“It might be a good skill to have.”
“If you end up with time, I’ll take you out there.”
“I think there’s another storm cell coming in tomorrow. I remember seeing it on the map briefly before we got back here.”
“Then perhaps another day.” Eli stretched her back. “I’m going to hit the sack. Early mornings.”
Lando gave a wan smile as she watched Eli walk toward the back door and slip into the basement. Perhaps they were just two lonely souls. At least Eli had someone to spend time with, even if she wasn’t around as often as Eli would like. Lando was simply alone, no one to be with her except perhaps Aunt T. Lando cursed.
Grabbing her phone, she stalked up the stairs to her room and called her aunt, something she hadn’t done since she’d left. She loved her aunt, but they were not people who talked daily, as much as they said they did.
“Lando, I’m going to kill you if you don’t give me a call or a text more often to let me know you’re alive.”
“Sorry, Aunt T.” Lando flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “It’s been a busy few weeks.”
“Right. So…were you at that storm near Colby?”
“We were.” Lando clenched her jaw, trying to decide how much to share about what exactly it was she was doing. Her aunt would have a heart attack and order her home for sure, not that Lando would listen. She needed the job, needed the cash, and she wanted the experience.
“Did you catch it?”
“We did.” Lando held her breath, wanting to share in her excitement but not quite sure how her aunt would take it.
“So…?”
“It was amazing, Aunt T. I ran right out into that field, twice, and we caught it. There were two satellites and more. It was absolutely amazing. I’ve never had such a thrill before.”
Aunt T snorted. “I swear if you get yourself killed doing this, I’m going to haunt you myself when I die.”
Chuckling, Lando smirked. “You would do that.”
“I would. Now, how is everything else going outside of chasing?”
“It’s…tense. I don’t know. I didn’t think it would be this hard to live with two people for six months.”
“You’ve never lived with anyone except Nan, really. And she’s the easiest person to get along with.”
“I know.” Lando swallowed, staring at the door and wondering when Violet was going to come upstairs. “It’s hard to find time to myself.”
“You’ll have to make sure you do. I know how you thrive on being alone.”
“Yup. But I’m exhausted after today, Aunt T, so I’m going to turn in. I just wanted to give you a call to let you know that I’m alive.”
“Well thank you for being so considerate.” Aunt T laughed lightly. “Call me more often.”
“I’ll try.” Lando said her goodbyes and hung up. She settled her phone on the nightstand and got ready for bed.
She must have fallen asleep, because when the door opened and the light from the hall shone into the room, Lando was surprised. Violet shut the door as quietly as she could, but Lando was already wide awake at that point. Leaning over, she checked the time on her phone and blinked at it twice. One in the morning.
Violet hissed as she’s stubbed her toe on something. Lando frowned and turned on the lamp on her nightstand. Violet spun around, her eyes wide. “Sorry, did I wake you?”
“Yeah, but it’s fine. Stub your toe?”
“Ugh, yeah.” Violet grabbed her pajamas and stripped right in front of Lando before pulling them on.
Lando’s stomach lurched, and she had to pull herself together. The lines on Violet’s body in the dim light were stunning. How she could ever think she was old was beyond Lando. She wasn’t. She was beautiful, stunning even. Violet slipped under the covers, turning on her side to look Lando over.
“It was a good day.”