Sophie stood on the roadside, drenched and shivering as the rain poured relentlessly. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, and her teeth chattered as she held her phone high, desperately trying to find a single bar of network. The small building she'd just left loomed behind her, dark and lifeless. No reception, no progress, and now, no shelter from the storm.
She cursed under her breath, feeling the icy droplets run down her back. Why had she even come here? Margaret Winters' trail had led her to this desolate place, but now it felt like she was chasing shadows. And to top it off, nature had decided to drench her in the middle of nowhere.
Headlights pierced through the rain, the low rumble of an approaching car breaking the eerie stillness. Sophie stepped back instinctively, shielding her eyes. The car slowed as it neared her, finally coming to a stop.
The driver's door opened, and a figure stepped out.
It took Sophie a moment to recognize him. The tall frame, the tailored coat, the piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her.
Ethan.
Her heart twisted painfully. Of all people, why him?
---
"Get in the Car, Sophie"
"Sophie?" Ethan's voice was sharp with concern, his brows furrowing as he approached. "What the hell are you doing out here in the rain?"
She stiffened, clenching her jaw. "I'm fine," she snapped, even as she shivered violently. "You can keep driving."
Ethan stopped in front of her, his own coat starting to soak through. "Are you out of your mind? You're going to catch your death out here. Get in the car."
"No," she said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why do you care, Ethan? Shouldn't you be rushing back to your fiancée or something?"
He flinched, the accusation hitting harder than she expected. "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," she shot back, her voice trembling—not from the cold, but from the weight of months of pent-up emotion. "I heard about your engagement. You don't have to play the hero for me."
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I'm not engaged, Sophie. That was a stupid rumor, and I didn't bother correcting it because—" He broke off, his voice catching.
"Because what?" she challenged, taking a step closer despite herself. The rain streamed between them, but neither seemed to notice.
"Because it didn't matter!" Ethan's voice rose, raw and unguarded. "None of it mattered because you weren't there anymore."
---
A Confession Unleashed
Sophie blinked, startled by the intensity in his tone. Ethan took a shaky breath, his composure unraveling.
"Do you want to know why I care?" he demanded, his voice almost a growl. "I care because I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember. Longer than I should've been. I care because I've spent every single day since you walked out of my life wishing I'd been brave enough to tell you the truth."
Her breath hitched, her heart racing. "Ethan—"
"No, you're going to listen," he interrupted, stepping closer. "I've loved you since the moment you stumbled into my life with your ridiculous laugh and your even more ridiculous stubbornness. And I didn't tell you, because I thought I'd ruin everything. So instead, I ruined it by being a coward."
Sophie stared at him, her chest tightening painfully. "You—You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do," he said fiercely. "And I can't stand the thought of you standing here, soaking wet, freezing to death, because you think I don't care about you. I care too much, Sophie. It's eating me alive."
---
A Kiss Under the Rain
Her defenses cracked, her resolve slipping away. The rain fell harder, drenching them both, but Ethan didn't move. His eyes burned into hers, desperate, pleading.
"I've always been in love with you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper now. "And I'm done pretending I'm not."
Before she could respond, Ethan closed the distance between them. His hands cupped her face, his lips crashing against hers in a kiss so intense, so raw, it left her breathless.
Sophie's initial shock melted away, replaced by a flood of emotions she could no longer deny. She kissed him back with equal fervor, her fingers tangling in his wet hair as the rain poured around them. The world faded, leaving only the two of them in a storm of passion and longing.
When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Ethan rested his forehead against hers. "Please," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "Don't push me away anymore."
Sophie searched his eyes, her heart pounding. The walls she'd built around herself crumbled completely, leaving her vulnerable, but for the first time in months, she didn't care.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Okay."
Ethan's lips curved into a small, relieved smile before he kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the moment as if he was afraid it might slip away.
---
A New Beginning
Minutes later, Ethan finally convinced Sophie to get into the car, where the heater was blasting. She sat in the passenger seat, wrapped in his coat, still processing everything that had just happened.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked softly, glancing at him.
He shot her a sideways look as he drove. "Because I'm an idiot. But I'm not going to waste any more time, Sophie. I'm not letting you go again."
Sophie's lips twitched into a small smile as she looked out the window, the rain blurring the view. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel lost. Ethan's words echoed in her mind, warming her in a way the heater couldn't.
Whatever came next, she knew one thing for certain: they were done running from each other.