Free Hurricane by Taige Crenshaw

laughed melodiously.
    Julianne didn’t look at the woman. Once was bad enough, but twice? Keenan had made her forget the woman had said she was coming back.
    “I think your woman is embarrassed. There’s no need to be, Miss—?” Ash trailed off cheerfully.
    “Really subtle about wanting to know her name, Ash,” Keenan said.
    “I’m not the one who is so slow with the introductions,” Ash countered.
    “Brat.”
    “Asswipe,” Ash said gleefully.
    “Popcorn hustler.”
    “Fire breather.”
    Julianne listened, bemused, as they sniped at each other. It was playful. Like how she acted with her siblings and close friends. She shifted so she could see Ash. Pressing her back against Keenan’s chest, she watched her. They continued to exchange barbs. Ash glanced at her and winked. Julianne laughed.
    “So you stopped hiding. I’m Ashley Seaver, by the way. If we wait for him to get around to introducing us, we’ll be in our dotage.” She put out her hand.
    “I would have if you were patient.” Keenan sounded long suffering.
    “Please. Patience is overrated.” Ash snorted.
    Julianne shook her hand. “Julianne Locke.”
    “Of Moments?”
    “Yes.”
    “I went to a wedding there once. Great place you have there,” Ashley said.
    “Thanks. Are you the owner of this place?” Julianne asked.
    Ashley had the same last name as the drive-in.
    “Yep. My sister Kiaya and I run Seaver Drive-in and Bowling.”
    “Where is Kiaya?” Keenan asked.
    “She’s handling the bowling alley tonight.”
    Julianne glanced towards the building that took up part of the huge corner lot. For the drive-in, a customer would enter on Buchanan Avenue, whereas the entrance for the bowling alley was on Walter Avenue. There was a ticket booth at the back door that gave someone access to and from the bowling alley to the drive-in.
    “Well, it was nice meeting you, Julianne. See you, Keenan.”
    “Wait. Guess who I saw recently?” Keenan sounded very happy.
    Julianne glanced at him. A wide smile was on his face.
    “Uh-oh. I don’t like that look. Julianne, whenever he has that look, run. He’s about to do something that amuses him, but probably not you,” Ashley said.
    Julianne glanced at Ashley. She was moving away.
    “Harmon,” Keenan said smugly.
    Ashley stopped and turned back to them. “Harmon?”
    “Yep. He has one of the businesses in the same area as Moments. I can’t believe you didn’t know that. You’re slipping, Ash.” Keenan laughed.
    Ashley frowned. “See what I mean, Julianne? Mean bastard. First and last time I’ll ever go out of my way to bring you any treats.”
    “I mentioned that you and Kiaya had taken over the family business. He might come by.”
    “Fuck you, Keenan,” she snapped.
    Ashley stomped off, muttering. Keenan laughed even more.
    “Why is she so pissed?” Julianne asked, looking at him.
    She stifled a chuckle as Ash aimed a particularly loud and inventive curse at Keenan.
    “She and Harmon have a volatile history. Besides, her cursing me about it will keep her off the phone to my sister.”
    “Okay,” she said, confused.
    “Ash and my sister are best friends. Both together are trouble. Usually for me, the kind big brother.” Keenan smiled innocently.
    “I’m oldest, too, so I know what you mean. Younger siblings are a pain.”
    “Yeah. They try to get us in trouble,” Keenan said.
    “But we get our own revenge.” She smiled wickedly.
    “Yep. There was this time…”
    They swapped stories about outsmarting their younger siblings, then about other topics and themselves. The ease in which they could share was still unnerving to Julianne, but she went with it. When the sound started for the movie, she resettled against his chest.
    “Ohh… Ladyhawke . I love this movie,” she said.
    “Me too.” He murmured against her temple.
    She watched the story of the lovers who could not touch because of a curse to keep them apart. Keenan stroked along her side. Julianne tried to focus