I was relieved I hadn't run into him. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I'd have said, or if I could have looked him in the eye after everything that happened. But as I stepped out of his apartment, the weight of the silence between us seemed to follow me. I told myself it was just because I had to get going, nothing personal. I'd brought him dinner, like I did for favors owed. No big deal. Just a plate of sandwiches.

But then, the feeling crept up on me again. The one I couldn't quite shake when I was near him. The gravity of being close, the confusion, and the odd tenderness that followed muddied my thoughts. Now, walking out the door, I found myself wanting to avoid any more feelings of... this. Of whatever this had been. Until I decided to finally ignore the budding emotions I'd been feeling.

Nothing was happening between us. I had to remind myself of that. I needed to stop feeling that way.

With my thoughts cleared, I focused on the work that always kept me grounded. Hosting events have never been easy, but it became my livelihood after I'd left the corporate world behind. I was my own product now. And though it hadn't always been easy, it felt fulfilling.

Another gig down. Another night spent hustling. And for the first time in a long while, it felt like I was starting to get my life together. Everything seemed to be falling into place: my career was thriving, I have my small fur family... everything was working out. I sacrificed a lot to get there, and it was paying off. But sometimes, in the quiet moments, I felt this ache. This gnawing emptiness that whispered, no matter how much I achieved, despite that, something felt amiss.

My mind fought it, but my heart... my heart yearned for something else. Someone...

To love and be loved, huh?

The bus pulled over at my stop, and I carefully stepped off. It was not far to home, so I decided to walk instead. The stroll became my escape, a way to clear my head, to quiet the chaos inside.

But then, as if on cue, the rain begun to fall. At first, it was a soft drizzle, then a downpour. I cursed under my breath, searching for cover. My outfit, and my heels, none of it helped. The rain soaked through in seconds. In a panic, I grabbed the small pouch I'd been holding, trying to shield my head, but it was futile. I was already drenched.

"Perfect. Just perfect," I muttered to myself, frustrated beyond measure.

And just when I'd thought it couldn't get worse, I turned around.

There he was.

Standing a few feet away, an umbrella held above his head, as if he'd appeared out of thin air. He looked like he hadn't planned on being there, but somehow, there he was. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch. I felt something again that I couldn't put to a stop.

"Tyler..."

And then, he started walking toward me.

My chest tightened. My breath got caught in my throat, like I couldn't breathe. I had the urge to turn and walk in the opposite direction. To run. To ignore him, to push him out of my mind. But my feet wouldn't move. I stood frozen in place, caught between what my mind told me to do and what my heart wanted.

He was getting closer. I could feel his presence, undeniable and impossible to ignore. My mind screamed at me to walk away, but my heart... my heart wouldn't let me.

"You look like you need some help," he said, his voice low, almost teasing. He stepped closer, his umbrella now hovering above me, offering shelter from the rain.

And for a second, I thought about pulling away, telling him I was fine, that I didn't need anything from him. But the words did not come. Instead, I found myself stepping just a little closer to him, the warmth of his presence a stark contrast to the cold, drenching rain.

The tension between us had been thick in the air, like something unsaid, yet so clear.

"I guess you're back to owing favors for the fifth time," Tyler said with a chuckle, the hint of mischief in his voice. I shot him a sharp, frustrated look, hoping he didn't see how much his words got under my skin.

"Well," I began, my tone more defensive than I intended, "I don't mind walking in the rain. It's just water, right?"

Tyler hadn't argued. His expression softened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes; a flicker of concern, maybe? "Hmm. Lucky and Cleo are waiting for you at home. You can't afford to get sick. Let me walk you home." He didn't ask. He demanded. And somehow, that made my chest tighten.

We stood there for a moment, the rain falling heavier now, the sound of it like a muffled backdrop to the silence between us. His umbrella loomed above us, but it felt like the space between us was shrinking with every passing second.

I wasn't sure what to feel. Confusion, definitely. Surprise, maybe. But there was a strange comfort that curled up in my chest, like his presence was a steady anchor in the storm.

And just like that, I realized I wasn't even thinking about arguing anymore. I wasn't thinking at all.

Without a word, he took a step closer, and I felt the weight of the moment settle between us. My heart did that strange thing again, so I curled my hand into a fist, and lightly tapped my chest to help stop what it was feeling.

"Let's go." He said, his voice low, almost soft, but there was an undeniable finality to it. And, against my better judgment, I never protested.

So, side by side, we walked in silence. I could feel the rhythm of his steps syncing with mine, the umbrella shielding us both, and yet, I couldn't help but think of fate playing another game, and I was left wondering if he felt the same.

The rain and Tyler...

Both storms I wasn't ready to face, yet both soaking me in feelings I could not ignore.