A little piece of heaven

osed to be thi

op of rain away from disintegrating. The city wasn't gentle today. Not with its sky split open, not with the cold wind biting

g else in her life,

ds of hair out of her face. Her phone was dead.

ut the rain-but the door had already locked behind her. A sma

ly rippe

le cut throu

stif

y, and smile maddening. He didn't belong in this kind of weather, or this kind of neighbor

is head, wa

rrowed h

. Just... watched. Like she was the day's most intere

urned

paper

and a very expired granola bar. All of it scattered in

because it felt symbolic. Everything she'd been trying to

shoes stepped into

t look up

smooth. Deep. Warm in all th

elp. Don't pity

pa

, "N

suit was dark, expensive, and still somehow perfect despite the drizzle. His jaw was sharp, his hair carelessly elegant, an

trust

bread was a soggy mess now. "Thanks for the umbrella cameo, Mr. Arm

st studied her like she'd said something fas

ha

the way you look when yo

harming? Absolutely not. And yet-something

he said, stepping back. "You're about five

wly. "Not a

ve fool

smile." He paused. "I didn

art sk

s-a car honked violently. She turned just in time to see a taxi speed through

back-but it was too

y. Just... amused. "Okay, tha

"You're enjoying

cing. "Or maybe I'm just glad

't even

pped closer. "

happe

led again-slow, delibera

he said, off

old her not to touch him. Not t

y he stood-so sure, so

't take

are," she

again. "T

his car. No parting line. No charming wink. Just left her standi

e hell

ight away. He sat insi

e been smart and forgotten his name

her pho

Bat

e from an un

alk home alone

fr

gave him