Whirlwind

by Kayla Grosse

While Finley is an adult, the small Kansas town this college is in would have a field day if they found out a forty-two-year-old professor fell for his twenty-five-year-old student.

A man my chase team describes as an extrovert with an adrenaline addiction yet somehow has no issue calling it a night by nine on a weekday, reminiscing about the “good ol’ days,” and blasting what they’ve dubbed “mullet rock” on every chase.

untoward

Her eyes narrow. “What is it with men telling me to be careful today? I’m being careful.”

He’s the Ryker West. Extreme meteorologist and one of the best storm chasers in the world. The Twister Tamer. He’s the reason I decided to do my master’s at Midland Springs University. I wanted to learn from him—from the best.

“Fuck me, Professor.”

The very unglamorous part of storm chasing is that you actually have to chase them, which generally means lots of monotonous driving before you get to the good part.

I happen to know he tends to go for men more than he does women, even if he’s an “equal-opportunity Southern boy” as he told me once.

I’ve embraced the name Twister Tamer and have become the most respected chaser in North America, if not the world. I’ve not only chased tornados, but in the last few years, TT has also chased hurricanes, winter storms, and even bizarre anomalies like the derecho that hit Iowa last year.

“Because I want to dance with you,” I finally say. “I’ve been wanting to dance with you all night.” “And you waited until a stranger asked me to dance to cut in?” “Finley, I…fuck, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do this.”

“Ryker, you can’t quit your job. Especially for me.” I pull away so I can look her in the eye. “The job doesn’t matter. You matter.”

“I want you, Ryker, I do, but this has been such a whirlwind weekend—we need to step back and think. These are our lives, our careers.”

My professor is sitting on my couch. He quit his job for me. He loves me. And if I’m being truthful, I love him, too, even if I can’t say it out loud yet. Not until our relationship feels truly real.

“Please fuck me, Professor West. Teach me how to be good.”

“Have I told you how much I love you, Tornado Daddy?”