The rain returned the next afternoon, soft and insistent. Eleanor hadn’t planned on going out, but the library had called, and she had to return a few overdue books.
As she stepped outside, umbrella forgotten at home, she sighed at the drizzle. That was when she heard a familiar voice.
“Looks like you could use some cover,” Caleb called, jogging toward her with his black umbrella in hand.
Eleanor felt her chest flutter.“I… didn’t think you’d be—”
“Helping neighbors is part of my unofficial duties,” he said lightly, holding the umbrella over them both as they walked.
The city streets glistened under the rain, puddles reflecting the muted gray sky. Eleanor noticed how close they were walking, shoulders brushing occasionally. It wasn’t uncomfortable—it was… natural. Comfortable.
“You always seem to show up when I least expect it,” she murmured, more to herself than him.
Caleb glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips.“Maybe I just know where to be,” he replied softly.
They passed a small bookstore and paused for a moment, laughing as a child splashed through a puddle, narrowly missing Eleanor’s shoes. She tried to step back, but Caleb’s hand found hers, steadying her without a word.
For a heartbeat, their fingers lingered together, warm and familiar. Eleanor’s heart thrummed, her mind dizzy with the simplicity and intensity of the moment.
“Thanks… for this,” she said quietly, her voice almost drowned by the rain.
“No need,” Caleb said, his eyes meeting hers.“I like… being here with you.”
The words were simple, unassuming, but they carried a weight that made Eleanor’s chest tighten. She didn’t answer, only nodded, feeling that pull between them grow stronger—gentle, patient, and impossible to ignore.
As they finally reached her apartment, Caleb gave her hand a soft squeeze before letting go.“See you soon?”
“Yes,” she whispered, barely audible, but certain.
And as she watched him walk away, umbrella shielding him from the rain, Eleanor realized that the slow, steady bloom of her feelings was no longer a secret she could deny.
Chapter 10:
Misread Moments
Monday morning brought the usual hum of the city, but Eleanor couldn’t shake the lingering thought of Caleb from her mind. She found herself walking a little slower, glancing toward his apartment door more often than she admitted.
Later that day, while returning from the library, she noticed Caleb speaking with a woman she didn’t recognize—a tall, elegant figure laughing easily at something he had said. Eleanor’s chest tightened. She didn’t want to admit it, but a pang of jealousy twisted through her.
She stepped back into the shadows, pretending to check her phone, heart thudding in a way that felt both irrational and overwhelming. Caleb laughed—a sound she knew well, a sound that had always made her pulse quicken—and the woman leaned closer, resting her hand lightly on his arm.
Eleanor’s mind raced. She told herself it was silly, that she didn’t know the situation, but the sudden ache in her chest was hard to ignore. She turned, pretending to walk away, trying to steady her thoughts.
Later, she found herself at the café, replaying the moment over and over. Caleb entered a few minutes later, coffee in hand, unaware of the turmoil she had felt.
“Eleanor,” he said softly, sliding into the seat across from her.“You okay? You look… distracted.”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, forcing a smile.“Just a long day.”
He studied her, eyes gentle but probing.“If you say so. But I feel like something’s bothering you.”
Eleanor wanted to tell him the truth, to admit the strange, unwelcome sting she had felt seeing him with someone else, but the words lodged in her throat. Instead, she said nothing, and Caleb, understanding—or perhaps just choosing to let it slide—nodded quietly.
The café fell into a companionable silence. Eleanor caught herself stealing glances at him, noticing the way his hair fell slightly over his forehead, the curve of his lips when he sipped his coffee. She realized then that these feelings were no longer subtle—they were sharp, insistent, and deeply personal.
And she also realized, with a mixture of fear and anticipation, that her heart had already begun staking a claim, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
Chapter 11:
