The sky opened up with a sudden downpour just as Ava stepped out of the office. Of course—she'd forgotten her umbrella. She considered waiting it out, but something in her chest, something restless, made her walk. The rain matched her mood: chaotic, uncertain, but strangely freeing.
She walked briskly down the sidewalk, heels splashing in puddles, soaked within seconds. Just as she turned the corner toward her apartment, a familiar black car pulled up beside her.
"Ava!" Damien's voice called out as the window rolled down.
She froze.
"Get in."
She hesitated, heart thudding.
"I'm not leaving you in the rain," he added.
The tension between them hadn't dissolved since the party. If anything, it had gotten worse—more electric, more confusing.
Reluctantly, Ava climbed in. The warmth of the car, the subtle scent of his cologne, the nearness of him—it hit her all at once.
"You're soaked," Damien muttered, pulling off his jacket and draping it over her shoulders.
"Thanks," she said softly, avoiding his eyes.
Silence stretched between them, filled only by the sound of the rain pelting the windshield.
"I owe you an apology," he said suddenly.
Ava glanced at him.
"For the way I acted that night," he continued. "I shouldn't have walked away from you."
She looked out the window. "You had every right."
"No," Damien said. "I was scared. That's not an excuse, just the truth."
His voice was lower now, more vulnerable.
"I've never felt this-drawn-to someone before," he admitted. "It's terrifying. You… you break down every wall I've spent years building."
Ava turned slowly to face him, heart racing.
"Then why run from it?" she whispered.
"Because love isn't something I've ever trusted."
Her breath caught.
Damien looked directly at her. "But I'm tired of running."
Ava didn't know who moved first, but suddenly his lips were on hers—soft, desperate, questioning. She responded instinctively, fingers tangling in his damp shirt. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, the world outside didn't exist.
When they pulled apart, breathless, Damien rested his forehead against hers.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered, "and I will."
She shook her head. "I don't want you to stop."
He smiled slightly, brushing a raindrop from her cheek. "Then stay. Let me show you that this whatever it is-matters."
Ava nodded, heart full. "Okay."
They didn't have all the answers, but for the first time, they were ready to find them together.