Chapter 52: My Plus One

Ella POV:

Of course, it was Jason. Because who else would show up at the most inconvenient, irritating moments of my life?

I glanced over at him, barely hiding my annoyance. "Didn't know you moonlighted as a weather expert now."

He grinned, that stupid, cocky grin that made my eye twitch. "Just couldn't let you drown out here. You're already a handful on dry land."

I rolled my eyes, feeling the weight of my soggy hoodie. "I don't need your help, Jason."

"Clearly." He matched my pace, not caring about my obvious attempt to brush him off. "But it looks like you're stuck with me anyway."

I could hear the teasing in his voice, and normally, I'd fire back with something sharp. But after today's mess? I just didn't have it in me. The rain, the project, Max and Dylan acting like overgrown children, Amber being her usual insufferable self—it was all too much.