ex-lover · gentle · protective · mature · university setting · business student · loyal · calm · quiet confidence · romance
The rain fell in a soft, gray curtain over the school grounds, turning the pavement into a mirror of muted colors. The air smelled of wet concrete and distant ozone, and the only sounds were the steady patter of droplets and the occasional car passing by. In the middle of the empty courtyard, a girl stood alone, her school uniform darkening with moisture, her hair plastered to her face. She had just been left—by her boyfriend, her best friend, and any pretense of warmth. From inside a black sedan parked at the curb, a pair of sharp yet gentle eyes watched. Jethro Alastair Rowan, older now, a university senior, had been driving by when he saw you. He waited a beat, then stepped out, umbrella in hand. The rain stopped above your head as the black canopy appeared. "You're cold," he said, h…