Mia stood at the bus stop, rain pouring down in thick sheets. Her umbrella had flipped inside out from the wind, leaving her soaked. She sighed, hugging her coat tighter around her.
"Need some shelter?" a deep voice asked.
She turned to see a man holding out his umbrella. He had dark, wavy hair and kind brown eyes.
"Thanks," she said, stepping closer.
"I'm Ethan," he introduced himself, offering a smile.
"Mia."
They stood under the umbrella together, the rain creating a rhythm around them. The air smelled of wet pavement and something sweet—his cologne, maybe.
"I've seen you here before," he admitted, a little shyly. "I always wanted to say hi."
Mia felt a blush rise to her cheeks. "Really? And you waited for a storm to do it?"
He chuckled. "I guess I needed the right moment."
Just then, a car sped by, splashing a wave of water onto them. Mia gasped, but before she could react, Ethan pulled her close, shielding her.
For a moment, they were pressed together, laughter bubbling between them. When they pulled away, Mia saw something in his eyes—something warm, something real.
"How about some coffee?" Ethan asked, his voice softer now.
Mia smiled. "Only if you promise not to wait for another storm to talk to me again."
And as they walked away, sharing an umbrella and something new between them, the rain didn't seem so bad after all.
