He finally looked at her, pink tingeing his cheeks. It was adorable. “Yeah, I remember. I thought maybe that was our time. I know you were just tired and emotional that night, but I was going to say something to you the next day. Formally ask you on a proper date. But then your dad told us his final decision to retire, and if you came to work at HNS, it would be too complicated. And then in the dog park, you were adamant to that guy that you weren’t looking for a relationship.” He sighed. “I know I screwed up and I wish I could make it make sense, Kamila, but you know me. You know me like no one else does. If I loved you less, I’d be able to explain myself better. If you wanted a part of HNS, you could have it. If you wanted to never work another day in your life, I’d make that happen. If you want Emerald, it’s yours. Just tell me what you want, and you can have it. Even if you don’t want me.” He looked out into the rain.

This was real. Not a dream. She slowly put the photograph back in the plastic bag and put it on the railing behind her. She took Rohan’s hand in hers. “What if what I want is you?”

His head whipped around, and he looked at her. Such a lovely face. When had she not loved it?

He smiled ever so slightly. “Say that again.”

“Literally all I want is you. I love you. So much. But I…I couldn’t imagine you felt the same way. Rohan, I’m Kamila. I don’t fit in your world.”

He shook his head and squeezed her hand. “Fuck fitting in my world. I want you in my life.”

She closed her eyes for a second, overwhelmed. But when she opened them, he was still there. Looking at her like that.

Biting her lip, she stepped in front of him and lifted his hand. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt cuff. Pushing the wet fabric up his arm, she leaned down and kissed his forearm, the skin wet and cool against her lips. He shivered. There was a look of complete wonder in his eyes, so she did it again, letting her lips linger on the arm that she’d been so obsessed with, even letting her tongue reach out to lick a drop of rain off his skin.

“Kam,” he said, voice thick. His other hand landed on the inches of bare skin between her sari skirt and blouse. “You…” he whispered, right before lowering his lips on hers.

A simple kiss. A gentle kiss. It wasn’t their first, but it was the first one he initiated, which meant a lot. It was the first one in the rain, with their clothes sopping wet, and a cold wind chilling them in the damp gazebo.