“We’re only nine,” I said. Eyeing Hugh and the rolling camera, I reluctantly added, “Elliott isn’t coming until tomorrow.”
I didn’t miss Olivia’s smug expression. She would report to Charles the first chance she got, and we would be in shit.
Gale dug his heels in. “Nine is still too crowded.”
“It’s not,” Vern said. “Five in the bug and four in Olivia’s car. That’s normal distribution.”
“Maybe for you, but not for me.”
“Oh my god, Gale. Stop being difficult. Why do you always do this?” Olivia shook the straws at her brother.
Vern gave me a look of irritation.
Gale stood his ground.
Olivia rolled her eyes and lowered her arm. “Fine. Do what you want. I don’t care, but your Jeep will be a write-off if you roll it, and you can’t say you weren’t warned.”
Olivia displayed the straws so I could select one. “Pick. We have to go.”
“He can’t take the Jeep. Gale, you can’t—”
“You won’t change his mind,” Olivia said. “Pick a straw, Oz.”
I stared at Gale, who refused to meet my eyes. Hot pink circles bloomed on his cheeks, and I suspected it was more from embarrassment than the sudden chill in the air. Why was he so stubborn?
From the command center, Jazz yelled, “What the fuck is going on? Move your asses. We’ve got reports of a touchdown west of here.”
“Shit. Oz, pick a damn straw.”
I glanced at Hugh and the camera and considered the repercussions of what I was about to do. Oh well.
“No. We’ll take three vehicles, but not the Jeep.” I glared at Gale. “I’ll drive my car. It has a lower center of gravity. My tires aren’t great, but they’ll do. If you don’t want to be crowded, come with me.”
Vern flinched and gave me a quizzical look. I avoided eye contact. My best friend could read me too well, and I didn’t wanthim to say something inappropriate. Now wasn’t the time for explanations or confessions.
I glanced between Gale and Olivia to see if this was a suitable compromise.
Olivia’s dissecting gaze was that of a sister trying to figure out why I suddenly gave a shit about her hardheaded brother’s comfort. Based on her earlier comments, I suspected she didn’t trust me or my motives.
If she only knew.
Gale managed to look wretchedly uncomfortable. Instead of answering, he deferred to Olivia, which annoyed the fuck out of me. How was he both stubborn and submissive at the same time? And why?
Jazz approached with Roe and Maggie. Great, because we needed a bigger audience.
“Gale?” I whispered.
“I’m going with Ozrik,” he said to his sister.
“We have fucking tornadoes down,” Jazz shouted once the three had made it to us. “Did you not hear me? We’re wasting time.”
Jazz was about the most unlikable guy I’d ever met.
“What’s happening?” Maggie asked.
Vern, lacking couth as usual, filled them in. “Gale didn’t want to becrowded,” he used air quotes, “so he and Oz are going on their own, for reasons I can’t figure out.” Again, he glared a question in my direction as though waiting for me to explain.
“Fucking pussy,” Jazz mumbled.