The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 22: Almost in the Rain

The sky had been threatening rain all afternoon, with heavy grey clouds hanging low as Alejandro and I strolled through the quiet streets. Our meeting at the café had ended hours ago, but we hadn't parted ways. Somehow, neither of us wanted the day to end, and we kept finding reasons to keep walking, talking about everything and nothing.

As we walked, I started to feel the pinch of my heels digging into my feet. I tried to ignore it, but the uneven cobblestones beneath us weren't helping. I stumbled slightly, catching myself before I fell, but Alejandro noticed.

He stopped, turning to look at me with a teasing smile. "Bella, you're not exactly built for these streets in those heels, are you?"

I blushed, embarrassed. "I'm fine. I'm just... not used to walking on cobblestones."

Alejandro raised an eyebrow, his smirk softening into a more thoughtful expression. "Why don't you just take them off?"

"What?" I blinked, glancing down at my feet. "Walk barefoot?"

"No," Alejandro said, already reaching down to untie his trainers. "You can wear these."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You want me to wear your shoes?"

"Why not?" he replied with a grin, holding out his trainers. "They're a little big for you, but it's better than breaking your ankle in those heels."

I hesitated, glancing between his shoes and my own. "But what about you? You can't walk around without shoes."

He shrugged, slipping out of his trainers and straightening up. "I'll manage. I've still got my socks on."

I couldn't help but laugh at his casual attitude. "You're serious?"

Alejandro smiled, his eyes twinkling as he nudged the trainers toward me. "Try them on, Bella. I promise they're more comfortable than your heels."

Reluctantly, I slipped off my shoes, feeling immediate relief as I wiggled my sore toes. Alejandro handed me his trainers, and I slid them on, the oversized shoes feeling awkward but surprisingly comfortable. I couldn't help but smile as I looked up at him.

"Happy now?" I teased, shaking my head.

"Very," he replied, laughing softly. "You'll thank me later."

We continued walking, Alejandro now in just his socks as he strolled beside me, his steps easy and relaxed despite the cold cobblestones beneath his feet. I couldn't believe he'd given me his shoes. It was such a simple gesture, but it made my heart flutter.

We had only walked a little farther when the first drops of rain began to fall, light at first, then quickly turning into a steady downpour. I glanced up at the sky, frowning as the rain started to soak through my clothes.

"Seriously?" I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself, though it did little to protect me from the downpour.

Alejandro just laughed, glancing at the sky with a shake of his head. "What's wrong, Bella? Afraid of a little water?"

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. "I'm not afraid. I just didn't expect to get drenched today."

He chuckled, stepping closer until we were almost shoulder to shoulder. "Here, take this," he said, slipping off his jacket. Before I could protest, he draped it over my shoulders, the warmth of it immediately enveloping me.

I looked up at him, surprised. "You'll freeze without it."

Alejandro shrugged, brushing it off like it was nothing. "I'll survive. You looked like you needed it more."

I smiled, hugging the jacket closer to myself. It smelled like him—clean, fresh, and warm. The rain continued to pour down, but the warmth of his jacket, combined with the fact that I was wearing his trainers, made the cold seem a little more bearable.

"You're soaked," Alejandro said after a while, his voice softer now as his laughter faded.

"So are you," I replied, but my words felt distant. I was too focused on how close he was, on the way the rain dripped down his face and his wet shirt clung to his chest.

His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. The rain kept falling, but it didn't matter. All I could see was him—standing there, drenched, but still managing to look effortlessly calm. My heart raced, my breath catching in my throat as Alejandro took a step closer.

His hand reached up, gently brushing a wet strand of hair from my face. "Bella," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rain, "you're beautiful."

I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. His hand lingered on my cheek, and I felt myself leaning into his touch, craving the warmth of his skin against the cold rain.

His gaze dropped to my lips, and my breath caught in my throat. I knew I should pull away, say something, do anything to stop this. But I didn't want to. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted it more than anything.

Alejandro leaned in, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my rain-soaked skin. His lips hovered just above mine, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable, my heart pounding in anticipation.

But then, just as quickly as it had happened, Alejandro pulled back.

I blinked, confused, as I opened my eyes. His hand dropped to his side, his expression shifting to something I couldn't quite read—regret, maybe? Frustration? He took a step back, running a hand through his wet hair as he let out a frustrated sigh.

"I—" he started, but the words didn't come. He stepped back again, shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. "We shouldn't."

I swallowed hard, the warmth of his touch still lingering on my skin. He was right. We shouldn't. But it didn't stop the ache in my chest from tightening.

For a moment, neither of us moved, the rain pouring down around us in heavy silence. The moment had passed, but the tension between us hadn't gone anywhere. If anything, it had only grown stronger.

"We should... we should get out of the rain," I finally said, my voice barely a whisper.

Alejandro nodded, his jaw clenched as he looked away. "Yeah. Let's go."

We walked in silence, the rain still falling around us, but my mind was racing. All I could think about was the way he had almost kissed me—the way I had wanted him to. And I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.