Becoming Rain: A Novel

The drive went by too fast. I’m not ready to drop her off yet. That’s probably why I blurt out, “So you’re coming to my place tonight, right?” the second I pull my car into her condo building driveway.

“I am?” A smile of surprise touches her lips. Not an “I can’t.” That’s good. I guess that means she’s not sick of me yet, and she doesn’t hate me for what I admitted to her about Alex and ignoring what I knew was happening.

I shrug. “That was the deal we made last week, right? I cook dinner for you?”

Her head falls back with a smile as realization strikes her. “That’s right. I was hoping you forgot.”

I chuckle. “Not a chance. I’m gonna prove you wrong.” Those sandwiches she packed for me were like nothing I’ve ever had. I was half-tempted to walk down to the food cart and force the guy behind the counter to take a bite and admit that his version is shit.

“Okay.” She grins at me. I’d kill to know what’s going on inside her head right now. I’m just seconds away from leaning over to kiss her when she says, “Let me just grab a shower,” and jumps out of the car. I watch her walk through her doors. So beautiful, so graceful, so . . . glass. I have an hour. Enough time to go deal with this raging hard-on she’s giving me. “Follow her lead, my ass,” I mutter, repeating Jesse’s words. “She’s going to lead me into some serious pain.”