The Daring Storm Chaser - Page 3

Colby’s body trembles with anger as he turns to face Oz. “I’m the better forecaster, and I’m going to prove it.”

Oh, no. I don’t like where this conversation is headed one bit.

I tug on my brother’s arm again, harder, but he doesn’t move.

Oz smirks. “Is that so? How?”

“I’ll chase the storm, too,” Colby says. “The man with the best recorded footage of the bigger storm wins.”

Gasping, I shake my head. “Colby, that’s stupid. It’s unnecessarily risky to chase tornadoes, and you’re needed here in the studio for—”

“We’ll need an impartial judge,” Oz says, rubbing his chin and ignoring me. It’s really pissing me off that they’re both acting like I’m not even in the room.

“Kane Charming,” they say in unison.

Oz chuckles. “It’s been a long time since we agreed on something.”

“Kane’s the obvious choice,” Colby says, shrugging.

“Game on,” Oz says. “May the best man win.”

“I will,” Colby growls.

I want to scream at them that they’re both behaving like sorry excuses for men, but I bite my tongue and push Colby toward the door again. This time, he obliges.

As I follow Colby out the door, I can’t resist one more glance at Oz. Our eyes meet and a flirty smile dances on his lips. “Nice to see you, Jori.”

I feel heat rise to my cheeks. “I hate it when you call me that.”

His face stretches into a cocky grin. “No, you don’t.”

No, I don’t. But I should.

I really, really should.

Chapter 2

Marjorie

Later that afternoon, I find Colby in his bedroom with a half-packed suitcase lying on the bed. I stare at my brother in disbelief. “You mean you’re actually going through with this stupid bet with Oz?”

“Of course, I am,” Colby says, balling up a flannel shirt and tossing it into his suitcase. “I’ve already called Kane and told him I’ll be sending him the best storm footage of his life.”

With a frustrated growl, I yank the shirt out of the suitcase to fold it properly. As I tuck the sleeves under, I glare at my brother. “Kane Charming has plenty of storm chasers feeding him footage for his stupid podcast. He doesn’t need you.”

It’s the truth. There are tons of idiots out there with 4×4 trucks and a death wish. That’s why Kane’s YouTube channel is so popular.

“My footage will be better,” he says with a cocky grin.

My lip curls in disgust. “I expected you to mature with age, but you’re as stupid as you ever were, and still following Oz around like a puppy.”

Colby scowls, jerking the shirt out of my hands. “I can pack without your help. And I’m not following Oz around like a puppy. I’m proving that I’m the better forecaster, once and for all.”

“By risking your whole career—not to mention your neck—to get up close and personal with a tornado? That’s the definition of stupidity!”

“You don’t have to worry. I’ll be okay. I prom—”

“And for what?” I continue, ignoring him. “For a few YouTube comments and likes? Oz will get an amazing video too. You know he will. So how will yours be better?”