“Sorry, Eve.I told you.I’m a very clingy person.”
“I’ve noticed,” she mutters, but I can see her fighting a smile, the dimple in her cheek threatening to appear.“Go away.Get me an energy drink, too.And be careful out there.”
“Whatever you say, Princess.”She no longer bristles at the nickname, and my eyes fall on the mug with ‘Ice Princess’ written on it.My lips curve, and I reluctantly let go of her shoulders, grabbing my jacket off the back of my chair.“Don’t work too hard.We’ve got this in the bag.”
I walk to the windows, staring out at the downpour for a moment.The city below is partially obscured by the rain, the streets glistening like dark rivers under the streetlights.Water courses down the glass in chaotic patterns, making the outside world appear warped and fluid.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I promise, walking backward toward the elevator.“Don’t miss me too much.”
“Take your time,” Joshua calls out.“We’ll keep Eve company.”
As I reach the elevator, I glance back at her.She thinks I’m not looking, but I catch the soft, secret smile playing on her lips—the one she saves for moments when she thinks no one can see her.It hits me again how far we’ve come from those days of bitter rivalry in college.
I step into the elevator feeling lighter than I should on the eve of the biggest launch of our careers.But that’s what Eve does to me—makes every challenge feel like an adventure we’re tackling together.Even picking up my sister’s car in a storm feels like part of something bigger now, part of a life that’s suddenly full of promise and connection.
The doors close as I make a mental note to pick up something for her to eat as well on my way back.Two hours is a long time to be away from her, and I’m already counting down the minutes until I return.
The lobby is nearly empty when I exit the elevator, my footsteps echoing across the polished marble floor.Through the glass doors, I can see the rain cascading heavily, and I shiver.Zipping up my jacket, I brace myself before pushing through the revolving door.
The rain hits me immediately, cold and relentless.Within seconds, my hair is plastered to my forehead, water running down the back of my neck despite my best efforts to shield myself with my jacket.I jog to the curb, raising my arm to hail a taxi, silently cursing myself for not bringing an umbrella.A yellow cab finally pulls up, sending a wave of water across my shoes as it stops.I slide into the backseat, dripping all over the vinyl.
“Auto shop on 46th and Madison,” I tell the driver, wiping water from my face.“They close at nine.”
The cabbie nods, pulling back into traffic.The wipers work furiously against the downpour, barely keeping the windshield clear enough to see through.Headlights from oncoming cars reflect off the wet asphalt, creating a disorienting light show as we navigate the congested streets.The rain drums steadily on the roof of the cab, creating a rhythm that almost lulls me into a trance.
“Nasty night,” the driver comments, hunching forward to peer through the streaked glass.
“Yeah,” I agree, checking the time on my phone.8:23.We should make it with time to spare, assuming the traffic cooperates.
I lean back against the seat, watching the city transform into a hazy landscape outside the window.My thoughts drift back to Eve, to the way her dark eyes focus so intently on her work, to the rare moments when she lets her guard down enough to smile at something I’ve said.I find myself smiling just thinking about her, about us.I couldn’t have imagined falling for her like this; now I can’t imagine my life without her.
Traffic slows to a crawl as we approach a flooded intersection, water pooling at least six inches deep where a drain has backed up.The driver navigates around it, muttering under his breath about city maintenance.
Finally, the neon sign of the auto shop appears through the rain-streaked window.I pay the driver and dash across the sidewalk, splashing through puddles as I make my way to the entrance.The shop is still open, though the mechanics are clearly getting ready to close up for the night.
“Mr.Wilder!”The mechanic waves from the garage.“Almost thought you weren’t coming.We were about to close up.”
“Sorry about that,” I say, water dripping from my jacket onto the floor.“Work’s been crazy.”
“No problem.Your sister’s brand new car is all fixed up,” he says, wiping his hands on a rag.“Replaced the slashed tires, fixed the broken windows, repainted the keyed panels.Good as new now.”
I nod, thinking about how impatient Megan’s been without her car.“Thanks for rushing the job.She’s been driving everyone crazy having to be driven around everywhere.”I sign the paperwork and grab the keys, doing a quick walk-around of the car.Megan babies this thing like it’s her firstborn.The least I can do is make sure it’s in perfect condition before I hand it back to her.
“Thanks again,” I call to the mechanic as I slide into the driver’s seat, the familiar leather interior smelling of Megan’s lavender air freshener.
The drive to my parents’ brownstone on Park Avenue takes longer than usual with the rain slowing traffic to a crawl.Headlights reflect off the wet roads, and the wipers struggle to keep up with the downpour.By the time I pull up outside the familiar building, the digital clock on the dashboard reads 8:47.I’m already calculating how quickly I can get back to the office—to Eve.
I park Megan’s car in the driveway and text her: ‘Your precious baby is back.Come get your keys.’
The response is immediate: ‘In my room working.Come up.’
Rolling my eyes, I dash through the rain to the front door, getting soaked all over again in the process.Mom must have heard the door because she appears in the hallway, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
“Caleb!You’re soaked!”she exclaims, taking in my dripping clothes.“Let me get you a towel.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” I say, running a hand through my wet hair.“Just dropping off Megan’s car.I need to get back to the office.”
“In this weather?You’ll catch your death,” she frowns, but she knows better than to try to stop me when it comes to work.“At least take an umbrella with you.”
