“Get in. You’ll catch a cold,” Adrian said, holding the car door open as rain continued to pelt down. His voice was calm, almost authoritative, yet it held a softness that made Benita feel… safe.
Benita hesitated, her tear-streaked face glistening under the streetlight. “I—I don’t even know you,” she mumbled through trembling lips.
Adrian chuckled, shaking the umbrella slightly to rid it of excess water. “And yet, here I am, offering you a ride instead of driving past like any other stranger. Come on.”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with suspicion, then at the warm interior of the car. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, and she shivered. Reluctantly, she climbed into the passenger seat.
The door shut with a soft thud, muffling the sound of the rain. Adrian folded the umbrella, tossed it into the back seat, and slid behind the wheel.
“You can cry if you need to,” he said, his voice gentle. “I won’t ask any questions until you’re ready.”
That did it. The dam broke, and Benita sobbed into her hands. Her chest heaved, her cries raw and unfiltered. Adrian didn’t say a word. Instead, he turned on the heater and passed her a box of tissues from the glove compartment.
For a while, the only sounds in the car were her sobs and the rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers. Adrian drove in silence, his presence oddly comforting. He didn’t prod, didn’t offer unsolicited advice—he just let her be.
After a while, Benita’s cries softened to sniffles. She dabbed at her face with a tissue, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I didn’t mean to cry like that in front of you.”
Adrian glanced at her briefly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Don’t apologize. We all need to cry sometimes. Besides, you look like you’ve had a hell of a day.”
Benita gave a humorless laugh. “You have no idea.”
He turned the wheel, pulling the car into a quiet parking lot. Once the engine was off, he turned to her fully, his expression serious but kind. “Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps to get things off your chest.”
Benita hesitated. “I don’t want to burden you with my problems.”
“You won’t,” Adrian said simply.
She sighed, clutching the tissue in her hands. “I caught my boyfriend cheating on me… with my best friend.”
Adrian’s brows shot up. “Ouch. That’s brutal.”
“That’s an understatement,” Benita muttered. “They’ve been sneaking around behind my back for over a year. A whole year.”
Adrian let out a low whistle. “Some best friend.”
“I know, right?” Benita shook her head, her anger beginning to bubble up again. “And the worst part is, she didn’t even try to deny it. She just sat there, acting like she did me a favor by ‘exposing the truth.’”
Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “What about the boyfriend? Did he try to explain himself?”
She scoffed. “Oh, he begged me to forgive him. Said it was a mistake, that he loved me. But how do you ‘accidentally’ sleep with someone for a year?”
Adrian chuckled at her sarcasm, and the sound was so warm and genuine that Benita couldn’t help but smile, even if just a little.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” Adrian said, still grinning. “I just like how feisty you are about it. A lot of people would crumble under something like this, but you’re already calling out the BS.”
Benita blinked, taken aback. “I don’t feel strong. I feel… broken.”
“Broken isn’t the same as weak,” Adrian said. “And trust me, anyone who can walk away from a betrayal like that has more strength than they realize.”
His words settled over her like a warm blanket, and for the first time that night, Benita felt a flicker of hope.
She chuckled softly. “You’re really good at this whole pep talk thing. Do you make a habit of rescuing crying women in the rain?”
Adrian smirked. “Not exactly. You’re my first, actually.”
“Oh, lucky me,” Benita said with a laugh, wiping her face with the last tissue.
“See? That’s the smile I was looking for,” Adrian teased.
She shook her head, unable to suppress a genuine smile this time. “Thank you. For stopping, for listening… for everything.”
“It’s nothing,” he said. “Where can I take you?”
Benita hesitated, then gave him her address. Adrian started the car, and they continued their conversation during the drive.
By the time they reached her apartment, she was laughing at one of his witty remarks, the heaviness in her chest significantly lighter.
“You sure you’re going to be okay?” Adrian asked as he parked in front of her building.
Benita nodded. “I’ll be fine. Thanks to you.”
“Anytime,” he said, stepping out to open her door.
As they walked to her apartment, she turned to him with a shy smile. “Do you want to come in? For coffee, or something?”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Coffee, huh? At this hour?”
Benita laughed nervously. “Okay, maybe not coffee. But I do have wine.”
He grinned. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
Inside, Benita poured them each a generous glass of red wine. They sat on the couch, talking and laughing about everything and nothing.
Adrian shared funny stories about his work, and Benita found herself forgetting—if only temporarily—the pain of the night.
Hours passed, and the wine bottle was nearly empty. Benita’s cheeks were flushed, her laughter louder, freer.
“I haven’t laughed like this in ages,” she admitted, looking at Adrian with a smile that reached her eyes.
“I’m glad I could help,” he said, his voice softer now.
As the clock neared midnight, Adrian stood. “I should probably get going. You need to rest.”
Benita followed him to the door, her heart sinking a little at the thought of him leaving. “Thank you again for everything, Adrian. I mean it.”
He smiled down at her, his gaze lingering. “Anytime, Benita. You deserve better than what happened tonight. Don’t forget that.”
Before she could reply, he leaned in and hugged her. The gesture was warm, protective, and completely unexpected.
A chill darted down her spine at the contact, her pulse quickening. Without thinking, she tilted her head up, her lips brushing his.
Adrian froze for a moment, his breath hitching. Then, his hand cupped her cheek, and he kissed her back.