One Night With The Wrong Brother

The bus dropped her off two blocks from the apartment. The rain was torrential now, a curtain of water hammering the pavement.

Katherine didn't have an umbrella. She put her purse over her head and ran.

Her cheap flats slapped against the wet concrete. She was soaked to the bone in seconds.

As she rounded the corner to her building, she saw brake lights.

The Escalade was parked in front of her building.

Katherine skidded to a halt. She ducked behind a large hedge, her heart pounding.

The passenger door opened. An umbrella-huge, black, and sturdy-emerged first.

Gus stepped out. He opened the umbrella effortlessly.

He walked around to the back door and opened it. Kylie stepped out, giggling.

She moved into his space immediately. Gus held the umbrella over her. He tilted it so she was completely covered.

But in doing so, he left himself exposed.

The rain hammered down on Gus's left shoulder. within seconds, his expensive t-shirt was soaked, clinging to his arm. He didn't seem to notice. He just held the umbrella steady for Kylie.

Katherine watched from the bushes, shivering violently. It was such a small gesture. So gentlemanly. So Gus.

He walked Kylie to the door. Kylie turned to him. She stood on her tiptoes, her hands on his chest.

From Katherine's angle, hidden in the dark, it looked like their faces merged.

A kiss.

Katherine clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. The pain was physical. It felt like someone had reached into her chest and squeezed her heart until it burst.

She closed her eyes. She couldn't watch.

After a moment, the lobby door opened and closed.

Katherine opened her eyes.

Gus was still standing there. Alone. In the rain.

He hadn't gone inside.

He folded the umbrella. He stood by the car, water dripping from his hair. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the lighter and a cigarette. He lit it, shielding the flame with his hand.

He took a deep drag, the cherry of the cigarette glowing bright red in the darkness.

He turned his head. He looked straight at the hedge where Katherine was hiding.

He couldn't possibly see her. It was pitch black.

But he stared at that spot for a long, long time.

Then, he threw the cigarette into a puddle. He got into the car. The engine roared, and he drove away.