Page 42 of King of Envy

A beat of silence passed between us.

Her heels put her four inches closer to my eye level, but otherwise, she was dressed down in a T-shirt, jeans, and makeup-free face. Even so, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

I’m sorry for leaving so abruptly the other day.My movements were stiff.An emergency came up.

“It’s okay. I had to leave for a fitting anyway.” She cocked her head. “A thank-youandan apology in the same month. It must be winter in hell.”

Don’t get used to it.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

More silence.

I stepped closer to allow a mother and her son past. Ayana’s mouth opened, then closed without a word.

All the while, the impending storm gathered overhead in billowing dark clouds.

And yet, neither of us moved to leave.

I had a mile-long to-do list back at the office, but I could stay here with her forever. Just us, just like this.

A drop of water landed on my cheek, jarring me back to reality. Several others fell in rapid succession, and that was our last warning before the skies finally opened up and shattered the peace.

Torrents of rain poured down like the wrath of God, flooding the streets and soaking us to the bone.

“Shit!” Ayana squealed and ran for the scaffolding across the street. She used her purse as an umbrella until she was safely under shelter.

I followed her, less concerned about myself than I was about her running in heels, but I shouldn’t have worried. She made it without so much as a stumble.

“I guess that was our fault for not taking cover earlier,” she said breathlessly. The scaffolding provided some reprieve, but the slant of the rain continued to sprinkle us with droplets. “IknewI should’ve brought an umbrella today. I hate getting caught in the rain. My shoes get—” She cut herself off with an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry, I’m rambling. I’m sure you don’t care about what happens to my shoes.”

I care about everything relevant to you.The thought passed, silent and fleeting, before I locked it away.

How are you getting home?

“The subway,” Ayana said. “If the rain doesn’t let up soon, I’ll call an Uber.”

The nearest subway station was blocks away and prone to floods during heavy rain. I grimaced at the mental image of her packed into a train with drenched, unvetted strangers.

No need for an Uber. I’ll drive you.

“That’s not necessary. I?—”

My car isn’t far.I shrugged off my jacket and handed it to her.Use this for cover instead. Your purse looks expensive.

Ayana crossed her arms. “Are you always this bossy?”

Yes.

“It’s not an endearing trait, you know.”

I know.

She huffed and made no move to take the jacket from me.

At this point, she had to be refusing out of sheer stubbornness. How could a filthy train or paying surge pricing to sit in a stranger’s car compare to a free ride home?

Rats are more likely to come out in the rain. Don’t be surprised if you run across a family of them in the station.I paused, then added,Have you seen a subway rat? They’re the size of cats.

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