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Of course, his shoelace came undone right in the middle of his walk from the bookshop to his apartment.
Of course, it had to snap just as he was retying it.
Of course, that was exactly when the rain started to fall.
Of course, that light spring shower had to turn into a downpour.
Of course, he didn’t have an umbrella with him.
Halfway between the bookshop and his apartment, with no shelter in sight, not even a store awning, he would be soaked by the time he arrived.
In fact, it had already started, and by the time he got back on his feet, water was streaming down his face.
"So, Mr. Fell, you don't even wait until you get home to take a shower anymore?" said softly a familiar voice. He turned toward Anthony, ready to reply to his teasing, but he didn’t get the chance because his lover was now practically pressed against him, having thrown his coat over both of them to create a makeshift shelter.
“It’s better this way, isn’t it?”
Asa chuckled softly, then watched puzzledly as Anthony reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out something Asa couldn’t see. Anthony brought his hand to Asa’s face, gently shook it, unfolding a handkerchief in the process.
Anthony gently wiped Asa’s drenched face with it.
Asa didn’t know which moved him more: Anthony’s thoughtfulness or the gentleness of his gesture. Asa closed his eyes and, as he relished the soft caress, he couldn't help but inhale the familiar scent of Anthony wafting from the handkerchief.
He opened his eyes at Anthony’s soft chuckle and blushed at having been caught in that moment of self-indulgence.
Anthony noticed and, after slipping the handkerchief into his pocket, said softly while stroking Asa’s flushed cheek with his fingertip, "Don't be embarrassed. It's nice to see the effect I have on you."
Then he frowned when he saw Asa shiver. He adjusted the coat over their heads, wrapped his arm around Asa’s shoulders, and said gently, "Let's hurry home."
Asa wrapped his arm around Anthony’s waist, snuggling up to him and enjoying the warmth radiating from his body. Then, he lifted his head toward Anthony, cupping his chin with his other hand to bring his face closer.
"Thank you," he said softly before closing the distance between them and gently pressing his lips against Anthony’s in a tender kiss.
Then they set off toward Asa’s apartment, stumbling along as the rain continued to pour down.
But Asa no longer paid it any mind.
He was aware only of their bodies pressed against each other, their synchronized steps, and their faces drawn close together.
Despite the strangeness of their situation and the amused or surprised glances of passersby, he wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.
Even though he would probably come across as sentimental, he said, "You know, this day ended badly, but walking with you like this has made me forget most of my troubles. A kiss in the rain is really the height of romance."
Anthony chuckled softly and said, "Wait, does that mean you’ve watched Four Weddings and a Funeral? Richard Curtis is great, I love the movies he’s made! And—"
Asa chuckled softly and said, "Yeah, I watched it. But I didn’t know you were a fan."
Anthony replied, looking a little sheepish. "I know, right? It's a bit strange for an astrophysics professor to love rom-coms, isn't it?"
Asa shrugged.
"I happen to love my slightly weird astrophysics professor. What made you think of Four Weddings and a Funeral?"
"Yeah, you know, like a sudden rainstorm forces two people together beneath a canopy? They look into each other’s eyes... And they realize they're made for each other."
Asa paused and said with a chuckle, "You mean, kind of like us right now? The canopy is your coat. We're looking into each other's eyes, and we're... What was it again?"
"Realize that we're meant for each other."
Asa raised an eyebrow and retorted, "But we already know that, don't we? That we’re meant for each other?"
Anthony nodded. "But it's still very romantic, isn't it?"
Asa wanted to reply, but a shiver stopped him.
"Okay, romantic or not, let's go inside before you catch a cold." Anthony pulled his lover along, and they quickened their pace toward the bookseller’s apartment.
A few minutes later, they walked through the door. As soon as it closed, they both burst out laughing when they looked at each other. Their hair was flattened by the rain, their shoes and pant legs were soaked, and there were puddles of water at their feet.
They hurried to get rid of their wet clothes and, after a nice hot shower, they were both settled comfortably on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, with two steaming cups of cocoa on the coffee table.
"You know what, Anthony?" Asa asked, a playful gleam in his eyes.
"Hm?"
"Kissing in the rain is romantic, but kissing after the rain is even better."
Taking the invitation at face value, Anthony cupped his lover’s face in his hands and captured his lips in a tender kiss that quickly turned passionate.
The kiss lingered, and although the cocoa had grown lukewarm by the time they drank it much later, they didn’t mind.
They had found a far more pleasant way to warm up.