house? I couldn't even call her. Her damned phone was with me. "Fuck." I texted Dylan to let me know if she went back to her house. He usually replied right away but this time there was no reply. It was raining again. The roads were slippery as I drove to her house. Why the fuck would she drive in this weather in her state? When I passed by an accident on the highway, dread slid up my spine. I shut down my thoughts, forcing my mind to stop. Her phone suddenly pinged and I glanced down at it in the cupholder. There were messages from Tala and a Thomas. I rubbed my face in frustration. I went to her shop first. It was a good forty-minute drive from campus. The last time I was there she was happy, smiling, kissing me goodbye, watching me drive away. It hadn't even been that long since I've had her back. I wasn't going to let her go. Not without a fight. When I saw her car parked on the lot, I let out a sigh of relief. I strode inside her shop, hoping to see her behind the desk. Instead I saw a tall, lanky man in a mechanic's uniform talking to a customer. His hair was blond, liberally peppered with silver. I looked around. Dylan wasn't even there. Maybe she was back at her house. I was just about to head there when the man stopped me. "Afternoon," he said. "Here to pick up your vehicle?" "No, sir." I went to the desk. "I'm here to see Kara." He took his time assessing me, but not unkindly. "I'm Mike. Kara's dad." I stuck my hand out to shake his hand. This was the man Kara adored, the man who had raised her. Whenever she'd talk about her dad her voice would turn softer and I could tell how much he meant to her. He fished out an old pink rag with pictures of faded flowers all over it from behind his pocket and wiped the grease off his hands before giving me a firm handshake. "I'm Cameron." He nodded. "You own the bike we're fixing?" My eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, sir." He sounded like he knew who I was. Did Kara tell him about us? "You were probably breathing her dust when you came in. She just left." His voice was calm, but I could see his forehead crease with worry. I hesitated for a moment before I asked, "Do you know where she went? I'd like to find her." He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers there as if to relieve a headache. "My daughter, she's a strong girl and a stubborn one. She likes her space best when she's angry." "I'd like to be with her, sir. Just in case she needs help." "She wouldn't want it. God knows I tried but..." He looked at me for a moment, studying me, then pulled his phone and dialed. A second later Kara's phone in my hand rang. We both looked at it and the screen said My Koala Boyfriend. His face froze for a moment then twisted in pain. "You got my daughter's phone?" "I'll give it back to her when I see her." "She'd be at Tala's." She wouldn't be after what happened at the cafeteria. I decided not to tell him so he wouldn't worry. "Thank you, sir." "Dylan tells me you build houses for a living." I nodded. "You can make a good living on it," I replied. "Keeps me on pizza and beer." He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He's got Kara's eye color—the exact shade of hazel that was more green than brown. He looked exhausted. "Know how to paint walls?" "Yes, sir." "I'm painting the local gym for the next couple of weeks. Between seven and eleven at night. I could use some help if you're up to it. I'll pay you." "That sounds good." He looked like he was about to say more but decided against it. He nodded and I left. I jogged back to the truck. Her dad said she just left, but her car was here. It was either she took a cab to go someplace or...she walked. I glanced outside at the rain, remembering the look on her face. I followed instinct and jumped out of the truck, deciding to look for her on foot. Something told me she was nearby, but where the hell would she go? Goddammit. Where the hell are you? The rain came harder now, soaking my clothes. Is she safe? She must be cold. Kara, what the fuck. And then I stopped in my tracks. There she was. Every muscle in my body felt relieved at the sight of her. She was ahead of me and I could only see her back. Her hair and the clothes she wore this morning were soaked, dragging down her steps. "Kara." She must've heard me because she stopped, then turned. I could barely see her face in the rain, but I knew she was in pain. She paused for a moment, hesitated, then took a step toward me. Once slowly, then twice, then fast, faster until she was in my arms. I heard her quick, sharp breath when I grabbed her so tightly, so closely I was afraid I'd crush her. "I found you," I whispered. She burrowed in my arms, hugging me back just as tightly, hiding her face from me. "Let's get you out of this rain." She shook her head. "You're going to catch cold. I'll take you home." I gripped her waist and lifted her. She wrapped her legs on my hips and her arms around my shoulders, resting the side of her face on my neck. "Cam," she finally murmured. Her voice was hoarse as though she hadn't used it for a while. "I'm here, baby." "I'm sorry." "Nothing to be sorry for." "Can we go back to your cabin?" I stroked her hair. "All right."