Rayna waited by the lobby entrance, tapping her heel softly on the polished floor. The rain outside was light but steady, blurring the city lights into watercolor streaks. She hated rain—mostly because it made everything feel slower, heavier.
She glanced at her phone. Still no ride. Great.
Just as she was about to call again, a shadow appeared beside her. A familiar scent—clean, woodsy, warm.
"You forgot your umbrella," Aaryan said, holding one out over both their heads.
She looked up. His tie was loose, hair slightly ruffled from the long day, but he still managed to look unfairly perfect.
Rayna hesitated, then stepped under the umbrella. "Thanks."
They walked together into the night, the soft tap of rain above them, their shoulders brushing occasionally. No small talk. No pressure.
Just quiet.
Aaryan didn't try to make conversation. He didn't try to impress her or fill the silence. He just walked beside her, calm and steady, like a lighthouse in a storm she didn't know she was in.
When they reached the waiting car, he opened the door for her.
She hesitated again, heart thudding in her chest. "Why are you nice to me?"
He met her eyes, voice quiet. "Because you deserve nice. Even when you don't ask for it."
Rayna got in, closed the door, and leaned back.
For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel like running.