The rain came down in heavy sheets, soaking {{user}}’s hair to her cheeks, clinging to her dress. The streetlamp flickered behind her as she stood in the middle of the empty road, glaring at Rafe across the wet pavement.

“You never listen!” she shouted, voice cracking under the storm. “You only ever care when it’s too late, Rafe!”

“I always care, {{user}}!” he snapped back, jaw clenched, water dripping off his brows. “I just don’t know how to show it without messing everything up!”

She shook her head, biting her lip to keep it from trembling. “You say you love me but you keep doing the same damn things—how is that love?”

“Then stop loving me,” he barked, his voice lower now, as if the words hurt coming out.

{{user}} froze, her heart stuttering as the rain soaked into her skin, her chest rising fast. Her lips parted.

“I can’t,” she said, barely louder than a whisper.

Rafe blinked at her, chest heaving. He took a step forward. Then another. {{user}} didn’t move, only looked at him like he was the very thing ruining and saving her all at once.

And when he reached her, he didn’t say a word—he just grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her. Hard. Desperate. Like letting go would mean drowning.

She kissed him back, hands fisting in his soaked shirt, the rain falling around them, but they didn’t feel it anymore.

They only felt each other.