#Chapter 51: In the Rain

Rowena Eric held the umbrella over my head, his jaw set hard beneath his skin. For several long moments, I just stared at him, watching as his eyes fixed themselves on the pavement between our feet. And for those moments, part of me wanted to tell him to leave me alone—to go to hell with his umbrella, to get out of my sight after the things he had said. But seeing him like this now, silently holding the umbrella out between us, made me realize something. I was comforted by his presence. Right now, as wet tears caked my cheeks from being stood up by Adrian, I realized how much I missed Eric. It didn’t make me any less angry at him, though. “What are you doing out here?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest. Eric responded without looking up at me. “I could ask you the same thing.” My tears worsened at his words. The minutes spent sitting alone at the restaurant, waiting for a date that would never come, came flooding back. I felt my chest clench, and a silent