I couldn’t help but smile. The semester started in a few days, and it would be nice to already know someone at school other than Juliana.
A sudden boom sounded, and I turned just in time to see the sky open up and rain crash against the dark street.
I grimaced. It was a ten-minute walk back to Juliana’s, and I hadn’t brought an umbrella. I could always grab a cab, but I was doing everything I could to save money. The monthly allowance my parents were gifting me wasn’t much.
“That is quite the storm,” Rodrigo commented.
“Yeah.”
We watched it for a minute. People ran to and fro with umbrellas and bags over their heads, trying to escape the downpour.
In my purse, my phone buzzed with a text.
Actually,Juliana wrote,if you could come lend a hand, that would be great. We’re swimming in it here!
I put the phone away. “I need to get back to my boarding house and help with something. It was really nice to meet you.”
And awful to leave. Now that the awkwardness of my patting his chest had passed, I wanted to spend more time with Rodrigo. There was something magnetic about him. I wanted to pick him apart and figure out what made him tick.
“You’re not staying at the pink one off of Avenida Rodrigues Alves?”
I cocked my head at him. “How do you know that?”
“It’s the closest one to here and is known for housing female exchange students. One of my friends dated a girl who stayed there last year.”
I nodded, relieved to hear that last part—otherwise I would have been inclined to think Rodrigo had a thing for exchange students. Not that people couldn’t have their inclinations.
I just didn’t want to be anyone’s fantasy. I would have rather a guy liked me for who I was, not what I represented.
“Allow me to walk you.” Rodrigo gestured toward the door.
“Oh, but it’s raining. That’s okay.”
“And I have an umbrella.” He selected a large black one from the umbrella holder. “With more than enough room for two.”
I pressed my lips together but couldn’t hold back the smile. “All right, then. If it’s no trouble.”
“It is no trouble at all,” he purred.
Out on the street, we fell into a comfortable silence. Even with the rain, the night was still alive with activity. Slam poetry floated through a cafe’s open windows, and a man played saxophone under an awning.
“I love it here.” Out of pure joy, I hugged myself.
He grinned. “I do as well. Where area of the States are you from, if I might ask?”
“Albany, New York. But I go to school in New York City.”
“That is nothing to turn one’s nose up at.”
“No.” I laughed. “There’s plenty of culture there too, but the winters are just awful.”
“Ah, yes. That is one thing we do not have to worry about here.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “I would love to live here permanently.”
“Perhaps one day you will.”
Our shoulders brushed, and a thrill went through me. Suddenly, my mind went blank.