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Finally, Sarah emerges victorious with a spare umbrella. But it’s not just any umbrella. It’s a hot pink monstrosity with frilly edges and a glittery handle. It’s something a five-year-old princess would carry.

I can’t contain the laughter that bubbles up in my throat. The thought of Jackson holding this umbrella is too much. “Oh, man. Jackson is going to hate this.”

Sarah grins mischievously. “Serves him right for not being prepared.”

I take the umbrella from her and admire its garishness. The neon pink is exceptionally bright, and it hurts to stare directly at it. “I can’t wait to see his face when I give this to him.”

“Take a picture for me,” Sarah says, still grinning.

“Oh, I will.” I’m already planning on making it my phone background for the next month or ten.

Since my shift began a few hours ago, the rain has turned torrential. Trekking across campus in this weather is not appealing, but the promise of seeing Jackson’s reaction to the umbrella is too good to pass up.

I stand up and grab my plain black umbrella from under the desk. “Wish me luck.”

What was oncea vibrant campus is now a dreary, waterlogged landscape. Colorful autumn leaves lay plastered to the sidewalk, and the red brick buildings loom ominouslythrough the sheets of rain. The wind whips at my face as rain pelts against my umbrella.

I huddle under my jacket and pick up my pace with Sarah’s ridiculous pink umbrella clutched tightly in my other hand. The thing is gaudy, and I’m half-tempted to hide it under my jacket, but there’s no way it would fit.

I come upon a pothole in the sidewalk filled with rainwater and regret the decision to jump over rather than run around when I misjudge and end up soaking my shoes. Water swishes around my toes, and the chill instantly seeps into my bones.

As if my luck can’t get any worse, I pass The Brew and nearly get mowed down by a group of guys running out with books held over their heads.

I stumble backward, my arms flailing like a flightless bird as I try to regain my balance. The pink umbrella goes flying out of my hand and skitters across the wet sidewalk. A strong hand grabs my arm at the last second, steadying me.

“Whoa, sorry about that!” The guy’s voice is deep and smooth. He looks at me with concern in his forest-green eyes. “You okay?”

I nod, momentarily speechless. He’s tall, with broad shoulders that strain against his black leather jacket. Red hair peeks out from under a backward baseball cap, and a few drops of rain cling to his stubble-covered jaw.

He belongs on the cover of a magazine, not on a dreary college campus in the middle of a torrential downpour.

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks.”

He flashes a grin, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. “No problem. Gotta watch out for each other in this weather, right?”

“Right.” I return his smile. His cheerful demeanor is infectious, even in the gloom of the storm.

He picks up the bright pink monstrosity and raises an eyebrow. “Nice umbrella.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as I take it from him. “It’s not mine. It’s for a friend.”

“Sure it is.” He winks, and my stomach does a little flip. “Well, I better get going. Don’t want to keep you from your friend.”

“Yeah, he’s probably drowning as we speak.” The words come out before I can stop them, and I mentally facepalm.Way to sound like a total dork, Elliot.

But the guy finds it funny. “Sounds like he needs that umbrella more than you do.”

“Definitely.” I chuckle, surprised at how at ease I feel talking to this stranger.

“Stay dry out there.” He gives a little salute before jogging off to catch up with his friends.

I watch him go, admiring the way his jeans hug his ass. It’s a nice ass, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Gerard’s.

Gerard’s ass is the kind of ass that makes grown men weep and women throw their panties at him. Not that I’ve ever seen anyone actually do that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s happened at least once in his life.

Shaking my head, I continue on my way to the gym. The brief encounter with the friendly stranger has lifted my spirits, but my shivering body quickly brings me back to reality.

Incredibly, the farther I travel, the fiercer the storm becomes. The wind howls, and the trees sway violently, their branches creaking and groaning under the onslaught. A gust of wind catches my umbrella and nearly rips it out of my hand. I tighten my grip and forge ahead.