~Aria's POV
I slipped into my car, water dripping from my hair onto the seat. Rain hammered the roof like a drum, and the windshield wipers fought to keep up, their slow sweep barely clearing the sheets of water. I reached for my phone to check Google Maps, desperate to find a hotel nearby, only to realize the screen was black. Dead.
My chest sank. "No… no, no, no," I muttered, patting the pockets of my hoodie. The charger! I fumbled into the backseat, fingers slick with rain, searching my bag. My hands closed around empty fabric. I hadn't brought the charger with me.
I let out a hiss of frustration, leaning back against the seat and shivering, the cold biting through my thin clothes. My fingers traced the wet leather of the steering wheel as if grounding myself, but it did nothing to stop the teeth-chattering chill running through me. My things were all in the booth, packed neatly in the luggage I couldn't reach. Thick clothes, dry socks, a sweater, everything I needed to survive the cold night… and I was trapped in the car with none of it.
My teeth chattered as I hugged myself, trying to keep the heat from leaving me completely. I let out a long, frustrated breath, the air tasting of wet metal and rain. I couldn't help thinking of Ethan, leaning under that hood, calm and efficient, grey eyes dark with some secret I couldn't read. Why hadn't he just given me an address, a hotel name, anything?
I hissed under my breath again, half-shivering, half-angry.
"Did he think… did he think I was trying to flirt or hit on him when I asked for his name? God, he was strange."
He was too strange. And infuriating. A man who showed up from nowhere, fixed my car without a word, whispered a name like it meant everything, and then vanished into the storm.
"Who does that?"
I clenched the wheel, squeezing it as if the grip alone could give me some power over this night. The rain pounded harder, and the wind rattled the car, but I couldn't move. I couldn't get wet and dig through the luggage outside. I couldn't risk stepping into the dark, cold world that had suddenly grown so enormous around me.
And yet, as I sat there, trembling and frustrated, a small spark of something else stirred inside me, curiosity, maybe, or anger, or the faintest hint of admiration. Who the hell was Ethan, really? And why did it matter that I wanted….needed…to know?
I leaned back, letting the rain drum against the roof, and thought, bitterly, "Great. Stranded, soaked, freezing… and utterly at the mercy of a man who won't even tell me where to sleep."
I glanced around, rain lashing the windshield like a thousand tiny fists. The wipers were working overtime, squealing, but it barely made a difference. I swallowed, trying not to panic. Then I muttered, almost to myself, "Okay… okay. Keep driving. Maybe… maybe I'll find something. A light. A hotel. Anything."
I turned the key, and the engine roared to life. The tires hissed on the wet asphalt as I pulled back onto the road. Visibility was awful. The headlights barely cut through the sheets of rain. My hands were tight on the wheel, knuckles white, and every bump in the road made me flinch.
After a few minutes, I muttered, "Why did tonight have to be like this?"
I drove in silence for a while, listening to the rain and the engine. Then, I whispered again, voice shaky, "I just… I just want a bed. A dry bed. A shower. Hot food. Is that too much to ask?"
The road twisted and turned through thick trees. Every shadow seemed alive. My heart raced, chest tight. Then I saw it, a dim, flickering light in the distance. I felt so relieved; it was brief and electric.
I muttered, "Yes… Yes, maybe that's it."
I drove closer. As I got near, I slowed, squinting through the rain. It looked like a small building with a sign I couldn't make out from this distance. I parked carefully in the muddy lot, hands shaking.
Stepping out, the rain hit me instantly, cold and sharp. I gasped, shivering, hugging myself. Then a voice called through the storm, clear and warm.
"You need help?"
I froze. My head snapped toward the voice. A man stood under a small overhang, a wide-brimmed hat shielding him from the rain. His coat was soaked, but he didn't seem bothered.
"I… uh… maybe," I stammered, teeth chattering. "I'm looking for… somewhere to stay."
He raised an eyebrow. "You're stranded in this storm and driving around? Not the smartest idea."
I let out a small laugh, more from nerves than humor. "Yeah… I know. I didn't have much choice. My car broke down. Phone's dead… everything went wrong tonight."
He stepped closer. "Well, you're lucky. This inn is just over here." He pointed. "You can park under the canopy. I'll help you with your bag."
I blinked, relief flooding me. "Th-thank you. I… I don't even know what to say."
He shrugged. "No need. Just… be careful in this rain."
I swallowed hard, shivering, and muttered, "You're… really nice."
He gave me a faint smile, something quick, almost shy. "It's nothing. I work here… as a security guard. Name's Brian."
Before I could even respond, he gestured toward the building behind him. "Come on inside. You'll be warm in a few steps."
I nodded, teeth chattering, and stepped toward the entrance. The rain immediately soaked my hoodie, dripping down my sleeves, but as I crossed the threshold, a wave of warmth hit me, soft and enveloping. I paused, blinking against the sudden contrast.
The lobby stretched out before me, bigger than I expected. It was elegant, with high ceilings, chandeliers casting a golden glow, and polished marble floors reflecting the soft light. Plush sofas and armchairs were arranged in small clusters, and little tables adorned with vases of fresh flowers. The scent of lavender and something faintly sweet made the air feel… alive, welcoming, like a promise of safety.
"This… this isn't an inn," I whispered to myself, still staring. "This is… a hotel."
Brian caught my gaze and gave a small nod, his expression neutral but patient. "It's been here for a few years. People like it quiet, discreet. You'll be okay here."
I followed him to the reception desk, my hands still trembling, the occasional shiver running down my spine despite the warmth of the lobby. The receptionist looked up, her smile calm and professional, the kind that made you feel like everything would be fine even if nothing was. Her dark hair was tied neatly back, and her eyes held a quiet patience that I desperately needed.
Brian leaned slightly forward, his voice low as he introduced me. "This is… Miss.."
"Aria," I said.
"Miss Aria. She'll be staying tonight."
The receptionist nodded, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with a fluid precision that made me almost forget I was soaked to the bone, nearly frozen from the rain. "Of course, Ms…?" she asked, glancing at me expectantly.
"Aria Miller," I muttered again, my voice barely above the hiss of the rain still dripping from my hoodie.