just as Elena closed he

lding into a relentless downpour that blurred the city lights into watercolor. She sat on the edge of her bed, back te

ight. Not since the article. Not since

her phone lit up, her

adi

ect

the idea that he wouldn't come af

ilm playing on mute. She didn't bother turning it off. She just wanted no

ame th

. Muffled throu

art st

it was a hallucinat

knock - louder, ste

e crossed the living room and stared at

he did, he

. In the flesh

and curling slightly at the edges. His eyes - always s

f them sa

at f

, as if it were norma

im. "How did you

aid simply. "I've had i

not comf

o scare you. I c

, Grayson? Your PR problem? Or the inconvenient f

pa

rong," he said. "About

because she forgave him, but because she neede

be

shaking off the rain like

in every room, not just in presence but in gravity. He carried things -

've spent my whole life believing that reacting gives them

watching him closely.

e is as numb to b

er off guard. She expected a spee

to you," he continued. "And I hate that i

jaw clenched. "Yo

kno

p. Like I was nothing more than ano

n, softer. "And I woul

he window. The rain had slowed, now a gentle driz

in and apologize like it cha

op thinking about you. Because I haven't been able to breathe right since you left.

eath c

face him - r

o power dynamics. Just Grayson Maddox: soaked in rain, regret

made he

she said, voice trembling. "Men who only love in si

id. "I've just never learned how to love wi

losed h

een them felt li

d him. She reached for his han

t me," s

kno

you c

d

're stil

a

tormy gray, flickering with

can trust you aga

ut hesitation. "One day at a

pocket - a small, folded sq

ize: it was a floor layout of the Astoria Grand ballroom. But in t

e gala. No cameras. No spe

s eyes

made

wanted you to see that I've been thinking about th

the paper

anything," she sa

promises," he repl

nt and hearts slightly less guarded, she leaned up and kissed him - not lik

gin a

h