The rain had eased into a soft drizzle as Chris and Taylor stepped out of the coffee shop. Chris draped his coat over her shoulders again, now with a small, teasing smile.
"You sure you're not going to get wet again?" Taylor asked, her voice lighter than it had been all day.
"I'll survive," Chris replied, glancing at her. "What matters is that you don't get soaked."
Taylor smiled shyly, the warmth from the café still lingering. She hesitated, then spoke softly, almost whispering. "Chris… I… I like you too."
Chris stopped mid-step, his eyes widening in surprise. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face, bright and genuine. "You… like me?" he repeated, teasingly, but his voice held something tender.
Taylor nodded, cheeks flushed. "I do. I've been trying not to think about it, but… I can't help it."
Chris's heart skipped a beat. He reached out, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face, and smiled softly. "Good. Because I wasn't planning on letting you go. Not now. Not ever."
Taylor laughed quietly, a sound filled with relief and happiness, and fell into step beside him as they walked across the campus. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"I know," Chris said, grinning. "But you like it."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Maybe a little," she admitted, glancing up at him.
The drizzle misted around them, the world blurred and softened by the rain. Chris held her coat tighter around her shoulders, careful, protective, and her hand brushed his as they walked.
"I'm glad we're… us," Taylor said quietly, her voice filled with sincerity.
Chris looked down at her, his expression softening. "Me too. I've been waiting for the right moment to tell you, but I guess… today was it."
They walked on, side by side, the tension of rumors and doubts behind them, replaced by laughter, teasing, and the gentle beginning of something real. And for the first time in days, Taylor felt completely safe with Chris — not just because he cared for her, but because they were finally honest with each other.
As the rain lightened to a mist, Chris leaned closer and whispered, "So… first coffee confession, now rain walk. Not bad for a Tuesday, huh?"
Taylor smiled, looking up at him with warmth in her eyes. "Not bad at all."
And together, they walked into the afternoon, the beginning of their story — messy, real, and full of possibilities — unfolding with every step.