So I (24F) work in a mid-size office and commute by train. My coworker "Priya" sits near me and we get off at the same stop, so we walk the same five minute stretch from the station to our building every morning.
I always carry a compact umbrella in my bag. Just a habit, I grew up in a rainy city and I never leave the house without checking the forecast. Priya does not carry one and has mentioned a few times that she always forgets.
About four months ago it started raining on our walk and I offered to share mine. She was grateful, we walked together, no big deal. Then it happened again a few weeks later and I offered again. Fine.
The thing is it's been almost every rainy day since then. She doesn't ask exactly, but the moment we step off the train and I pull out my umbrella, she just kind of falls into step right next to me and positions herself under it. No "do you mind" or "is that okay," she just slides in. I want to be clear that I don't mind sharing in general. But it now feels like she's factored my umbrella into her morning in a way that she never factored in buying her own.
Last week it was raining pretty hard and she texted me on the train saying "ugh please tell me you have your umbrella today." I said yes and she sent back a relieved emoji. She has genuinely started checking with me before deciding whether she needs to prepare for rain herself.
My husband thinks I should just stop offering and see what happens. But I don't want to awkwardly hold my umbrella to one side and watch her get soaked next to me, that feels mean.
Would I be the asshole if I just started saying "sorry I only have enough for me today" and left it at that?