The Storm between Us

Chapter 16

The weekend had finally arrived.

Amber had spent most of the evening at home, enjoying the quiet.

She sat at her bathroom vanity with one leg tucked underneath her, carefully painting her nails while a small mirror sat propped against the wall.

Her eyebrows were freshly shaped, her hair was pulled back, and she had changed into a comfortable oversized T-shirt and shorts.

A half-empty BuzzBall sat beside her.

She took another sip before holding her hand up and examining her nails.

"Okay..."

She nodded approvingly.

"Not bad."

Her phone buzzed on the counter.

Amber glanced at it.

KJ: You still up?

She smiled.

Amber: Obviously.

A few seconds passed.

KJ: I'm coming by after work.

Amber's eyebrows lifted.

Amber: Tonight?

KJ: Yeah.

Amber: What time?

There was a pause.

KJ: Don't know yet. I'll text you.

Amber rolled her eyes.

Amber: Okay Mr. Mysterious.

KJ: 😂

She put her phone down.

They had only known each other for two weeks.

Two weeks. That wasn't long. Yet somehow, Amber had already become comfortable around him.

They talked easily. They laughed at the same stupid things. Their music taste overlapped more than she expected. Even their silences weren't awkward.

They were compatible. At least, that's what Amber kept telling herself.

But as she finished her nails, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

She frowned.

"What does he even do?"

Amber froze.

She had spent the past two weeks learning little pieces of KJ.

His favorite music.

His Jamaican family.

His favorite food.

His attitude.

His reputation.

His obsession with his car.

The fact that he could somehow make her laugh when she wasn't even trying to.

But his job?

She had absolutely no idea.

Amber picked up her phone.

Amber: Waitttt

The response came almost instantly.

KJ: What?

She started typing.

Then stopped.

She decided she'd ask him when he got there.

⸻

It was almost midnight when Amber's phone buzzed again.

She was lying across her bed scrolling through social media when she saw his name.

KJ: I'm outside.

Amber sat straight up.

"Already?"

She hurried downstairs and peeked through the blinds.

Sure enough, KJ's car was parked outside.

Amber grabbed her hoodie and stepped out.

The cool night air hit her face.

KJ lowered his window when she approached.

"Hey."

"Hey."

She looked inside.

The smell of seafood immediately reached her.

Amber's eyes widened.

"You brought food?"

KJ grinned.

"Of course."

He held up a bag.

"Got enough for both of us."

Amber smiled.

"You're sweet."

"Don't tell nobody."

She laughed as she climbed into the passenger seat.

Kj started the car. They drove for about 15 minutes to a park across from a high school. It was currently 1am and the park was vacant but they didnt mind.

The interior was cold, the blue lights glowing softly around them.

KJ handed her a container.

"Crab legs, shrimp, fries. Got some extra sauce too."

Amber opened it.

"Oh my God."

"You hungry?"

"I didn't know I was until now."

KJ laughed.

"I figured."

They ate while music played quietly.

Every once in a while, Amber would glance over at him.

Then she remembered her question.

"So..."

KJ looked at her.

"So what?"

"What do you do for work?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Why you asking now?"

"Because I just realized I don't know."

He chuckled. "You just realizing that?"

"Yes."

"Damn."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Amber narrowed her eyes. "You're being suspicious."

KJ smiled.

"I work."

"That tells me absolutely nothing."

"I know."

"KJ."

He laughed.

"I'm serious. I'll tell you."

"When?"

"Soon."

Amber shook her head.

"You're impossible."

"Maybe."

He leaned back against his seat.

"But you still here."

She smiled.

"Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?"

"Unfortunately."

KJ reached over and lightly nudged her shoulder.

Amber nudged him back.

That turned into another playful shove.

Then another.

"Stop," Amber laughed.

"You started it."

"No, you did."

"Nah."

"Yes."

They both laughed.

The movie playing on the dashboard had become completely forgotten.

Amber turned toward him.

KJ was already looking at her.

The laughter slowly disappeared.

Neither of them moved.

The space between them suddenly felt much smaller.

Amber's eyes dropped to his lips before quickly returning to his eyes.

KJ noticed.

His voice became quieter.

"Amber..."

She swallowed.

"What?"

He leaned slightly closer.

Amber didn't move away.

Neither did he.

Their faces were only inches apart.

She could feel her heartbeat pounding.

KJ's eyes flickered down toward her lips again.

Then—

He stopped.

His expression changed.

Amber frowned.

"What?"

KJ didn't answer.

He looked past her, toward the windshield.

Amber turned her head.

A dark figure was walking slowly through the park.

A hoodie covered most of the person's head.

Amber's stomach tightened.

The figure kept coming. Amber's eyes widened. Something about the way the person was walking made her uneasy. Then she noticed one hand tucked inside the hoodie pocket.

KJ noticed too. His entire demeanor changed.

He reached beneath his seat.

Amber looked at him.

"KJ?"

He pulled out his gun and kept it low, out of sight.

Amber's breathing stopped.

She stared at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Stay calm."

"KJ..."

"Stay calm, Amber."

The person reached the car, they kept their distance.

A voice came from outside.

"Roll the window down."

Amber's hands immediately started shaking.

KJ didn't move.

"Roll it down," the stranger repeated.

Amber whispered, "KJ, please."

He looked at her.

"Don't worry."

The stranger took a few steps closer, hand gripping the gun in his pocket.

"I said roll the window down. I'm looking for somebody."

Amber's heart was pounding so hard she could hear it.

"KJ, just do what he says."

KJ's jaw tightened.

"I ain't taking orders from nobody."

The stranger stepped closer.

"I'm just trying to see who's in the car."

"You can keep walking."

Amber looked between them.

"KJ, please..."

She had never been in a situation like this.

Not like this.

There was no arguing with someone in a parking lot.

No angry boyfriend.

No threatening phone call.

This felt different.

This felt like something could go terribly wrong in seconds.

The stranger demanded again that they lower the windows.

KJ kept his hand low.

Amber could barely breathe.

"KJ," she whispered, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "Please."

He looked at her.

For the first time, she saw something in his expression she had never seen before.

He wasn't joking.

He wasn't flirting.

He was completely alert.

Finally, after another tense exchange, KJ slowly lowered the windows eyes staying on the man outside.

Cold air rushed into the car.

The stranger looked inside.

His eyes moved from KJ to Amber.

Then across the back seat.

After a few seconds, he stepped away.

"That's not them." He muttered.

He turned and continued walking down the street.

Amber stayed frozen.

She didn't move.

She barely breathed until the figure disappeared around the corner.

KJ immediately lowered the firearm and put it back beneath his seat.

Then he turned toward her.

"Amber."

She didn't answer.

"Look at me."

Her eyes finally met his.

"You okay?"

She shook her head.

"I..."

Her voice broke.

"I've never..."

She couldn't finish. KJ's expression softened.

"I know."

Amber covered her mouth with her hand. Her whole body was trembling.

KJ reached over slowly, giving her enough time to pull away if she wanted. She didn't. He placed his hand over hers.

"Breathe."

Amber tried.

She inhaled shakily.

"Again."

She breathed in.

Then out.

"That's it."

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

"I thought..."

She swallowed.

"I thought something was going to happen."

"I know."

"What if he had—"

"Don't."

KJ gently shook his head.

"Don't keep replaying it."

"But you had a gun."

"I know."

"You were ready."

KJ looked down for a moment.

"I was trying to make sure nothing happened to you."

Amber stared at him.

That didn't make her feel completely better. If anything, it made everything more complicated. Because suddenly she realized there was so much about KJ she didn't know.

She knew his smile.

His laugh.

His accent.

The way he looked at her.

But she didn't know this side of him.

The side that could become completely serious in a second.

The side that carried a weapon. The side that seemed prepared for danger.

Amber wiped her cheeks.

"I think I want to go home now."

KJ nodded immediately.

"Okay."

No argument.

No teasing.

He turned the car on and drove back to her quiet neighborhood.

Amber opened the door, but before she stepped out, KJ called her name.

She looked back.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that."

Amber nodded.

"I know."

He looked at her for a long moment.

"You safe."

She gave him a small nod.

Then she stepped out.

KJ watched her walk toward the house.

Amber unlocked her door and stepped inside. She closed it behind her and leaned against it.

Her heart was still racing.

She looked down at her freshly painted nails.

A few hours ago, she had been sitting at home drinking a BuzzBall, laughing at herself in the mirror and getting ready to spend the night with a guy she'd known for only two weeks.

Now she was standing inside her house wondering who KJ really was.

And for the first time since meeting him...

Amber wasn't thinking about how much she liked him.

She was wondering whether she should be afraid of him.

Outside, KJ remained parked in her driveway for several minutes.

He stared at the front door.

Then pulled away into the night.