Around lunch time it started to rain. At first it was just a drizzle, darkening the silver-gray of the sidewalk outside the smoothie shop to the deeper color of graphite. Pedestrians pulled up hoods and quickened their pace. But soon the drops hit against the plate-glass windows with a steady plunk-plunk-plunk, coalescing into rivulets and streams. The few people still out all walked down the street clutching umbrellas.

With the rain picking up, Janet walked in through the doors, shaking off a large golf umbrella and stamping her wet feet on the logo-embroidered welcome mat. "No one's buying a smoothie in this weather," she remarked as she walked through the empty lobby and towards the back of the store. "Collin, follow me."

He put down the rag he was using to wipe down the counter and followed.

"We need to cut hours," Janet said. "You opened today, right?"

"Yes. With Tom."

"Well, I'm here now. You can go home. Let me look at the schedule, but he can probably leave too."

Collin was relieved. After his exchange with Sam that morning, his head felt as cloudy as the sky outside. He pulled at the apron string around his waist and then pulled it off over his head, throwing it in the open washing machine. Then he went into the staff bathroom to switch his shirt.

"Is there a spare umbrella I could borrow? I really don't want to ride my bike home in this rain," Collin asked.

Janet looked up from the printout of the schedule that she was studying. "Yeah, I think there is one around here." She wheeled the office chair back from the desk and opened one drawer. "Here you go." She handed him a bright red compact umbrella.

"Thanks," he said as he accepted it.

Changed into his street clothes, Collin waved goodbye to everyone behind the counter and walked outside, opening the umbrella towards the sky.

As he made his way down the street, thoughts of Avery plunking against his jeans and dampening his shoes. Obviously, Gina had been a mistake. But she wasn't an accident. Why was Sam suddenly on Avery's side?

That almost pissed him off more than Avery complaining about the bed she made and now had to lie in.

Collin passed the flower stand, a round kiosk set into the sidewalk near the curb. Buckets of flowers were set out under an awning: bright orange Gerber daisies in one of them.

Collin stopped walking. Those were Heather's favorite flowers, weren't they? It was a sign.

"Can I have a bouquet of a dozen on those?" he asked, pointing to the orange bursts, bold as lions' manes.

"Do you want a mix of colors?" The man stood, adjusting his flat cap.

"All orange, please." Collin's smile radiated as bright as the daisies as he pulled out his wallet, paid, and then accepted the beautifully wrapped package.

He looked at his watch. Heather would still have to work for a little while, but he knew it was better to be early than to be late.

Holding the umbrella with one hand and the flowers in the other, he crossed the street and then walked back up the block. He stopped outside the cafe. The patio tables and chairs were beaded with rain. He looked through the glass window on the door and saw a few college kids sitting around a table, all looking at one laptop, and an older man in a khaki jacket reading a paperback in one armchair. But there was no line.

He looked over at the large clock tower and noted that Heather would be off in about ten minutes. He opened the door, closing the umbrella with one hand, and walked inside.

Heather wasn't behind the counter, but Collin glimpsed her auburn hair through the door to the back prep area. He took a seat in an empty chair, propping the umbrella next to him and cradling the flowers in the crook of his elbow.

A minute or so later she turned around, saw him, and reflexively smiled. Then she noticed he was holding something and her eyes narrowed slightly. She held up an index finger. One minute.

Then she disappeared into the back. When she came back out, her apron was off and she was just wearing a white t-shirt and a black pair of slacks.

"It's raining out," Collin said as he stood and gestured towards the windows.

"I didn't check the forecast this morning, so I am woefully unprepared."

"Well–" Collin held up the umbrella. "So was I, but my boss gave me this. May I walk you home?" He stood, holding out the flowers. "And these are for you."

"Oh my God, they're beautiful!" She took them. "But why?"

He shrugged. "I saw them and thought of you. They are your favorite, right?"

"They are." She stared at him for a long beat of silence. Her features were open and honest, but also searching. For what, Collin didn't know. "Thank you," she said, and took his arm.

They walked through the exit, and Collin opened up the umbrella. It was small, so they had to walk hip to hip to be protected from the falling rain. At least Collin was only a few inches taller than Heather, so he didn't need to crouch or slump. They fell into step easily as they walked across Pacific Avenue and then down Front Street, which cut down diagonally.

"Good day at work?" Collin asked as they crossed the parking lot for the sushi place and the nail salon.

"I mean, you know."

Collin felt her lean into him, but he didn't know if it was on purpose, or just the way they were walking. The rain was pretty light: small cold drips that looked like streaks against the cloudy sky. As they crossed River street and walked up the ramp to the pedestrian bridge, the smell of wet earth filled his nose. It was soft and calm.

They were about halfway across the bridge when Heather stopped. "So many bridges for such a small river," she observed.

"The river isn't that small." Collin peered down at the water, agitated by the rain, racing down to the waiting ocean.

"The Soquel Avenue bridge is right there, and... the Water Street one right there." She pointed to the two streets on either side of them. "They needed to construct all these bridges to cross this one small natural feature in the land."

"You're such an engineer." He teased, nuzzling his shoulder against hers.

"I like you, Collin," she said, facing him. "But it's... confusing."

The two statements spiked something in Collin: a dissonance of elation and trepidation. "What is confusing?"

Her mouth opened, but didn't make any noise. A fish gasping for air. She opened her arms helplessly. He gave her the space to form the words, and finally they came. "It's like this river. Such a small thing, but there still needs to be a bridge to cross it."

Gossamer threads of understanding danced in the periphery of his vision. Avery must have said something to her. He didn't know what, but she had sabotaged this somehow.

"It's okay. I get it." His voice was bitter. Tasted bitter. Like the dark roasted coffee beans that Heather spent her day grinding and brewing. "I don't know what Avery said to you, but just so you know, she cheated on me."

"Avery?" Her face scrunched in confusion. "Who?"

"The party..."

"Collin, no. I–" She held the flowers up, examining them. "You are such a sweet guy. And funny. And... I'm just trying to figure it out. These feelings that I'm forming for you were... unexpected."

"Oh," he said, realization dawning on him. He felt so stupid. "This is because I'm trans."

"It's only a small river, but I still need to figure out how to cross it." She reached out and touched his arm.

His phone started to ring, a rise and fall of chimes coming from his jeans pocket. He took it out and looked at the called ID. Avery was calling him.

"Who is it?" Heather asked.

He wondered if she could read something in his face. "No one," he answered as he pressed the silence button.

"Are you sure?"

He wasn't sure. He wasn't sure of anything.

"I have to go." He handed her the umbrella. "Here, you take it. But, it's my boss's, so, you know..." He waved his hand. Then he turned and walked away without looking back.