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“Of course it would be your fault. You couldn’t have just called, asked to meet up while you were in town?”
“I…well, I didn’t think you would take my calls. After how we left things…”
“So you just decided to show up, take away my choice in the matter?” Nayome said, voice raising.
Felix looked properly uncomfortable now. “Yeah, you two have a lot to talk about, I’ll catch you later, Bal.”
Bal didn’t even spare Felix a glance as he hailed and slid into a yellow cab. Fixated on Nayome, she felt the intensity of his stare all the way to the pointed toes of her boots.
“Why are you here, Bal?” She asked, quietly this time, glancing up as she felt a few raindrops land in her hair.I was moving on, I was trying to get back out there.How was she supposed to get over someone who was always around? She felt like there was war inside of her. The traitorous flutter in her chest at the sight of him was warring with fury at him for showing up unannounced. She had been making progress, moving toward a life without him. And here he was, dragging her right back down. The anger was definitely winning the battle, she thought, as the rain suddenly picked up. “Oh, just perfect,” she yelled accusingly, as if he was to blame for the weather as well.
Rain started to pour down in thick sheets, soaking them both instantly. They darted to huddle under a small shop entrance, which offered some coverage by way of a small striped awning.
Breathing heavily, Nayome and Bal were silent as they brushed water off themselves, wringing out clothes. Nayome’s hair, which had been perfectly styled in smooth cascading waves, was matted and plastered to her face, hanging in heavy damp clumps. Soaking wet, Nayome started to shiver as a cool breeze brushed over her damp skin. Her skimpy dress not offering much in the way of comfort.
“Here, take my Jacket. It’s wet, but it will keep you warm.”
“Thanks,” Nayome said quietly, draping the large blazer over her shoulders. The rain had shocked some of the anger out of her system. Now, as she observed Bal, his thin shirt soaked to his chest, she just felt confused.
“I can see how my showing up might not have been the best idea. I…well, I guess I sometimes forget how the human world operates. It was natural for me to call Felix when I could’t find you at the sanctuary, or your apartment.”
“Right. Tracking people down with creepy spy tech, just second nature.”
Bal looked frustrated with himself, enough that Nayome decided to cut him a break. Something told her they had bigger fish to fry, anyway. “Fine. I know, you grew up in a different world, different social customs. Whatever. It doesn’t answer my question though. Why are you here?” Nayome was trying not to be affected by his warm presence standing so close to her. The awning was barely large enough to shelter them both from the storm, forcing them within inches of each other.
Bal caught her eye, and lifted a hand as if to brush her hair back. He caught himself, and lowered his hands back to his sides. Nayome was grateful he thought better of it. She needed to stay strong, and Bal’s hands on her wouldn’t make it easy. Not to mention she was still shaken from the scene in the bar.
“I came to apologize to you. And explain. I am seeing things a bit more clearly now, and…”
Nayome’s head tilted, curiosity creeping in despite her resolve. What would he have to apologize for? She had been the one to turn him down. “Bal, I don’t understand.” She was shaking her head. This was impossible. Why was he rehashing it, dragging out the inevitable?
“I realize now that I was being selfish. Asking you to uproot, move away from everything that is familiar.”
“Bal—”
“Please, let me get this out?” Bal asked, looking a bit desperate. Nayome cursed her weak resolve, because she couldn’t help but take pity on him. His hair was matted down on his head. Even soaking wet he looked great, while she probably looked like a drowned rat. When she nodded, he continued. “I decided to move to New York.”
Nayome blinked a couple of times, as she let the shock of his words sink in. “What do you mean? Bal, that’s crazy—”
“I know it sounds rash, and you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. God, I sound like an idiot.” Bal raked a frustrated hand through his damp hair, slicking it back off his forehead.
“Bal…” Nayome said softly. She couldn’t help but soften her voice as she watched him, his face stricken.
“Please understand. This isn’t just for us, though I would be lying if it said it wasn’t heavily motivated by the remote possibility we could work,” Bal said, eyes flashing with a heat that had Nayome feeling warmer. “I’ve been secluded in the Glen for too long, my perspective getting warped. I’ve agreed to assist Felix with some of his work here in the city, at least for a time.”
“Oh, well that’s good. Bal, I still don’t understand. This doesn’t change anything—” Nayome started.But didn’t it change everything?Nayome squashed the small, hopeful voice in her head before any more warmth could bloom in her chest.
“Nayome,” Bal said simply, stepping a little bit closer so their breath mingled in the chill night air, sending her thoughts into a tailspin. “I’m falling in love with you.”
“Oh,” Nayome breathed. She felt like she was falling into his eyes, which were swirling with hope, and an emotion that she dared not believe could be true. “But, Bal…we barely know each other. This…it can’t…”
“After what we went through, I know everything I need to know. You’re resilient,” he said, and this time he did reach a hand out to brush some hair out of her face. “Smart,” he continued, his other hand coming up to rest on her cheek. “Not to mention so God damn beautiful,” he finished.
Nayome wasn’t sure who leaned in first, but their lips met a breath later. She couldn’t think around him, and she couldn’t help but give in to the longing she was feeling. The kiss started gentle, hesitant, but quickly deepened as the tension, the frustration of the last weeks poured out of her. She gripped a handful of Bal’s wet hair, the slippery strands sliding between her fingers as she tugged him closer. Bal was the one who broke the kiss, leaning back a couple of inches so he could look deeply into her eyes, framing her face with his hands.
“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll leave. This city is big enough that you don’t ever have to see me again.”
“Bal,” Nayome said, feeling unsure. He was here, in New York. She could have Bal, and her life. Wasn’t that everything she had wanted? The perfect solution to their long-distance predicament. Could this really be possible? “I can’t let you leave all your people behind…”
“I wouldn’t have to. Nayome, don’t you see? I realized if you were to live at the Glen you would need to keep your human world at a distance to protect our secrecy, but I’m not leaving anything behind. I can go back and visit anytime I want—and I’ll be doing good work here, for my people. Felix is the main reason we manage to keep ourselves off the radar in this tech era.”
“This all seems so…” What? Nayome wondered. What was she feeling? Like it was too good to be true. Eyes shining in the streetlights, she looked up at Bal and felt her heart melt a bit. He was standing in the rain, after traveling across the world, to tell her he was falling in love with her. He was moving mountains for her. Why was she hesitating? A nagging voice crept up in her subconscious, the voice that told her this was too fantastic to be true. He was too handsome, too powerful, too…perfect, for someone like her. “Kiss me again,” Nayome said, desperately squashing that nagging voice. She wasn’t going to let insecurity win the battle in her heart today.
Bal happily complied, drawing her in for another searing kiss. Their tongues tangled in a deep, satisfying battle for dominance. Nayome was groaning, feeling her knees weaken, heat pooling throughout her body. Bal’s hands stroking fire down her back, gripping her butt, barely covered by the little black dress, pulling her in closer. Feeling his strong hands on her had her pulse racing, heart beating a quick rhythm in tune with Bal’s.
A loud wolf whistle pierced through the sound of rain and traffic. Nayome leaned back from the kiss, letting out a surprised burst of laughter. They were soaking wet, making out on the street like a couple of teenagers.
Gazing into the depth of Bal’s eyes, Nayome felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff. But when she was with him…it felt inevitable. That hollow feeling was filled with passion, longing, excitement for life. She couldn’t deny it any longer. She decided to take the leap.“I’m falling in love with you too.”
